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Lady Noire let out a grunt as she was slammed out of the air, hitting the building rooftop hard. She tumbled to a slow speed, using the now controllable speed to roll into a crouch, pulling her baton into hand as she looked up at her attacker.
Nightwing. Great. Just what I need, she thought, brushing herself off as she stood, keeping one eye on him.
“What can I do for you tonight, Blue Bird?”
“That depends. What’d you steal?”
“For once. Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She shrugged. “That’s your own fault then. I was just following up on an instinct,” She moved to leave, before once again getting acquainted with the roof as Nightwing pinned her down.
“Leaving so soon?”
“I’ve got a big night tomorrow and I would love to be able to get some sleep tonight so if you don’t mind, Birdy, I’m going to have to settle this another day.”
She broke his hold, pushing him off before snatching up her baton and diving off the side of the roof, making her way back to her apartment, taking a longer route than she normally would to be safe, a small yawn welcoming her home as she landed on the fire escape.
Adrien looked up from the book he was reading as she climbed in through the window.
“You were gone longer than you thought you’d be.”
“Nightwing caught on patrol again. AUGH Why can’t he just let me be?!”
“You have been stealing jewels and priceless texts from rich families and museums, Princess.”
“It’s not my fault that New Jersey has so many of them! It’s like this place is a magnet for old money and dangerous artifacts. I’m surprised a Miraculous hasn’t been used here sooner.”
Adrien laughed as she called for her detransformation, simply opening the fridge door for Plagg to get at the cheese and help himself.
“He’s going to-”
“I don’t care if he eats all the cheese. I am tired. I want to sleep. When do we need to leave tomorrow?”
“No later than five.”
She yawned, closing the refrigerator door as Plagg came out. “If I’m not up by two, drag me out of bed.”
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
She nodded, waving his concern away. “I’ll be fine. This is the best chance I’ll get to nab that grimoire hiding in the manor. You wouldn;t believe the security measures that Barkk found there. I’m more up for that than dealing with those. Night.”
“Get some good rest, M’Lady.”
She gave a half-hearted wave as she walked into the hall and promptly collapsed on her bed allowing sleep to consume her.
—-------------------------
Dick resisted the urge to pull the mask off his face, the ties in the back not nearly as comfortable as the domino mask he was accustomed to. He tugged slightly on the edge before freezing as he caught sight of a familiar figure. Long braid piled up around the two ears perched on top her head, a familiar domino mask and unnatural green eyes, sweeped the room, seeming to pause on him for a second longer than anyone else, a small smile tugging at her lips as she slipped into a crowd of people.
He moved, struggling to keep her in sight as she weaved onto the dance floor, finding a partner to dance with.
He uttered a soft ‘May I cut in’ to her partner as he stepped in, taking her hand for the turn. She laughed as she was spun around, her smile growing colder as she faced her new dance partner.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Blue Bird?"
"What are you doing here, Noire?"
"It is a charity masquerade. Why shouldn't I be?"
“I didn’t think you’d be the charitable type.”
“It’s Valentine’s day. I can share the love can’t I?” she asked, grinning as he dipped her, wrapping her arms around his neck as she came back up. “Besides, it never killed anyone to mix a bit of business and pleasure,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his ear, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
He grabbed her wrist, spinning her back into him. “Not so fast there, Noire. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
She laughed, “If only that was up to you, Birdy.”
She dug the claws at the end of her gloves in his wrist, the sudden pain loosening his grip enough for her to pull away and into the arms of a blonde man, immediately pulling her into the dance and into the crowd once more.
Dick looked, trying to follow her for a minute before giving up actively looking for the moment, to complete some quick rounds as was expected of one of the host’s sons to do, before he risked hearing a side comment from Alfred after the event admonishing him. He grinned, spotting a familiar, friendly face.
“Adrien Agreste. Nice to finally see you at one of these things.”
The ex-model laughed. “Dick Grayson, it’s been years. You know I wouldn’t normally be caught dead at one of these events, but when an old friend is dying to get to see one such event up close,” he shrugged. “I can’t say no. How have you been?”
“Not bad. There’s a stray black cat that’s been giving me trouble at night for a while, but that’s the worst that’s happened so I’m not complaining.”
Adrien laughed with a small smile. “Black cat’s are something else. Love them, but they can manage to get into the oddest of situations. But they are some of the best around too.”
“I don’t know how much of that adds up with my experiences.”
