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Marinette was huddled up by the fireplace. She's filled with nostalgia, remembering her family.
A warm, woolen blanket was wrapped around her and yet somehow, she still felt cold and lonely. It was her birthday today, and her maman and papa weren't there to celebrate it with her.
And while it wasn't snowing quite yet, it was only July after all, her ladybug side effects made it all the more cold. She gave a long sigh, resigned to being alone on her special day. Not even the Wayne's, whom she was staying with, were there to bring her the slightest cheer. They had run out early in the day and while she had never informed them of what today was, she had hoped that maybe they would stick around just so she wasn't by herself.
But no, she should've known that her wish would never come true. None of her wishes ever did. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, and Marinette darted a hand out from under the blanket to wipe them away. Scratch that. Maybe it actually was good that the Waynes were away. They wouldn't see her cry so pathetically like this.
"Are you alright Miss Marinette?" A smooth, masculine voice questioned in a worried tone.
She peeked her eyes up to see who it was, unsurprised to see Alfred there standing in his usual formal wear with a silver platter with a mug on it balanced on one hand while the other held onto a small pink bag. Marinette attempted to quietly sniffle even though she knew it was pointless to attempt to hide anything from Alfred.
It seems her efforts to hide the fact that she had been crying had been in vain. Despite her distraught state, Marinette could tell when Alfred's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he looked at her.
Alfred approached her, carefully bending down and taking a seat next to her on the plush, carpeted floor, somehow managing to look graceful and put together despite holding the tray. He held out said tray for her, revealing the mystery liquid in the Batman themed mug to be hot chocolate. She took it gratefully, cradling it between her hands for warmth, even if the warmth it seemed she was lacking was the familial love she was so used to even if it had been getting more and more limited as the years went by and she grew older and her parents grew busier.
Under Alfred's encouraging stare, Marinette took a small sip of the hot chocolate. It had a faint aftertaste of peppermint, and all of a sudden, Marinette was transported back to a winter evening from years past.
She could still remember it. Still remember the warmth, the love, the laughter, the feeling of home.
They had been playing UMSIII, and Marinette was steadily beating her maman and papa. At one point, they had even teamed up all for the sake of bringing her down. Though, in the end, the two of them had not succeeded. It was so hilarious watching their faces of defeat that Marinette ended up snorting the hot chocolate she had been drinking at the time. Her maman and papa stared at her for a moment before they burst into laughter. She couldn't resist and joined in. Their laughter mingled together into one harmonious sound, and it was the sweetest Marinette had ever heard.
And now, just thinking about it made her smile. Her lips curled up slightly as she recalled the happy and peaceful times of the past.
It was bittersweet though, soured because of the longing and realization that things would never be the same as before.
Done dwelling on memories from the past, she realized that a steady stream of tears had begun to make its way down her face.
Looking over, Marinette saw Alfred gazing at her with a knowing look in his eye. Not wanting to go into that at the moment, she decided to ignore the tears, thank him for the hot chocolate, and return to her room. It was just- too much. It wasn’t that she was homesick per say, just nostalgic on the account of different things.
Flopping down onto her bed, Marinette grabbed her phone and took a quick look at her phone. She honestly didn’t know what she expected, but seeing the single text message from her parents wishing her a happy birthday, as well as a promise to try and video call later, made a bittersweet feeling spread over her.
Marinette knew that they were always getting busier, but they still tried to be good parents, and that was all that mattered at the moment.
However, sometimes, Marinette craved something more. It was selfish of her, to want more when she already had enough, but she just couldn't stop it. She wanted snuggles, kisses, time spent together doing family activities. And she just couldn't get that from her maman and papa.
She knew that naturally she was just an affectionate person, but other people tend to get uncomfortable with contact with others. It had been a while since she had gotten any kind of affection, so anything would do, even just a head pat.
Looking back at her phone, she went to her parents contact. Looking at it for a few minutes, she finally decided that it wouldn’t be worth it, and would only end up with her wasting their time.
She didn’t want to be a burden, and hoped that not being there was enough. She still missed them, though.
A knock sounded on her door, and she looked up at it, the light, almost white pink of it bringing along a new set of memories forward. She remembered when Dick barged into her new room when she first came with a bucket of paint and paint brushes, excitedly going on about how they needed to personalize her room even if she was only supposed to be staying there temporarily.
She brushed the tears lingering on her cheeks away hoping her face wasn't too red in case it wasn't Alfred and the other inhabitants of the house had returned.
A quick glance at her phone screen as she parted from it, leaving it on her rose pink nightstand said she had been in her room for a good twenty minutes already.
She walked to the door and slowly opened it.
"Damian?" Marinette exclaimed, surprised. "D-do you need anything?"
Why did Damian come and seek her out? She thought he wanted her to stay as far away from him as possible. So why now? More than that, why today, on her birthday of all days?
Damian cleared his throat. He looked... nervous?
