#Dickinette February

[mochegato]

Sending Sexy Back

“This should be it,” Adrien pronounced, looking between his phone and the bar sign a few times.

“Are you sure?” Marinette snickered.

He checked the name of the bar and his phone again, swiping to another screen to verify the address before answering.  “Yes.”

Marinette let out a snort that turned into full blown laughter.  “You’re ridiculous,” she chortled as she held the door open for him.

“I just want to make sure we don’t miss this.  It’s the first time he’s the headliner for a poetry reading and we’re the only ones here for him,” he reminded her.

She rolled her eyes but bobbed her head in agreement.  There were other friends who were going to come, but of the people he deeply cared about, she and Adrien were the only ones coming.  Nobody from his family was going to attend.  Supposedly, all of them were far too busy to make it, which was ridiculous considering there were like twenty-five of them and somehow not one of them could free up a few hours.

It was one of the reasons she had dropped everything to make sure she was there for him, not that she wouldn’t have anyway, but it added extra pressure to the night.  He deserved to have a strong showing of support and she and Adrien were going to make sure he had it.  “I wasn’t criticizing the sentiment, just the delivery.”

When they got into the bar, she was pleasantly surprised at the turn out.  It wasn’t too crowded to move, but it was very well attended.  They had to wind their way through the crowd to get to the bar.  The only downside was they weren’t able to easily spot Duke to hype him up before he went on.

“Just text him,” Marinette urged.  “He could be backstage… if they have one, and we wouldn’t ever see him.”

Adrien nodded absently.  “Yeah.  Yeah, that’s a good idea.”  He pulled out his phone again and typed quickly before looking up and motioning toward the bar.  “Come on, let’s get a drink while we wait.”  His phone dinged just as they made it to the bar and Marinette could tell by the slow smile that spread on his lips exactly who the text was from.

“He’s running late,” Adrien snorted.  “Of course.”  He turned the phone for her to see the message, shooting her a mock glare for her scoff, which he knew without even asking was because of the kissy face emoji at the end of the message, but he still tucked his phone in his pocket and raised an eyebrow.  “What?  Dark and Stormy, please,” he added for the bartender.

“Boulevardier, please,” Marinette ordered with a bright smile for the bartender before she dropped it as soon as she turned back to Adrien.  “You guys just saw each other on Wednesday.”

“And now it’s Friday,” he responded as though it were the clearest thing in the world, and she was the most obtuse person in the world to not understand.  “That’s two whole days.”

Marinette scrunched her nose at Adrien.  “Disgusting.”

“Disgusting?” he demanded in mock affront.  “It’s disgusting to be so utterly in love with your partner that being apart hurts your very soul?”

“Mon Dieu,” she muttered quietly to the bar.  “Unbelievable.”

Adrien nodded to the bartender before taking a small sip of his drink and turning back to Marinette.  “Your view of the world is just utterly devoid of any romance,” he smirked.

Mari took her drink with a smile for the bartender.  “Can’t argue with that,” she chuckled mirthlessly and lifted the glass toward Adrien before took a testing sip of her drink, letting out a sigh as it hit her throat.

Adrien’s face dropped and he had started reaching for her before he registered the movement.  “Mari, I…”

“Maybe I can help with that,” a smooth, deep voice drawled from behind her.  It flowed around her like silk, caressing her skin as it moved.  “Can I buy you a drink?”

Mari turned toward him slowly, utterly surprised by his brazen advance, but even more so when she finally faced him.  She had to stop herself from dropping her drink.  He was easily the sexiest man she’d ever seen.  Calling him an Adonis would be an insult to the man.  He wasn’t traditionally sexy.  He wasn’t ruggedly sexy.  He wasn’t model sexy.  He was just sexy.  Full stop.  With his messy dark hair pushed back in an effortless style that would take hairstylists hours to accomplish and his crystal-clear blue eyes that focused on nothing but her, little crinkles forming along their edges as his brilliant, boyish smile widened at her attention.  And he was looking at her like she was the most captivating thing he’d seen in ages.

That reaction jolted her focus back to the situation as a whole rather than on his chiseled muscles straining against the tee shirt he was wearing.  She narrowed her eyes and held her drink up for him to see before taking a long, slow drink.  “I have one already.”

Unfortunately… or maybe fortunately, she honestly wasn’t sure, his grin somehow became even more roguish at her cheeky tone.  “The next one then,” he offered.  His eyes finally left hers, the first time since she’d turned around to glance at her drink and immediately back to her eyes.  She vaguely noted he had yet to give her a once over like she’d given him.  No, he’d been entirely respectful.  The confusing, stunning bastard.  “Or maybe a snack.”

She smiled sweetly back at him, humming as she leaned in slightly.  “That does sound appealing.”  He mirrored her movement leaning in ever so slightly toward her as if unaware he was doing it.  “No, thank you.”

He froze instantly and leaned away.  “Wait.  No?”

“Yes.  No,” she repeated leaning away and resting her elbow on the bar.  “Too sexy.  Not dealing with all the…” she motioned toward all of him, “… that goes with it.  But I appreciate the offer for a front row seat for the show.”

He stared at her for a full five seconds before he opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut again immediately with a confused grunt.  He had to take another breath before he started again.  “You aren’t interested because… I’m too sexy?” he clarified slowly like each word made the sentence increasingly foreign to him.  “Seriously?”

“Dead ass.  There’s a whole,” she motioned wildly to the heavens and back to him, “that you people either have or just pervades you like smog.  I need a break from…” she motioned toward him again.  “I need a normal guy, with normal guy issues.  Not drama.  Good luck tonight though,” she offered cheerily and turned away from him, back towards Adrien.

She could feel him continue to stare at the back of her head well after she’d turned.  She almost turned back around at the small chuckle he let out, picturing him accompanying it with an amused shake of his head, but Adrien jumped in before she could make that mistake.  “Hey!” he exclaimed.  “You dated me!  I was sexy!”

His lips pulled down in an exaggerated pout, but it served its purpose as she scoffed at him, her own lips ticking up.  “You were cute,” she corrected, “not sexy.”

“What does that even mean?” he demanded, affronted at the very insinuation.  He was sexy damn it.  He was a model… or he had been when they dated.  He still could be.  And he knew he’d affected her to her core back then.  “You couldn’t speak when I was around.”

She waved him off as she took another sip of her drink.  “Yeah, no.  There’s a big difference.  I wanted kids with you but never at any point thought about sex with you to produce them… or sex not to produce them with you.  He,” she motioned vaguely over her shoulder, “makes me want to do debauched things that would make booktok girls blush, and all he’s done is say hi and smile.”

Marinette missed the way the man’s eyebrow raised at her words and his lips curled into a self-satisfied smirk, but Adrien was in perfect position to see it.  He’d opened his mouth to speak but Adrien cut in first, gasping loudly so there was no easy entry back into their conversation.  “I’m hurt.  This hurts.  I feel…” he furrowed his brow in faux serious consideration as he patted different areas of his chest like he was trying to find something, finally settling his hands above his heart, “betrayal.  I’ve been betrayed.”

Marinette scoffed and rolled her eyes.  She took a much longer drink this time.  “I’m sure Duke will make it all better,” she consoled and congratulated herself at keeping the condescension from her voice.

Adrien grinned before he could stop himself but quickly schooled his expression into a heavy scowl.  “Maybe, but…” he motioned toward her, “…first love didn’t find me utterly sexy.  My ego might never recover.”

“See,” she threw her hand up in a vague motion toward the heavens.  “You’re sexy now and this is what you’ve become.  This,” she motioned harshly toward him, “is exactly what I want to avoid.  Sexy destroys the personality.”

He met her gaze and kept pointed, intense eye contact.  “So, you admit that I'm sexy now,” he clarified carefully.

She groaned and threw her hands up in frustration.  “Of course, you are, you mangy cat.”

He nodded and took a drink, satisfied with the response… for the most part.  He set his drink down and eyed her suspiciously.  “How sexy?”

She stared at him with the flattest, deadest look and let out the longest, most exasperated sigh she could manage.  “So sexy you’ve lost all personality, and I could never date you,” she stated.  If Adrien hadn’t known her better, he would have believed the bored delivery.  “Better?”

“Much,” he nodded solemnly, ignoring her amused snort.  “Now let's get a good spot to watch Duke.  He’s up next and I want to be close enough he can see me if he gets nervous,” he grinned, all evidence of levity gone from his eyes, quickly replaced with a genuine, sappy excitement.

“You go.  I’ll get refills and food and be right there,” she interjected motioning toward the bartender.  Adrien nodded but, he was already scouting out a place for them to sit.  It was so sweet, so devoted, Marinette couldn’t help but chuckle.  She only looked back when the bartender made a noise behind her.  “Two of the sa…”

“Refills,” the bartender announced, setting down two new drinks in front of her.  “And fries.”

“You’re a mind reader,” Marinette gushed as she reached for the glasses.  “Thank you so much!”

The bartender scoffed as he grabbed their old glasses to wash.  “Not me.  Him.”  He jutted his chin to her side.  “And paid for them.”

Marinette froze and looked between him and the drinks.  “For both of them?”  Her eyebrows shot to her hairline at the bartender’s nod but they then quickly fell over narrowed eyes.  She turned slowly; her lips pursed in contemplation as she gazed at him.

Had he just bought hers, she’d know what it meant, how to respond, what his intentions were.  But he’d bought drinks for her and her friend and hadn’t made a big deal of it.  He hadn’t tried to maneuver the offering into a second introduction.  And he wasn’t just trying to get her drunk.  He’d bought her greasy food that would keep her sober.

He was not playing by the Pretty Boy Playbook, and it was throwing her off.  There was certainly another playbook he was going by, she just needed to figure out which one.  Nobody who looked like him didn’t.  She’d learned that firsthand… and repeatedly.  “It appears I owe you a thank you.”

“Nah,” he waved her off but turned back toward her, giving her his full attention again, “it wasn’t about getting a thank you.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and settled further into her chair.  “Oh?  So, what was it about you getting?”

“A smile, but not for me.  Well, kind of for me.  I won’t lie, I’d like to see your smile,” he admitted.  “Your real one,” he clarified.

She huffed a small bark of a sound, not quite a laugh, but not quite a scoff and picked up her drink, bringing it close to her chest as though she had picked it up to drink rather than something with which to keep her hand busy.  A siphon for her anxiety.  “You think you haven’t seen it already?”

There was no doubt the noise he made was a scoff.  “No.  Not tonight.  Not in person.  No, I think what you offered tonight was a shield, a false front, meant to deflect and protect.  I’d like to see a real one.”

“Think you’re owed that, do you?” she clipped.

“No,” he answered instantly.  “But I’m trying to earn it.”

Marinette blinked at him; her heart having stopped.  Her entire body and mind had glitched.  She was utterly unsure how to respond to that.  This wasn’t just a different book; this was a different medium entirely.

She finally forced her body back into action with a scoff and a lift of her drink to her lips, but she set it back down undrunk.  “I should think earning it is a foreign concept to someone like you,” she accused.  Her tone was sharp.  She hoped he felt it, but more than that, she hoped he didn’t feel the shakiness in it, the fact that it was less sharp than it could be, than it normally would be.

“Ah yes,” the man nodded sagely, utterly nonplussed by her tone.  “Your perception of me.”  He took a long sip of his drink, as always keeping his eyes on her.  “Based entirely on my looks.  Doesn’t seem fair.”

Marinette snorted but very consciously did not smile, at least not a ‘genuine’ one.  Instead, she quirked her head to the side and offered a derisive smirk.  “Not used to that evaluation going against you?”  She pouted excessively.

He ran a tongue over his canine as his eyes sparked devilishly.  Marinette barely had time to prepare herself before he went for it.  “So, is it your hypothesis that you’re not sexy yourself or are you saying you have no personality?”

Her smirk dropped entirely, and her head snapped up straight.  Of all the possible next statements he could have made, it wasn’t the last, but it certainly wasn’t high on the list.  “Excuse me?”

He shrugged with an innocence she was positive he hadn’t experienced in at least a decade.  “Because from what you said earlier, you seem to think people can only have one or the other, but as far as I can tell you have both in spades.”

Her eyes narrowed and her body leaned forward entirely of their own volition.  She had to consciously force herself to lean away and break eye contact to study her glass, twisting the glass to swirl the contents into a golden vortex.  “You were eavesdropping,” she accused.  She set the glass back on the bar and turned back to him with a wrinkled nose.  “Also, what is ‘spades’?”

He blinked at her, trying to reset his brain to comprehend her question.  “Spades.”  He repeated the word slower, like annunciation was the issue understanding.  “You know spades.  It’s…” he paused to think about how to finish the definition.  “It means… They’re…” he flustered, still at a loss, his hands waving wildly as he grasped for an answer.  “It means you have a lot of both.”

He let out a breath to gain his composure back, but still had to take another drink before he could continue.  “And, for the record, you weren’t being quiet,” he added levelly, but his voice seemed more forced than it had been before as did the lean toward her, which had seemed natural earlier, but now seemed like a calculated move.  “It’s almost like you wanted me to hear and comment.”

Marinette barely restrained her smirk at the difficulty he was having finding his composure.  She had to imagine he wasn’t used to getting flustered.  Men like him, hell, men far less attractive than him, were used to flustering everyone around them with just a smile, a raise of the eyebrow, a growl to their tone.  She was rather enjoying being one of the few who could fluster the pretty boy.  “I think you’ve confused me with one of your groupies.”

He quirked his head, almost like a confused lab.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you going to try to deny you have groupies,” Marinette laughed incredulously.

His eyes darted around rapidly.  He leaned away to give him a better vantage of the area.  “I don’t… have you… there aren’t any groupies here.  You can’t possibly have seen any.”  He froze and turned back to Marinette, all evidence of panic gone from his expression, but in its place was nothing.  No expression.  Completely neutral.  “I mean, what groupies?”

