Chapter Text
She sighed, bluebell eyes locked on the large, gloomy building before her. It was tall, so tall she thought she’d break her neck looking up at it. There seemed to be a clock or window in the middle of the upper most part of the building, however she didn’t want to break her neck trying to figure it out right now. It appeared to be three storeys tall with large arch ways leading to the entrance. It was bigger than Françoise Dupont that much she knew for sure. Marinette sighed and shook her head. There were dorms somewhere on campus and now she was stuck trying to find everything alone without so much as a map.
Coming to Gotham against her will would seem like a nightmare for anyone else, however for the Parisian it was like a dream come true. No one knew her here, Lila wasn't here to spread lies about her, to turn people she didn’t even know against her and Adrien wasn't here to look at her with the disgust of a thousand men. She knew life wouldn’t be easy, she knew it would be suffocating and a fight just to stay alive but she didn’t expect to be thrown into a world where everything she said could be twisted and used to force all the friendships she had formed away.
She hadn’t expected her people to turn on her when that tiny seed of doubt was planted by Lila’s hand, she hadn’t expected to be hurt by those same people. The girl with black-blue hair shook her head, a hand coming up to her shoulder, holding it. She could still feel the phantom pains every now and then, when she thought about when Alya had started the physical attacks. “Mari, you need to focus, you have class in five minutes.” The words were muttered under her breath, determination to find her classroom filled her then it deflated. How was she meant to find a classroom, let alone an office in a school at least double the size of Dupont?
She needed to focus on her first task of the day; getting her schedule. That was easier said than done because the moment she stepped through the gates of the school everyone seemed to turn and look at her. She couldn’t pick up everything they were saying but it was something about another Wayne arriving at the school. She had no idea what that meant or who this guy named Wayne was but she had no intentions of getting involved. She kept walking, her steps steady despite the pain shooting up her feet into her legs, it was like walking on glass. She had only just arrived today and she was already at school– mainly because she had no place to go so starting the school day at lunch was the best idea, right?
She needed to get the uniform, her schedule and see about a dorm if the website was true when she looked at it. “I don’t know where I’m going…” She mumbled to herself, still heading towards the front doors of the school. She could feel the looks, confusion, intrigue, disgust, some predatory ones as well. Who wouldn’t think the new girl who's of mixed origins would be an easy target?
As she walked she kept her head high, which didn’t seem to be common among the other students who kept their heads down, maybe that was because they were whispering?
“She looks similar to Burce Wayne, don’t you think?”
“Yea, I mean look at her hair and eyes, clearly one of the biological kids.”
Okay, so this ‘Wayne’ person isn’t a person but a last name. That was good to know, but it still isn’t her. She isn't a Wayne, she is Marinette Dupain-cheng and that name may carry pain for her but that is still who she is, she is still her mothers daughter at the end of the day even after her father remained. Even if her mother no longer wanted her, even if her fathers new wife, Lila’s mother wanted her gone. Even if her parents had both given up custody of her and she was technically an orphan.
She still wears that name with pride because of who it belonged to before; a girl who was kind, soft, loving. A girl she wanted to be again. However she couldn’t, not after the pain and abuse she had gone through at Lila’s hand. Not after the manipulations and not after her family had fallen captive to them. She couldn’t go back yet, not until some hope had come back, however being in Gotham doesn’t bring much hope with the clouds which seem to settle over the city with little hope of leaving, as if they were permanent. Like her current pain seems to be.
Cold metal met her hand as she reached for the door. Marinette stepped back two steps to avoid having the large, mahogany door slamming into her face. She shouldn’t have gotten lost in thought when going to open a door which could have opened at any time, it was stupid of her. “Ah, you must be the new student.” The voice was male, though his voice didn’t suit the somewhat childish face he had. It was gruff, somewhat similar to when she heard Batman's voice on the news but she wouldn't compare the boy before her to the man who had been fighting crime since she was young. Oh how she wished she could fight against her problems like Batman did criminals.
“Oui.” The French slipped out of her before she could figure out the word in English, which wasn’t much help when talking to Americans who only seemed to speak English. The male raised a brow, a small grin spreading on his lips as she flushed, looking away out of embarrassment. It was strange, she normally didn’t feel shy about speaking her first language however it seems that being in a majority english speaking country it made her heart race. Marinette cleared her throat. “Yes, I am the new student.” She said in English, playing with the undone string from her jacket which had seen better days.
