Not Falling in Love (Daminette)

Ch 5 (Marinette)

"Uhh...okay, Wayne brat, I'm gonna need you to shut up now."

When Poison Ivy flicks her wrist, the vines tighten around Damian. It is impossible for him to move his limbs. The green ropes slither up his face and cover his mouth. He gags. Leaves cover his green eyes.

"Tikki, what should I do?" I talk into the opening of my small red handbag. "Damian Wayne is in danger!"

"Be careful, Marinette," says Tikki. "You can't risk transforming out here in the open."

"Maybe I can sneak away while Poison Ivy is distracted by Damian...but we still haven't changed my ladybug costume design! This is bad, c'est mauvais."

Tikki taps her little paw on my hand that holds the bag. "Maybe you don't need to be transformed to save Damian!"

"What do you mean?"

"Think, Marinette, Poison Ivy is distracted right now. She was surprised that you and Damian didn't run away; she definitely won't expect a civilian to attack her!"

"Vous avez raison, you're right!" My eyes scan around the ballroom. "And I think that I have an idea for an attack that Poison Ivy will never see coming."

I sprint over to the buffet table.

There is a secret strap that I designed inside my red handbag. I pull out the strap and hang it over myself like a cross-body bag. I'll need my hands to be free for what I'm about to attempt. I don't want to risk losing Tikki again.

My hands work quickly, tearing the flowing red and black faded fabric from the hem of my dress and wrapping the strip around my thigh. I snatch the long knife that rests next to a cake that has yet to be served to the gala guests. Once the knife is securely tucked into the black band, I hide my legs with the remaining fabric of my dress. The cold metal presses against my thigh.

One of the tied up gala guests, a man who smells like old money and too much cologne, glares at me as he struggles against the hold of the vines. He can't speak with all the leaves stuffed in his mouth, but I can tell what he wants me to do from the look in his eyes.

"Sorry, I don't have time to cut you free right now." I wince as his gagged mouth continues to make incomprehensible mumbled noises. "But I promise that everyone will be free very soon!"

I ignore the angry privileged man and grab one of the tipped over chairs off the ground.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"You've got this, Marinette!" Tikki cheers from inside the small red bag.

I turn my attention towards Poison Ivy's direction. She laughs at the bundle of vines at her feet. Damian is struggling somewhere in that green cocoon.

Batman and the other famous vigilantes of Gotham are still nowhere to be seen.

Looks like it's time for Paris' retired miraculous heroine to save the day.

I rush at Poison Ivy.

Once I've gotten close enough, I grip the legs of the chair and lift it over my head. I only have one chance to land this strike. If I miss, my element of surprise will be ruined-

"HEY, IVY, RELEASE THE YOUNGEST WAYNE BOY IMMEDIATELY!" Nightwing's voice shouts from behind me.

Poison Ivy's face turns at the sound of Nightwing's voice. She turns towards my direction. Our eyes meet.

"So much for my element of surprise..." I sigh.

"DON'T YOU KNOW THAT GALA-CRASHING IS RUDE?" Nightwing shouts again.