A bark of mirthless laughter burst out of her at his clearly accidental admission that she was absolutely correct in her assessment.  “I don’t have to see them to know they exist.”  A sad glint shone in her eyes for just a second before she quickly masked it with a mocking smile.  “They follow people like you around anywhere you go.  Making you feel prioritized.  Softening any blows…”

“I do have people who like to watch me, but not because I ask for it or encourage it,” he cut in, a crack in his neutral expression starting to show through.  “Hardly qualifies as ‘groupies’.”

She hummed critically.  “But that wasn’t the question.”

“Oh?  I must have forgotten.  What was the question again?” He leaned in closer to her, creating an intimate environment for them even in the midst of a crowded environment.

She let her eyes skirt over his face, taking in one frustratingly perfect detail after the next.  “It wasn’t whether you encouraged it, it was whether you think I’m one.”

He let his smile sneak up a bit more.  “A fan?”  She made a non-committal sound.  He quirked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.  “You’re not?”

She pushed him away with a finger to his chest.  “Takes more than a pretty face, though I will admit yours is prettier than most.”

He let his lips quirk up in a devilish smile.  “You think my face is pretty?”

“I know your face is pretty,” she affirmed, voice bordering on annoyed.  “You know your face is pretty.  That’s why you have all the groupies.”

He hummed and took a long slow drink and settling it back on the bar with delicate precision before turning his attention back to her, smiling when he caught her eyes following each move.  “And here I thought it was my ass.”

She rolled her eyes as she picked up her drink.  “Well, it wasn’t for your humility,” she scoffed.

The self-assured smirk that seemed to have a home on his lips dropped and his whole aura changed.  Suddenly the boyish, teasing charm was gone replaced with a serious, almost pleading vulnerability.  “So, what does it take?”

She stared mute at him for a few seconds as her head tried to make sense of the complete turnaround in personality.  “What?”

“To get your attention,” he elaborated slowly.  His voice low and steady.  His eyes clear and sincere.  “What does it take to get you to give me a chance to show you how you deserve to be treated.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, caution overtaking her.  “And how’s that?”

His hand clenched on the bar next to her like he was holding himself back from grazing it along any part of her that she would let him touch.  As always, his eyes never left hers, meeting with such intensity, she almost had to lean away from him.  “Like you’re the most precious thing in this world or the next.  Like your every whim and thought is a precious gem that should be revered and honored.  Like your smile and laugh achieve such perfection wars could be fought over them.”

If she hadn’t been so unwillingly, intimately familiarized with the Game, she might have believed his genuine delivery.  It seemed so heartfelt, so genuine, because that’s how it was supposed to seem.  What was a lie worth if you weren’t going to sell it.  But even knowing that.  Even knowing that’s all it was, she still had to fight her heart fluttering at the words.  “Those are pretty words,” she clipped.  It had to be clipped because she didn’t trust her voice not to crack.

“They’re more than words,” he answered calmly, confidently, again so close to genuine, it hurt to hear them.  She couldn’t stop the bitter scoff that escaped her, but he didn’t even seem to notice it, or if he did, he ignored it.  “You never did answer.  What does it take?  What can I do?  What do you need?”

He leaned a bit closer with each question, but she backed away in equal measure.  She blinked at him, trying to process his words.  He was still working off a different book than the men she’d had the misfortune of interacting with before.  He was off script, and she didn’t know how to respond; what the correct response was that would result in him not vaporizing her heart with no more thought or guilt than destroying an alien in Space Invader.

She narrowed her eyes again, but this time in frustration rather than caution.  “I need someone who’s willing to put in the work and the devotion and the respect… and not just expect it only for themselves.  Someone who doesn’t think they deserve the world to lay down the red carpet for them because they have dimples.  I need someone who isn’t going to espouse pretty words to lure me into bed,” she hissed, no longer retreating, but leaning into his space with each sentence, like she was taking the fight to him instead of waiting for him to bring it to her.

“Words I know are false because you don’t know me.”  She shoved an accusatory finger toward his chest but stopped short of touching him.  “You have no idea how I deserve to be treated.  You certainly couldn’t have developed the sense that I’ve earned such devotion that you would never bestow anyway.  You literally just said you’d never seen my smile and yet you wax poetic about how revered it should be.  The only reason you would have for proclaiming it is to lull me into submission, to lower my walls so you can slither your way in.”

She braced herself for the anger she was sure was going to come, the lashing out at realizing his flirting hadn’t worked for him for once.  It didn’t usually take much provocation and Marinette had just provided plenty.  But instead, he watched her, almost contemplatively, a sad look flashing in his eyes moment before returning to the more neutral expression.

“You’re Marinette Dupain Cheng.  You’re best friends with Adrien Agreste and a particularly persistent reporter named Alya… something French, honestly, I’ve forgotten but she’s married to a DJ Duke loves.  You’re exceptionally creative, not just in designs, which are amazing, by the way, both clothes and art, but in engineering as well.

He chuckled mirthlessly and shook his head but immediately remet her eyes with understanding gaze.  “It’s an instinct I understand.”

“You’re fiercely protective of your friends and family,” he continued on, his voice strong and steady.  His eyes met hers like a comforting caress.  “You take care of everyone around you and take far too much on but still somehow power through.  But you never let anyone take care of you.  You could be drowning and would still insist you could swim without help.  A fact that has been taken advantage of more than a few times and chipped away at your trust so you push people away… no, that’s not right.  You don’t push them away.  You just never let them in in the first place, which isn’t anything Duke told me by the way, it’s just what I’ve observed.”

Marinette edged out of her seat until she was standing behind it, holding it between them, her eyes darting to where Adrien had already taken his seat and was trying to crane his neck to find Duke.  “How… how did you…”

The man raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly but by that time she was watching his every move, every breath intently.  “Sorry, I thought you might recognize me.  Duke is my brother.  He’s talked about you since he first met you the first week of junior year.  I’ve heard stories at least weekly since.

She shook her head absently, his words barely sinking in.  “Duke said nobody from his family was going to be able to make it…”

“Honestly, with as much as he’s talked about you and your guys’ sometimes legal adventures, I feel like I know you better than any of his friends that I’ve met and hung out with.  I…” he ran a hand through his perfectly tousled hair, which somehow made it even more annoyingly perfect.  “Earlier, I didn’t say I haven’t seen your smile, only that I haven’t seen it in person. Duke has shown me so many pictures and videos of you, I thought he might have shown you some of me as well.”

Dick chuckled self-deprecatingly.  “Nobody was supposed to be able to make it, which was ridiculous because there’s like ten of us and this is a big deal for him.  I couldn’t let him do this without at least one of us here to support him.  There were some things that could not be moved, but Steph and I were able to clear our schedules so we could be here.”

Marinette’s hard gaze softened but only slightly.  She continued to look at him intently, as though she could see through to his very soul.  But as she looked at him, she could see it now, the vague resemblance to the man in the pictures Duke had shown her periodically through the years.  He hadn’t shown her many, just as she hadn’t shown him many of her family, but just like she had talked about her parents, Duke had talked about him often.

Dick.  Duke’s pictures of him did not do him justice.  There was something about being in his presence, an aura that pictures didn’t convey.  It was an intangible feeling that overcame a person when his magnetic eyes met theirs, or maybe it was just her.  The way her heart sped up when he gave her that look made her heart somehow flutter and freeze at the same time.

She kept staring at him, trying to reconcile the man Duke had described with the man in front of her, the one who had been playing games, because that’s what he was doing, right?  He’s been playing the Game.  He hadn’t meant any of it… unless he had… unless the genuine delivery was because he had been genuine.  But that’s not how men like him operated… except for Adrien… and Duke… and Dick Grayson… at least according to Duke.

And this man somehow knew everything about her, even the parts she kept hidden far away from prying eyes, cradled and protected from getting battered any further like the Beast’s rose.  Yet he came in like Belle ripping away all of the protections she’d fought so long to preserve and threatening to expose them to the cruel, heartless world with kind eyes and a dimpled smile.

Her mental spiral was interrupted by a voice booming over the speakers.  “Next up to the mic, Duke Thomas.”

She took a sharp breath and shook her head.  “I need to go,” she mumbled as she turned to join Adrien, but even to her own ears, her voice sounded wooden, hollow.

Duke’s reading was brilliant, or at least Marinette assumed it was based on past experience and the crowd reaction.  She couldn’t say for certain herself.  The first part of his short performance went by in a blur, she chuckled and clapped whenever Adrien did, but always a few beats behind and with a dampened enthusiasm.

She shook herself out of her daze literally, jerking her head back and forth a few times as Duke continued.  The enthusiasm and passion behind every word quickly pulled Marinette out of her thoughts and into his world.  By the time he finished, Marinette was fully invested in his reading, the interaction at the bar nearly forgotten, just a soreness lingering around her heart like an echo, and she was able to cheer for him without prompting.

When the applause died down, Duke immediately made his way to Adrien.  His smile was brilliant and wide, warming the closer he moved to Adrien until it lit up the room when he reached him, which she was positive matched Adrien’s smile as well.  Honestly, a person could go blind hanging around them too often.

She watched with pride as he made the rounds through the crowd, everyone granting him a genuine smile and congratulations.  It was only then she realized she’d left their drinks and food at the bar earlier and she would really like one at that moment, again, more to have something to do with her hands than out of a need to drink.  Fiddling with a glass was a much more socially acceptable way to keep her hands occupied than ripping a napkin to pieces, which she was moments away from doing.

Duke settled into the seat next to her while she was distracted, not even bothering to hide his devious smirk when she jumped at finally noticing him.  “Sooo,” he started slowly.  He shot her a pointed look, a prompting look, a clear signal that he was waiting for her to finish the sentence correctly.

Marinette snickered and rolled her eyes.  “Sooo,” she repeated in the same tone and knocked her shoulder into his, “your performance was brilliant.  Your best yet.  You should put that in your portfolio.  I’d even consider submitting that to a publisher.”

He looked down and grinned shyly even as his chest puffed out.  “Thanks.  That means a lot to hear.”

She shook her head and took his drink from his hand, stealing a sip of his Greyhound instantly making a face as it burned her throat.  “Never order that again,” she gasped.

“Oh, so sorry for ordering a drink I like,” he chuckled.  “Next time I’ll make sure to get one you’ll like on the off chance you want a sip.”

She snorted and took another sip anyway.  “Off chance,” she mocked.

Duke barked out a laugh and grabbed his drink back with a shake of his head and a long sip.  He looked back up with a smile that put her on edge.  To anyone else, the smile would have been comforting in its apparent innocence, but Marinette knew him better.  She knew that angelic looking smile meant devilish intensions and braced herself with a defensive smile for whatever trouble was coming next. “But what I meant was, soooo I saw you chatting with Dick earlier.”

His tone was light, teasing, but her smile dropped instantly.  Her eyes darted away, focusing on anything but him… him or Dick.  “So it would seem,” she acquiesced warily.

He eyed her cautiously, not having expected that response.  Dick never got that response.  Everyone loved Dick.  Even people who didn’t want to date him loved him.  He would understand if Marinette didn’t want to date him, but for her to shut down when his name was mentioned, that either meant their chemistry was amazingly good or amazingly bad.  “How’d it go?”

“It went,” she granted, her eyes still not meeting his.

He hummed.  Dick either did something sexist and conceited, which was not like Dick, sure he could be a stubborn, single-minded jerk sometimes, but not like that.  Or, the more likely option, the connection was too good and she was scrambling.  “No sparks then?” he asked with a sympathy that almost came across as authentic and would have, to anyone but a best friend.

She finally turned back to meet his gaze with a deadpan look.  “Why?” her voice floated over to him saccharine sweet.  “Is your love life with Adrien that boring?  You’re checking into mine?”  She tutted a few times and sighed heavily, settling back in her chair.  “Honeymoon periods are so short these days.”

Duke rolled his eyes and shoved her hard enough to shift her in her chair.  “Our relationship isn’t boring, it’s committed and supportive and nurturing and comfortable… No!  comforting.”  He pursed his lips and groaned.  “No, you know what, it is comfortable.  A healthy relationship should make you feel comfortable, and I feel comfortable with him.  Bitch,” he added on at the end, but without any heat.  He looked back at her from the side, meeting her gaze for just a moment before they broke down into laughter.  It took a few moments before he settled back into his chair, his expression settling into a more contemplative look.  “I was just… I thought you two would be good together.”

She shifted uncomfortably, eyes back to scanning the room.  “And why is that?”

“I thought you’d be good for him,” he answered softly.

A scoff burst out before she could stop it, not that she would have wanted to.  She was already feeling exposed from her interaction earlier and this conversation felt like scratching at her raw nerves.  “Because I could keep him in line?  Maybe make him want to settle down?  Thanks for that,” she grumbled.

Duke scoffed this time.  “You know me better, please.  I wouldn’t wish that on you.”  He leaned forward, not into her direct line of sight, but enough that he made his presence known, looming but unthreatening.  “Dick has a tendency to forget to take care of himself.  He makes everyone else a priority.  I thought… you like to dote on the people you love and he needs that.  He’s a good man who loves to treat the people he’s with like they’re the most important people in the world, and you deserve that.  Especially after the last few guys you dated and how they behaved, how they treated you after the first few weeks… I thought you deserved someone like him.”

He turned his body toward her.  Even if she wasn’t looking at him, he wanted her to know she had his full attention.  Him encouraging her to consider Dick wasn’t a spur of the moment decision.  He’d thought this through… frequently.  “I understand if you’re not ready yet.  I just thought you might be good.  I’ve been talking you up to him since I met you.  He hasn’t had the best luck with relationships either.”

Marinette glared at a spot in front of her, her lips pulling down into a deep pout and her eyes darting to him until she rolled her eyes and huffed loudly.  “You are the worst best friend.  When you and Adrien get married, I'm standing up for his side.”

He grinned brilliantly and pulled her into a side hug.  “I’m telling Adrien you said I was your best friend,” he whispered before jerking away with a loud laugh.  He continued chuckling for a few moments and let his vision sweep over the crowd, his eyes warming upon settling on Adrien.  He continued to watch Adrien as he laughed, throwing his head back in glee.