“Give it some time. You’ll see. If you can put up with their chaos you can grow to love them.”
Dick laughed. “I don’t see how.”
“They have a unique way about them. You’ll see. Anyways, it was great to see you again, but I need to go find my friend before she finds herself out of her depth.”
He parted with a small wave as he walked away. Dick hung by the wall, making small talk with any of the socialites who decided it was time to catch up after ‘far too long’ since they spoke at the last high society event.
The soft snicker from behind him gave him an excuse to break away, moving to catch up with Lady Noire, as she slunk around the outside of the room, and onto the balcony, clinging to the shadows outside.
He came up from behind her, placing his hands on the railing to either side of her as he spoke up.
“You left our dance so quickly.”
She gave a small hum as she turned to face him. “I’ve had a long past few days, sometimes a girl just needs a break.”
“Was that an accomplice who helped your quick escape?”
“Accomplice?” she asked, holding a hand to her heart. “Not at all. Simply a good friend, who happens to be coming this way now.”
“M’Lady, do I need to be worried that someone is going to steal you away from me?”
“Always, Chaton. I’ve told you about the bird problem I have right?”
Adrien grinned as he looked between the two of them. “I think you’ve mentioned it once or twice, Marinette. Dick, didn’t you mention having a bit of a problem with a Black Cat earlier? Maybe the two of you could help each other out.” His laughter was clear in his voice.
Lady Noire- Marinette - glared at him. He laughed, ducking out of range of her slap. “I would apologize, M'Lady, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.”
“No wonder you’re Plagg’s favorite. I don’t understand how you tricked everyone into thinking you’re all sunshine and innocence.”
“My charming personality and good looks? My sweet and loving designer friend?”
“Your flattery will get you nowhere, Kitty.”
“I know a dismissal when I hear one. I shall leave you two to figure out your mutual problems,” he replied, walking away with a grin, stopping to talk to one of the musician’s Bruce had hired for the night, a guitarist with hints of blue throughout his hair. The blonde looked back at the pair, directing Guitar Boy’s attention towards them, before steering him away.
“So, Dick , having a cat problem are you?”
Dick narrowed his eyes slightly, taking her arm with his, keeping a tense grip, in case she tried to slip away. “Let’s talk out of the public eye, shall we?”
“Ooh too scared of what might happen or what I might let slip in front of some unsuspecting upper class ears? Or do you just want to get me alone?” she teased, Cheshire grin growing as she spoke.
She tapped Adrien’s arm gently as they passed, giving a small shake of the head as he took a step towards them. And a second one as her eyes met Guitar Boy’s.
“Friend of yours?”
“Who? Luka?”
“Is that the guitarist’s name?”
“He’s an old friend. An ex actually. We parted on friendly terms. I keep waiting to see when he and Adrien will finally get over themselves and get together. I think they’re too busy mother henning over me.”
“Mother henning you? I didn’t think you’d allow anyone to watch over you.”
“I don’t need anyone to watch out for me. Unfortunately those two have been in the habit since lycee and I just can’t seem to get them to break it.”
Dick couldn’t help the small laugh as he imagined the two boys trying to control her and keep her out of trouble. “I can’t imagine that went over well.”
“Well they did, and do, do a far better job than you could, I imagine. What’s your success rate at this point? One and a half jobs stopped? If even?”
—-------------------------
Marinette laughed as he didn’t answer instead, pulling her into a room, and shutting the door behind them. She grinned looking around the library, running one hand gently over some of the books’ spines.
“Are there any books in here you can’t read?” she asked, looking around the large bookshelves.
“I imagine. I don’t know all the languages in the world.”
“Really? I thought with all your other skills surely you must.”
She reached under the waistband of her skirt and pulled out her baton, extending it to get to the top shelves. She perched ther, balancing delicately on top of the thin metal cylinder as she looked at the shelf in front of her. Eyes quickly scanning the titles, skipping over some, backtracking over others. Searching for anything that seemed out of place. There .
She glanced down as Dick came up underneath looking up to watch what she was doing. Perfect , she thought, as she tilted her head to the side looking down at him.
“Don’t you know it’s rude to look under a lady’s skirt?”
Dick looked away, taking a few steps back, cheeks burning as she called down to him, green eyes almost glowing with mischief.
She pulled the book off of the shelf, standing, keeping her balance on top of the baton, as she stashed the book into the deep pocket she had hidden in her dress pocket. She smiled down at Dick, pushing off the baton, grabbing it and collapsing it as she fell, flipping in the air, her laughter ringing out, getting absorbed in the pages of the books as she neared the ground, tensing slightly preparing to land.
