Chapter Text
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Marinette has always been willing to give everyone a second chance. That may have been why she still had people to consider them as her friends. That is why when Lila started yet another lie about some celebrity she, Adrien, Chloe, and Juleka were holding their laughter and rolled their eyes.
“Honest Alya I’m like this” Lila crossed her fingers “with Bruce’s kids.” Alya must not have recognized the name as the liar gave a small laugh “oh, right Bruce Wayne, he prefers to only go by Bruce.”
“Oh my God, Girl you have got to give me an interview for my blog!” Alya lapped up the story.
“Of course” Lila smiled, then looked over at Marinette “Anything for my best friend.”
At this point, Marinette wasn’t paying attention to the liar. Instead Mari was talking in low voices with her actual best friend, Adrien. They sat on the very back bench and Juleka and Chloe on the bench in front of them.
That was their normal, it had been since their eighth year. Now two years later it was routine, her classmates shunned her only talking with her for class assignments. Otherwise they ignored her and that may just have been the best outcome.
She, Chloe, Juleka, Luka, and Adrien were in the park working on a photoshoot. Adrien was behind the camera while Juleka and Luka were modeling. Marinette and Chloe were changing for the next set. When they came out Mari noticed several reporters around the perimeter. Security had them handled and she focused on modeling her creation.
However this wasn’t the last she saw of the reporters. They were always at the school questioning the students. What they were asking she didn’t know as she was never questioned.
Three weeks of spotting and avoiding reporters, with them swarming the school she needed to get creative in order to transform. Lila was of course bathing in the limelight and attention.
Mari was the last person out of the school as she was getting the homework for her three friends who didn’t come today. The first thing she noticed coming out of the courtyard was the purple limo. Her honorary uncle came to pick her up. As soon as the door closed said uncle was crushing her in a hug.
“It’s Rock’ n to see ya Nettie” Jagged spoke, the hug muffling his voice slightly.
“Same here Jagged,” wiggling out of Jagged’s hug she reached over to hug Penny. “so what’s with the escort?”
“A close friend of ours wanted to meet you and He and his son’s are waiting at our room,” Penny explained.
“Okay…” she hesitated exiting the car to head inside “but why? Is this a commission or what?”
After a silent elevator ride, Penny hesitated at the door before speaking. “We are hoping you could clear something up actually,” as she opened the door.
Mari stepped in and noticed them. The eldest looked to be around mid to late thirties, black hair and bluebell eyes, dressed in a dark charcoal suit.
The youngest of the boys seemed to be a couple years younger than her, shorter than her by a head, tanned skin, short black hair, and jade eyes. A scowl on his face partially hidden by the collar of a black peacoat and slacks as he sat on the arm chair.
A boy around her age with chin length black hair and azure eyes, a red hoodie under a grey bomber jacket and black pants. He looked like he hadn’t slept in at least a week, and if how he was holding the travel mug in his hands it was probably true.
Next to him was another boy who looked a couple of years older, black messy hair about 5 cm at the longest and a white tuff in front, cerulean eyes, a brown leather jacket and distressed jeans. He seemed familiar but couldn’t place it.
The last boy also had long black hair but seemed to be layered and shorter in the front, sky blue eyes, a blue varsity jacket and jeans. He would either be the eldest or second, he had a bright smile but kept shooting a glance at Fang.
Speaking of which once she was in the room and she saw him, he charged at her, knocking her over. Mari was giggling as Fang rolled over and she was lost to the world as she doted on the crocodile.
“Nettie” Penny finally managed to get her attention.
“Sorry,” she stood “but if it wasn’t done we wouldn’t be able to talk. Hello I am Marinette Dupain-Cheng it is nice to meet you.” again she smiled.
“Bruce Wayne” the man introduced himself, “and my sons. My youngest Damian.” he gestured to the boy with green eyes. “Next is Tim” gesturing to the boy with the mug who rose it in acknowledgment. “Jason is the second oldest” the boy with the white tuff gave a lop sided smile. “And my eldest Dick” whose smile seemed to become brighter.
