Chapter Text
Dusk in the city of crime was warm and dreary. The life and color slowly drained from sight as people retreated to the safety of their homes. Jason Todd did not hold to the illusion of the night being anymore dangerous than the day, not for him.
He had been tailing two suspects for several blocks and was quickly growing bored. They were obviously lackies and he was on the cusp of ditching them when there was a commotion.
A petite young woman had just plowed them both over. "Désolé! I'm so sorry! Let me help you!" Jason watched as she all but manhandled one of them to his feet.
One of them grabbed her arm and leered at her but she kicked him in the shin and twisted out of his grasp. Jason intervened when the other man pulled out a knife behind her. He clipped the man's jaw with his fist and hit him forecfully in the gut. Turning to the woman he saw she had clocked the other with her duffle bag and kicked his legs out from under him.
She turned to Jason and with a guarded look she said "Thank you! I know I'm clumsy but I didn't think they'd really try to hurt me just for knocking them over." She redid her dark hair in a ponytail and adjusted her bag back in place.
"No problem but you should probably be more careful. Gotham is dangerous, especially to small fries like you." He stood with his hands in his hips, trying to keep them in her line of sight. She had given several sweeps with those big blue eyes as if she was sizing him up.
"I'm usually not in such a hurry. Fuck! I'm late. Thank you again!" And she was off like a bullet. Jason watched and she slipped around people and leapt over trash cans. She stopped abruptly and cupped her hands to her mouth to tell at him. "Don't underestimate small fries!"
He laughed and decided not to follow her.
--
Jason had since seen her rushing along several other days. She was smart enough to change the route she took but it was clear she was going to the same destination.
This time he decided to follow her. She walked quickly but quietly in black combat boots and skinny jeans. She wore the same red leather jacket and carried the same duffle bag. He was surprised when he turned the corner and she was standing right in front of him.
"Hey, pipsqueak. Staying out of trouble?" He used what Dick called his "charming smile". She simply raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know, you tell me. Why are you following me....?"
"Jason. And I was curious what a pixie like you is doing running around past your bedtime."
To his surprise she laughed. "Seriously, you can't be much older than me. And if you're going to continue to be a nuisance you can call me Nette." She started walking again and he fell in step with her. "At least you keep the scum away if I'm seen with you."
"I take offense to that. How do you know I'm not the scummiest one around here?"
She laughed yet again. "You're rough but not scum. There's a difference, Jason, as I'm sure you know."
"And how can you tell?"
"Your clothes appear dirty but are in fact very well cared for and fit you perfectly. Your hair is what some might call 'artfully disheveled' - it's long and unruly but well groomed."
After a few seconds she realized how that might sound. She paled and looked at him with wide eyes. "No offense, but I'm not interested in you like that. I just notice those kinds of things."
"It's cool, cupcake. I didn't think that at all." He said with a laugh and relaxed.
They walked in silence as she led them to a shadier part of the city. Not the bad but the grey in-between. He was about to say something when they stopped in front of a large shabby warehouse.
"You can come in and wait if you like. I don't recommend getting nosy, though. Harley will kick your ass then kick you out in a second." She stated matter of faclty as she pushed the door open. Nette directed him to a set of derelict stands and told him to find a seat.
"Hey, Sunshine! Are you ready for your debut?" The Harley Quinn came up and hugged her. She glanced at Jason and let out a whistle. "Found yourself a boyfriend, Sunshine?"
"No, just a brother. Harls, this is Jason. He's been keeping an eye on me when I walk here and it's kept the thugs away. I figured he could stay and watch the bout."
Jason and Harley eyed each other as Nette walked away with a small wave.
"You be good to her." They said at the same time and Harley laughed. "She's the sweetest thing in Gotham and I'll kick your ass if you give her trouble. Don't ruin this for her."
Jason put his hands up. "I really have no idea what you're talking about. She just runs down the streets like a bat outta hell and I'm curious."