She was, however, not prepared for the pair of strong arms to catch her, cradling her descent. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she looked up at him, a small smile forming.
“My hero,” she murmured, softly, her smiling growing at the faint blush on his cheeks.
“I wasn’t just going to let you fall.”
“Aw, you do care about me after all,” she purred softly, uncoiling, and pulling away from him, tucking her baton away back underneath her skirt. “Did you like the view?”
“I didn’t see anything.”
“I know. You wanted to talk?”
“Same question I’ve already asked. What are you doing here?”
“Would you believe me I just wanted to get into a nice party, see what the upper class are interested in wearing these days?”
“No. But a cute attempt.”
“Like you.”
“What?”
She gave a soft laugh, pushing him into the bookshelf, and placing her arms on either side as she grinned up at him. “You’re cute, Blue Bird. Dare I say handsome.”
Dick blinked, trying to figure out how to respond, ignoring the blush forming as she continued.
“Has the cat got your tongue?”
“Not at all.”
“That could easily change,” she said softly when the fire alarm went off breaking the two apart.
“That, unfortunately, is my cue to leave. ‘Til next time, Birdy,” she said, pushing away from him and towards the window, sliding the window open and hopping out. Dick followed right behind, trying to catch up. He lunged forward grabbing onto the skirt of her dress hoping to trip her or cause a spill. Not expecting it to rip away in his hand revealing her usual leather catsuit. She glanced back, hesitating a moment before continuing on, using her baton to carry her up onto the rooftops in her escape.
He looked at the skirt in his hand, turning it over, the black on black fabric making it look almost like shifting shadows. He shook his head as he folded the fabric, pausing as his hand hit something solid. He frowned as he found a hidden pocket pulling out an old book, the ornate W lightly traced on the inside of the cover indicated it was from the library.
“So that’s what you were here for.”
—-------------------------
The soft knock knock knock broke Marinette from her thoughts as she made tea. She pulled the kettle off the stove top and turned it off, furrowing her brows as she went over to answer the door.
Marinette opened the door, immediately slamming it as she saw who was on the other side. Or attempting to, the door bouncing back as he stuck his foot in the door. Hard.
She crossed her arms, leaning in the door frame as she looked at him unimpressed.
“Does it hurt when you do that?”
“Funny. Thought I’d return this to you from last weekend. I have to say the hidden pocket was clever.”
“Thank you. I tried,” She replied, snatching the skirt from his hands, draping it over her arm. “I imagine you have questions.”
Dick nodded as he stared at the woman in front of him. Gone was the long braid and impossible green eyes. Instead the shoulder length hair she sported was held back in the remains of a bun as blue eyes regarded him carefully, the faint shadows of one too many sleepless nights that Dick knew too well were present. In any other circumstance he’d say she was beautiful. “You might as well come in since you’re here. I just made a pot of tea. You’re welcome to have some,” she said walking into the apartment, draping the skirt over the back of a chair as she passed.
Dick closed the door shut behind him, taking in the small apartment, eyes lingering on the several odd ornamental boxes littered about. He reached out to pick one up, getting stopped short by a man’s hand grabbing his wrist.
“Look. Don’t touch,” he warned softly, letting go of his wrist. “You didn’t tell me you were expecting anyone else, Mari.”
“I wasn’t. I’m sorry I’m going to have to cut our afternoon short. I have some business with a lost bird to deal with.”
Luka chuckled. “All good. My place next time?”
“Yep! Let me know how tonight goes!”
“You as well!” the sound of the door shutting behind him.
She left the kitchen, placing a tray with two cups, a teapot, and several baked goods down on the coffee table. She poured herself a cup, grabbing a cookie as she sat leaning back.
“Go on. Make yourself comfortable. Help yourself.”
Dick sat down.
“How’d you find me?”
“It wasn’t hard after I learned your name, Marinette.”
“Ah, right, tutored by the great Batman. What do you want, Nightwing? I doubt you came just to return my skirt.”
“What was that book you wanted?”
She hummed, laughter threatening to spill out. “You want to know about the book?”
“I do.”
“That’s too bad. Because that’d be counterproductive to what I’m trying to accomplish.”
“Then can you at least tell me what language that is? It didn’t look like anything I’d seen.”
“That’s because you wouldn’t have seen it. It’s not meant to be known by regular people.”
