Daminette December

2021:21-Puzzle

Marinette couldn't believe the sight she was seeing. There was a grown man in a neon onesie, littered with glittery question marks, and a bowler hat.

'This is hell, isn't it?'

Riddler opened his mouth, but Marinette beat him, "What the fuck are you wearing?"

"Huh?" he froze, confused by the question.

"I asked 'What the fuck are you wearing?' Did you not hear me?" she asked.

"I'm the Riddler and-" he began.

"Yeah, I don't care who you are but you need to go change your clothes. You look horrible. That outfit does nothing for your complexion or hair color. You look like a neon Christmas tree with ornaments! Seriously, glitter?" Mari questioned.

"I made it at home!" the Riddler shouted.

"I made my clothes at home to, but you don't see me looking like that!" she retaliated, "Did you even look up color combinations or did you just find a left over Halloween costume?"

"Enough!" he shouted, embarassed, "You won't leave until you solve all of my riddle! What has to be broken before you can use it?"

"An egg." Mari sighed.

"I'm tall when I'm young, and I'm short when I'm old. What am I?" he questioned.

"A candle." she answered, rolling her eyes.

The Riddler growled, "What question can you never answer yes to?"

"'Are you asleep yet?' My answer is no, but I wish I was." Marinette declared.

"What is always in front of you, but cannot be seen?" he screamed.

"The future." Mari replied.

The Riddler was beginning to lose his patience. Why did Bruce always adopt smart kids. They always answered his riddles.

"Let's see if you can get this one." he smiled, slamming his cane into the ground, "What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?"

Marinette looked away from him and frowned. His smiled grew and he knew he had stumped her. At least he thought he did until he realized she was blinking back tears. The Riddler realized she was speaking.

"What did you say?" he asked.

Marinette looked up and in the faintest whisper he heard her answer, "A promise." as one of the tears managed to break free.

The Riddles stared at her confused. He had never made anyone cry before from a riddle.

'Did someone break a promise to this girl?'

Before he could ask, Batman and Robin barreled into the room. Batman knocked the Riddler to the ground. Robin quickly got to Marinette's side and used his knife to untie her. Marinette quickly wiped away her tears.

"Let's get you out of here, Miss." Robin whispered.

The Parisian nodded and allowed him to guide her out.

"Have you contacted your father, Bruce Wayne?" the reporter asked her.

"Who?" Marinette questioned.

"B-Bruce Wayne." the reporter pressed.

"That's not my father's name." she declared, confusing the media.

"You're the new adopted daughter of Bruce Wayne, are you not?" asked another.

Marinette glared at the reporters, "My parents are both very much alive, thank you! I'm here visiting a family friend. I'm not from Gotham or the United States!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry." the reporters apologized and began to disperse.

"You're not a Wayne?" the Riddler shouted, overhearing the whole conversation.

"No, I am not you stupid oaf!" Mari cried out, "You could have asked. Has all of Gotham forgotten their manners?"

"You could have lied!" the Riddler retaliated.

Marinette turned her glare onto him, making him pale.

"I despise liars." she growled out.

"Noted." he gulped, allowing the officers to lead him away to safety.

"We need to have you medically checked out." Batman spoke.

"I have a headache and I'm annoyed." Marinette spoke, shrugging off the Batman, "I'm fine."

Marinette walked into Harley and Ivy's apartment.

"Marinette, are you okay?" Harleen questioned, pulling the girl into a hug.

"My head hurts a bit, but nothing horrible. Seems like it's just a headache. I think I'm going to go sketch." Mari answered.

"I'll bring you to the greenhouse." Pamela smiled, "You'll have privacy. There's a section only certain people are allowed in and I don't give that permission to many."

Marinette nodded as Pamela hugged her and gave her a private lift to the greenhouse.

Damian walked into the greenhouse, with his sketchbook and Titus. He hadn't expect to run into the mistaken Wayne from earlier.

"You don't have permission to be here." he declared, making Titus growl.

"I do." she sneered, not looking up to see who had spoken.

Damian looked around and noticed the plants seemed to curl towards her.

'Ivy gave her permission?'

He hesitantly walked towards her, keeping an eye on the green life around her. He said nothing, as he sat near her. Titus laid down by his master's feet and kept his eyes on the 'intruder'. From his seat, Damian could see she was busy sketching something. They sat in complete and utter silence, listening to the birds and the light sounds of pencil on paper. Maybe thirty minutes later, she stood up. Titus was quick on his feet.

"Thank you for the company." she spoke, "My name is Marinette."

"Damian." he answered.

With a nod, she left.

Poison Ivy walked out from behind trees and vines, a moment later. Titus got in attack position.

"Heel, Titus." he commanded.

"Don't hurt her, Wayne." Pamela glared, "She's too fragile, right now."

"Didn't seem that way earlier." Damian commented.

"Meditation and sketching; those are her methods of coping." she answered, "She wasn't lying when she said she hated liars. They destroyed her. She was once a beautiful flower, but got crushed and stomped on. Harley is helping her; she was at a really low point recently. She's healing, but it wouldn't take much to push her over the edge." leaving the greenhouse.

Marinette was a puzzle to him and he didn't like to leave things unsolved. She didn't seem bothered by the peace and quiet; it made him wonder what had caused the bullying. If this was her closed off, he could only wonder what she was like before. He decided he was gonna figure her out, if it was the last thing he did.