The Orphan And The Hero (A Daminette Fanfic AU)

Gifting the miraculous

A couple of mornings later, Damian and Marinette were eating breakfast at the table with Alfred. Bruce wasn't there though. Damian stared at his plate and wouldn't look up. He knew what was going on, he knew it very well.

"Damian, are you alright?" Marinette asked with genuine concern. He snapped out of his daze and said, "y-yeah, I'm just fine." But the truth was, he wasn't fine.

When Damian had first arrived, Bruce was barely ever home. He would always be out on a top-secret super dangerous mission. It was always in the morning...Whenever bruce wasn't there, Damian knew that he had a job call. It hadn't happened in a long time, and he was glad. But now he was gone, again.

Without finishing his breakfast, Damian got up and left to his room, leaving a very confused Marinette staring after him.

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Marinette watched Damian leave. She looked at Alfred for context, but he watched his food intently, like he was having a mind conversation with it. Marinette finished her breakfast and loaded her dish in the sink. She left and went into her room and got changed. After she got changed, she sat down and worked on a design she had been drawing for a while now. But she just couldn't get it right.

Marinette frowned. Usually, Bruce would be sitting in the living room watching a murder mystery show or watching a football game, but the mansion was quiet. She stood up and tossed her small journal on her bed, giving up on the design and deciding that she would try to figure out what was going on. 

She knocked on Damian's door, but it slowly opened on its own. "Damian? Damia..." Marinette trailed off. What she saw was not what she would have expected. 

There, on the bed, when a disheveled-looking Robin. His face was splotchy and his hair was messed up. Marinette gasped. She had never seen him like this before.

She ran over to him. "Damian. Wh-what's going on? Why are you like this? You said you were alright, but clearly you're not." 

Damian chuckled. Marinette glared at him. "Why would you be laughing?! You are most definitely not in the right state to be laughing."

"Marinette...calm down, please." 

"Then tell me why you're like this. It's not...you..."

"You know, it's weird to see you care about me." Marinette's cheeks turned pink and her eyes grew wide. "I-I wasn't trying to um-um I mean I- It's not like that!" Marinette yelped. "Now, you better tell me what's going on. Why's it so quiet here? Why are you in you're Robin costume? And where in the love of Gotham, is Bruce?" Marinette raised her voice.

"Relax...everything's fine. Bruce is...out...on a dangerous mission." Marinette cocked her head at him. 

He sighed. "Listen, Bruce has really important missions that he goes on without warning. It used to happen all the time, but then they became very limited. Every time he would go out, I would wear my Robin costume, and I still do. It sort of...comforts me you could say." Marinette nodded in understanding.

"I just...wish he was here more often..." Marinette could see how sad this made him and sat on the bed next to him. She rubbed his back.

A tear slipped down his cheek and Marinette did the first thing she thought of; she brushed it away.

Marinette and Damian both turned a bright pink and Marinette apologized. Damian cleared his throat and got up. 

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Damian rummaged around through a draw until he pulled out a box. His back facing the curious girl on his bed, he studied the box. 

He walked over to Marinette. "Bruce...he gave me this box. Told me to give it to someone who I thought would be worthy enough to hold it. And I think...that well...you're worthy. And I want to give it to you."

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Marinette was shocked. He wanted to give her something that he thought she was worthy of possessing. Damian handed the box to her and she ran her fingers over the intricate Chinese design. She opened the box.

A red glow emitted from it, forcing her to look away from its brightness. The red glow swirled around Marinette a couple of times then settled in front of her, creating a tiny creature.

"Ahh!! A giant bug! A-a mouse!! A Bug-Mouse!!!!" Damian laughed and so did the creature. "Relax Marinette." Marinette eyed Damian suspiciously. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you trust me?" 

"No no, I really don't," Marinette answered. "She's not going to hurt you." 

"My name's Tikki, and I'm a Kwami. Nice to meet you!" Marinette's eyes widened. "Bug-Mouse talks. Bug-Mouse talks!! Ahhhhh!!!!!" 

"Marinette! Calm down!" Marinette felt big strong arms on her shoulders. Turning her to face him, they stared into each other's eyes. "Trust me...okay?" He whispered. He led her over to where Tikki was floating.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. She's completely harmless." Marinette cautiously held out a finger and Tikki shook it. Marinette smiled. "H-hello. My name's Marinette." 

"See, I told you there was nothing to be afraid of. But there's more than just this Kwami."

"He's right, if you agree to holding me, you agree to being a sidekick or hero or...what are we calling it?" 

"Uhh...partner."

"Ah, you're commiting to being Robin's partner." Marinette was taken aback for a second.

"Wait, what? Partner?" She looked at Damian and he shrugged. "This is called a Miraculous," Tikki said while handing Marinette a pair of earrings, "they grant you the power of creation, and will turn you into a ladybug themed hero. Your weapon is a-"

"Wait a minute, I don't want a weapon!" Marinette cut Tikki off.

"Don't worry. You worry a lot, but I like that about you. Anyway, your weapon is a yo-yo and your special power is called a 'Lucky Charm'. Whenever you call it out, a something will appear to help you defeat your enemy. Are you willing to accept?" Tikki and Damian watched Marinette for a moment. She took all of this into processing and said, "yes, I do accept." Damian and Tikki bursted into huge smiles.

Marinette grinned. She was glad that she could help and be useful instead of pretending to be Damian's girlfriend and sitting around the house all day. Damian asked her to leave while he changed out of his suit. Marinette sat on her bed and put the earrings in.

"All you have to say to transform in 'Spots On'." Marinette nodded.