“We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.” The man's voice was calm, soothing even if you got past the hint of aggression and amusement in it. She finally met his eyes, taking in the surprisingly tanned but pale skin of the man; she hadn’t expected someone to be so tanned in a city with a permanent sun shade. His eyes were a deep emerald green, about four shades darker than Adrian’s. However unlike Adrians eyes these ones didn't hold a hint of disgust or hatred, only amusement and annoyance. “Since you’re here, follow me. I’ll take you to the office to get your schedule and everything.”
Her chest ached, she shouldn’t trust him. She wasn’t going to, but she did need help and wouldn’t turn it down if it was offered. “Yes, Thank you, sir.” She had to keep it formal, properly. He looked important since his uniform had some kind of star on the collar. She walked past him as he held the door open, saying goodbye to someone called ‘Jon’ which she hadn’t even registered was next to him until the man was walking away.
“Your name is Marnette, yes?” The nameless man with green eyes asked, walking besides her like they were friends instead of strangers. It was weird, she hadn’t had someone walk next to her in two years, since Lila’s rule started over her life. It's actually nice to have someone walking next to her like she was an equal instead of a speck of dust on their shoe. She nodded, however she corrected his pronunciation of her name. “Well, Marinette, it's an honor to be able to welcome you to Gotham.”
She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Having a normal conversation was nice. “Thank you, for the warm welcome….”
“Damian.” The black haired boy introduced a smirk on his lips, as if he was amused about her not knowing who was standing before her. He kept a comfortable pace next to her which seemed to slow down as they walked. Had he noticed she was limping? No of course not, she had gotten good at hiding the inflicted injuries Lila and her group inflicted onto her over the past year and a half. “I’m surprised you didn’t come here with a guardian.” Ah, so he hadn’t noticed.
“My papa sent me here so I would be able to get a better education.” Technically it was a lie, Gotham academy was one of the best in the world however she wasn't sent here for that reason. She was sent here because Lila hated to see her around the house, hated even breathing the same air as her and decided that Gotham was the best place to shove Marinette due to the crime rate and the villains. Something Paris never has; no villains, no vigilantes, no heroes. It was one of the least crime ridden cities in the world or so that's what people hear.
“Smart man, this is one of the schools owned by Bruce Wayne after all.” He seemed to be laughing at the thought of this being considered a good school by parents just because of the owner. She frowned, she had been hearing that name in whispers as she walked past but had no idea who it was, is this Bruce famous or something?
“Why would its owner help me make a decision?” She hadn’t gotten to pick the location but she got to pick the school at least. “This is one of the best schools in the world due to its academic programmes and allowing students to choose the subjects they want to do which increases productivity and enjoyment in the classes.” She explained, it was this school or two other ones too close to way too dangerous territories of the city. “And it's located in one of the more safer parts of the city which helps the students feel more secure while here, which also increases the participation in classes and the attendance numbers.”
Damian raised a brow. “Did you get here on a scholarship or something?” His tone wasn’t holding any annoyance or aggression anymore. It was more curiosity and confusion, which quickly changed back to annoyance. “Scgolarship kids are always so stuck up.” He grumbled under his breath like it was something meant to insult her.
“I am here on a scholarship.” She clarified, it was true. Lila had convinced the school to give her one just to get rid of her. “I picked this school out of twenty other ones, of course I did my research on it and went for the one best for me and my academic journey.” There weren't twenty choices, she just wanted it to sound more impressive and more like she was in Gotham willingly.
Damian sighed and shook his head. “You’re insane to come here willingly, especially for school. You could have gone to Metropolis for the same kind of education.” That wasn’t possible, Lila wanted a chance for her to die so sending her to Gotham was the best idea the brunette had had at the time. So far, the first two hours in Gotham and she’s been unaffected, though she had a feeling something bad would happen if she said a few certain words and she didn’t want to get tangled with someone like the Joker. That would be a nightmare.
“I wanted to come here since according to the website they provide dorms.” That was the main reason she had come here, dorms. Living paid for using her scholarship and she wouldn’t have to worry about working other than to get money for food and clothes. That's simple enough and she had already checked the student handbook twice over to make sure having a job isn’t against the school rules.
