Maribat Oneshots

Bruce's Mother Pt 2

Jason loved reading. It was one of his favorite things about his new life. 

At first he scorned the attempts to teach him to read, but now he couldn't be more thankful; however, while he was becoming quite profficent, Jason occasionally struggled with a word or two.

Now was one of these times.

Jason sat in the library by a small fire staring intently at a book before him. If closely observed it could be seen that he was moving his lips silently. After a minute he brought the book closer to his face and squinted.

"Nes- neccesry. No, necce- uh!"

Frustration overcoming the boy, the book was thrown to the floor.

Of course Jason could ask Alfred or even Bruce what the word was and how to say it, but he was much too proud. If Dick was there he may have ventured to ask, but Dick rarely visted the manor. 

So, Jason was stuck. He sat on the chair and looked at the book. It pained him that he was thirteen years old and could only just read. He knew he came from unfortunate begginings like lots of other street kids and was gratful for the opportunity to become something more than a meer street rat.

Arriving at that conclusion, he gingerly picked up the book, heaving a sigh as he did so and began the struggle of achieving literacy.

As strived to decifer the word, Jason became aware of a gust of wind in the room, which was rather odd since all the windows were closed. Recognising that the masion was old, he put it off to a broken seal in the window.

'I'll have to tell Alfred about it later'

He thought. The more he knew of Alfred, the more it became evident that there would be no tolerence for the house falling into disrepair, despite the little use it got.

"If you like I could help you."

Jason jumped out of his chair in astonishment. The voice was female. There was no female in the house. Swiftly turning, Jason brought his fists up and looked for the assailent to unleash his fear on.

Only, he couldn't quite see the figure. It seemed to flicker in and out of focus and he was sure that it was more than just the firelight. 

The shadow stepped back in alarm, and encouraged by the agitation demonstrated in his opponent, Jason stepped forward.

Abruptly, the flickering stopped and the young vigilante saw before him a woman wearing a flower patterned flowy dress. Decorating her neck was a string of pearls. Her midnight blue hair was twisted into a complicated bun, held together with a simple pear clip that appeared to match the necklace. She was short in stature, barely above five feet from head to her floating, bare toes.

Taken aback, the boy froze, then glared suspicously at her.

"Why are you haunting me?"

Although the words were spoken aggresively, the lady before him couldn't help but let out a trill little laugh at his conclusion of the current circumstances.

"Oh, I'm not haunting you. It's the house I haunt. Although, I don't actually haunt it. I live here" At this Marinette but a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe that does mean I haunt the house. I suppose I classify as a ghost or spirt and I do live here, so that must mean I haunt it. Or maybe I have to deliberate to haunt something." She began to have a onesided conversation with herself to decide whether or not she was haunting the masion. 

Watching her carefully, Jason decided that this strange phantom did not pose him or anyone else a threat he dropped his antagonistic stance in favor for a more relaxed one. His intrest piqued he ended the rambling of his companion and replaced it with a question of his own.

"So, if  your not here to haunt anyone, then why are you here?"

"Well, that is a question and a half."

Unwilling to backdown, the thirteen-year-old reclaimed his seat and gestured to the one next to him. Beaming, Marinette sat and began her story.

She told it as she had many years ago to a boy younger than him.

At the end her observer sat in silence, digesting the tale that had been unfolded to him. Eventually he was satisfied with the report and turned his attention to more pressing matters.

Retreving the book that had fallen to the side, he opened it and searched for the right page. Shyly, he turned to the woman whose name he learnt to be Marinette. Quietly, he made his request.

"Could you help me read this word?"

Internally delighted, Marinette composed herself, knowing it took great courage and difficulty on his side to make such an appeal, and smiled softly at him, accepting the offer made.

For the next hour the two sat in quiet companionship, one reading, the other watching on and helping when need be.

Finally Jason closed the book and turned his smile unto the lady seated near him. After a second, the face clouded with confusion.

"Marinette? Why only come to see me now? I've been here for months."

Said person turned her attention to the question addressed to her thoughtfully.

"Well" she began slowly, organizing her thoughts. "I am very careful if I ever reveal myself to someone."

An experession of understanding dawned on the boy. The soul smiled. The boy was smart. Despite the conviction she continued to expand on her point.

"Obviously if someone were to find out about me they could reveal my presence, attempt to find the miraculous and so on. There are just so many things that bad people could learn and do if they met me."

"Yes, but surely not in the manor? Bruce wouldn't let them in."

Marinette merely smiled demurely. "You'd be suprised at the amount of people who have made their way to this house, threw Bruce or otherwise."

The young pre-teen nodded his head slowly, turning over her words in his head. 

Finally acceding to the idea he moved to a lighter subject.

The pair conversed for another half hour before noticing how the fire was dying down. This lead the pair to realizing the time, and Jason getting up to leave, hesitated. Turning towards his new found friend, he looked down shyly before meeting her gaze.

"Um, would you mind if I uh, if I could get your help reading again?"

Perciving the boy's nervous behavior, the woman was quick to quell any fears of the proposition being rejected.

"Of course Jason. I'll be around."

And flashing him one more bright smile, Marinette began to sink through the floor.

Jason smiled to himself. He had a feeling his days were about to become more intreseting.

Hi guys. Sorry for the wait. Here is a quick continuation of Bruces Mother. Let me know if you have any ideas and feel free to dm if you need someone to talk to. Love you all