Work Text:
8 years ago
“Ukht, why are you so nice to me? Everyone never talks to me, and Ummi says that socializing is a waste of time. She says that kindness is a weakness.” Three year old Damian mumbled into Marinette’s shirt.
“You’re my baby brother, Damian. I’ll always love you, and I will always cherish you.” 7 year old Marinette rubbed his back soothingly.
“Even if I do something bad?”
“Even if you do something bad. I will always be there for you. To protect you, and to love you.”
“P-Promise?” Damian was crying. Marinette wiped away his tears and pressed a kiss onto his forehead.
“Promise, Akhi. I promise.”
-
Present time
Marinette stared out the airplane window as the flight touched down in Gotham. The weather was gloomy and foggy, a vast departure from sunny Paris, which had been her home for years now. Not anymore. Hawkmoth was gone, and Ladybug had retired.
It was time to make up for her failures.
Marinette got off the plane, found her baggage, and took a cab to her new house. She was taking a small mansion, located in the same neighborhood as the illustrious Wayne's themselves. It would be easier to keep an eye on them that way. She had made enough money to fund herself through her MDC business, her schedule was open, but she had snagged a job in the fashion department of WE, and she was ready for anything.
Ready to protect her brother.
-
It was dark after she unpacked everything, and she noticed a few figures running across rooftops from her window. That was her cue.
She pulled on a dark robe, a mask, and slipped outside, discreetly following the vigilantes. She saw him. Robin perched at the edge of a rooftop with his brothers, watching the streets of Crime Alley. Then, all at once, they split up. Probably something on comms. Marinette followed her brother. He dropped in onto a mugging, and quickly disarmed the criminals, taking zipties and securing their hands. There was still one in the shadows, ready with a gun. The man aimed the gun at robin, and the finger at the trigger twitched.
Zala struck. Marinette was underneath the mask, but Zala was the better choice for now. She knocked the gun from the man’s hands and knocked him out. The gun clattered to the ground and Robin whirled around, eyes narrowed. Zala was already back in the shadows.
“Who’s there? Reveal yourselves!” He growled. I wish I could. I’m sorry brother. I’m sorry Akhi.
“What’s wrong, baby wing?” Ah, Nightwing.
“There is someone here.”
“Don’t be silly, let’s go. Old man is calling.”
They left. Marinette let out a sigh of relief, watching her brother leap away. It reminded her of… no. Don’t think about it. It was too late. Dark red dripping from her baby brother’s body. Eyes closed serenely. Chest still. No pulse. NO! Grating laughter from his murderer. Heretic. Heretic under her hands. Snap. Crack. Heretic screaming. Her laughter. Heretic dead. Just like Damian. Damian dead. Her brother, dead. Her darling akhi, dead. Dead dead dead dead dead.
Marinette gasped, cold sweat dripping off of her.
This was why. This was why she had to protect him.
-
Two months had passed. Damian was safe, but Marinette could not let her guard down.
She watched as Damian sprinted across the rooftops, a scowl engraved into his face. He had probably had an argument with his family. Marinette followed silently.
Akhi, slow down. You’ll hurt yourself . She thought.
Damian abruptly stopped. Marinette dove into the shadows to avoid being seen. He was staring at something. Marinette looked and oh.
Animal traffickers. Uh oh. Domain was going to DESTROY them. Sure to her thoughts, Damian launched himself at the traffickers with a furious battle cry. Marinette sighed and crept closer.
Two men were down already (courtesy of Damian’s fist), one was trembling fear, and the other had a gun. The animal cases were safely on the ground. Marinette spotted Damian’s comms lying on the ground next to her. She picked it up and listened.
Baby bird?
Where the fuck are you?
Are you okay?
Christ, Dami answer us!
No names on the field, Nightwing.
Shut up, old man.
“The alleyway away from the harbor, the one with Harley Quinn’s Joker graffiti. Robin’s location.” She murmured. The chatter seized, then returned, rapid fire and more urgent.
Who are you?
What have you done with Robin?
Is he okay?
Fucking answer!
God, these idiots.
“He is fine. I am not the enemy.” Marinette dropped the comms, unwilling to listen any longer.
Damian!
He was too focused on checking on the animals to see a man with a knife charging at him. Zala knew that if she intercepted this, Damian would see her. But if she didn’t…
Blood dripping. His chest still. Her baby brother—
No!
Zala lept. The man crashed to the ground. Damian turned around. Zala was still there.
“Who are you?!” Damian pointed his katana at her. Zala couldn’t answer. The words were stuck in her, to see her brother and actually converse with him in such a long time.
“Akhi.” The word stumbled out. Her voice was hoarse and thick with unshed tears. Damian stiffened. She could tell that his eyes were widening behind his mask.
“...Ukht?” His voice was small, quiet. Timid. Hopeful. The dam inside Marinette broke.
“Oh, Akhi. Yes. It’s me, baby brother.” She opened her arms and Damian crashed into them, his chest heaving with sobs. Marinette held him close, tears dripping down. He smelled the same. Just like Damian. He was so grown up now, no longer fitting into her lap. But he was still her baby brother. Her wonderful, little Akhi.
Damian’s family arrived at the scene just then, and stopped in shock when they saw the hug. Marinette lifted her head to look at them.
“...What the fuck?” Red hood was the first to speak. Damian scowled at him, still embracing Marinette.
“Tt, Hood. Elegant as usual.”
“Robin. Who is this?” Batman spoke next. Her father.
Damian glared at Batman.
“She is my sister. Your blood daughter.”
Marinette wanted to cry again. But she held it in.
“Hello.” She waved.