His eyes darted over to her in a mirror of her actions from a few moments before but significantly more anxiously, like he was steeling himself for something.  “But… hopefully, you won't have to wait long,” he commented carefully.

She quirked her head, bringing her eyes back to him.  Her brow furrowed slightly as she contemplated his words and took in his stance.  Suddenly, his frame was tense.  Instead of slouching into his chair as he had been moments before, he was sitting up straight, spine stiff enough, a rod could have run straight through it.  “For what?” she asked cautiously.

He took a breath before answering.  “For the chance to follow through on your threat.”

Her expression was frozen for just a second as the words registered and her face broke out into a beaming smile and a squeal burst out loud enough to draw the attention of everyone within twenty feet of them as she launched into his arms.  “That’s so exciting!  I’m so happy for you!  Are you thinking of asking soon?  Did you just make the decision?  Do you know how you want to ask?  Have you made a plan?  Are you just going to wing it?  Don’t tell me if you’re going to wing it, it will give me anxiety.  Lie to me.  Do you need help planning the wedding?  What can I do?”

She fired off her questions faster than Duke could register them.  “Slow down,” he laughed.  He squeezed her again before letting her back up into her seat.  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but yeah, I decided I wanted to ask him Wednesday after he fell asleep on my shoulder while we were watching the movie.”  He looked back at Adrien, giving him a sappy smile when Adrien looked back over and met his eyes for just a moment.

“I knew,” he continued, still watching Adrien like he hung the moon, “I wanted that for the rest of my life.  Just like that.  Forever.”

A noise rose from Marinette’s chest somewhere between a squeal and a squeak, her elation clear on her face.  “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard!  I want to see pictures.”  She suddenly sat up straight.  “Ooohhh, can we get Max to record it with a drone or hidden camera?  Or we can do a live feed.”

Duke chuckled and shook his head.  “I think it’s hilarious you think Tim won’t do that regardless of what I say.”

He continued to watch Adrien for a few more moments before turning back to her with a sobered expression.  The change concerned her, especially when he took her hand to encourage her to look back at him.  “I know I wouldn't be here without you so... thank you.  Thank you for introducing us and…” he took a deep breath, “for walking away when you knew it was wrong.  For breaking both your hearts so they could be put together stronger. I know it was incredibly hard and yours hasn't been fully yet."

He opened his mouth then closed it to think through what he had to say. His eyes flicked to hers seeming to hesitate for a second before continuing.  “That's why... I think Dick can help you with that.”

She blinked at him for a second before bursting out in laughter.  “You know, Alya has said the same thing more than once.”

He groaned and rolled his eyes.  He dropped her hand, shoving it away in mock disgust.  “Okay, I meant he would be gentle with your heart and protect it, which you deserve, but you know what?  Dick would have made the same joke, so clearly you two have the same sense of humor.  So, I was right and you two are annoyingly perfect for each other.”

She hummed in response and let her eyes wander back to where Adrien was laughing with Dick and a one of her and Duke’s university friends.  Dick flicked his eyes over to them for just a second, just long enough to catch her gaze with a small, guilty smile, before returning his focus to Adrien.

Adrien was laughing at something Dick had said hard enough he had bent over to catch his breath.  Adrien loved to laugh.  His laughter was one of her favorite sounds maybe because it so rare growing up.  She was fortunate enough to get to hear it often now.  But laughter like that?  Marinette hadn’t seen him laugh like that in a long time and the sight warmed her heart.  “I'll think about it,” she agreed quietly.

Duke nodded and kissed her head with an understanding smile.  “Love you,” he murmured into her hair before he disappeared into the crowd, heading straight toward Adrien.  Marinette let herself space out for a few moments until the noise around her became too much.  She needed just a bit of space to breathe and think.  This night was not at all what she had prepared herself for and she needed a break to ease the weight of it from compressing her mind.  She saw a door to the small patio behind the club and darted out to it.

As soon as the door closed behind her, the cacophony of noises muted, and she let herself breathe and think of nothing for a few seconds, but it didn’t take long for her thoughts to drift back to the bar.

Dick had been nothing but polite, and a bit playful, to her and she’d been cold and cutting.  And, if she trusted Duke, Dick hadn’t deserved it.  Duke had never said anything negative about Dick.  Duke complained about all of his family at length, but never Dick.  Well, that wasn’t exactly true.  He did complain about him, but it was always a backhanded insult; a compliment masquerading as an insult.

If she were as brave as she pretended to be, she would go back in there and apologize and ask for a second chance.  The very idea terrified her.  Not the apology, the stuff that comes after.  Because if she truly meant the apology, then she would need to be more open to him.  Let him move the protections she’d rooted into the ground and expose her heart.  What an absolutely horrific idea.

She shivered at the thought and vaguely realized a bit because of the cold.  She hadn’t brought a jacket or sweater, it wouldn’t work with the outfit, and hadn’t expected to be outside for this long.  She got up to go back inside but froze when she saw Dick push through the doors.

He froze as well as soon as he saw her.  “Hey, I didn't mean to interrupt but you've been out here for a while and it’s been a bit chilly at night lately so I brought you a hoodie.”  Even if she hadn’t been able to detect the anxiety in his voice, there was no way to miss it in the way he nervously shuffled as he held out the hoodie for her and the vulnerability in his eyes.

She looked from it to him a few times, but it must have taken her a bit too long to reach for it because he suddenly dropped his hand holding the hoodie while the other flew to the back of his neck.  “It’s Duke’s!” he added quickly, the pronouncement coming out much louder than he had intended.  “Not… I wouldn’t have given you mine.  Not that I have one, but I wouldn’t have given you my jacket.  Not because I wouldn’t want… I just figured you wouldn’t…”

He groaned and ran his hand over his face.  “What is wrong with me?” he muttered to himself.

“It’s okay,” she assured him.

He took a deep breath and forced it out slowly, finally lifting his eyes to her again before continuing in a much more collected manner.  “I know you don’t know me and don’t trust me so it would be really inconsiderate and rude to have brought you mine.  That’s all I meant.”  He set the hoodie onto the table next to her with a small smile and immediately took a step back.  “Well, like I said, didn't mean to interrupt so I'll leave you to your thoughts.”

She watched him take a few steps before calling out to him and taking the hoodie tentatively, like an inadequate peace offering and pulled it over her outfit.  “I meant it's okay if you want to join me.”

He immediately stopped and smiled brightly but his bright smile quickly faltered.  There was nothing in her expression or posture that suggested she didn’t mean what she had said, in fact they indicated complete honesty and openness.  But there was still a hint of something behind her eyes, a tentativeness that he could just barely detect, but once you saw it, you couldn’t unsee it.  “Are you sure?  I really meant it.  I didn't come out here to interrupt.  If you’d prefer time to yourself…”

She chuckled and shook her head, looking up toward the sky as though she could somehow see the stars through the light pollution, but he could still see the hint of a smile on her lips.  “No, it's fine.  Duke says you're a good guy, and I trust Duke so…”  Dick nodded and sat next to her, close enough to create an intimate atmosphere, but not so close he was crowding her.  “And I may have heard a lot about you over the years too.  So… perhaps my initial judgement was a bit hasty and the way I treated you was completely unjustified… perhaps.”

Dick grinned brilliantly but soon schooled his smile into a softer version.  He nodded and looked up at the sky as well.  “I trust Duke too, so we know we have one thing in common.”  Marinette snorted and opened her mouth but quickly snapped it shut and turned away before he could see her blush, but Dick turned to her a bit too quickly, catching it just in time.  His eyes twinkled at seeing her cheeks brushed with pink and snickered.  “Oh, come on, you can't do that.  Now you need to tell me!”

She groaned and somehow, the blush got deeper and spread to her neck so beautifully, Dick had to stop himself from reaching out to brush his fingers over the blush.  She groaned and dropped her head, oblivious to his stare.  It took a few moments before she looked at him from the corner of her eye.  “He says we have the same sense of humor too.”

Dick raised an eyebrow and grinned wickedly.  “With a blush like that, I have to assume you said something to do with my name.”  When she groaned again and covered her face with her hands, sleeves flopping loosely over her hands, his grin widened, a hearty laugh booming from his chest.  “Come on,” he exclaimed, opening his arms wide to her, “let me have it.  I've heard them all, I guarantee you.  I could even tell you some.”

Marinette shook her head and lowered her hands just enough to look up at him with a bemused smile.  She opened her mouth but closed it again quickly and took a breath to fortify herself before she answered.  “He just mentioned…” she started hesitantly, “that maybe I could use a little dick in my life.  And I may have laughed and told him that's not the first time I've heard that.”

Dick's face scrunched up, his eyes not quite looking at her.  Marinette's hands and smile dropped instantly.  She knew she shouldn’t have said that.  It was so incredibly rude.  He said he could take it, but everyone thinks they can take something before they hear it.  Damn it!  She was supposed to be trying to make up for her previous behavior, not behave worse.  “I mean!” she exclaimed anxiously trying to backpedal.

“I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of the descriptor,” Dick mused. “Maybe prefer a different one.  Like ‘huge’.  That’s a good word.”

A snicker burst out from Marinette and continued as she broke down in laughter.  When the laughter finally subsided, she looked over at him, a brilliant smile on her lips, to find him watching her with a lopsided grin.  “That's the first time I've made you really smile.”

Marinette looked away and pulled her lower lip between her teeth.  “First time?” she asked, hope eking through in her tone.  Maybe she hadn’t messed up their second chance.  Maybe there was still a shot.

He grinned at her.  “And hopefully not the last,” he offered quietly.  He looked at her softly for a moment until a look of determination crossed his face.  “I want you to know, I am willing to put in the work.  I don’t expect you to do it all, just meet me halfway.”

She nodded absently.  “I’m willing to try.  I’ll try not to let my past experiences affect ours.”  She cut off suddenly and looked away.  “I… I can’t promise how well I’ll do.  But I’ll try.”

Dick ducked down to meet her eyes despite her determination to avoid his gaze, but he stayed in that position, waiting until she was ready.  “I’m a patient man.  I can wait for you.”

His patience was finally rewarded when her eyes shot over to his.  “You’re not real,” she scoffed.

He chuckled but immediately met her eyes again with a soft, non-confrontational gaze and raised his arm in front of her.  “Want to pinch me, just to make sure?”

She hummed and ran her fingers down his arm to his hand and threaded her fingers between his instead, not missing the way his smile widened at her boldness.  “You should know, I can be stubborn.”

His smile brightened at her olive branch and settled their entwined hands between them.  “I can be determined,” he offered in the same tone.

“I can be anxious,” she countered.

“I can be soothing.”

She looked away for a moment and pursed her lips in faux contemplation.  “I can be… loyal.”

He chuckled and pulled her hand onto his leg as he scooted just a bit closer.  “I can be insecure,” he admitted.

“I can be supportive.”

He nodded and quirked his lips to the side, eyes narrowing.  “I can over commit until I’ve stretched myself so thin I let everyone down,” he commented, entirely too casually for the content of his statement.

She snorted and looked away, but she leaned closer to him and her grip on his hand never slackened.  “Mood.  I guess that’s something we would have to work on.”

He nodded.  “At least we’ll know the signs.”  He cocked his head and shot her a bright smile.  “I like learning about you.  You were right before, I may know a lot about you, but I don’t know you.  I would like to change that though.”

She nodded.  “I think I’d like that too.”

His grin widened.  “Yeah?”

She nodded, her smile stretching to match his and God, if his eyes kept sparkling like that, her heart was going to stop beating.  “Yes,” she confirmed.

“How about I try again tomorrow night?  Is that too soon?  We can…”

“Dick!”  She waited until he’d stopped and faced her before continuing.  She snickered at his rambling.  Usually, it was her doing the rambling and everyone else watching on in bemusement.  She didn’t get to be the one on this side often… or ever.  “I’d love if we could try again and go out tomorrow.”

“Do you want to head back in?” he asked, nodding toward the patio doors.  “It looked like you were headed that direction when I came out.”

She looked over her shoulder for a few seconds but met his eye with a hopeful glint.  “I was only going in because I was so cold, but as soon as I thought it, there you were with a hoodie and a smile.”  She shook her head and let out a huff of air.  “I think that can be considered a sign that I’m right where I should be.  Unless you’d like to…”

“No!” he cut in.  “No,” he continued quieter, “I think Duke will understand if I miss a bit of his party.”  He scooted closer to her and tentatively set his arm behind her, relaxing into it when she smiled up at him.  “I’m right where I want to be.”

@maribat-calendar-events

#maribat #Dickinette #Dickinette February #Prompt - heart #Meet Too Cute

[marauderundercover]

This is a one-shot NOT connected to A Thousand Years.

Marinette looks down at the two little lines and swiftly crushes the immediate panic that wells up at the sight. So yes, she and her husband were vigilantes. And sure, they both had countless enemies that would stop at nothing to destroy anything good and light in their world. Sinking down to the floor, Marinette tries to think of other things. Like how happy their families and friends would be. And how most of them are also vigilantes and very willing to protect those they love. A light knock on the bathroom door pulls her out of her head.

"Babe? You okay? Plagg says your heart is going way too fast." Dick says gently. Raising an eyebrow at Tikki, who simply shrugs, Marinette scoots away from the door.

"It's open." She calls out. There's a moment of hesitation before Dick slowly comes in, immediately dropping to the floor next to her with worry covering his face. He instantly reached out and cups her face gently in his hands.

"What's wrong? Are you sick? Are you hurt? What happened?" He rapid fires questions, panic leaking into his voice.

"Nothings wrong, I was just-" Marinette hesitates, and glances down at the little stick in her hand. Dick follows her gaze and sucks in a sharp breath.

"Are you..." He trails off, looking back up at her face. Marinette smiles softly and nods.

