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Sitting atop the Eiffel Tower venting to the air in the vain hope a ghost girl, whose name he didn’t even know, was listening had become something of a habit for Jason.
It started after leaving the League of Assassins and before returning to Gotham. Jason had made a pit stop in Paris to rant. He didn’t know if meeting the other deceased hero had just been a dream but on the off chance it had been real Jason thought that she’d be the only one who could understand him. It felt like no one alive could.
He spilled out all his complicated, twisted feelings to her, told her about the green rage that he was fighting against even as it fueled his plans for revenge.
He didn’t think she’d approve of his plans yet Jason still told her everything from clawing his way out of his grave, to the pits and the League, the betrayal of the Joker still breathing and even his detailed plans for Batman and Gotham.
While in the League Jason had recalled meeting the ghostly heroine; he’d used the League’s resources to try and find anything he could on the Miraculous. All he came up with were vague mentions and whispers. Talia had learned of his search and dismissed the magic jewels as a mere fairytale.
Similarly looking into disturbances in Paris had turned up nothing He couldn’t even find an obituary of a girl matching the ghost’s description he’d even checked a few decades back in case as a ghost she had lost track of time.
Still Jason wasn’t convinced that she was only a figment of his imagination and so time to time Jason would return to Paris to vent to his dream girl. If he remembered correctly it was an apt nickname as the girl had been rather lovely.
Jason’s trips to Paris only became more frequent once he had, if not reconciled, at least come to an uneasy truce with Bruce. The right to use Bat tech also came with regaining access to the Zeta Tubes. After that anytime he felt the green creeping in, got too fed up with Bruce’s bullshit, or even just because he wanted to he was back on the tower talking to the air.
He hadn’t forgotten the promise he made her, but he wasn’t the same trusting, naïve boy who made it. Even if Jason was sure he could convince Bruce or Constantine that his meeting with the ghostly girl had really happened, and he was far from certain they’d believe him, he wouldn’t trust them to fulfill his promise. Between running with the Outlaws and his activities as Red Hood in Gotham Jason was doing his best to connect the Miraculous to a Gabriel in Paris. It was hard going as even the JL Dark seemed to think the Miraculous were a myth.
His investigation was the one secret he kept from his dream girl. Jason hadn’t had time to get her name let alone inquire about her villain’s full name. He regretted both facts; if she really was still at the tower he didn’t want to make her own regrets any heavier. Neither ghostly hero could have predicted that he’d be coming back to life and he didn’t want her upset that she had left out a part of the villain’s name to the one individual that could get her justice and closure.
When it turned out that Gabriel Agreste of Gabriel™ and his wife honeymooned in the Tibetan Mountains the same place that the Miraculous Temple was rumored to be Jason could have kicked himself. Of course it was the most obvious and famous Gabriel in all of France. His brand was everywhere even now Jason could spot at least three ads with that distinct circled G without turning his head.
On the other hand Jason would have never lived it down if he’d assumed it was that Gabriel from the start, gone off halfcocked without evidence, broken into a prominent fashion designer’s home, only to find out he was innocent. The thought of explaining to the Bats that a ghost girl had told Jason that Gabriel had stolen a set of magical jewelry and Jason had promised, while dead, that he’d do what he could to get them back was unthinkable. At best he’d be held in the cave until every possible test came back showing he was himself and not under any influences. Once they’d cleared Jason he would’ve been forced into sessions with Dinah.
If Jason was honest with himself he probably needed those sessions with Dinah but he was nowhere near asking for help and if the rest of his family was any indication he might never get to that point. Which brings us full circle as the closest Jason got to therapy was spilling his guts to the girl who may or may not be on the tower.
Today was different though, today for the first time Jason brought more than himself. He had a backpack with him and rather than coming to vent it was the contents of the bag that brought him up here.
“Hey Ghost Girl, I really hope you are here and I haven’t chased you away. I have something for you,” Jason slowly opened the backpack as he talked, “it’s been a longtime coming but I finally fulfilled our promise.” Out of the bag Jason pulled an octagonal black box and he set it down in front of him.
“I know you said this wouldn’t fix anything but I hope it brings you peace.” Jason had a bitter sweet smile on his face as he looked out over her city. His thoughts were on her bright blue eyes that had once shined with tears for him.
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In her seemingly endless days of watching silently over Paris Marinette often thought of Jason. She hoped he was at peace. She was rather shocked to see his familiar face on a much, much larger body the first time he visited. It was heartbreaking listening to him talk about taking revenge on the man he once wanted nothing more than to reassure. In life he resembled most other ghosts, bitter with unfinished business far more than he had when he himself was a ghost.
It was frustrating not being able to interact with him. There were times she wanted to hold him to reassure him and she fell though him, times where she couldn’t help but yell back at him knowing he’d never hear her. Yet she was thankfully for his visits all the same, she hadn’t had time to explain much of her own situation to Jason he didn’t even know her name, Gabriel’s wish hadn’t just killed her it had wiped all knowledge of her. Jason’s visits were the only proof that someone knew she existed.