“But you know it.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately?”
She leaned forward, putting her cup down as she put her elbows on her knees and looked at him, fighting back a yawn quickly before speaking.
“I’m going to make a proposition here. That book does your family no good. It’s just going to sit there, collecting dust until it gets donated or lost or destroyed, and I would really hate to see that. It could be what I want. It could be nothing. Either way it still shouldn’t be in the hands of people like you.”
“People like me?”
“Mhmm.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Anyways,” she continued brushing off his question. “The way I see it is either you give me the book, or allow me to take it if that’s less hurtful to your pride and I’ll be out of your feathers. Or, you can stubbornly hold onto the book as I bring chaos to your family and that beautiful house of yours until I retrieve that book. Which will it be?”
“I think you know what my answer is going to be.”
She let out a breath.
“I was hoping you’d come around, but I suppose I knew it was in vain. Very well. I’ll see you around, Blue Bird,” she said, escorting him to her front door.
“One last question?”
“What is it?”
“What did Luka mean when he told me, ‘Look. Don’t Touch.’ when I was looking at one of your boxes.”
She looked him over, narrowing her eyes as she studied him, head tilting sideways, letting out a small huff. “You should be grateful. Some of those boxes have got some nasty jinxes and hexes on them. Would have been a nasty surprise for you. Goodbye Dick,” she said, shutting the door in his face.
The click of the lock was decisive enough that he wasn’t going to get anything else out of her today.
—-------------------------
Dick sat in the library, turning the book he had pulled out of the skirt over in his hands as he tried to decipher, or at least find any character in the book that look remotely related to something he’d seen before.
“Why do you have that?” Damian spoke up from behind him.
“This book?”
“Yes. The Grimoire, Grayson. Where did you get it?”
“It’s been in our library. I caught Noire trying to steal it during the gala.”
“There is no name I know of for that language. It isn't spoken often or even heard often enough for outsiders to know of it. Only a few know of it’s existence outside of the Order.”
“So the heroes in Paris, they can read this-”
“No. That would be idiotic. The Miraculi get loaned out and, occasionally, lost by foolish Guardians. If anyone who had handled one could read it, the purpose of the language would be useless. It’s a grimoire,” he replied, looking at him as if he had just asked him what his own name was. “Spells, enchantments, rituals, steps, it’s a guide for Guardians to best protect and strengthen the Miraculi. Not to give additional power to reckless heroes.”
“So if she was to understand and know the language. She’s in charge of caring for the Miraculi.”
“One of the last to do so,” Damian confirmed, with a soft Tt as he shook his head and left the room.
—-------------------------
Marinette looked over at the soft tap tap on her window. She let out a deep breath as she found Nightwing on her fire escape, crossing her arms after opening the window and leaning out.
“What can I do for you tonight? Try to pry some more answers from me? Or keep me from getting my first good night’s sleep in a week?”
“I plan on making your day.”
“Oh? And how do you plan on doing that?”
“Found out you have a pretty big job on your shoulders. Figured you could use the boost a grimoire might give you,” he replied, holding the book out to her. She snatched it out of his hands, flipping through it quickly, before looking at him again, eyes narrowed slightly.
“How’d you figure that out?”
“Robin has some… in-depth knowledge about old shadow groups. Recognized the grimoire.”
“And so you're just giving it to me? No bugs attached.”
“Free of charge.”
“I- Thank you,” she said softly, pulling her torso out of the window. “I just put the kettle on. Come on in. Have a cup.”
He climbed in through the window as she disappeared down the hall, pulling the kettle off as it whistled in her absence. She came back with a small smile and a quick ‘thank you’ before pulling out a couple mugs and tea bags, bringing the drinks out to the living room, where a small plate of snacks already lay next to a small embroidery hoop.
“Help yourself,” she said, setting the cups down. “You know, I think I like you better when you're not in a suit.”
“What?”
“When you came by yesterday in regular clothes. Seemed more,” she gestured at him vaguely with one hand as she took a sip of her tea, “you. Don’t get me wrong, you look good in anything, but I like the regular look the best.”
“Thank you. You know, I could say the same for you. You look so cozy and cuddly right now.”
He smiled as her cheeks grew red.
“Is that an offer?”
“If you want it to be.”
She laughed, pulling the throw blanket off the back of the couch and gesturing for him to join her before throwing the blanket over the two of them, curling up next to him, and gently drifting off to sleep.