"Yeah. We're gonna have a baby." She says, a thrum of excitement finally overtaking the initial panic. Dick cheers, pulling her into a hug. Melting into her husband's embrace, Marinette can't help but think of all the different ways they could tell their friends and families. She had a lot of crafting to do.

@maribat-calendar-events

#maribat #maribat fanfic #dickinette #dickinette feb #dickinette february #Dickinette February 2023

[alittlemelody716]

Dickinette February Day 22: Sick Day

Tales of Mini-Wing and Chibi-Noire

Uhhh whoops, it’s been a while huh? Hope you didn’t forget about this.

Mini-Wing: “So what have we learned?” Chibi-Noire: “That pushing myself with a fever is a really bad idea...”

#mulberry melody #cat!marinette #dickinette february #dickinette #mini-wing #chibi-noire #tales of mini-wing and chibi-noire #maribat

[fleursroses]

I posted 141 times in 2022

That's 16 more posts than 2021!

40 posts created (28%)

101 posts reblogged (72%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fleursroses

@pomsicles

@littleinkling64

@hamsternamedmarinette

@scarlixy

I tagged 59 of my posts in 2022

#maribat - 32 posts

#mlb x dc - 29 posts

#dc x mlb - 29 posts

#maridami - 17 posts

#daminette - 16 posts

#marinette x damian - 16 posts

#platonic jasonette - 7 posts

#jasonette - 6 posts

#maridick - 6 posts

#dickinette - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 121 characters

#anyway fun fact! this is actually the work i'll post when i hit 200 followers! it's not quite ready but i'm getting there

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Marinette: Excuse me sir, have you ever been arrested?

Damian: Yes.

Marinette:

Marinette: I was going to say "because it’s illegal to be that cute" but now I’m curious.

Damian: Aggravated assault.

348 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#4

Damian, on the phone with Marinette: He’s in the kitchen again…

Tim, reading a recipe: “Beat three eggs.” At what? Hand to hand combat?

Marinette: GET. HIM. OUT.

503 notes - Posted February 23, 2022

#3

Marinette: We all have our demons

Marinette, grabbing Damian: This one's mine

540 notes - Posted January 19, 2022

#2

Marinette: So.

Marinette: I'm in love.

Marinette: With Damian.

Marinette: I'm in love with Damian.

Jason:

Jason: Our Damian?

Marinette: Yes?

Marinette: ...thoughts?

Jason: And prayers.

840 notes - Posted January 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Dick: Let's play a game. I call it "Mari or Titus'. I tell you something I've heard Damian say, and you have to guess whether he said it to his wife or his dog

Jason: Okay, that's easy

Dick: First up: "I would die for you"

Jason, under his breath: Fuck

899 notes - Posted February 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #Nice lmao

[nightlychaotic]

Open for Business

The glass above her head shattered. Marinette threw her hands over her head as she moved closer to the building, waiting for the glass to finish raining down around her before daring to look, barely catching on of the local vigilante’s flying overhead, crashing through a lower window on the building opposite her.

The soft clanging as two metal sticks hit the ground. Marinette darted over to the opposite side of the road, recognizing them as escrima sticks. The sounds of the doors opening behind her and the shouts of goons

She cursed under her breath, swiping up the escrima sticks and ducking around the corner into the alley way.

"Anyone see where that bird went?"

"I don't think he's come out yet, Bill."

"Let's move before he does come back."

Marinette held her breath as they started towards her hiding spot. She took a deep breath before swinging the escrima into the face of the first goon who came around the corner with a crack as he stumbled back.

"Bitch!" He cried, clutching his nose. "Oh you'll pay for that."

Marinette squared herself off dropping into a low, defensive stance, twirling the two escrima sticks in her hand, trying to get a quick feel for them as the goons started to surround her.

"Hey! Why don't we leave the pretty lady alone? C'mon. We can keep this between us can't we?" Nightwing's voice broke the tense silence. Marinette glanced over at the vigilante, smiling and standing at ease looking like he hadn't just been thrown through a window. His stance was disarming, screaming 'we're all friends here, no need to fight,' despite the slight tenseness in the muscles indicating the readiness to move at any moment.

"You five get the bird. I got the bitch," the goon-in-charge growled out, wiping nose away from under his nose.

Marinette focused on the one coming for her, curling into herself slightly, making her frame smaller with fewer targets to be hit, hoping it'd be mistaken for fear.

"Not so brave now, eh? Don't worry. I'll make sure you know your place when 'm done with ya."

Marinette let him get close, one hand nearing her head before she lashed out, snapping one hand up, ramming the escrima into his wrist with a crunch while the other one swung into his temple, dropping him and taking him out of the fight.

She glanced over, checking on the other fight, watching Nightwing flip gracefully over a goon, the punch intended, landing on his fellow goon’s face, knocking them to the ground. She ran over to help.

"Nightwing!" she called, throwing one of the escrima sticks. He caught it with a grin, swinging it and knocking one of the goons out. She ducked underneath a goon's punch, tossing the other escrima to the vigilante as she ducked down, swiping the feet out from underneath the goon.

The two of them made quick work of the remaining goons before Nightwing tied them up, sticking them on the corner.

"Thanks for the assist."

"It was nothing. Just glad I could be of assistance. Are you okay? You hit that window pretty hard."

“I’m fine. I’ve had worse.”

She raised a brow as he said that. Windows hurt. Surprisingly so. She’d been thrown into enough to know. The shattering, the shards, the tiny imperceptible pieces that you can’t see, but wormed their way into a cut and you just have to wait for them to worm their way out.

“If you say so, but,” Marinette dug in her bag, pulling out a small business card before handing it to the vigilante, “here. If you ever need a patch up in a pinch or a snack or just someone to talk to. My balcony is always open to heroes in any sort of need. Be it big or small.”

“Are you sure about this offer? It could put a pretty big target on your back.”

She smiled, giving a small shrug.

“Old habits die hard. Besides, if anyone does try to come after me I can handle myself.”

Nightwing laughed.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I should be the one telling you that,” she replied, with a soft laugh, leaving him and the gonna behind.

—---------------------------------

Nightwing grit his teeth as he sat looking at the small business card in his hand. across from

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

(555) 555 - 555

376 West Kane Street

Gotham City, NJ 07305

Nightwing tucked the card back into his suit, looking at the building on the other side of the street, trying to spot the balcony in question. The question was removed as he spotted Marinette enter out onto it, small pitcher of water in hand as she watered the plants on it.

He didn’t waste any time in grappling over, landing deftly on the balcony, clutching the wound on his side. She turned with a small smile quickly turning into concern as she took his state in.

“Your offer of help still on the table?” he asked with a weak smile.

She wasted no time, ushering him inside and pulling out a large first aid kit.

“Can you take the top half of the suit off or should I try to cut around it?”

He winced as he uncovered the wound.

She let out a breath as she looked at the wound.

“On the brightside it’s not the worst I’ve seen and nothing was hit which is good. Some stitches and you’ll be good to go. I am glad you came here though and not wherever your base is. You'd have done some serious tearing had you swung over the rooftops that far,” she said, pouring some antiseptic on his wound before pulling out a sterile needle and thread, getting working on the stitches.

“You’ve done this before.”

“Like I said last time I saw you. Old habits die hard. My balcony was a frequent stop for the Parisian holders when Hawkmoth was at large. Mainly for snacks and talks but the occasional injury wasn’t unheard of.”

“You’re Parisian.”

“You didn’t realize? I would have thought my accent would have given me away.”

He laughed, cutting off abruptly as it pulled at the wound. “The thought didn’t cross my mind.”

She laughed, finishing up and disposing of the tools and throwing her kettle on the stove. “Tea? I would offer coffee but I’m not about to after performing first aid on a stab wound.”

“That’s fair,” he laughed.

She made two cups of tea, pressing one into his hands with a couple of ibuprofen and took a gentle sip of her own, careful in fear of burning her tongue.

“Thank you for this.”

“It’s nothing. My balcony is always open.”

The two talked for an hour before Nightwing left, hopefully to get some rest and not continue patrol. After that night Nightwing was a regular fixture to her balcony on Tuesdays and Fridays, stopping by to talk, snack, and drop cheesy pick up lines to rival Chat Noir’s.

He became Marinette’s first regular in Gotham, showing up like clockwork as she created a safe haven for him.

—---------------------------------

She glanced over at the light tap tap tap on her balcony door, surprised when she wasn’t met with the now familiar sight of Nightwing, but Red Robin.

She opened the door with a small smile.

“Hello. What brings you to my balcony on this fine night?”

“So this is where Nightwing’s been going off patrol the past few weeks. I was curious where he was dropping off the map to.”

“You’ve found me. Welcome to Marinette’s balcony for worn out heroes. Here for you’re injured, hungry, or venting needs. Can I get you anything while you’re here? Coffee? Tea? Hot Chocolate?” she offered, gesturing for him to come in and take a seat.

“COffee?” he asked, perking up.

“Coming right up.”

Red Robin greedily took the cup from her hands as she offered it out. She laughed, placing a plate of baked goods on the coffee table, taking a sip of her own mug as the two sat in amicable silence, before Red Robin broke it as he placed his mug down.

“Nightwing stole my stash. This is both the first cup I’ve had in three days and the best cup I’ve ever had in my life.”

Marinette laughed. “I can give you a thermos for the road.”

“You’re a goddess.”

She laughed, disappearing into the kitchen momentarily before reemerging with a thermos. “For the road.”

He took it, stashing it somewhere she couldn’t see before giving a smile. “Thank you for making this patrol bearable. I need to be off.”

She laughed, opening the door for him.

“My balcony is always open.”

And thus Red Robin became wildcard number 1, visiting regularly at random every couple of weeks.

—---------------------------------

The next unexpected visitor, and wildcard number 2, she had to her balcony was Red Hood. Lounging against the door frame on a particularly warm night

“Dangerous to leave your door open, Pixie Pop. Never know who might come in unannounced.”

She set her embroidery down, finally turning to look at him.

“I find not many with ill intentions come to a 10th floor balcony and watch someone embroider for 10 minutes without making their presence known.”

He chuckled. “Okay I’m impressed. How’d you know?”

“I knew as soon as you stepped foot on my balcony.”

“I heard about your round with Nightwing and the goons. Have to say I wouldn’t expect it from you.”

She crossed her arms looking at the man in her door frome. “If you’re going to give thinly veiled insults you can leave.”

He raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Didn’t mean to offend ya, Pixie Pop. Just trying to figure out where the hell Replacement and Big Bird keep disappearing off to and regaling stories of.”

She gave a noncommittal hum. “I just made some tea, would you like a cup?”

“Sure. Why the hell not.”

Marinette disappeared into the kitchen as he came in, pouring two cups. She came back to find the red helmet to have been placed on the floor next to the couch, revealing black hair with a shock of white near the front, and Red Hood, identity still protected by domino mask, nose deep in her copy of Sense and Sensibility. She set his cup gently on the coffee table before going back to her embroidery.

—---------------------------------

“Would you like a snack?” she called, holding a plate out her balcony door. “I have some macarons.”

The small boy, Robin, walked out of the shadows on her balcony and took one, keeping one eye on her as he ate it.

“Tt. You are acceptable.”

“Thank you.”

And he was gone. Wildcard number 3.

—---------------------------------

Marinette was surprised it took as long as it did for at least two of them to show up at the same time, with Nightwing the only one showing up routinely, much less for the first time more than one showing up at the same time involving all of them showing up.

She had just put a plate of cookies on the coffee table and had sat down next to Nightwing, when a third party joined from seemingly nowhere.

“Hello, Robin.”

“Marinette.”

Nightwing let out a small sputtering noise from beside her. “Marinette? How did you manage that?”

“She has not divulged her last name to me. Also, her baking is some of the best I have encountered. She has earned being addressed by her first name.”

“And I haven’t? Rude,” came Red Robin’s voice from behind the couch.

“Tt. You have yet to do anything to earn it.”

“Hey, I-”

“Tea you two? And Coffee for you Red?” she asked, cutting any rebuttal off as she stood, trying to remove herself from the small argument. The chorus of ‘yes’ was all she needed to disappear into the kitchen, the door swinging shut muffling the quarreling voices.

She took a deep breath, mentally preparing for all three of their antics at once, grabbing a small tray and placing three cups of tea and one coffee on it before pushing back out into the living room as a fourth voice spoke up.

“Big Bird’s just annoyed that we’ve been hanging out with his girlfriend without his knowing about it.”

She froze, cheeks turning bright red as she heard this and Nightwing’s quick response of ‘she’s not my girlfriend’ as she entered further into the room unnoticed.

“Responded a bit too fast for us to believe you. You’re hiding something,” Red Robin commented.

“No he’s right. We aren’t dating,” she spoke up, placing the tray down on the coffee table between the three vigilantes. “Hood, if you're going to be here come in and close the door behind you. I prefer not to have a cold apartment. I have an extra cup of tea.”

“Despite the protests, Marinette was looking quite cozy with Nightwing when I entered. Less so after I made an appearance, and especially after Red Robin showed.”

Marinette grew redder as Robin said that, burying her face in Nightwing’s shoulder as she tried to hide her blushing. Much to the other three’s vigilante’s glee.

“You sure you two aren’t-”

“Okay. Balcony is closed for the night. Take a cookie and go patrol the city.You can come back tomorrow if you want. Tonight’s my night.”

Robin disappeared silently, Red Hood and Red Robin’s quiet bickering could be heads as they left leaving her and Nightwing and her alone.

“I’m sorry about them. They can be a bit much, especially when they decide they want to embarrass me. I’ll talk to them. They’ll probably swing by and apologize. Red Robin and Hood will anyway. If you find a dagger, it's probably Robin.”

She laughed. “It’s fine. A good sign of camaraderie. I won’t put any stock into what they said.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine. Not the first time I’ve been accused of dating a hero and not my first time having a liking one either. And I will shut up now,” she said quickly, going red once more, looking away. “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

“I will if you want me to, but it’s a shame.”

“What?”

“There may be a Parisian civilian with a helpful balcony I’m falling for.”