She had been so relieved when Jason had failed in his revenge, she knew that it was the influence of the cursed magic that those pits had stained him with and that the boy she had first met would have never forgiven himself had he succeeded. Marinette still saw glimpses of that boy in the man that he had become, no matter how much he insisted that the Jason Todd who was Robin was dead.
Now as she watched him pull the Miraculous Box from his backpack she felt a mix of hope, gratitude and awe. His visits had been more than she could have asked for and he had shown no signs that he had even remembered his offer to find help.
But there it was the Miracle box that had once been Master Fu’s, had once been hers. Proof that not only had Jason listen to her he had gone out of his way to handle her unfinished business. Marinette couldn’t help but reach out to the box.
To both her and Jason surprise the box reacted to her touch. The top compartment jumped open once her finger came in contact and Tikki and Plagg swirled out in pink and green lights.
Marinette was stunned she could touch something. The last physical contact she had was with Jason years ago. She was so dumb struck she missed the conversation that the Kwami had with Jason.
It wasn’t until Jason had finished putting on her earrings and was reaching for Plagg’s ring that Marinette reacted. Even knowing he couldn’t hear her didn’t stop Marinette from protesting, “NO! No, Jason! Whatever your wish is it isn’t worth it!” Her hand went right though his and her momentum carried the rest of her right through him. Marinette spun around in time to see him nearly drop the ring as it shifted in his grasp from her passing.
Jason looked pensively at the ring as if trying to figure out how it had moved.
Tikki looked Marinette dead in the eye as she seemed to reassure Jason, “don’t worry this will put everything right.”
Tikki could see her but Marinette didn’t have time to process that as Jason called for Tikki and Plagg to reveal their true forms. Their incomprehensibly large forms dwarfed the Tower, reality bending so that their heads appeared level with Jason. Plagg and Tikki both formal introduced themselves.
Jason paused in awe and the two Kwami smiled and nodded, “Gimmi, please reveal yourself.” At his words the two beings merged into one.
“I am Gimmi, the Kwami of Reality. I am everything that was, is, and will be.”
As she watched Jason call upon Gimmi it became clear to the young ghost that she had been zoned out for much longer than she had thought. His actions and words were done with a certainty that implied knowledge and planning not the impulsive wish she thought she was about to bear witness to. If Marinette had more time to think she would never have suspected Jason of rushing into unknown magic without a plan, she knew him better than that.
“Hello, Gimmi. I am Jason Todd.”
“Hello little human, Jason Todd,” came the response from Gimmi. “How long has it been since I was last summoned?”
“Err I actually couldn’t find out, but I know it’s been a few years at least.” Jason answered the cosmic being that was towering over him.
Gimmi froze for a split second, “Interesting,” they said as they tilted their head examining Jason. “You are not here to complain.” They finally stated. “You would not have been able to find out how long ago the last wish was as knowledge of it and the events preceding it were wiped from living memory. How did you come to possess any knowledge of the last wish? Was it from the other Kwami?”
Jason shook his head no, “I found out while I was dead. I met another ghost who died as a result of that wish, she told me what little I know.”
Gimmi asked several more questions and Jason answered honestly. By the end Gimmi was grinning. “You, Jason Todd are different from every human I have met before. I quite like you. No human has simply talked to me they always want their wish, immediately. What have you summoned me for?”
Marinette watched Jason just as closely as the Kwami did; her trust in Tikki had kept her silently observing this whole time.
Jason stood just a bit straighter, “Tikki and Plagg asked that I help them fix what happened last time you were called.”
“And you desire nothing for yourself?” At Jason’s slight frown and shake of his head Gimmi continued, “Very well. Any wish must have a cost if you wished for apples to be blue then blueberries must become red. Since you are the first human to indulge me in communication I will do for you something I have never done before. Tell me your wish and I will guide you on how to get what you really want.”
“I want to wish for the reversal of the last wish, the life taken for the life that was given, and the true memories for the false. Any changes Gabriel Agreste made reverse them back, the former price is now the wish and the former wish is now the price.” Jason stated confidently.
His words to the Kwami of Reality were enough to cause a lump to form in Marinette’s throat. Jason visiting had been enough. Jason keeping his promise had been more than she could have asked. But this? This she hadn’t even dared to dream was a possibility.
“Oh I knew I liked you for a reason, Jason Todd, an almost perfect wish.”
Both Jason and Marinette froze at that, she could see the small flash of uncertainty cross his face.
Before either hero could spiral Gimmi continued, “If you had wished that right after the first wish it would have set reality right, but time has passed and time must be accounted for. If I granted it as you asked time would rewind taking the years that have past as price for starting time from the point of the last wish. This would have far reaching consequences which you wish to avoid.”
Gimmi’s eyes glowed a brighter green as they seemed to peer though Jason, “it would affect you personally. You would have no memories of this time, you would be back before you died and without your current knowledge or another outside force you would be doomed to repeat your actions. The force that first revived you did not originate in this world and would not repeat.”
