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“Mom will be visiting.”
Bruce nodded. Talia didn't really do the whole ‘Mother's Day’ thing but it didn't necessarily surprise him. She would definitely take any chance she could to try and spend time with Damian.
“I'll let Alfred know to set out an extra plate for Talia.” Bruce said as he typed out something on the computer for a case Batman had.
Damian shook his head although Bruce didn't see it, “Mom, not Mother.”
Bruce hummed, “Alright. It doesn't matter to me what you call Talia.”
Damian sighed but left Bruce to his devices. Bruce, completely unaware that Talia was not who was joining them for Mother's Day brunch. That was fine, he'd find out soon enough.
By the time Sunday rolled around he didn't even remember the conversation. It had long since been filed into long term memory and wasn't worth recalling. No one else seemed too out of the ordinary for the most part either. Dick was trying to talk to Steph about color theory in fashion, Jason was teasing Tim, Cass was carrying something for Alfred, and Duke was getting up to get the door- wait who else was supposed to be here? Selina maybe?
“Hey! Damian!” Duke said from in the foyer.
Bruce nodded. Right. Damian said Talia was coming. Hopefully none of his kids minded? Jason or Dick maybe? Oh wait, didn't Tim have a weird relationship with the Al Ghul's? Cass probably wouldn't care too much… Bruce turned to greet Talia, hand extended, and instead was faced with a petite young woman who was being guided to a seat next to Damian.
The woman laughed and it was like little bells jingling. The way her eyes crinkled at the edges made her rich blue eyes seem like sapphires. Damian smiled at her like she had hung the moon. His siblings stared blatantly, clearly surprised. Alfred took it in stride as usual. The woman smiled softly and it stirred a warmth in Bruce.
“Hello, you must be Damian's siblings! It is a pleasure to meet you all. You've been such a good influence on my Damian, I am beyond grateful.” The pretty woman said with thanks laced in her voice.
Damian huffed, “Mom, please.”
The table erupted into chaos not unseen for the household. Shouts of confusion and shock radiated from everyone and Bruce felt his own confusion grow. Damian looked ready to cut someone's vocal chords while the stranger in their midst faltered.
Bruce raised a hand and the table quieted, “Damian, I thought you said you were bringing Talia?”
Mixed reactions filtered through the room but most interesting of all was his son's and the woman's reaction. Damian pinched his brow in annoyance, clearly Bruce had made some sort of error. However the woman had a pained look on her face. Just the mention of Talia Al Ghul seemed to have bothered her.
The woman turned to Damian, “Dames, I thought you told them?”
Damian looked sorry, “I did but I fear there has been a… misunderstanding. That is on me, mom. Would you like to leave?”
The woman who was apparently deemed worthy of the title of ‘mom’ by Damian shook her head, “No, I want to spend the day with you if it's still possible.”
Damian nodded and looked to Bruce, “Father. This is Marinette, she is my birth mother though she did not raise me due to…”
The woman cringed.
“-extenuating circumstances.” Damian finished.
Quiet murmurs and looks were shared around the table and eventually all eyes looked to Bruce. They were deferring to him on the matter and while Bruce needed… time to process the news, he nodded.
“She's your mom, of course she is welcome. We would love to get to know her.” Bruce stated honestly.
Damian nodded and said his thanks but shot everyone a glare that said, ‘do not interrogate her or else.’ Which, while nice, in a family of detectives was like asking a bird not to fly. So while they dined on a wonderful spread courtesy of Alfred, the game of fifty questions began.
Dick was first to ask thus taking the brunt of Damian's ire, “Miss Marinette, it's truly wonderful to meet you, do you mind telling us about yourself so we can get to know the mother of our little Dami better?”
Damian's gaze held the fire of hell within it but his mom laughed, “Of course! It's only natural to be curious. I'm from Paris which I'm sure my accent gave me away, and I'm in the fashion industry as a designer! I travel a lot for work as well.”
A few of them noted the way she separated her job as a designer and her traveling for work.
Tim was next to probe and narrowly avoided Damian's kick under the table, “I'm familiar with some designers, would I know of you?”
Marinette nodded, “You probably wouldn't find any of my official work but I also have a brand under the name ‘MDC’ which I know has attracted a lot of attention.”
Tim sucked in a harsh breath, “You're MDC? Like- anonymous designer known for only taking a few commissions a year MDC?”
MDC nodded with a laugh, “It's a bit of a secret but yeah. I figure I can trust you all with that. I hear you're pretty good with secrets.”
Bruce felt his alarm bells ring. This woman knew. She knew and that made her dangerous. This woman was a threat. She-
Looked at him with those eyes and he felt a part of himself argue that he could trust her.
“Oh she so knows.” Jason said with a chuckle.
Marinette met his second oldest with a smirk, “That I do Mr. Anti-Hero.”
Jason scoffed, “You don't scare me. You're like- a cupcake. Soft, sweet, and-”
“To die for.” Marinette finished coolly.
Suddenly all of them were on edge, even as Marinette cheerfully dug into her pancakes. Damian sent them all a smug smirk. This woman was not just anyone. She was more than a pretty face and a sweet personality.
Bruce set down his silverware and folded his hands in front of him allowing Batman to take over the questioning, “Who are you.”
Marinette tossed her low ponytail over her shoulder casually, “I'm Damian's mom. I was gone for a while but I'm here now. There's no one who will get in my way again, I assure you of that.”
The threat was clear as day. This woman was not here to play around. Clearly whatever had prevented her from being in Damian's life was dealt with now and she was not about to let anything or anyone stop her again. They all were stiff and Bruce knew each and every one of them felt the danger of this woman.
Marinette however simply smiled and ruffled Damian's hair, “I love you Damian!”
Damian much to everyone's surprise grumbled but said it back, “Love you as well mom.”