"I don't want no bats around here either. So keep your mouth shut." Then she smiled at him. "Nette is something special and I'm glad she's making friends. I gotta go but make sure you get a good seat!"
--
It was 45 minutes later and Jason was crammed in the bleachers with a crazy crowd of people and loud music blaring in his ears. Before him was a roller derby flat track. He watched as an mc announced the teams and the women skated out as their names were called. Loud cheers rang out for the Gotham City Sirens with Harley as their main skater.
"And now give a raging welcome to the Siren's newest rookie! She's small but fast and has a killer hip check: Lady Bruiser!"
Nette came skating out and did a couple of laps to wave to the audience. She wore neon green skates, glittery black tights, and black shorts underneath a red tunic. Over the tunic she wore a short black button up shirt with the Rouge's logo, yellow trim, and the lucky number 7. Nette's elbow and knee pads matched her skates while her wrist guards were black.
Jason was sure the colors weren't meant to be Robin themed but it was hard to think of what else would inspire those colors. Her helmet was red and sported black polka dots along with a painted number seven.
"This is the first match of the season and there are five teams. There will be matches every two weeks within the city until the championship in November. There will also be scheduled away games in our sister cities." The chanting of the crowned drowned him out for a moment. "I know, I know. Renegade matches are held once a month, so come back in three weeks if that's what you're into! NOW LET'S SKATE!"
Jason watched for an hour as 10 women dodged, checked, ducked, and skated their way around the track. Lady Bruiser didn't play until the second half but by then he had the basics.
He understood the upper hand the Siren's had by making her their Jammer. As long as she could dodge, and damn could she dodge, she could lap the rest of them with ease. Nette was smaller than most of them and was graceful on the track.
Jason approached the merch booth after match, that they won, of course. "So, how much to make me as pretty as Lady Bruiser?" He joked to Harley. She snorted and Nette let out a loud laugh.
Up close he could see the smokey eyeshadow and winged eyeliner. It made her blue eyes look bigger as they sparkled with joy. "Oh, Jason! Did you enjoy the match?"
"It was certainly something I've never seen before. I have to say you're pretty wicked on the track!" Jason held up his hand for a high-five which she met enthusiasticly.
"I can't make you look as pretty as me but maybe a selfie?"
---
A week later and Jason made the mistake of texting Nette after breakfast. Dick had lingered and snooped over his shoulder. He saw the selfie they had taken the night before.
"Who is that absolute cutie?" Dick made a grab for the phone but Jason moved it out of reach. Unfortunately, Tim snagged it and got a good look.
"She's too young for you, Jason. Can't be much older than Damian. But Dick is right, she's gorgeous." He cut off when Jason snatched his phone back.
"It's not like that! Nette walks around shady parts of town and gets followed by creeps. I stepped in and we got to talking." He tucked his phone away in one of his many hidden pockets. "If Bruce can adopt kids I can adopt a sister."
Bruce looked up from the newspaper, startled. "Who is adopting someone? You guys already have sisters."
"Tt. No one is adopting anyone, Father. It's just the usual antics." Damian had tried to stay out of the conversation. But Jason had called the girl Nette and he hopes it's a coincidence.
--
"So, what are you interested in, Damian?" Marinette leaned close to him so they could look at the prompt list together.
"What you're doing at Gotham University and not somewhere in Paris. I assume you are, given your accent."
Marinette looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. He sat with his arms loosely crossed and looked at her like she was puzzle to solve.
"I am from Paris but I was asking about the list for our project. If you want to get to know me find a way other than interrogating me. I like cafes and the open parks around campus."
"Fine. What are our options?" He sat up and took the list from her hand.
"It's just Drawing 103. I'm sure we can find something to hold your interest." She rolled her eyes at him.
Their project was announced at the end of the class so they moved out to one of the open lawns of the campus.They were about to sit down when Damian realized she saw people watching them.
"Just ignore them. They are staring at me, not you." He tried to make her comfortable but she just glared back at them.
"Why does that matter? It's so rude!"