“Oh? Civilian? Don’t think I couldn’t beat you in a race over those rooftops you travel over every night any day of the week.”

“I’d love to see that. I didn’t note you down as the type for free running.”

“You’re not the only one with secrets.”

“Clearly.”

“Maybe you’ll get some of mine for one or two of yours. If you think we can make this mutual falling work.”

“I think we can.”

She smiled as she leaned up, giving a quick, soft kiss before pushing him lightly through the balcony door. “Now I mean it when I said my balcony is closed. I need time to process everything that’s just happened. But, tomorrow?”

“I wouldn't miss it.”

She smiled, locking her balcony door behind him before collapsing on the couch with a small squeal.

#Maribat #Dickinette #mgicivilwar2022 #MGI Civil War 2022 #No beta this is war #Dickinette february

[itsnothappening]

of broken windows and bloody vigilantes | dickinette

Word Count: +1.7k

summary: marinette wanted to have one quiet night. instead, she got an injured nightwing and a smug red hood.

ao3 | wattpad | masterlist | prompts | series masterlist

@dickinette-february

Marinette had just put her chocolate chip cookies in the oven when she heard the familiar tapping on her window.

Rushing over to it, Marinette gulped hoping that somehow this time, maybe Jason wasn't hurt. He was one of her best friends and being Ladybug for a good part of her teenage years, it didn't take Marinette long to figure out he was Red Hood. His excuses were pathetic so the pieces weren't difficult to put together.

To be honest, though, she was kind of expecting it. Marinette remembered the first time she met Jason. He was Red Hood.

◇─◇──◇─◇

Some piece of shit decided that he was going to attack Marinette, so obviously, she had to teach him some manners.

Marinette ducked as he swing his fist at her, and kicked him hard, right where it hurt.

As he was groaning, clutching his stomach, Marinette kicked him directly on the head, and her assailant was knocked out cold.

"You can come out now," she called out, already sensing the presence behind her with her mystical powers.

Red Hood walked out from the shadows and Marinette cringed at his ridiculous outfit. A tin can? Seriously?

"Wow," he said, surprise evident in his tone.

Marinette scowled at him. "What is that even supposed to mean? Have you never seen a woman who can defend herself?"

"No, I mean-" Red Hood fumbled for an answer. After a few seconds, he gave up, sighing heavily and saying, "I meant that I've never seen anyone take out a person so quickly."

Marinette shrugged, flipping her hair. "I guess I'm just special."

◇─◇──◇─◇

Now that Marinette thought about it, that was probably what prompted Jason to try and get to know her.

Once he did, well, after that, it was smooth flying.

The two of them were friends, nothing more. But, their dynamic could also be defined as Jason making sure Marinette ate and drank, while she made sure he didn't do anything stupid that could get him potentially killed.

It worked.

As Marinette put down her mittens on the table and began to hurry through the window, a fist punched through the glass and opened the handle.

Red Hood jumped in, with a body in his arms.

"Excuse you?" Marinette asked hotly. "Why would you punch through my window with a body with you? Hood, we've discussed this-"

The body groaned and Marinette froze.

It took her a few seconds to realize that the person was, in fact, alive.

"Jason?" The man mumbled, trying and failing to get up. "Where are we?"

"Oh my kwami," Marinette looked at Jason, who was unmasked now. "Jason, is that your brother?"

Said man, who was unmasked now, nodded. "It's Nightwing and he's injured. He got shoved through some walls and fell and I didn't know where else to go-"

Marinette shut him up with quick instructions, already mentally preparing the spells she would need to patch Nightwing up.

"Jason put him on the couch and get the first-aid kit."

Quickly complying, Marinette hurried over to the man now lying on her couch, wincing as she saw the extent of his wounds.

He had a lot of scratches, two large gashes - one on his stomach and the other on his chest and some broken ribs.

"I've got the first-aid kit!" Jason called out, as he entered the room.

He looked a little less worried than before, probably relieved because he got his brother some help.

Marinette pulled out some bandages to put on the relatively small scratches and as she did so, her patient seemed to regain consciousness.

"Jason?" he called out.

Immediately, Jason was at his side. "Hey Dickie, don't worry, I've gotten some help."

'Dickie' attempted to sit up once again and Jason looked like he wanted to help, so Marinette cut in before either of them could make the wounds worse.

"You should stay still," she advised, still prepping. "Don't want to make those wounds worse."

"Who are you?"

In any other situation, Marinette would have been offended, but considering the fact that he was a superhero who had to keep his identity safe, she didn't bother herself about it.

"I'm Jason's friend," she said, looking him over. "And I'm going to need you to take off your shirt."

"You know," he said with a hint of humour, and instinct told Marinette he was about to make a dirty joke. "Usually, we do the deed after the dates, not before them."

Jason groaned, in disgust, most likely, while Marinette rolled her eyes.

But only after a few seconds though; she was caught off guard by how deep it was. Oops?

It suddenly occurred to Marinette that she couldn't clean the wounds on his face if his mask was still on.

"And you're also going to have to take your mask off."

His humorous (read: attractive) laugh cut off abruptly. "Excuse me?"

Marinette sighed, already knowing what this was about. "I have no intention of exploiting your identity, I make a decent amount of money so don't be worried."

He looked at Jason who nodded casually.

"She's safe," he said, and Marinette smiled slightly. She knew Jason trusted her but a little confirmation was always nice.

Nightwing gave an exasperated sigh, mumbling 'you should have just taken me to the Batcave' before pulling off his mask.

Well, shit.

Marinette was not expecting him to, frankly, be so utterly hot.

Jason had told her a little about each of his brothers; Nightwing was the oldest (about her age), single and Jason had made it no secret he was trying to get them together, but what he had conveniently managed to leave out was that his oldest brother was ridiculously attractive.

"Er, you okay?" Nightwing asked.

Marinette realized she had been caught staring and quickly put herself to work again.

"Yeah..." she said, scrambling for an excuse. "I just didn't realize Nightwing was my age."

Jason shot her an odd look, probably knowing he'd told her everyone's ages.

It took him a few seconds to realize exactly why and Marinette was sure her flaming cheeks were a dead giveaway.

"So," Jason said in a tone she didn't like. "Once you patch him up, Di-"

He caught himself quickly, and Marinette had a feeling he was going to say his brother's real name.

Clearly, She was right because Nightwing glared at his brother.

"My brother," Jason corrected hastily, "Will need some clothes. Mari, as resourceful you are I'm sure you don't have any clothes in his size so I'll just have to run back to the Batcave and get it; see ya!"

And just like that, he left.

Marinette glared at the back of his head because he knew she had clothes in every size for every gender. She was a fashion designer, it was to be expected.

Jason had left them alone because he had suddenly decided that it was the perfect time for the two of them to get to know each other.

He texted her as much, and Marinette was sure he was doing it while he was running on roofs.

The little idiot.

Nightwing winced as Marinette dabbed the swab over his face. "Ouch," he mumbled.

Marinette shot him an apologetic smile as she continued to do so. "I'm afraid I can't do anything about the pain."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Nightwing's grunts of pain occasionally breaking it.

Eventually, he was the first one to speak. "Jason's told us a lot about you. Actually, everything but your name."

Marinette shot him a smirk. Anything to distract him from the pain he was most definitely feeling. "Is that your way of asking me my name, so you can track me down?"

Nightwing offered her a falsely innocent smile. "Maybe you're right about the first part. I didn't even think about the second part, though."

"Marinette." She said, after a few seconds of silence.

Shooting her a dazzling smile, Nightwing said, "Well, Marinette, it's nice to meet you. My name's Richard but you can call me Dick."

Marinette shot him a smile of her own.

"Well, Dick," she repeated, "It's lovely to meet you too. Now, I'm going to need you to take off your suit, so I can take care of the rest of you."

She punctuated her statement with one last delicate press on his face and looked at him expectantly.

"I still stand by what I said before," said Dick with a smirk as he pulled off the top part of his suit.

Marinette answered after a few seconds, mesmerized by his sculpted chest.

"I'm sure once you're patched up, I can whip up some dinner. Will that do?" Marinette asked airily as she cleaned his wounds.

Dick pretended to think about it for a moment before answering. "That depends."

"On?"

Marinette cringed as Dick choked on air as she cleaned a particularly deep wound.

"On what you make for dinner."

Marinette shot him a teasing grin. "I assure you, you will like it."

Dick cocked an eyebrow at her. "And how do you know that?"

"Just a lucky guess," Marinette hedged as she cleaned his chest. It really was godly.

Dick rolled his eyes.

"Okay, you can sit up now." Marinette held his arms tightly as if she had done it a million times before.

Easing himself up, Dick stared at Marinette suddenly struck by her beauty. Even at this late hour - it was nearing midnight - she looked absolutely breath-taking.

Jason would be happy, he thought with a wry grin. His brother hadn't been very subtle about meeting his friend, but each time Dick refused with some excuse or the other.

He was regretting doing that now; he would have met Marinette much sooner if he hadn't made those excuses.

Without even realizing it, the two of them leaned closer and closer until their noses were almost touching.

"Is this okay?" Dick breathed softly.

Marinette nodded, and almost immediately, his lips slanted over hers.

It wasn't like the usual fireworks that exploded once you kissed someone; it was a kiss that felt like you were returning home, to the place where unconditional love always waited for you.

Dick's hands wound up on Marinette's face as hers tangled in his hair, and things were getting heated until something - or someone - interrupted them.

"Oh my god, this was not what I was expecting-" Jason stood at the doorway, clothes in hand as he covered his eyes with the other.

Dick scowled at his brother. He had terrible timing. "Well, what were you expecting when you left us like that?"

#dickinette #dickinette february #dick grayson x gender neutral reader #dick grayson #marinette dupain cheng #jason x marinette #dick being a little shit #jason todd #jason and marinette being besties #or #marinette is jason's therapist #and #jason is her mom #red hood #nightwing #maribat #mlb x dc #dc x mlb

[miraculouspenta]

Maribat Months List

Some are just plans btw

January: Timari January

February: Dickinette February

March: Maribat March

April: April Angst Apocalypse

May: Marijon May

June: June of Flowering Fluff

July: Jasonette July

August: Mominette Month

September: Bio!Dad Bruce Wayne Month

October: Rare-Pair Month

November: Platonic November

December: Daminette December

Yes, we have all twelve month woo! Hope you authors are not planning on doing them all!

#timari #dickinette #maribat #angst #marijon #fluff #jasonette #mominette #bio!dad bruce wayne #rare-pair #platonic #daminette #Timari January #Dickinette February #Maribat March #April Angst Apocalypse #Marijon May #June of Flowering Fluff #Jasonette July #Mominette Month #Bio!Dad Bruce Wayne Month #Rare-Pair Month #Platonic November #Daminette December #Maribat Months

[ilovebeing-weird]

Dickinette February

Day-1 Spell/Potion

First day of commitment, let's see how this goes. I don't know what I am writing. So let's wait and watch. Yayy!!

Marinette was stressing out. Why? Her boyfriend has turned into a baby. Curse the Scarecrow, he has created a new spell that de-aged people. Nightwing came into its contact while saving a civilian.

"It will take only one day to fade away, but we will try to speed the process as much as possible." Bruce or Batman told her. "Till then can you take care of him? Our house is not child friendly." That's true but what do you expect from a house full of vigilantes

"Please take him!! He saw your photo and won't stop crying!! We don't know how to take care of him!!" Red Robin told her almost crying himself.

*TT* "Take the heathen." Always the grumpy Robin told her annoyed. Nothing new there.

"We are not trained enough for this!!" Red Hood says pleadingly while the 5 year old Dick Grayson in his arms is crying and making grabby hands towards Marinette. It was a odd science, not only because he was a baby, also because he was sad and crying.

"Give him to me." She said looking at her boyfriend, she was the most adorable thing she has ever seen, and she has seen Tikki. His big blue eyes were glazed and his chubby cheeks. Marinette was going to die of cuteness.

"Awwww, aren't you the cutest thing ever." Mari said cooing over him and making him calm down instantly.

"I wissed ou." Dick said looking up in her eyes

"Okay we will leave him in your care, and start finding the solution." Batman said taking out his grappling hook as the younger vigilantes followed suit.

"Let's take you inside, shall we?"

It shouldn't be so difficult, she had taken care of kids before. It's true they were older but taking care of a five year old shouldn't more different or difficult.

Right?

Wrong!

That kid was extremely energetic and flexible and knew gymnastics. He loved to drain Marinette's energy. Marinette was tired to the bone. She finally sat him to eat. It will be easy now, except he was throwing a fit while eating.

"Dick, please eat it. I will give you candy after this." Hearing candy made his face light up. She knew how much her boyfriend loved sugar.

"Pawmise?"

"Yes, promise. Now eat it for me?" He nodded his head and ate whatever was on his plate. "Very good. Now as promised, here is your candy." After having his sugar, he was even more energetic, so that meant, no rest for Marinette.

"Let's do something!!"

"Okay, what do you wanna do?"

"Ooh, ooh, let's go out. To the zoo or....... The Zoo?"

"Fine let's go," She knew he loved the zoo. Their first date was at a zoo too. They tried freeing the animals, and almost succeeded if it wasn't for Batman. "but first we have to get you dressed accordingly." he was in a loose T-shirt. Mari was lucky that she was working on a toddlers clothing line.

"Buh, I like this. Smells like you."

"But you gotta wear something else if you wanna go out."

"Can't wear this?" He asked his eyes pleading. Damn it! How dare he be such cute, and have those big blue eyes that she can't deny to. But she has too so she uses the little courage left in her and finally says....

"No"

"Okay"

"Good boy Dickie, now I am gonna get you some new clothes and then we'll go to the zoo."

"Mari wook, I can do like this mokey!!" Dick said, dressed adorably in a bunny onesie.

"Really? show me!" She had no doubt that he could impersonate the monkey. There was nobody who could do it better.

