Work Text:
She ran a hand down the fabric, smoothing it out.
A blast of wind shook the curtains, the breeze sending goosebumps up her arm.
With a few quick steps, she quickly moved to shut the windows.
As she clicked the latch shut, her door creaked open.
"I've been knocking for a while now. Either you've gone deaf or-" His deep voice stopped abruptly as his eyes found her.
He traced his gaze up from her feet to her very bare legs and higher to the beginning of the skirt.
She froze as he took her in, his face betraying no emotion.
His eyes stopped at hers. The moonlight seemed to make the blue of her eyes glow, almost hypnotising him.
He cleared his throat, his gaze unable to leave her. "The recruits-" His breath stopped as his eyes flickered up.
The only time he'd seen her hair down was the very first day they'd met when he'd ripped her hairband off and threatened to cut it all of with a dagger.
From that day, she'd kept it wrapped up in a tight bun.
It had certainly grown since then. A lot.
"Lieutenant?"
Her voice broke his gaze away and he met her eyes again, this time sharp rather than surprised at his abrupt entrance.
He cleared his throat again. "The recruits will be arriving tomorrow."
She took a step away from the window. A step towards him. Then nodded.
"Okay. You could've just sent someone to tell me that. I'm curious as to why you came to tell me that yourself." Her eyes narrowed, suspicious.
His demeanour changed quickly. He stood taller and took a big step into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar.
"No need to be so suspicious, Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng. My father was the one who ordered me to do this. I believe he thinks that by forcing us to engage in more small talk, we can somehow get along better."
She held her chin up and began moving towards him, the skirt of her dress moving fluidly against her thighs.
"I see. Well, now that you've delivered the message, you can leave."
His eyes shot down, watching the skirt move.
He went stiff as she walked past him, her lacy sleeves briefly coming into contact with his own, much tighter, sleeves.
He turned around as he watched her open the door wider.
She looked up slowly, her eyes tracing his outfit.
His cargo pants were loose, his shirt tight. He blended into the night with his dark hair and equally as dark outfit. It seemed he'd been summoned the moment he'd finished working out.
When her eyes found his, she quirked a brow. "Is there something else you need, Lieutenant?"
She watched as he slowly stepped towards her. His feet seemingly.. hesitant?
He dropped his head, a bead of sweat dropping.
And then he did the most absurd thing.
The most ridiculous thing.
The most.. uncharacteristically insane thing.
He grabbed her chin, pulled it up, and before she could complain that she was too tired to get into a fight, he kissed her.
<--->
The room was crowded with noise. Filled with the sounds of recruits sparring. Wooden swords falling. Guns shooting.
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng barked an order. "Recruit 009, mat, now!"
Recruit 009 picked up a sword and was on the mat in seconds.
She eyed him. He looked quick. But he would need to work on his posture.
She flicked her sword in her hand, getting used to the weight once more before she completely and utterly destroyed another recruit. She liked to think of it as humbling them.
She nodded and he charged at her, his swipes quick but imprecise. She parried his hits and dodged others.
Just as she was about to land a blow on him and end this boring match, an arm wrapped around her waist, and quickly pulled her back.
Her head whipped around to be met with the sight of one very annoying Wayne.
She growled. "Lieutenant Wayne! Just what do you think you're doing interfering with my fight!"
Lieutenant Wayne's eyes found hers. Green on blue.
His voice was deep and angry as he responded. But the anger was not directed at her. "Your recruit was just about to land a blow to your side."
Her head whipped around to the recruit, his body lay on the floor in a heap of pain as he cradled his fist.
It seemed Lieutenant Wayne had done more than pull her away.
Now that she thought about it, she was still in his arms.
She quickly pulled herself away before directing her attention back onto recruit 009.
"Recruit 009, on your feet!"
Recruit 009 shot to his feet, groaning.
"Y-"
"There is no room for a soldier who cheats on the battlefield." Lieutenant Wayne cut in. His voice bitter.
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng shot him a look. One that he ignored.
She took a few steps towards the recruit, watching as he flinched as she got closer.
She stopped directly in front of him. When she spoke, it was not directed towards him, but towards the man who stood a few feet behind her.
"All he needs is a change of mindset."
Lieutenant Wayne growled. "You are too lenient."
His voice was closer. He'd followed her.
Her eyes shot to the side where he stood towering next to her. "And you are too cruel."
Their eyes met. Green on blue. Challenging each other. He turned around, muttering something, and walked back to his recruits.
She turned her attention to the wooden swords that had been abandoned on the floor and then back to the recruit. "I understand that you were just trying to impress me with your quick thinking. However, there are no fists in a sword fight. It would do you good to learn that quickly. I am more patient than Lieutenant Wayne, however I do not tolerate such nonsense." He nodded quickly. She craned her head. "Go to the medic."
She watched as he stumbled away, cradling his fist.
She sighed deeply. She hoped Lieutenant Wayne hadn't broken anything.
Speaking of Lieutenant Wayne...
Her eyes found him, barking orders to his recruits.
Before she could stop herself, she was at his side in seconds.
He ignored her as she glared at him.
