Work Text:
nos·tal·gia
/ näˈstaljə,nəˈstaljə /
noun
a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with
happy personal associations.
—--------------------------------------------------------------
“I’m sorry! Do you need any help?”
Dick looked up at the woman staring down at him with worry.
“No. Not at all. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure I was in a rush and I plowed into you fairly hard-”
He laughed, pushing himself off the ground with a small smile. “I’ve had my fair share of falls worse than that. I am absolutely fine.”
She gave him a quick once over before shooting an apologetic smile.
“If you say so. I’m sorry for running into like that. Have a good day!” she told him starting to continue on her way.
“Wait!”
She stopped, turning back to look at him, tilting her head to the side slightly as she raised a brow.
“Can I get a name for the pretty woman who just ran into me?”
She blushed slightly before nodding. “Only if I can get the name of my handsome victim.”
“You drive a hard bargain. Deal.”
“Marinette.”
“Nice to meet you Marinette. I’m Dick.”
“Dick?” she asked, with a small laugh.
“Dick Grayson at your service.”
She smiled. “I hope I run into you again, Dick,” she said before disappearing into the crowd of people.
—-
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
His heart stopped as he heard her voice directed at him. The small ache growing as he looked up at the woman he thought he’d never talk to again. ‘Yes. You did,’ he wanted to say. Dick swallowed as he shook his head. “No. Not at all.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. You just seemed… familiar…” she trailed off, staring at him before giving a small shake of her head. “Nevermind. I’m sorry for interrupting your meal. Have a good day,” she said, turning to leave.
“Wait! Marinette!”
She froze, turning to look at him, tilting her head slightly as she narrowed her eyes slightly. “How do you know my name?”
“It was a lucky guess?”
“No it wasn’t. You know me.”
He let out a breath. “I do.”
“You know me and I don’t know you. You know what happened to my memories don’t you? Why I don’t remember you? Why can’t I seem to remember anything significant about the past ten years? Why I don’t even remember moving to another country?”
“I don’t I’m sor-”
“Please. Please don’t lie to me. No one I remember will tell me the truth and I’m sick and tired of it. Alya, Luka, Adrien, Nino. They’ve all been so, so skittish around me like I might break if they say something. I just want to know what happened.”
“You were in a car accident, the amnesia was irreparable.”
“Then why did I wake up on a rooftop and not a hospital, hmm? Please. Gods, please just tell me.”
Dick let out a shaky breath before pushing his chair back and standing. “Okay. But it’d probably be best if we went back to my apartment. It might be a bit easier,” he said softly. She looked at him, before nodding.
“Only if I can get the name of the one person willing to give me answers.”
“You drive a hard bargain. Deal. I’m Dick.”
“Dick?” she asked, with a small laugh. His heart panged as her words brought back memories of their first meeting and subsequent run-ins.
“You had the same exact reaction when we first met.”
“Did I?”
He nodded, glancing away from her. She reached out slightly, before pulling her hand back, holding it close to her.
“Lead the way, Dick.”
—--------------------------------------------------------------
“Dick!” she squealed in surprise as he pulled her wheelie chair away from her desk and sewing machine.
“You, Mar, need a break.”
“I don’t have time for a break. I need to finish this commission by tomorrow if it’s going to get sent out in time.”
“A quick snack break. Don’t even need to leave the room. I brought Hot Cocoa and Cookies with me.”
“With whipped cream?”
“Of course!”
She let out an over the top sigh and leaned back, spinning in her chair. “Fineeeee. You win.”
He laughed as she stopped spinning before handing her a mug. The two of them clinked their mugs together before taking a sip.
Marinette laughed as she looked over at him.
“You have a little something on your nose.”
“Oh I do?”
“Mhmm.”
He swiped the whipped cream in his mug with his finger before reaching over and booping her nose with it.
“So do you.”
“Low blow.”
“Is it? I thought it was sweet like you.”
She blushed, pushing her chair over next to where he was sitting and pulling her phone out, nestling her head onto her shoulder. “Smile!”
He grinned as she snapped a selfie of the two of them, quickly turning to press a kiss to her cheek as she took a second picture.
She turned, catching him off guard as she gave him a quick kiss and swiping the whipped cream off of his nose, licking it off of her finger.
“Two can play that game, Love.”
He grinned, giving her a kiss on the nose.
“If you say so.”
—-
Dick unlocked the door to his apartment, letting Marinette in before closing and locking it, letting her look around, with a quick ‘make yourself at home.’
Marinette looked around, the feeling of being at home washing over her as she looked at the small apartment, frowning slightly at the picture frames that lay face down. She picked one up, blinking in surprise as she saw two photos side by side. One of her and Dick with whipped cream on their noses, the next with Dick pressing a kiss on her cheek as she blushed. She stared at the photo, her heart racing a little as she felt a faint blush come to her cheeks. She quickly put the frame back down as she saw Dick enter with a couple of mugs in his hands.
“I made Hot Cocoa,” Dick said, holding up the mugs, passing one off to her.
“With whipped cream on top. My favorite. Thank you.”
He nodded, taking a seat on the couch, she sat in the chair across from him, folding her legs up into the chair with her.
“I take it we were close?”
“We were.”
The two sat there drinking their hot chocolate for a while before Marinette spoke up.
“Can you tell me why I lost my memories? The true reason why?”
Dick looked at her before giving a small nod, hesitating as he tried to figure out the best way to say this.
“You…. were a hero and the protector of many powerful magical artifacts. You came here to hide but they found you and so you passed them off in secret. You gave up that role to protect them and a part of that process is relinquishing all your memories of them and a large portion of your time with them.”
She blinked. “I-”
“It’s a bit much to believe, I know.”
“No. No. I believe you. Just trying to wrap my head around it. I take it we were close enough for me to tell you that.”
He nodded, not trusting himself to say anything.
“How- how close were we?”
“I was going to ask you to marry me,” he said softly.
“Oh.”
He nodded, looking away from her, as he took a few shaky breaths.
She moved, sitting next to him, lightly resting a hand on his knee, and rested her head on his shoulder, rubbing her thumb back and forth.
“I know- I know this won’t be the same but…. I’d love to get to know you. Again. If you would be up for it,” she said softly.
“You don’t need to feel like you need to get back with someone you don’t know.”
“I’m not saying it just to say it. This feels right , It feels like home. Being with you feels right. It feels like I’ve found a missing piece. You don’t have to though, if you don’t want to. I completely understand if you never want to see me again.”
“I’ve missed you. So much, Mar. I don’t want to lose you. Not again.”
She gave a soft smile, as she brushed a tear off his face with her thumb.
“Then don’t. I want to get to know you again. And together we can figure out a way to recover my memories since I finally know the truth. How does that sound?”
“Like another unbelievable plan of yours.”
“Luck tends to be on my side though. This will work.”
“You have no idea how much that statement rings true.”
She gave a soft laugh, as she smiled at him. “If you say so.”