"Yeah" Dick said trying to climb into the monkey's cage

"Dick, what are you doing!?" Marinette exclaimed lifting him in her arms

"If I wave to do like mokey, I weeb to get in. I weeb the bars to swing."

"No"

"Why" He said his eyes watering. Why God?!

"Because we don't want to disturb the monkeys"

"Ohhhh" Dick made an understanding face

"Yeah"

"Why are tey in the wage?"

"So people can see them"

"It's bad"

"Yeah, it's bad"

"Wemove them?" He asked cutely tilting his head to the side

"We can't"

"Why"

"Because...... We just can't"

"Oh"

"Yeah"

"Let's go?"

"Yeah, let's go"

"Mari"

"Hmm"

"I wanna mawwy you" Marinette smiled in return

"You do?"

"Yea"

"I wanna marry you too." It wasn't a lie, she wanted to, to the adult version of him of course. "When do you wanna get married"

"Tomowwow"

"So soon?"

"I wanna do it soon"

"Okay then, let's get married tomorrow"

After coming home she changed him into his T-shirt, which was way too big for him, but ge wore it without complaining.

"So did you like the zoo?" Marinette asked a sleepy Dick

"Yea, it was fun. You were ith me" Hearing those words made Marinette's heart fill with warmth. She went into flashback when he said those words on their third date.

-- Flashback --

"Do you like this? I knew that you didn't want something to fancy, so I went for something basic, if you don't like it we could do something else. Of course you don't like it, I mean-" Dick silences Marinette's rambling by a light peck on her lips

"I love it, I would love any place if you would be with me."

-- Flashback ends --

"I had fun too" From the side of her eye she saw him rubbing his eyes

"Let's get you to bed shall we?"

"Hmm" That's all he said before he passed out in her arms

"Why are you so cute" After putting him to bed, her phone rang

"Hello?"

"Hey Mari"

"Oh, hey Tim"

"We are so sorry we dumped a baby on you for almost a whole day. We hope that it wasn't much of a problem. Sorry, but we couldn't find a solution to change him back soon."

"It's okay Tim, it wasn't a problem at all. I was happy to spend a whole day with him. And take care of him."

"Are you sure, if you want we can take him back"

"It's okay Tim, I can take care of him. He is sleeping anyway."

"Okay then, call us if you need us"

"Sure, bye"

"Bye"

Dick felt warm, he was in pain but also warm.

"What" He saw his girlfriend beside him sleeping soundly, no worries of the world. "How did I come here? Not that I am complaining, but how?" Suddenly all the memories came rushing back to him. From how he became a baby, to how they went to zoo. He proposed!! He wanted to propose, but properly, with a ring, a speech.

"What happened, Dick? Dick!!" Mari jumped on to him happy to see him turned back into an adult. He hugged back with an 'oof'

"Hey"

"You, you need to be more careful. What if something happened, do you know how awful it would've been"

"I know, I know. I am sorry"

"It's okay. Do you need food?"

"Yes please"

"And please, wear some jeans"

@dickinette-february

#maribat #dickinette #Dickinette February #marinette and batfam #de aged #fluff #baby dick #potions #batman #Nightwing #Marinette Dupain Cheng #Dick Grayson #Batfam #DC #Miraculous #dc×mlb #weird writings

[bunathebunny]

puppy pile

Marinette gets a phone call.

For Dickinette February 2021 Day 17 - Pet

@dickinette-february

Available on AO3

So Pomegaverse is a popular drawing trend in Japan right now and it's really cute so I thought why not apply it to writing.

There are two missed calls when she finishes her shower. Her phone that has been steadily recharging went off twice when she was in the bath and when she steps out of the bathroom with a tower wrapped around herself, it goes off for the third time.

This time, she is ready and picks it up with something like confusion and a tiny dash of dread in her wake. This phone is her personal one - the very same one that only few people know the number of. And the calling number is Dick's but her partner does not usually make a call when he is at work.

Her heart is in her throat when she tentatively picks up the call. She does not get the chance to say anything before a woman's voice greets her in rapid English.

"Hello, Mrs. Grayson. I am Officer Rohrbach, your husband's partner at the Bludhaven Police Department? I'm afraid there has been a situation regarding your husband's well-being."

Oh God. Shit. This is happening. The worst scenario might have just come. God, does she need to call Mr. Pennyworth?

"Is he hurt?" she can feel the familiar panic clawing at his throat as grimmer and grimmer possibilities present themselves before her, "Which hospital is he in?"

An eerie silence reigns. Her heart feels like it can explode at any moment. The choking anxiety swelling in her throat as she clutches onto the edge of the nightstand.

"No, Mrs. Grayson," Officer Rohrbach soothes and unlike the other times, Marinette does not mind her mistaking her as Dick’s wife, "This is quite a minor situation however Officer Grayson might have to take a day off."

Which, does not lessen her panic as she catches the subway to the B.P.D. Only at times like this does she mourn the fact that public transport might take more time to commute.

And what greets her when Officer Rohrbach shows her to Dick’s booth is a tiny black Pomeranian that nestles in a messy nest of Dick's clothes: his hoodie and uniform and a scarf that looks familiar, all bunched up together. Officer Rohrbach hands her a cardboard box which she puts Dick and his hastily made nest into and takes Dick's bag with her as Officer Rohrbach leads her out.

"Please do look after him," Officer Rohrbach says, bopping Dick's tiny nose, smiling as he nips at her finger, "Grayson is quite reckless."

Dick seems to disagree with that with the sad kicked-puppy look he shoots them. Had him been human, Marinette knows for certain that he would be pouting.

On their way home, Dick occasionally looks up at her with a cutesy puppy face that has each and every one passing by them cooing and asking permission to pet him. Otherwise, he curls up into a tiny ball of fluff in his hastily made nest or peeking out of the box and has nearly fallen off several times on the way from the B.P.D to the subway and from the subway back to the apartment they share.

"I told you that this is going to happen one day," she huffs, shuffling the box to open the door to their apartment, "You were stretching yourself too thin, Dick."

The tiny dog growls. Which would be menacing if he was not such a tiny ball of fluff.

"Ok, fine, no important discussion to be had when there is a fluff fluff on the scene," she closes the door with her foot and heads toward their shared bedroom, "Cuddling is the priority here."

Dick gives a satisfied yip as she sets the box on the bed, picks him up with careful hands and puts him on the sheets. He starts to pile the pillows together the moment his little paws touch the bed and noses the box toward the edge.

Marinette gets up to raid their closets and to cobble up some clothes for Dick to nest. Dick prefers soft clothing for his nest so maybe cotton? One of her pyjamas, perhaps?

"Would you like me to call one of your friends?" she asks, already picking out clothes, "Maybe asking them to stop by with some of their clothes and for cuddles?"

Dick looks at her with sad puppy eyes at the mention of his friends before he starts to circle his remade nest, tiny tail held up high and still as he pokes at the pile of clothes that Marinette set down with a tiny paw. Then, he starts nosing them into an order that only he understands.

Marinette comes back to the bedroom with the plastic bowl that preserved for times like this filled with water and the bag of jerky from the pet store that they stashed away some time ago. They both have their own set for situations involving their Pomerania form and jerky bags stashed all over their apartment.

Dick is curled up in the middle of his nest, made from the clothes that Marinette has set out for him and those that were rejected piling up near the cardboard box at the edge of the bed. His tiny fluffy head pokes up when Marinette approaches and sets the water bowl on the nightstand.

“Getting yourself comfortable, aren’t you?” she chuckles at the happy puppy look as she tears open the pack of jerky, “Yes, yes, your nest is really soft, isn’t it?”

Dick yips, nipping at her finger in teasing way. His tiny ears perk up when Marinette pulls out a strip of jerky.

“Let’s get you nicely fed,” Marinette coos and rewards him with the jerky when he makes an adorable face at her, “After that, let’s cuddle.”

She feeds Dick a few more pieces before deciding that too much food would spoil his appetite. Dick nuzzles at her side, staring mournfully at the treat as she ties it up with a rubber-band and sets it in the drawer of the nightstand before picking him up and offer him some water.

And when Dick has his back turn to her, she picks up the phone that Dick has playfully hidden underneath a pillow, only leaving a tiny corner peeking out. It does not take long to find the number she seeks.

“Hey Wally,” Dick jumps at her voice, turning back at her with a pitiful whine which, more or less teases a snort out of her, “Yeah so I’m calling to offer you a place in a cuddle pile that is about to happen.”

Dick shoots her a betrayed look as he loafs right on the nightstand, drawing his paws as close to his body as possible. Then he turns up the cuteness factor of his puppy eyes.

“You have your key, right? Oh, remember to grab some food too! Something that is both human friendly and doggy friendly. Ok, see you in a bit.”

The tiny ball of fluff whimpers.

“Don’t give me that look, Dick. Of course I’m telling Wally. He’s our boyfriend.”

Tagging list: @vroomtaka

#maribat #dickinette #Dickinette February

[mochegato]

Hope on Board

Chapter 1 - Boy’s Night Out

“Okay,” Dick boomed, bringing the room’s attention to himself.  “Weapons on the counter.”  He raised an eyebrow at the disgruntled objections around the room.  “We are going out to have fun.  We are not going to take guns or knives or arrows to the bar. This is a night off.  This night is to relax and blow off steam.  Boy’s night out.”

“Having a gun does relax me!” Jason mumbled around the bite of apple in his mouth.

“Naw, it’s the shooting that relaxes you,” Roy pointed out shoving his head away as he walked past him.

“No guns!”  Dick grabbed the gun out of Jason’s thigh holster as he passed by and tossed it onto the counter.

“Hey!” Jason yelled, grabbing Dick’s shirt and violently pulling him back to face Jason.  “Don’t touch my guns.”

Dick held his hands up in surrender and waited quietly for Jason to let go.  Once Jason had backed off and taken another bite of his apple, Dick shook his head.  “See that there, is exactly why we need a night out and no weapons.  I expect all weapons on this counter before we walk out that door.”  He stared Jason and Roy down.

“Why are we going to a club if we just want to talk?” Tim pointed out with a defeated sigh.  “Loud music, people bumping into you, lights flashing… not the ideal atmosphere for talking.”

“We’re also blowing off steam and a distraction while we talk so Jason doesn’t get bored and start fighting is not a bad idea,” Dick pointed out.  “Which brings us back to no weapons.”

Jason huffed and walked over to the counter keeping eye contact with Dick as he started removing his knife and his backup knife and his small knife and his backup gun and laid them on the counter one at a time.  “Thank you, Jason.  Roy?”  

Roy sighed and removed his knife and a gun. Dick raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.  “What?  I’m not a paranoid asshole like him.” He motioned to Jason.

“Tim?” Dick questioned with a stern look.

“Like I carry weapons on me when I’m not in the suit,” he scoffed.

Dick stared him down waiting for him to admit having weapons.  When Tim didn’t fold under his stare, Dick nodded and looked back to the group.  “Fine.” He reached behind him to pull off his tee shirt, throwing it over the back of the couch and grabbing a button up shirt instead.  

Tim stared at the shirt he put on as he buttoned it.  “That’s what you’re wearing?”

“Yeah… what?  I like it.”

Jason opened his mouth to comment but instead glared at Roy when he smacked him upside the head to stop him from saying what they all were thinking.  "If Wally were here, you'd let him say it," he muttered.

"Well, Wally's sick isn't he?  So he's not here." Roy muttered back.

Dick looked between them and finally gave up waiting.  He shook his head and moved to the door.  “Let’s go. We’re going to hang out, drink, dance, and have fun.”

“And get laid,” Roy cheered.

“Not about getting laid,” Dick singsonged as he walked through the door.  

“But we’re totally going to,” Roy whispered to Jason.  “Well, we,” he motioned between himself and Jason, “are going to.  Tim’s boy is out of town and Dick’s on his own with that shirt.”

“Whatever, I just can’t believe he thought those were my only weapons,” Jason scoffed.

“Or that I didn’t have any,” Tim agreed.  “Either we’re getting better or he’s getting worse.”

<><><><><> 

The bar was more crowded than they expected, but they had still been able to find a table far away from the dancefloor where they could actually talk and watch the other patrons while they drank.  

“Dick, we need another round,” Roy pointed out, motioning toward the bar.

“And?” Dick scoffed not even looking at him, keeping his eyes on the dancefloor instead.  

“And we want the drinks now not in an hour,” Jason retorted quickly.

“We all know if any of us go it’s completely hit and miss when the bartender acknowledges us and with the bar as busy as it is, it could take a while.  But every time you go up, he makes a beeline straight for you.” Tim continued flatly.

“Heh, straight,” Roy chuckled.  

Dick rolled his eyes but got up anyway.  “Fine. I’ll just buy all night long.”

“Now that’s what I call a good night out,” Jason cheered, holding his beer up toasting Dick.  “Get me two.”

Dick pushed through the crowd and finally settled into a spot leaning against the bar.  As soon as he appeared, the bartender made his way over to him, bypassing patrons who had been waiting since before he got there.  Dick sighed at the proof the others were right. He ordered their drinks with a smile. No use upsetting the man pouring their drinks and controlling whether they got served or not.

He looked up and down the bar while he waited for their drinks.  His eyes caught on a woman a few people down from him.  She was waiting patiently and gorgeously for her drink.  Her dark hair was pulled up in a high bun, but tendrils had fallen around her face from vigorous dancing.  Her body was covered in a light sheen of sweat and her long-sleeved, bright blue crop top looked like it was meant to flutter lightly over her top but instead it clung to her sweat-covered body as she moved, occasionally giving a flash of the black bra underneath.  She was flushed from dancing giving her a luminescent look.  But the thing that truly drew his attention was her smile.  She had the most gorgeous, welcoming, exuberant smile on her face.  It lit up her whole face, causing her eyes to crinkle.