A beat passed, and he looked down at her. "What?"
Her hand shot up and grabbed his arm, pulling him away. They both knew he could've overpowered her, yet he followed.
They stopped at the wall. He watched as she turned around. The rage in her posture so strong that he was surprised her bun hadn't loosened from the weight of having to carry her anger.
Her voice broke the silence with a whisper. "Is this about last night?"
He cocked his brow. "What do you mean?"
She huffed. "Do you suddenly feel some sort of dumb protectiveness because you shoved your way into my room and kissed me?"
His eyes narrowed. "First of all, I did not shove my way into your room. Secondly, I do not care for you, Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng, and I most definitely do not feel the need to protect you from a man who can barely handle a little pain."
She hissed. "Then what was that all about!"
He leaned in, his frustration at her accusations, her very false accusations, growing.
"You have to show these recruits that you cannot be messed with. The moment you let them land an unfair blow is the moment they think you're an easy target."
She leaned in too, refusing to let him be the only intimidating one. "Target? Do you seem to think that I can't handle my male recruits?"
"I-"
She interrupted sharply. "Or are you jealous? Do you think that they'll fall for me and-"
"Jealous!" He scoffed. "Where is this coming from?"
"The kiss!" She hissed.
"It was just a kiss!"
"But why? Why did you kiss me!"
This question took him off guard. Why had he kissed her? Such thoughts had never once entered his mind before last night. Had they?
Sure, she'd looked pretty in the dress, but that was to be expected. Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng was an attractive woman and- wait.
He shook his head, the movement confusing her.
Attractive? He scolded his thoughts. When had he started placing value on her looks? When had he started noticing the way her eyes were such a bright blue that he could drown in them? The way her hair had looked so ridiculously silky that he'd had the urge to run a hand through them? The way-
"Lieutenant Wayne! Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng!"
They both whipped around and separated. Their arms instantly magnetising towards their backs and their legs standing to attention.
"Sir!" Their voices were sharp as they welcomed their Commander.
Commander Bruce Wayne eyed them both. "Why is one of you neglecting your recruits and the other more than 7 feet away from hers!"
They both stared at their Commander, neither one choosing to answer.
Commander Wayne's eyes shifted to his son.
Lieutenant Wayne spoke up. "We were discussing a matter of great importance, sir!"
Commander Wayne's eyes shifted to Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng. "Is this true, Lieutenant?"
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng answered just as quickly. "Yes, sir!"
Commander Wayne eyed them both before moving towards them. He leaned in close to them, the atmosphere around the room growing more tense as the recruits all watched, holding their breaths in unison.
His voice was deep as he said his next words. "Is this about the events of last night?"
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng's eyes darted to Lieutenant Wayne's. He shook his head subtly.
He hadn't told him. So how did-
Commander Wayne leaned back and barked out laughing. The mood lightened up just as quickly as it had gone sour. Everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief. Everyone except for the two confused Lieutenants.
"You should know by now that I have eyes and ears everywhere!" Something in his eyes twinkled as he looked at his son and whispered. "I approve."
Lieutenant Wayne's eyes went wide. "Sir- This isn't- That wasn't- We're not-"
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng gasped quietly. "You planned this!"
The Commander nodded, triumphant.
"You're the one who sent me the dress! That's why you sent Lieutenant Wayne to deliver the message!"
He nodded again. "It took you long enough to realise!"
Lieutenant Wayne was speechless.
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng was also speechless.
"I've been trying to get you two together since you sucker punched him in the face after he threatened to cut your hair off!"
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng's eyes went wide. "Sir, this isn't- We're not-"
Lieutenant Wayne cut in. "Sir, with all due respect, you should not be playing matchmaker. Your taste in daughters-in-law is rather questionable."
Commander Wayne smirked. "You're the one who kissed her."
Lieutenant Wayne stuttered. "That was not- I-"
Commander Wayne sighed. This child of his was a lot of work. "Just know that you have my blessing. Whenever you want to get down on one knee, make it fun. Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng isn't the type to be blown away by just flowers."
With that, he walked away, ordering the recruits to stop gawking and carry on training as he walked past them.
Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng felt heat rise up to her cheeks. "This is all your fault!"
Lieutenant Wayne growled down at her. "My fault! You're the one who was looking all nice in that dumb dress!"
She turned to him. "You're the one who entered my room without knocking!"
He turned to her. "I knocked! You were just too preoccupied thinking about how to make me kiss you that you didn't hear me!"
"Make you kiss- Damian Wayne!"
Lieutenant Wayne's eyes narrowed. "Titles, Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"
She snorted. "I don't think you'll be thinking much about titles when I fall in love with one of the recruits and run away!" She turned on her heels and marched away, choosing instead to grace her recruits with her presence rather than continue to spend one more second with this annoying man.
"Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng!" He reached his hand out to grab her arm, but missed. "I-It was the dress! I- You-" He stopped abruptly, quickly remembering about the recruits who were staring at him, waiting for orders.
They looked between him and the now busy Lieutenant Dupain-Cheng.
Heat crept up his cheeks. His ears went red. "50 push ups, now!"