She smiled nodding at everyone before realization hit. A quick snap of her fingers before pulling out her phone, opened up her texts and started typing, ending with a quick picture of Jason.
I think I just met your idiot friend
She put away her phone. Not even a minute later another went off.
The ringing stopped once, twice, thrice, and on the fourth Jason, spoke up. “Sorry I should take this.”
“Go ahead this can wait a moment.” Mari smiled.
As soon as Jason answered the phone “What the hell are you doing in Paris!?” everyone heard the caller as Jason was holding the phone an arm length away.
“How did you know… you?!” it dawned on Jason.
“Guilty,” she smiled. “I guess you’re not as big of an idiot as Roy made you out to be.”
“Hey!” Jason called before turning to the phone. “What the hell did you tell her Harper!” By now Roy was on speaker.
“You can’t prove what I said, ya know,” she could practically see Roy’s smirk.
“Video’s however,” she was now smirking.
“What!!” Jason seemed to freeze.
“Bug! No!” Roy was sounding like he was going to start panicking.
“I think I have a few saved,” she tapped her chin.
That was when Bruce cleared his throat. “As amusing as this is we have business to discuss.”
“Talk to ya later Mari.” Roy bid her farewell. “Oh and Jason don’t underestimate her.” the call ended.
“Okay so how do you know Roy?” Dick finally asked.
“Oh. It was at a charity ball hosted by Oliver Queen,” she replied nonchalantly.
“Was it the same one where a baby elephant ended up at the event. Following you the whole time.” Penny asked exasperated.
“I still don’t get how you think we had anything to do with that.” Marinette finally sat down. She ended up sitting on the ground leaning against the couch next to Jagged, Fang resting his head on her out stretched legs.
“I have so many questions,” Tim finally added to the conversation.
"Tt. can we stop beating around the bush already,” Damian was irritated and it showed. “Are you or are you not my biological sister.”
He seemed ready to pounce, unfortunately that was dangerous in Paris. Especially as she saw an akuma right outside the window. The question asked now forgotten as she focused on the corrupted butterfly.
“Nope, Nope. I am not dealing with an akuma today.” she stood up. Took a deep breath and let her anger and frustrations to the surface. The smile fell from her face. “If you want a puppet have a marionette” Kwamii Adrien is rubbing off on me.
The butterfly changed targets and was heading towards her, finally gaining the other’s attention. She vaulted over the couch and made a beeline to her backpack. By then the akuma was close so she tossed the backpack over to everyone and rolled out of the way.
“Glass jar, unscrew it” she called out.
“How pathetic running from a bug.” Damian moved quickly to catch the butterfly but it moved and found something in his pocket. He was engulfed in purple and then he stood there in evergreen armor with golden accents. A red and yellow cape and a pitch black sword in his hand. Pocket knife, the sword is where the akuma is.
“Screw it” she turned and with two quick jabs his two arms went limp. A third knocked him to the ground.
She picked up the sword and went to Dick who was holding the jar. She took the jar, broke the sword, and went to catch the butterfly. As soon as she screwed the lid on the butterfly began to turn white.
She let out the breath she was holding as she compartmentalized her emotions yet again.
“What the fuck was that!” Jason screamed and so did Dick, minus the curse.
“Where and why do you have one of those,” Jagged asked.
Finally Damian shouted “Why can I not move? What did you do?” he accused.
“Okay so the butterfly was an akuma used by Hawkmoth, Paris’ villain, to manipulate anyone with strong negative emotions. These champions or Akuma are used to attempt to retrieve magical jewels from our heroes. The jar was given to me and a few others in my class, because our class is a hot bed for akuma, by Ladybug, one of the heroes.” she gave a short and simple run down. “As for Damian, those were a series of pressure points,” infused with magic to-take down people easily, "it should wear off in a few minutes.”
“Teach me please!” Tim begged.
“I dunno.” she started to chew her lip and shift her weight.
“Roy’s warning now makes a lot more sense,” Jason hummed.
“Tt. adequate,” Damian muttered softly, Marinette is sure she is the only one who heard.
“Okay so where were we?” she smiled turning and sitting back down with Fang.