“Ah, no one to stay with while you’re here?” The male's voice flooded her ears again.
“I have no family here so I would either need to find an apartment or get a dorm.” She explained, those were her two realities, or, well living on the streets. She didn’t like that option so she would fight against it all she could.
“The dorms here are split between three buildings behind the school.” Damian explained, keeping his eyes ahead on the seemingly never ending hallway. “One building is for boys, one is for girls and the third is mixed. So if you’re in a mixed dorm it's likely you’ll be sleeping in the same dorm as a male.” Seeing Marinette's face pale slightly more he quickly added to his statement. “Due to Burce Wayen taking over ownership of the school a few years ago he changed the dorms and they’re now more like apartments then a small room you have to share.”
“Ah, I see. I’m guessing they’re normally full?”
“No. well by this time of year, yes. However the split dorm does have one more spot left, you would be rooming with a guy if you were to get the spot.” Damian explained. “Two guys actually, but you would get your own room and privacy unless there's a fire or something and then the door would be broken down to get you out of the building.”
“That makes sense…”
Damian sighed inwardly, why was he explaining so much to her? Why did he let himself take over this job when he is meant to be doing a tour for her tomorrow? He shouldn’t be doing more work then necessary and if she’s put into his dorm he’d have to start locking his door in case she's a pervert. What a lovely mess he’s made. He cleared his throat, stopping in front of a beautifully carved wooden door with floral designs. When she didn't stop walking, he instinctively reached out, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly to keep her from falling down the stairs. “This is the office, do you want me to come in with you?”
Damian, what the fick is wrong with you!? Why are you offering this girl so much help?
Maybe it's because she looks like a lost, wet cat.
“I don’t want to bother you…” The girl's voice trailed off, as if she was expecting something to be said or done to her for even entertaining the idea. Damian's left eye twitched.
If it had been a bother I wouldn’t have offered!
He took a deep breath, no he isn’t allowed to snap and yell at her. That might scare her more. “Marinette, if it was a bother to me, I wouldn’t have offered.” He explained softly despite the irritation rising in his chest.
Marinette could feel something soften in her chest. She hadn’t been in this kind of situation in over a year, the last time she had taken someone up on an offer they had said it was a bother to do before bailing. “Yes.” She smiled, her smiling not reaching her eyes, it was soft and she closed her eyes for a section during it. Maybe it was the mental and emotional exhaustion that made her agree. “If that's the case, would you please accompany me?” Damian nodded, pushing the doors opening with surprising force.
A woman was sat at a desk, bright pastel purple-blue fade hair, purple at the roots, blue at the tips, she wore big rimmed decagon glasses. Her brows were brown, standing out among the colours atop her head. Her skin was a snow white, almost an unhealthy white. Her cheeks dusted with slight pink powder and lips smoothed over with a natural pale pink which would be someone nude lip shade. She was wearing a black knee length dress with one of the school jackets over the top, however it was cropped.
“Damian, if you got into another fight today, I will have to call your father.” She said, not looking up from the papers scattered across her desk as the doors slam against the walls from the force they were opened with. By the sounds of it, Damian had been here very often.
“I brought the new kid. Marinette.” He said, crossing his arms in front of the woman at the desk, Marinette hiding behind him since the woman seemed irritated with their arrival.
The woman looked up over her glasses rim. “You’re a day early.”
“I came here as soon as I got off the plane…” Marinette explained, voice shaking slightly, her mind racing. Is this the principal? The deputy principal?
“I see, Madam Cross is in a meeting currently. However I have your schedule prepared as well as your dorm key. I am guessing you want a dorm, yes?”
Marinette's cheeks flushed, god this was embarrassing. “Oui, I would like a dorm..”
“I am Melody-Rose, the headmistress's secretary.” The woman introduced, holding up a laminated sheet of paper and a non-laminated one. “This is your schedule. There’s one for your dorm and one for your bag. Damian will show you to your dorm in the middle building. You will be rooming with him and mister Kent.”
Okay, rooming with Damian and someone called Kent. Wait, she was rooming with Damian!?
This is going to be so embarrassing! I don't even know this guy!
Seeing the panic crossing Marinette's face Melody sighed. “Damian speaks French, you will be fine to speak your first language in the dorms, however do keep the door closed and locked while showering as you will be sharing a room with two men.”
