Work Text:
Soulmates. Everyone in the world has one. Everyone except for her, it seemed. Sitting amongst her friends and strangers, most happy together, their soulwords brightly colored, happily on show as they all talk and eat, Marinette is picking at her carrots when there's a soft nudge at her side, making her head snap up to see Alya giving her a concerned look, and she shakes her head to show that she's fine.
"So Marinette," Her head jerks over to look at Bruce's call of her name. "Adrien says you're a designer?"
"Ah," She looks at her best friend beside his boyfriend, the two of them holding hands as Adrien smiles at her, encouraging her to speak up. "yeah, just a beginner though."
"Marinette is being modest. She's won numerous competitions, and has been the sole designer for Jagged Stone since we were in school. Even my father approved of her work." Adrien says, and Marinette feels her face heat up.
"It's not that impressive." She murmurs.
"Dick, who are you talking to?" She hears Steph whisper to her brother around Chloé, who has turned the conversation to another topic, freeing Marinette from the attention.
"Jay's late."
"I thought he wasn't coming, because he and Bruce got into another argument?" Marinette is trying not to eavesdrop, but her curiosity grows as they talk.
"Jason would never skip out on meeting Tim's soulmate. You remember how fiercely protective he got of me when Chloé and I met?"
"That was different."
"Only because of how it happened. This is Jason, we're talking about." Marinette tilts her head to look at them, and Steph catches the movement, grinning nervously as Marinette shoots her a questioning look over the table, and Steph shakes her head.
"Brothers." As she says that, the door opens, drawing everyone's attention, and Bruce's face falls as a tall figure in a leather jacket comes stomping in.
"You're late."
"Had things to do."
"We'll discuss this later."
"So," Jason, she assumes, claps his hands together. "introduce us Tim!" He leans against Adrien's side, over the arm of his chair as he studies his arm. ""That's okay, I have more." Hmm, and what did yours say?"
"Sorry I spilled your coffee." Adrien supplies, and Jason gaffaws, smacking his knee.
"Only you, Timmy!" His eyes fall on Marinette and Alya, just as Adrien goes to respond.
"Who are you?" Alya asks, making Marinette look over at her in surprise.
"Jason. I'm one of Tim's brothers."
"I didn't know he had any more."
"How rude, Tim. I thought I was your favorite!?" Tim rolls his eyes, and Dick gasps dramatically.
"I thought I was the favorite? You mean to tell me, I'm not? My life is a lie!" Chloé rolls her eyes as she pats his head as he buries his face in her neck, pretending to wail.
"So, who are you two?" Jason asks, and Alya pushes her glasses up her nose as she glances at Marinette, who shrugs.
"I'm Alya, this is Marinette. We're members of Adrien's adoptive family."
"Uh-huh."
"What were you busy doing?" Alya asks and Marinette frowns at her, nudging the journalist.
"Stop being so nosey." Marinette whispers.
"I'm just curious."
"No, you're interviewing him. Stop." She scolds, and Jason smirks.
"Don't worry, I can handle myself." He says, and Marinette stiffens, eyes wide as she looks at him.
"It's not worry, it's annoyance." He chuckles, and she knows that he knows, watching as he stands, shrugs off his jacket as he crosses to her, and eyes watching as he rolls up his sleeve, and there are her words, neatly scrawled across his forearm, in pink print.
"Nice to meet you, soulmate."
"Nice to meet you too."