He sighed and tried not to tut at her - Alfred said it was insulting. "Would you like to go somewhere else? We'll be watched wherever we go, so we might as well go somewhere nice."
-
Tim slouched over his laptop, determined to finish a report for work before he would go back to his research on Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
At first he could find the usual minimum. Only child of two bakers, attending GU on a scholarship, up and coming designer whose worked with big names like Jagged Stone, good grades, and upstanding citizen.
But why come to Gotham and then join Harley Quinn's roller derby team? There was also an abnormal amount of general news missing from her last years of public education. Very little could be found about Paris other than election results and vague city planning.
In a brief surface for air and a stretch Tim looked up to see Damian sitting in the same cafe...with a girl. He snapped a photo and considered saving it for leverage but dismissed the thought. Surely someone will recognize Damian and photos will be passed around the internet.
Tim sent it to the family's group chat with the knowledge that Damian wouldn't check it till later. He did not anticipate Jason's reaction.
-
Marinette's phone began to ring and she quickly silenced it. "Sorry. I made a nosy new friend last week and -" her phone rang again.
"Please excuse me, Damian. He's not the type to call especially twice in a row." She accepted the call and turned to look out the window. " Ello Jason."
"What did my brother bribe you with?"
"What?"
"Did he promise you those new green Moxi skates if you went a date with him?"
"Jason, I don't und-"
"I'll kill him if he's bothering you! Just say the word, Sunshine Sprite!
"Kill him?! And that name is terrible! Honestly! He didn't bribe me -" Jason cut her off again before she could ask if Damian was his brother.
"Go sit with Tim until I can come get you. I'll be there-"
"Enough! Who the hell is Tim and how do you even know where I am?" Marinett raised her voice over him and pinched the bridge of her nose.
At hearing Tim's name Damian did a quick sweep of the cafe, only to see him lurking behind his laptop in the corner. He must've left the office to get more coffee.
Damian glared menacingly at Tim and Marinette followed his gaze. Tim gave a nervous wave.
"Jason, I am in no danger! Please, do not come get me... Jason? Are you there?" She pulled her phone away to look at it. "He hung up on me!" She looked at him with wide eyes and her mouth slightly open - Damian tried not to laugh.
"Yes, that does sound like something Todd would do. We're not going to get anything done on this project now. Would you like to meet Drake?"
"Sure, I guess..." They gathered their bags and made themselves comfortable at Tim's table.
"Marinette, this is my brother Tim Drake. Drake this is my classmate, Marinette."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope Damian has been courteous." Tim said as they shook hands and Marinette gave him a soft smile.
"Damian has always been nice to me. I admit he didn't seem keen to make friends last semester but" at this she point she shrugs "no one appeared to want to be his friend. Something about the 'Ice Prince of Gotham'."
"So what makes you so special then?" Tim is interested now. Maybe she'll give something away about what she's hiding.
"Pfft. Nothing other than the fact that I agreed to be his partner on a project." She rolled her eyes and tilted her head back to drink the last of her coffee.
Marinette was grateful the cup was basically empty. Standing behind her was Jason. He loomed over her with a scowl.
"Tt. Sit down Todd, people are staring at us - more than usual."
"Not until you tell me what your intentions with Pixie are, Demon."
Marinette's eyes follow Jason as he wedges a chair between her and Damian. "Pixie, really? Her name is Marinette and I don't think she appreciates your possessive friendship."
"Oh? And what do you know about friendship?"
The two started arguing with thinly veiled animosity. Tim returned Marinette's questioning gaze with a tired shrug.
"Are they always like this?"
"I'm afraid so. Now is probably your best chance of getting away. Runaway and never return."
Marinette grinned at his joke. "I think you might be my favorite!" She ducked out and made it all the way outside only for Jason to see her through the large storefront window.
"Come back here, young lady!" Jason jumped from his chair and made a start for the door - only to trip over Tim's messenger bag. She took of running.
"Tt. Get off the floor, Todd. You're such a disgrace."