I'm Not Living or Dying, I'm Just Alive

Chapter 3

In a medium-sized 2 bedroom apartment, a blue-haired girl sits on her couch, tv light flickering. She isn't paying attention to what was on the tv instead she was looking at a card in her hand. Her face is going through so many emotions at once, fear, hope, anger, curiosity, and it finally settles on one, annoyed. Annoyed at herself more than anything, she gets up to throw the piece of paper away only to stop herself, she puts it in her junk drawer. "Well, that was a wild ride." Is suddenly said, Marinette grabs to closest object to her and throws it with deadly accuracy. A stress ball hits Red Hood right in the face, Marinette lets out a sigh of relief seeing the anti-hero. "Didn't Batman tech you not to sneak up on ladies?" he laughs "Why would he teach me anything?" She smirks "I'm not sure I've always pictured you bats all being one big messed up family, or a cult," he tries defending himself but ultimately is ignored. "Why are you here?" he thinks for a moment, "Batman said-" he's cut off "I asked why are you here, not your excuse," he sighs "I'm not sure, in all honesty, he doesn't even know I'm here," she sits on her counter and invites him to join. He continues to stand but moves to lean against the counter opposite of where she is sitting. They stare at each other "is that thing comfy?" Marinette suddenly blurts out, he laughs before shrugging his shoulders "I guess, why?" She starts to swing her legs back and forth "I'd like to see what's behind the helmet, I'd imagine you have a mask under there." He walks closer to her, gently grabs her hand, and placed them on his helmet. "If you wanna know, then look," she keeps her hands there "Aren't you scared I'll be able to figure out your identity?" He doesn't respond at first "We both know you already know who I am, plus I enjoy your company" Her face morphs into one of guilt and she moves her hands away and turns her head, even though he's correct she does know who he is she doesn't want to start whatever dance he is leading. He sighs and walks away, leaning back on the counter, "So are you gonna do whatever the card says?" He asks like he and Jason Todd are different people. She turns back to him "I'm not sure," she looks him in the eyes, or where they would be, "I can tell if I do, it's gonna hurt so much," he nods his "and if it doesn't?" She laughs sadly "Your delusional, it always hurts," he doesn't say anything before walking away "I should get back to patrol,". Now it's Marinette's turn not to respond, she just watches sadly as he disappears, silent tears falling down her face.

The next few days for Marinette are like living on autopilot. She's never been so unhappy in her life, watching Red Hood walk away from her, broke her heart. The worst part is she can't gain the courage to call him. Finally, Plagg had enough while the guardian hadn't spoken to the kwamis in years they still care for her. She was the one who decided they needed freedom against most people's judgment. She mostly doesn't talk to them out of regret, deep down she regrets ever becoming the guardian, becoming apart of their world, putting the earrings back on after taking them off, all of it. Most of all though she is regretful for her last words with Master Fu and Marianne, all the fighting. Her last words to both of them were words of anger, yet somehow they still loved and believed in her. So when they died she lost the only people who believed in her. And finally, she regrets that it wasn't her that left this world behind. So Plagg takes the card out of the junk drawer and grabs her cell phone and types in the number before texting "Hey, It's Marinette," and dropping it on her lap before flying back into the miracle box. Marinette looks at the phone with questioning eyes and almost screams after seeing what Plagg did.

Me- Hey, It's Marinette
Jason- Hey I didn't think you'd actually take up my offer.

Marinette looks at the time and sees that it's still early being only 11:45 and they could catch lunch, so against her better judgment she asks if they could go

Me- Yeah me neither, so is that offer for lunch still available anytime soon?
Jason- Of course have you ever been to Charming Café?
Me- No I don't think so
Jason- Perfect best Chinese place ever, meet me there at 12:30?
Me- Yeah, I'll see you there.

Marinette sighs and gets ready, she puts on some dark jeans with a red fitted shirt and black faux leather jacket on top, she pairs the entire outfit with simple black heels. Once done she grabs her purse as Plagg flies into it and a helmet before heading out the door. She walks out of the apartment complex and faces a parking lot, she walks for a bit longer before coming face to face with an all-black Suzuki motorcycle. She places her helmet on the seat before opening up her phone to look up directions, once done she puts the helmet on and hopes onto the bike. She speeds off into the ongoing traffic and reaches charming at exactly 12:30.

She looks around and sees Jason at the back booth, their eyes meet and the look on his face makes whatever regrets she has worth it. She walks over with a smile on her face a real sunshine child smile. Each stride making that powerful clicking and clacking sound.

Click
Clack
Click
Clack

"Hey," she says as she sits down in front of him, placing her helmet and purse next to her. "Hey, you look good," he says back. "Thanks," then something just clicks between the two, almost like magic and it's amazing. They understand each other in a way that others wouldn't comprehend. They talk about anything and everything, they laugh and smile as if they are the only people in the world. In all it was perfect and by the end of it, Marinette agreed to meet up again.

That night Marinette was in her apartment working on Tim's suit when "Hey," she jumps up in fright before turning to the voice. "Geez are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Red Hood rubs the back of his neck sheepishly walking out of the shadows. "What can I say I'm a bat," Marinette looks at him unconvinced, and heads to her kitchen grab an apple, and sits on her counter. Red Hood follows and leans against the opposite one, "So how was your day?" he questions. She smirks and takes a bite before answering "I went out," "Oh? Like a date?" "Not sure but I wouldn't of minded it being a date." He nods his head In understanding "so who did you go with?" he asks while walking closer to her. He stands in front of her "His name is Jason Todd, maybe you know him?" she playfully asks her apple long forgotten as she puts her hands on his shoulders. Red Hood hums in thought "maybe, who knows," she giggles before moving her hands to his helmet, "May I?" she questions. He nods his head and she takes it off his head, she places it on the counter next to her before moving her hand back to his head and tracing the domino mask left behind. They start to lean into each other when suddenly Red Hood's helmet starts going off, he pulls out a communicator and sighs sadly. Marinette looks over curiously before turning Red Hood's face to her "Go, they need you," is all she says. He hesitantly nods his head before grabbing his helmet and heading out looking back one last time before finally leaving.