He started to push away from the bar to talk to her when he saw a man drape his arms over her shoulders. His head was positioned so the back of his head was blocking Dick’s view of her face so he couldn’t see if her expression was happy about the intrusion or upset, and his yellow and red shirt that hung loosely off him blocked Dick's view of her body language.  Dick leaned back against the bar, but kept an eye on her in case the embrace was not welcome.  How bad was it that he kind of hoped it wasn’t?  However, it quickly became apparent that it was not unwelcome.  “Come on Bugaboo, let’s get back out there.  I want to have fun tonight.  Maybe find someone to finally make out with me.”  

The woman rolled her eyes at him.  “Adrien, almost anyone here would make out with you.  Straight men would make out with you if you asked.”  She and the man nodded to the bartender in thanks when he dropped off their shots.

“It can’t just be anyone though.  I’m looking for a sign.  I’m waiting for the universe to show me my future.”  He stretched out his hand in front of him as if showing off his future.

“In a nightclub that is probably a front for one of the mob families,” she deadpanned.  He shrugged at her.  “I cannot stress enough how much that’s not how this whole thing works.  The universe isn’t going to give you a sign, especially not in a dive bar while you’re drunk.  You make your own destiny, my child, this isn’t Serendipity.  Now, drink,” she commanded.  

Dick watched as they clinked their glasses together and downed the shots before returning to the dancefloor.  His eyes followed her as she started dancing.  He hummed to himself, clearly together but not together.   Their boy’s night had been going on long enough, hadn’t it?  They had been talking long enough that it would be acceptable for him to get on the dancefloor himself soon, right?  He hummed to himself.  He might have to try to find her later.  He tore his eyes away when the bartender brought his drinks.  He winked at the bartender in thanks and returned to their table.

He brought the drinks back to the table, joking and reminiscing with the three of them.  The point was to get closer to each other, after all.  All throughout their conversation, he kept an eye on the bar for the woman he had seen earlier.  The next time she went up to get a drink, Dick excused himself to get one as well. They were close enough.  He wanted to get closer to someone else now.  The others at the table raised their eyebrows, giving each other knowing looks.

By the time he made his way through the crowd to get near the bar, the woman was facing off against a man who was easily twice her size and mostly muscle. “Hey, asshole!  Back off!”  

“Excuse me?  What the fuck business is it of yours?” he growled, crowding her personal space in an effort to intimidate her.

The woman clearly didn’t get the message, furrowing her brows in an angry glare.  “Grabbing someone’s ass and attempting to grab other areas as well without their permission is sexual assault, fucker!  She clearly does not know you and does not want you touching her.”

“You have no proof of anything,” he snarled at her.  “Now sit that pretty, tight, little ass down and maybe I’ll let you kneel in front of me a little later.”

The woman’s mouth dropped as she stared at the man.  “Yep, that’s the expression you’ll be making later.”  He reached to pat her on her ass.  Dick lunged to grab his hand before he could reach her, but he was just a beat too slow.  Instead, the woman grabbed the man’s hand and twisted along with his momentum, pushing him down as she twisted.  She moved her feet slightly to trip him, throwing him even further off balance.  She twisted his arm at an uncomfortable angle as he fell, forcing him to turn over on his stomach so she could pin him to the floor once he finally landed.  “Also, sexual assault?  Illegal, asshole.  Doing it to more people, surprisingly, doesn’t make it less illegal.”

“It isn’t sexual assault if you want it,” he jeered at her.

She scoffed at him, making sure to keep the pressure on her hold as she did.  “I doubt there has ever been anything living or otherwise that has wanted you looking at them let alone touching them.”  Dick chuckled at her response.

“Excuse me, what is going on here?”  A man Dick recognized as the bouncer asked.  He was eying the woman who was pinning the man down with heavy suspicion.

“That man sexually assaulted that woman and when this woman pointed it out he tried to sexually assault her as well,” Dick answered for her.

The bouncer looked between the first woman, the second woman, the man on the floor, and Dick.  He finally nodded and grabbed the man by his jacket collar.  “Come on mother fucker, we’re going to get your picture then you are never coming in here again, understood?”

“Do you know who I am? You’re making a monumental mistake,” the man screamed as he was getting dragged away.

The black haired woman didn’t bother watching the man as he was hauled away.  She shifted her focus entirely onto the blonde woman who had been assaulted.  “Hey, are you okay?  Can I get you a drink to steady your nerves?”

The blonde shook her head. “No, thanks.  I’m okay.  It happens. You go to a club, it’s going to happen.”

The black haired woman and Dick both gaped at her.  “It shouldn’t happen ever.  If anyone ever does anything like that to you again, kick their asses or call someone over to do it for you.  He had no right to touch you.  Going out to have fun doesn’t make you an open target,” Dick interceded.  “Assholes like that should feel unsafe in clubs not you.”

The blonde shrugged at him. “Thanks for your help anyway.  Can I buy you a drink?”

The black haired woman shook her head and gave her a gentle smile.  “No, thank you.  I just refreshed mine.  Have fun, yeah?”  The blonde nodded and waved before returning to the dancefloor.

The black haired woman collapsed onto a barstool with a sigh.  She chuckled and shook her head as she looked at her drink.  “Thank you by the way.  I don’t know if the bouncer would have trusted just my word.”

“Not a problem.” He took a seat next to her.  “I’m glad I could do something to help.  I tried to grab him before he could get to you but I wasn’t as fast as you.  You were really impressive.”

She shot him a glance from the corner of her eye but didn’t really stop to look at him.  The charming smile he shot her faltered when she didn’t look close enough to actually see it.  His liquor fueled mind frowned at the lack of attention.    “Thanks,” she mumbled.  She drank the rest of her drink in one gulp, which Dick thought was quite impressive considering it was full and not a shot.  

She laid the glass on the counter harder than it seemed like she meant to and continued to stare at it for a few moments.  “Hey,” he leaned a little closer to her while still giving her space.  “You okay?  You want another drink?” He motioned to the bartender for two more drinks for them.  

She rubbed her face and took a beat before turning to finally face him with a thankful smile.  “You really don’t have to.”  

Dick’s charming smile made it back to his lips, even wider than it had been before.  “No, but you deserve it for protecting the club.”

She shook her head.  “It wasn’t…”  She looked down at his shirt and balked, staring at it suspiciously. After a few moments, she looked up toward the sky with an annoyed scowl that still looked adorable, like an irritated kitten.  “Am I a joke to you?” she called out.  

His charming smile morphed into a look of confusion.  “I’m sorry?”

She waved her arms like she was waving away the concern.  “It’s nothing.  Interesting shirt.  Fan of ladybugs?”

He looked down at his shirt as though seeing it for the first time, “Oh… uh… I just liked the pattern. I don’t think I would have even recognized them as a ladybug if you hadn’t explicitly pointed it out.”  The woman looked back up toward the sky with a menacing look he didn’t quite understand.  He thanked the bartender when he served their drinks and turned back to her.  “Do you… uh… like ladybugs?”  

The woman gave a defeated sigh and looked down to her shoes.  When she looked back up, a resigned but amused smile was on her lips.  “No, it’s just… my friends used to call me their everyday ladybug.”

Dick cocked his head to the side studying her curiously.  There was something going on, but he couldn’t quite make it out yet.  But there was no way he was going to miss an opportunity to dance with a beautiful, strong, sweet woman.  “I’m Dick.” He stuck his hand out to shake hers.

She took his hand and gave him a bright smile, “Marinette.”

He looked over to the dancefloor and back to her.  “Do you want to dance?”  Her smile brightened, making his heartbeat pick up.  She pulled on the hand she was still holding and guided him onto the dancefloor, drinks still in hand.

Chapter 2

@dickinette-february

#maribat #dickinette #Dickinette February #Hope on Board #platonic jasonette #platonic adrienette #Knocked Up AU #prompt - dance

[marauderundercover]

A Thousand Years: Ch. 1

AO3

Dick Grayson never wanted to be Batman. As much as he cared about his family and enjoyed being a vigilante, he never wanted to be the Bat. But life doesn't always play out the way you want it to, which is why he was on patrol in his mentor’s suit. Even though Bruce had been gone for six months, it still felt wrong to put on the cowl. Wrong that he had the chance to get to know Damian, to watch him grow as a person and not just a hero. Something that Bruce would never get.

“Are you ready for patrol, Richard?” Damian asks as he silently appears in the cave. Dick nods, slipping the cowl on. Time to continue pretending to be something he’s not.

---

Marinette Dupain-Cheng hadn’t had a good time since moving to Gotham. She’d only done so at the request of her Uncle so that she’d be easier to commission. Sure, her commissions were doing far better in the US than they’d been doing in Paris, but Gotham was dark. It was lonely. And it gave her a weird feeling. Yet somehow, she’d managed to not see any of the elusive vigilantes yet. That was probably her biggest shock. Searching through her fabric closet, Marinette sighs, pinching her nose in frustration. Of course she didn’t have any extra fabric from the last suit jacket she’d made for Jagged.

“You okay, Pigtails?” Plagg asks from his spot on the couch. Marinette gives him a tight smile, nodding.

“I’m fine, Plagg. There’s a fabric store not far from here that’s open late. I’m gonna go try and match this fabric so that I can actually get this dress for Penny done.” She says. Plagg frowns.

“Need me to come with?” He asks. Marinette shakes her head, pushing down her flaring anxiety.

“No, I’m fine. Just watch over the others for me, okay?” She suggests. Plagg frowns, but nods in agreement. Letting out a small sigh of relief, Marinette grabs her purse and rushes out the door before Tikki can ask to come with. Ever since the defeat of Hawkmoth (and every bad thing that happened because of it), Marinette had avoided wearing her earrings. Or any Miraculous. She still let the Kwami exist in the physical world- it felt cruel not to. But her relationship with Tikki was broken. And she was pretty sure the only reason Plagg spent so much time around her was that he was worried about what she’d do if she was left alone for too long. Pulling her jacket closer to her, Marinette shivers slightly. It wasn’t that it was overly cold in Gotham. It was just the feeling of darkness creeping over her. Nighttime in Gotham was the darkest night she’d ever seen. Even with the street lamps. It was as if the city had given up hope that it could be better. That it could do better. Shaking her thoughts away, Marinette feels a thrum of satisfaction flow through her as she steps into the fabric shop.

“Good evening! Is there anything I can help you find?” The woman at the counter asks, a pleasant smile on her face. Marinette pulls the small scrap of fabric that she had left from Jagged’s jacket out of her purse.

“Do you have anything similar to this?” She asks, holding up the purple, glittery fabric. The woman purses her lips, obviously lost in thought, before she nods.

“I believe so. It would be back on the far right wall near the bottom. We don’t like leaving glitter fabrics on the top shelf. They tend to shed on everything else.” She says with a laugh. Marinette nods in thanks, giving the woman a small smile before moving to the back of the store. Shifting through the glitter covered fabrics, Marinette ignores the way the glitter attaches itself to her clothes and hands. She’d deal with that later. Instead, she continues to shift through the fabrics until she finally spots the one that matches Jagged’s- shade and all. Grinning, Marinette grabs the bolt and carries it to the front of the store.

“Could I have eight yards of this?” Marinette asks, passing the fabric to the woman. The woman’s nose wrinkles slightly, obviously annoyed by the glitter, but she nods.

“Of course.” She says, before turning to cut the fabric. “So, why so much fabric? Making curtains?” Marinette snorts.

“Er, no. I’m making a dress for a friend. As much as she’ll enjoy the glitter, I’m not so sure I’d be able to stand having it in my living room all the time.” Marinette admits. The woman laughs, nodding.

“Never were truer words spoken. I don’t envy you for having to work with this though. It’s going to get everywhere.” She says. Marinette hums in agreement, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She quickly glances out the store front windows, but doesn’t see anyone. Quickly paying for the fabric, Marinette takes the bag from the woman and leaves the store. She wasn’t in the mood for any type of confrontation. Not that she couldn’t handle it herself, but she’d surely get chastised by the Kwamis once she got home, and that was not something she wanted to deal with today. Quickening her pace, Marinette is almost to her street when she feels someone yank her into an alley by her purse. Yelping in surprise, Marinette whirls around and glares at the man who tugged her.

“What is your problem?” She snaps. Her eyes widen as the man lifts a gun, aiming it right at her head.

“Shut the fuck up lady.” He says, a smirk forming on his face. “Take your jacket off.” He says. Marinette flinches, shaking her head. The man snarls, adjusting his hold on the gun. “I said take your jacket off, bitch.”

“I believe the lady told you no.” A voice says from the shadows. Marinette’s eyes widen as Batman walks out, a deep frown the only visible part of his face.

“Oh shit.” The man says, immediately turning to run. He doesn’t get far before a child drops down and knocks the man out with the butt of a sword.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” Batman asks, his voice much softer than she’d expected. Letting out a shaky breath, Marinette nods.

“Um, yes. Yes, I’m fine. Thank you, for that.” She says, smiling softly at him. Batman’s lips twitch up slightly and Marinette swears her heart stops. Since when did Batman smile?

“Tt. It was no problem.” The child- who she assumes is Robin- says, walking over and moving to place himself between her and Batman. Marinette’s smile doesn’t waiver as she looks at the grumpy vigilante (since when was Robin the grumpy one?).

“Thank you, too. That was an impressive take down.” She says. Robin’s chest puffs out slightly, a pleased look on his face.

“Obviously. It is part of the job.” He says. Marinette just nods, working hard not to smile too much at the kid. He reminded her of an odd mix of several of her friends.

“Could we escort you home?” Batman asks. Marinette’s eyes widen.

“Oh, no- I couldn’t- I wouldn’t want to take you off your patrol route any more than I already have.” She says. Batman shakes his head.

“Nonsense. Robin- go ahead and secure the man. I’ve already called in Gordon. I’m going to take Miss-” He pauses, tilting his head to the side.

“I’m Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” She says. He nods.

“Miss Dupain-Cheng to her home. Robin, I’ll meet you at rendezvous spot 32 in half an hour.” Batman says. Robin opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but one stern look from Batman makes him shut it just as quickly.