A solemn silence hung in the air. Jason got a determined look on his face but before he could speak Gimmi spoke again, “In order to achieve the spirit of your wish in the current time some adjustments would need to be made. The smaller adjustment would be deciding how to swap the time of the two lives in the wish. Since it involves her would you like to hear her opinion?” Gimmi asked pointing directly at Marinette.
The way Jason’s eyes widened told Marinette that he could see her. She gave an awkward little wave and a sheepish smile, “Hi Jason. Umm, I know you’ve been wondering a while, I’m Marinette, Mariette Dupain-Chang.”
Jason looked at her in disbelief. He mouthed something as if getting a feel for it, “Marinette.” Just the sound of her name coming from someone else’s lips made her realize how long it had been since she had heard her own name and how much she missed being called. Marinette let herself have a moment before they got back to it.
The options that Gimmi had for her weren’t the greatest. It could be a straight swap and Marinette would be alive at the age she died but forever out of sync with the world. She could be aged up with false memories to fill in the years but there would need to be a large cost in order to sync the memories of everyone she knew. The last option would be to age her up without altering memories; this would also mean Marinette would remember her years as a ghost.
Both the first and last options had similar drawbacks with the memories of Hawkmoth’s reign returning Marinette’s absence would be glaringly obvious in the memories of those that knew her or even knew of her. It would mean her identity as Ladybug would be nearly impossible to hide when Hawkmoth went to trial. And he would go to trial! When Paris’ memories returned it would be very obvious who had made a wish. Marinette wasn’t selfish enough to let him off the hook for her convenience. That was also why the second option was out; any option that required additional cost and wasn’t just reverting Gabriel’s wish wasn’t an option as far as Marinette was concerned.
Marinette would have to cope with missing years of her life. It was just a choice between staying a teenager in a world that had moved on without her or becoming an adult without having lived growing up. In the long run Marinette felt that she could cope better with catching up than having everyone from her childhood including her parents always having a disconnect to her age.
Having made her decision she told Jason, “I’d rather age up with no alteration of memories.”
“With that settled there is one last thing to account for, time.” Gimmi said, “As I mentioned before had this wish occurred right after the original there would be no lasting consequences but now that time has flowed from that point and reality has resettled around the wish changing it would have numerous unintended consequences. To counteract that would require a balance in time, space or energy. As I like you and your wish, Jason Todd, is the closest I’ve seen to a truly selfless one I will suggest a cost I think you’ll like.” The large being gave what should have been an unnerving grin but it filled Marinette and Jason, judging by the way his posture softened subtlety, with warmth.
“The cost I would recommend you choose is the energy that is infecting you, Jason Todd. Since it may not be enough to balance all the consequences you could designate the source of that energy to cover the difference.” They said smugly.
Jason looked gob smacked, “I could use the pit madness and the cursed pits as the cost?!” In what looked to be disbelief, Jason broke down laughing.
When he finally got some composure back he looked up at Gimmi with the most heartbreakingly beautiful grin Marinette had even seen in her life. It was so different from the looks she had become accustom to seeing on Jason over the years. Somewhere in the back of her mind Marinette made it her mission in life to see that grin as often as she could.
Jason still smiling said, “Will wishing that get the results that I wanted?” At Gimmi’s slow nod, Jason said, “then that’s what I wish for.”
Gimmi was still beaming, “Jason Todd you have wished for reality to be set back on its original course. Thank you, in subtle ways reality will always be on your side. Your wish will be done!”
At Gimmi’s final word white light spread from the Eiffel Tower covering the world changing its course back to what it would have been without Gabriel’s wish. For most there was no change; in Paris there would be chaos for a while. There would be outrage over lost memories and Hawkmoth would stand trial.
But all of that was in the future. Now standing on the Eiffel Tower stood two young adults facing each other; neither thought they’d be in this state again.
Marinette was the first to move she threw herself at Jason hugging him tight as she lost the battle with her tears. “Thank you Jason,” her muffled voice floated up from his chest.
Jason held her tight. He almost couldn’t believe this was real. Jason felt better than he had since he’d died and it was only partly from the absence of the pit madness. He was free from the green and had his not so dream girl in his arms. “Hey, Marinette, it’s okay. You’re alive and this is real.”
Marinette couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. Of course the other formerly dead hero knew exactly what she needed to hear. She had something she’d wanted to say for the longest time. She’d shouted it countless times over his visits. “Jason, I never once blamed you. I’ve cursed the pits to hell and back but never one did I hate you.” He wondered those things aloud many, many times on the tower.
It was Jason’s turn to cry, “Ah fuck, Mariette. You can’t just say that. It’ll make me do something stupid.”
The tease in his voice was enough to stir up something in her. Marinette lifted her head so that she could look Jason in the eyes, “Oh, but what if I want you to do something stupid?” She bit her lower lip as she kept looking up at him.
That was it for Jason with a groan he lowered his head and caught her lips with his. It was clumsy at first and they were both a mess from crying and yet neither had felt as right or as alive as they did in that moment. They found their rhythm long before they stopped for air.
There would be fallout from the events that just took place but that was for future Marinette and Jason to work out. For now they were both alive and well. Neither could ask for more.