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

Chapter 4

A/N- I'm so sorry for how long this took. I have an idea for how I want this story to end I was just unsure how of how to get there. I've got an idea now so hopefully I'll be able to get back on schedule. Enjoy!

It's been about 1 month since Jason and Marinette's first lunch date. So far they just hang out as friends much like right now as Marinette and Jason were sitting together in Gotham City park talking as the people go by. "Hahaha, I- I," Marinette stutters out as Jason pouts, "It's not that funny, it almost killed me," Marinette starts wheezing. "That's it I'm leaning," he gets up to leave, she shoots up and grabs his hand "No don't go," she whines out "I'm sorry that I laughed at you for accidentally drinking Tim's coffee," she doesn't last long before laughing again, Jason soon following her, he sits back down. "So how are the suits coming?" Marinette turns back to him "I just finished Tim's but I still need to start yours." He nods his head. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask, would you like to be my date to the gala?" Marinette looks at him in shock "Like a date, date or like a friend date kinda thing?" He gives her the 'really' look "Who asks someone as to go on a date as friends?" She gives him a knowing smile "I was 15 at the time-" she gets cut off "Seriously you were asked to go on a date as a friend? I find that hard to believe," Marinette just starts laughing "Trust me it was so awful, the guy asked me to third wheel so it wouldn't be awkward between him and his real date, I ended up asking my other friend to go with me so it turned into a double date." Jason stares at her in disbelief. "But to answer your question I would love to go to the gala with her, as your date, date." Jason and her smile before leaning in to one another,

Riiiinnnggg
Riiiinnnggg

Marinette jumps back before pulling out her work phone "This is Lady Luck's Designs, Marinette speaking, how can I help you?" "..." "Yes," "..." "Of, course," "..." Wait, No that's not-," "...". Marinette looks at Jason, "I'm sorry I have to go to the shop, something came up with a client," he nods and she runs to her bike, heels clicking and clacking on the pavement.

Click
Clack
Click
Clack

Jason sighs before going to his bike and driving to the manor. Once there he walks in to see Tim running away from Dick holding his extra stashes of coffee. He laughs before going to his library and pulling out his copy of Hamlet. He tries to focus on his book but he can't, every time he and Marinette are anywhere close to getting together, something happens. Jason is starting to understand why Marinette says that he was delusional, cause she was right, it does hurt. It's a time like these he wishes he was a better person because maybe the world wouldn't punish him like this. He wishes that he didn't fight with Bruce or his brothers. Maybe he could try to better himself, wash off all the filth on his hands. It's an endless cycle of will we ever get together? He watches her when they hang out and, he can't imagine why life was so cruel to her. He heard what Talia said to her, he has a mild understanding of what her life was like. Jason knows she doesn't have anyone, that night he saw the same thing in her face he sees in the mirror every time he takes anything too far. The look that only people that lost everything it's the same look he has but, he doesn't deserve to look like that. The look of anger, sadness, a truly guarded heart, from being let down all your life. He has Dick, Tim, and Alfred, even sometimes Bruce and Damian. They bring him back, make him apologize, tie him to the rest of the family. Marinette is truly alone, out of respect for her he hasn't looked her up but that didn't mean the others didn't. It's funny they know more about the girl he is falling in love with more than he does.

Knock
Knock

Jason looks up to see Dick, "What do you want dickless?" Dick smiles "Dinner's ready, Alfred told me to come to get you," Jason nods his head and gets up, gently puts his book back before following Dick to the dining hall.

Once both boys are there Alfred serves dinner. "So Jay have you asked Marinette to be your date to the gala?" Tim asks this pulls everyone's attention to Jason as no one else knew he was planning on asking her. "Yeah, she said yes." Bruce hums "I didn't know you and Marinette were close?" his statement comes out as a question "Uh yeah," Jason retorts back uncaringly "Does she know?" "She knew of way us way before we knew of her." Everyone looks at him shocked "Why were we not made aware of this?!" Damian demands "It didn't seem important, all this time living in Gotham and never once was she a problem. The only reason we ever found out about her was because the League of Assassins was sloppy and got spotted." Damian huffs but doesn't fight back.

That night Marinette was working on Jason's suit when Red Hood comes barreling in. He crashes on her coffee table, "Hahahaha!!" Marinette starts cracking up as he groans in pain. "A little help?" He asks stained. She stands up and helps him to the kitchen where he can stand and she can sit on the counter. "So what are you doing here Red Hood?" she could practically imagine the smirk behind his mask "I heard you are going on a date with Jason Todd," she laughs "Oh, what did you hear about it," he hums. "Nothing much just wanted to know if you are excited to go?" Marinette pretends to think for a moment "I am, he's something else," "Oh?" "You wouldn't understand what I'm talking about," he laughs "I think I know what you mean." Marinette raises an eyebrow. "There's this girl in my civilian life. She's incredible, she had a rough life but I just can feel her being important to me the rest of my life," somewhere along the line they ended up where they always do face to face. Marinette's hands on his helmet as is about to take it off, his hands on her hips as they stare at each other, taking everything in. "You know you still have patrol," Marinette suddenly says "Yeah I know, when are you gonna suit up?" She thinks "Don't know," "Join me just tonight, if you don't like it you can go back to your normal life," She smiles "Alright," he lets go of her and she jumps down from her counter "Plagg Claws Out!" A soft green light covers her and when it disappears she's in her catsuit. "So what's your name?" Marinette thinks for a bit "Chat d'ombre" (shadow cat in French)

Soon both are running across rooftops laughing and beating up criminals. All throughout the night, Red Hood could still imagine her iconic heels.

Click
Clack
Click
Clack