𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐, jasonette

xi. 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲

Jason wasn't exactly sure whose idea it was in the first place. For the first time in a long while, their entire family had a holiday on the same day. Originally, the plan was to just relax in the Manor, a reprieve from the crushing load of work they all dealt with, but at some point that changed to going to the carnival that had decided to pop up in Gotham. Probably not the best idea, but Jason wasn't going to complain.

Somehow, Jason and Marinette had managed to gain control of the afternoon, dragging everyone with them—a job that was easier said than done.

The carnival grounds were loud and expansive, a ridiculous amount of people—seriously, Jason didn't even know so many people lived in Gotham—crowding everywhere, making it damn near impossible to find whatever he and Marinette were looking for.

It didn't help that Dick wanted to stop every two minutes to play a game he comes across, or that Damian wanted to criticise every tent selling art. Jason had to keep on stopping to drag Cass out of tents that sell candy and Tim and Bruce, well they just looked dead on their feet since they'd arrived.

All in all, it was a regular chaotic group outing—something Jason wouldn't change for the world.

Searching through the crowds of people, they were looking for some food before splitting up to let everyone do their thing and play their own carnival games. Jason couldn't see any food trucks, but his gaze caught on something else, making him stop in his tracks.

Marinette, who was holding onto his hand, nearly went flying but managed to ground herself.

Jason smirked at her when she turned to look at him, pointing at the cuddly penguin smiling cheerily at them. "What's that, Mari?"

Penguin just happens to be one of the few English words Marinette absolutely cannot pronounce for the life of her, and she seemed to know it too as she turned a bright red.

"A bird," she said dismissively, getting ready to move ahead.

Smirking even wider, Jason said, "What is it, specifically?"

Marinette scowled at him, her expression looking adorable on her petite figure. "I despise you."

"You can do it," Jason faux-cheered, pumping his hands in the air, ignoring her previous statement.

Tim, suddenly interested in the conversation, looked between the two of them before he began to smirk too. Jason could practically see him putting the pieces together as he said, "Can the great Marinette Dupain-Cheng, fashion designer extraordinaire, not pronounce the word penguin?"

Pursing her lips in annoyance, Marinette said, "It's a stupid animal that no one cares about."

Quite defensively, Jason might add.

"I bet none of you could say l'écureuil," she continued, clearly intent on sending her point across.

Jason just stared at her, knowing and taking advantage of the fact that his stare would break her down. It worked just how he thought it would, with Marinette glaring at him for longer than he anticipated and then finally sighing loudly.

"Fine," she said, annoyance clear in her voice. "Say it for me once."

Jason immediately obliged, practically bouncing on his feet to hear her say it. "Penguin."

"You have an accent," Marinette complained, no doubt trying to deflect the conversation. When everyone's stares made it clear that, no, they were not going to let this go, she sighed defeatedly.

"Pen—" She stopped when she made an n sound instead of ng and tried again. This time she made the g sound. Marinette exhaled sharply through her nose and it was all Jason could do to stop himself from rolling on the floor with laughter.

Eventually, Marinette gave up, rolling her eyes at everyone as they burst out into laughter, unable to hold it in any longer. "Whatever."

Her cheeks were bright red and she smacked Jason on the arm. "You don't get to bully me. The only language you know is English so you can't judge."

"I know multiple languages," Damian offered, a smirk adorning his face. "Does that mean I can?"

Jason doubled over at the defeated look on Marinette's face, his stomach cramping at the force of his laughs.

"Sure," she said resignedly, already knowing she wasn't going to live this down.

Her eyes brightened immediately when she noticed the food tents a few hundred meters away, people crowding around.

Marinette jogged backwards, facing them as she pointed behind her with her thumb. "While you lot keep laughing like a bunch of idiots, I'm going to get some food."

It took them a few more minutes to gather themselves back again, and even then they were still giggling like five-year-olds over a fart joke.

Jason, finally standing up straight, jogged over to the game stall where the penguin was displayed, giving the attendant two dollars to let him play.

"Go, Jason!" Dick yelled out embarrassingly when he noticed that it was a game of guns.

The attendant smirked at him as if he already knew Jason was going to fail, so it really was no surprise when Jason gave him his best dickish smirk as he won the game. Not to brag or anything, but that game was a no-brainer.

Picking out the giant penguin, Jason snickered as he held out the penguin to Dick, the only one waiting for him since the others had gone to eat.

"What do you think Marinette will say?"

Apparently, the only thing Marinette had to say when Jason showed it to her, was to shove him off the bench he was sitting on, with just enough force to make sure he ended up on the floor.

That made Tim happier since he came to the carnival and it also sent Cass into a giggling fit that resulted in her choking on her candy. Marinette just barely managed to avoid the same fate, laughing at Jason's indignant it isn't that funny.

No doubt, Jason thought as Marinette dragged him to the corn maze, it was a relief to the families around them when they finally left.