"Alfred asked me to give this to you as you left before he could himself," Damian said as he held out the small pink bag Alfred had previously been holding when he came in with the hot chocolate.
Marinette blinked and carefully reached out and took the bag from him. She was going to open it when she noticed him walk away but then come back with something else in his hands. Something bigger.
"This is also for you," Damian said as he held out the large board.
She took it from his hands and she flipped it around and gasped.
It was a portrait. Of her.
She let her fingers trace her features that were done so beautifully. She felt tears prick the corners of her eyes again, but this time not from sadness.
She never knew she could be admired like this. When had he found the time? The Wayne’s always seemed so busy, and even though she is sure they don’t mean to, they leave her out of several things.
The weight tightening in her chest released slightly, although he didn’t know, he still cared. A sob escaped from her mouth; this gift was made better because he didn’t know. It wasn’t just an obligatory birthday gift, Damian didn’t follow social norms. This was a ‘I thought of you’ gift.
“Thank you.” She tried to keep her quivering voice from breaking, but she failed at another thing this night. She had spent so many years concealing her feelings, why now did they all seem to want to spill out?
Damian looked a bit lost as he took in the state of her. Alfred knew everything that took place in the house, but Damian often could tell what was going on simply by looking at someone. "Do you not like it?" It was probably the first and last time she would ever hear the youngest Wayne sound unsure of himself. Of course he hid it well, but she was great at telling people's emotions.
“No!” She exclaimed, “Wait, no, Damian I love it! It’s just…” her voice trailed off, words dying in her throat. She desperately tried to regain her composure at the expense of potentially offending the volatile youngest Wayne.
“It’s just what?” He was starting to get irritated, his mother had always taught him that emotional people are weak and not worth his time.
But Marinette has proved herself time and time again that she was exemplary. Even her name fit her to a tie. Marinette, the one who rises.
So why has this Angel fallen from grace?
Her knees buckled beneath her, but he caught her, and they hit the ground. Alfred would be coming soon to see what the noise was.
With his arms wrapped around, he held her tightly to his body. “How can I help you? What can I do, Marinette?”
Her first name sounded foreign on his lips. He only even addressed those around then by their familial names.
Marinette cringed at her pathetic-ness. She looked up at him; eyes crinkled, pearlescent tears dripping off her chin.
“Please,” she breathed, head bowing once more. “Please just stay for a moment.”
There was no hesitation as Damian nodded and hugged her closer. He knew Alfred had probably already made it up the stairs and likely saw what was happening and decided to leave them be as he had not made himself known as of yet, but he couldn't find it in himself to care or be ashamed of such. Mother always said emotions are a weakness. But then why was the girl in his arms so strong?
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However, Marinette couldn't find it in herself to care that much. She was just glad that somebody actually cared. Two somebodies. Marinette couldn't name any other time where she'd gotten such a thoughtful gift as the one Damian had given her. And Alfred's, although not tangible, was a greater comfort than anything else. Warmth and company. She wasn't quite sure what she'd done to deserve to know such loving people like them. Perhaps she would never know. But just as Marinette was about to give it some more thought, she heard someone clear their throat.
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So that was why they had all left so early in the morning. Marinette was at a loss for words. She thought she wouldn't be able to spend her birthday with her maman and papa in the end. But how? Just how? Tears started to spill out and Marinette could not do anything to control them.
But her maman reached out a hand to wipe them away. "Oh sweetie, why are you crying? It's your birthday!"
"I just- I just," Marinette blubbered. She was so overwhelmed with happiness and the feeling of warmth that she couldn't get her mouth to work. "I'm just so happy," and Marinette snuggled into her parents' embrace. Out of the corner of her eye, Marinette could see Bruce standing and looking at her. She mouthed the word ‘thanks,’ and he tilted his head slightly as if to say, ‘you're welcome.’
The chill Marinette had felt earlier was gone, instead replaced with a fiery warmth that embraced her. A fire started deep within her soul, that grew as her eyes met those of the others in the room.
This...this is home. This is family.
Marinette had never felt luckier than when she was surrounded by those that she loved and that returned those feelings of affection.
If there was any time to look back on, it was that moment that, while admittedly didn't start out all that great, was one of the best days ever. She had received the best gift ever.
Her family.
That was what she was thinking as she fiddled with the necklace around her neck, the Robin charm specifically, that all those years ago had been in the little pink bag Alfred had given her.
She smiled as she let her fist wrap around the necklace, the cool, smooth feel of each pendant on her fingers. Maman, Papa, Alfred, all of Wayne's alter egos, even her own. Each pendant, a person worth remembering.
She bathed in the memory for a moment more, a peaceful smile crossing her lips as she tipped her head back letting the sun bath her skin. She let out a breathy laugh and then let herself tip over the side of the building.
It was high time she left the Guardian mantle for another and joined her friends and family in the sky.
Afterall, it was a warm July day and this time she was the one they were waiting on.