Damian made a face. “You make it sound like we’re perverts."
“You told the school counsellor, Malissa, about you walking in on mister Kent in the shower twenty three times. I know they’re on accident but I’d rather you don't accidentally walk in on your new female roommate showering. What would your brothers think if they heard about it?”
Damian's face paled. “I see your point.” He didn’t want something else to be used against him by his older brothers, they already had too much. He watched as M.Rose handed a small key connected to a chain to the girl with bluebell eyes. “Is that all, Rose?”
“Yes, bring her back in the morning as headmistress Cross wishes to speak to her about the portfolio she presented to the school for her class choices.” Damian raised a brow but didn’t ask any further questions. That woman could scare away the Joker if she wanted to. “Follow me, Marinette.” He really needed a nickname for the girl, her name was too much of a mouthful for him.
“Ah! Yes! Coming!” The way she pronounced the last word made him freeze and look at her. She was stumbling towards him, having been caught off guard by him suddenly walking off.
“You pronounce it with an ‘o’.”
“Pardon?”
“You pronounced ‘coming’ as ‘cuming’. It means two different things depending on how you say it and spell it.” He explained, hoping he wouldn't have to do this more than once. “The one you were using is the one pronounced with an ‘o’.”
“What does the other one mean?”
Damian was not getting into that with a stranger. “You’ll learn later. Ask Jon, our roommate.”
“Is it bad?”
They were walking again, apparently multitasting was her specialty because she was reading her schedule, talking to him and walking at the same time. Though he did have to grab her arm and pull her out of the way of a pole more than once; so he kept a hand on her shoulder just in case.
“Normally it's used in the context of sexual pleasure.”
“Oh. OH!”
He hadn’t meant to say it but clearly she had understood because her face is now bright red and she seemed to close in on herself more. He sighed. “It's understandable, you’ll get words that sound similar, spelt similar and are of the same variety confused as english isn't your first language.”
“I didn’t realise…” Marinette wanted to crawl into a ball and hide, this was horrid. She had thought she had perfected her English but she had been using the wrong word for ages.This was a new kind of mortifying.
“Did you bring anything aside from the backpack?” Damian was changing the topic, not wanting to talk about sexual terms much longer. When she nodded he sighed. “Do you have money?” She shook her head. Damian's eye twitched. “How are you going to buy food?”
“I plan on getting a job–”
“That's against the school policies.”
Marinette raised her brow, was this guy challenging her after she had already told him she had researched the school? “I spent over seven hours researching this school. I read the most updated handbook which is on the webpage. There is nothing against a student having any form of part time job as long as it doesn't affect school work.” She had free time on the plane.
“You’re not going to rely on the school's allowance?”
“What alliance?” Utter confusion washed over her. An allowance was never mentioned on the school's official website, not even on any non official sites.
“Its a new thing Bruce Wayne started for the scholarship kids, a monthly allowance so they wouldn’t have to work horrible hours just to survive in gotham, its mainly used to decorate bedrooms and stuff.” He explained, opening the door for the girl who was about a head shorter than him. Now they were in the back section of the school's gardens, walking along the path toward their dorm.
“You’ve made that up.”
“I have not.” Damian’s voice carried a slight indicator of offence, however it wouldn’t be noticeable to a normal person who didn’t know him like this girl.
“There is no mention of it on official and non official sites, you've made this up.” She deadpanned, she was opening up slightly more as they kept talking. There was a small light in her eyes now instead of a dull darkness which seemed to haunt her for days but what did he know? It could have been haunting her for years.
“You sound so much like my other brother.” He sighed, pointing out the lack of evidence and then assuming he was lying. That was something Tim did, though that last part wasn’t included.
“You have a brother?” Marinette asked, since they would be rooming together she wanted to get to know her tour guide a bit better, however she wouldn’t force him to talk.
“I have three older brothers, my father seems to enjoy adopting children.” Damian explained, it was common knowledge, so he didn’t see a reason to not answer. They reached their dorm building and they both went silent as Damian led them up to the third floor to get to their room.
Marinette was thinking about how the man had smiled while talking about his brothers. He must have a good relationship with them, like her and her now step-sister Lila.
I hope this won’t backfire on me…