“As you wish.” He says instead, his voice full of aggravation. Batman turns to her, his arm open and suddenly, Marinette realizes he’s going to carry her home. Trying hard to stop the redness from appearing in her cheeks, Marinette steps into his hold.

“Where do you live?” Batman asks.

“Gardenview Apartments. My apartment is 42- I have a balcony.” She says. He nods and pulls her closer, using his grappling hook to take off into the night. Marinette gasps, the feeling of flying through the air without her suit new and inviting. Mentally, she makes a note to look into trapeze or aerial silk classes. Anything to get this feeling again. They arrive- too soon- at her balcony. Batman sets her down gently and Marinette grins at him.

“Thank you.” She says, her eyes widening as she takes in the state of his suit.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, just as she starts giggling uncontrollably.

“I am so terribly sorry.” She says through her laughter.

“What?” Batman asks, his voice wary with a hint of panic.

“Your suit- it is covered with glitter.” She says. He glances down and snorts. Marinette laughs even harder, feeling a lightness in her chest. She’d made Batman laugh? Even though she’d covered the poor man in glitter?

“How did that even happen?” He asks, the amusement clear in his voice. Marinette holds up the bag of fabric somewhat guiltily.

“That would be my fabric. Is there anything I can do?” She offers, finally calming down. After all, the man had saved her and she’d repaid him by covering him in glitter. He shakes his head.

“No, no, that’s uh, that’s okay.” He says. “I have a spare suit that I can wear while I try to figure out how to get all of this out.” He says. Marinette winces.

“I really am sorry about it. I know it didn’t sound like it with all the laughter but-”

“Hey, it’s fine. Really. Are you okay?” He asks. She nods, smiling softly at him.

“I am. Thank you, again.” She says. He nods.

“Of course. I should leave. Robin will be waiting.” He says, turning and grappling off. Marinette sighs as she watches him leave, feeling the darkness creep back around her.

“Well you seem happy.” Plagg says as she walks into the apartment. Marinette raises an eyebrow.

“Were you watching me?” She asks. He snorts.

“Of course I was Pigtails. Gotta make sure you’re safe. Wanna explain why the local hero had to drop you off?” He asks, crossing his arms. Marinette rolls her eyes.

“Goodnight Plagg.” She says, walking past him. He huffs.

“This conversation isn’t over!” He calls after her.

“Yes it is!” Marinette calls back. Walking into her room, Marinette sets the fabric on a chair away from her bed before changing into pajamas. She’d originally planned on working on the dress after getting the fabric, but she actually felt relaxed for the first time in months. So instead, she decides to sleep.

---

Dick arrives at the spot before Damian does, and quickly tries to wipe the smile off his face. He shouldn’t be flirting with a random woman while in the suit. It was dangerous. And besides that, he didn’t have the time for a relationship right now. He was Batman. He was raising Damian. He was trying to stop Jason from being a terror to Gotham, and trying to get Tim to take a break and accept the fact that Bruce was gone. There was too much for him to do to waste time building a new relationship, no matter how badly he wanted to. But her laugh…

“Why are you smiling like that?” Damian asks, and even though Dick can’t see his eyes because of the mask, he’s sure the kid’s eyes are narrowed. “And why are you covered in glitter?” He asks, taking a cautious step back. Dick grins even wider.

“What, do you not want glitter on your suit, little D?” He asks, taking a step forward. Damian scowls.

“No names in the field.” He scolds. Dick snorts, shaking his head before darting towards his little brother. He chases him the entire way back to the Batmobile, thoughts of pretty girls and glitter floating around his head the entire time.

Next

Story tag list (open): @dickinette-february

Permanent tag list:  @stainedglassm  @laydeekrayzee @doll246 @queenz-z @deathssilentapproach-blog @literaryhiraeth @unoriginalmess @crazylittlemunchkin @buttercupsbitch @toodaloo-kangaroo

#dickinette #dickinette 2022 #dickinette feb #dickinette february #maribat marinette dupain cheng #maribat dick grayson #maribat damian wayne #mgicivilwar2022 #mgi civil war 2022 #mgi civil war #glitter

[alittlemelody716]

Dickinette February Day 8: Along for the Ride

Tales of Mini-Wing and Chibi-Noire

I’m not exactly happy with this one, but around the time this was created I was doing stuff for school and got really frustrated and stressed over something small. I couldn’t get the motivation to do this work over.

Mini-Wing: “Where is this portal going to again?!” Chibi-Noire: “No idea!”

@maribat-get-in​

#mulberry melody #cat!marinette #dickinette #dickinette february #mini-wing #chibi-noire #tales of mini-wing and chibi-noire #maribat #m?gi civil war 3

[sketchdumpbump]

Dickinette doodles I made cause I needed to feel soft🥰

#maribat #sketch #dickinette #maribat fanart #marinette x dick #dick x marinette #dickinette february #my art #doodle

[nightlychaotic]

An Error of Trust

Marinette wasn’t sure where she was or why she was out as Lady Noire. She glanced around quickly trying to get a grasp on everything. Unfamiliar skyline, smog heavy in the air. So not Paris. Her eyes locked on the other person on the rooftop with her.

"Qui êtes-vous? Qu'est-ce que vous m'avez fait? Qu'est-ce que vous voulez?" she demanded, twirling the baton in her hand as she looked at the costumed man. He raised a brow, with a small smirk.

"Je ne vous ai jamais entendu parler français avant, Noire. Tu essaies de flirter avec moi dans d'autres langues maintenant?"

"Je suis quoi?! I’m sorry, do I normally flirt with you in English? Where am I?”

“You don’t know?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I did. I know this isn’t Paris and I’m assuming I’m in America?”

“Gotham. New Jersey.”

“New Jersey? That is next to New York? My geography is not the best.”

“It is. You don’t remember anything?” he asked, frowning.

She shook her head. “I remember some things. I do not remember why I am here or how long I’ve been here but I’m hoping you can fill in the gaps.”

She looked over at him, tilting her head to the side. “I don’t know what it is about you…. But I know I can trust you.”

“Excuse me, what?” He looked surprised as she said that.

“We clearly know each other. Fairly well I’d assume-”

The flash of green light stopped her mid sentence, leaving him blinking spots out of his eyes and her standing in regular clothes, the recently stolen book in hand. Startled blue eyes met his.

“Merde. I take it you had no idea who I was?”

He simply nodded as she let out a breath, shaking her head and turning her attention to the book in her hands turning it over as she muttered something under her breath, a soft blue glow seemed to emanate from the book as she frowned, flipping through it, stopping abruptly and reading one section repeatedly before slamming it shut with a small huff.

“Well good news I figured out what happened.”

“Why do I feel like there’s bad news coming with it?”

“It’s going to be…. complicated to reverse. Do you have a kitchen I could use?”

—---------------------------------------

Nightwing sat, tamping down on the stressed feeling of having Lady Noire in his house, out of suit, cooking?

He watched her move through the kitchen as if it was her second home despite her never being there before. Humming under her breath as she swept a stray hair out of her face, throwing small smiles his way when she glanced over at him.

The two sat in a somewhat comfortable silence as she settled down for the most part at the island, occasionally flitting over to the sink for small moments in time.

"How well would you say we know each other?" she spoke up, looking at him.

He glanced over at the woman, currently demolishing his kitchen as she pulled bowls and jars out, dumping some perfectly good jelly out with barely a 'sorry' uttered before washing the jar.

"I know specific aspects. I've never seen this side of you in my life."

"So the airs I put on as Lady Noire you know well?"

"I think that may be the only thing about you I know."

She grinned, it was softer and less mischievous than the one he was accustomed to seeing from her. Instead of confident and tricky this one was satisfied and driven.

"Perfect. One more question. Have we ever kissed?"

“What?” he asked, ignoring the faint blush on his cheeks.

“Have we ever kissed before?” she repeated, glancing over at him. “I’m hoping we haven’t because otherwise that’s going to make everything a bit more harder to manage.”

“Why?”

“Spells are tricky because they call for odd things. This one calls for “the first kiss from one who knows the heart best.’ Odd words and my interpretation could be wrong but I have a feeling I’m right. I know I have the rest of the ingredients right and unfortunately the others I can think of who know me best are both in Paris and we've kissed. So that leaves you, mon oiseau. So have we kissed?”

“No. No we have not.”

“Would you like to?”

He raised an eyebrow at the question, having assumed she was

“I can’t force you to. You’ve done a lot to help me already.”

“I’m not used to you asking. You’re the type who usually takes what she wants.”

“I hope I never-”

“No! No no no no. Just very- flirtatious and seductive.”

She turned bright red as he said that, ducking her head. “Oh. OH!”

She turned away, muttered something about running to the bathroom before starting the finishing touches and disappears down the hall

She reemerged, back in Lady Noire attire, her eyes back to the unnatural green he associated with her flicked over towards him then back to the jars on his island.

“Are you okay to help me?”

He nodded, with a small grin. “I’d be happy to.”

She gave a small smile in return as she started mixing everything together, muttering under her breath before picking up the bowl giving a small salute and downing the contents in one shot, putting it down before waving him over.

He closed the distance between the two, as she waved him over a bit more frantically, eyes wide.

“Now?”

She nodded as he leaned down, gently catching her lips in a kiss. She deepened the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck, his eyes gently closing as they kissed before she broke the kiss with a soft laugh.

“Well now this is interesting, don’t you think, Songbird?” she asked, with a small grin.

“I take it that the spell worked?”

“Mmmhmmm. Like a dream. I have to be honest, I wasn’t expecting my night to go this way, but I’m not disappointed.”

“Do I get an explanation for what that all was?”

She started to pull away more, but he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer.

“Not so fast, Kitty.”

She let out a breath as she leaned into him to answer. “The grimoire I was stealing was in the hands of someone who knew more than they should. Got my claws in it and the last two years gone. I’m sure you realized I thought I was in Paris.”

“It was quite a surprise to hear you confront me in French. But you do sound very nice when speaking it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, mon petit oiseau, for our next encounter” she said softly, her breath tickling her ear before she gave it a soft nip, sliding out of his hold on her and to the window, slipping it open. She paused halfway through to look back at him, grinning at the blush she spotted on his cheeks.

“Merci beaucoup, Birdy. For all the help.”

And with a wink she was gone, slipping into the darkness, leaving him blushing with the mess in the kitchen.

#Maribat #Dickinette #HAPPY BIRTHDAY DICK #No beta this is wheeeeeeeeee #Dickinette February 2022

[ilovebeing-weird]

Dickinette February

Day-2 (Substitute Prompt) Darkness

I almost cried writing this.

"No no no, not again, I can't loose you too!! Marinette!! Please co- come back!! Not you too!! Stay with me, breathe."

"D- Dick, I- I love you. Ple- Please don't fo- forget me. An- and g- get a ham- hamster, for me." Marinette said chuckling a little even though it hurt, not only physically but mentally, she was leaving the only person that cared for her, the only person that was by her side and now she was leaving her, it hurt it hurt sooo much. They were at a mission when it all happened, they both got hurt pretty bad but she got hurt more, and now she was gonna go..... Forever, leaving everything behind

"No, please don't go, not you too, first my parents and, and now you, please I can't loose you too."

"Tell me you would never forget me."

"I won't because you are not going anywhere, you will be here with me, forever like you promised. You promised!!"

"I- I don't k- know how much time but please rem- remember me. Promise me."

"I- I promise, I love you so much" Dick said crying and holding her hand before it went numb and fell and darkness succumbed her, she was gone she won't be back. Just in memories.

"Mari? Mari? Marinette? MARI!!" He screamed, he screamed so loud, praying for her to open her eyes respond to him, tell him it was a prank, that she was joking, even though he knew that it was no use. His cries wouldn't be answered. She was gone from the world, now she wasn't here anymore to remove the darkness of the world with her bright smile.

"-ck! Dick! DICK!!"

"Huh, what happened?" Dick Grayson said waking up and rubbing his eyes

"You were screaming "No" again and again, then you started screaming my name, are you alright" Marinette asked concern lacing her voice

"Mari? Mari!! You are alive!!" Dick said tackling her to the ground

"Let me guess, a nightmare?"

"Yeah, I thought I lost you."

"Oh Dick"

"I love you, I love you, I love you." Dick said kissing her whole face

"I love you too, even though you can be a dork sometimes" Marinette cupped his face and brought him down for a long kiss.

"Your dork"

"My dork indeed" And they shared another long kiss

@dickinette-february

#Dickinette February #Maribat #Dickinette #Fluff #Angst #Death #Not really #weird writings

[bunathebunny]

night terrors

Dreams are not always sweet - AO3

For Dickinette February 2021 - Fall

@dickinette-february

There are nights where Dick tosses and turns, sweat soaking the sheets and distress in the grimace on his sleeping face. And there are nights where Marinette is woken up by the strangled scream and choked tears as Dick holds himself and shakes.

It hurts... That she is there but there is nothing she can do except cooing quietly with a hand soothing down his trembling back.

Dick is tactile yet there are times when he seems to outright deny the comfort of hugs and cuddles and refers to curl up into the ball on his side of the bed - like he is an injured animal, easily spooked. And there are times when he cannot seem to let go, usually strong arms trembling around her as he wraps himself around her, gasping through each hiccuped sobs - like he is sinking and sinking and there is nothing he can do but holding on and hoping for the best.

"Are you sure that it is safe?" Dick whimpers into her chest as they cuddle amongst the sweat-soaked sheets, "You sure that your yo-yo is unbreakable?"

"You were there," he sobs, wrapped in their blanket and shivering like a leaf, "I saw... you and... them..."

It matters not how many times she sat down to explain that "Yes, it is magic," and "No, it won't break." Night terrors come and goes without so much of a pattern. And there is nothing she can do but holding him close when he wishes for close contact or singing lullabies to calm him down when he retreats deep into his metaphor shell.

One day, he will heal. Until then, she will be there whenever he jolts awake from a nightmare with a lullaby on her tongue or her arms held wide for a hug.

Tagging list: @vroomtaka

#maribat #dickinette #Dickinette February