The Hood And The Bug

Chapter 2

Marinette was seeing stars. The hit was pretty hard, and she felt disoriented for a minute more. She took the hand that was in front of her to help herself up, trying to stop her head from spinning.

"Are you alright miss?" she tried to focus on the man in front of her, it took a moment before she could see him clearly.

The tall and handsome boy, with black hair and blue eyes hidden behind glasses, had a bright smile. She smiled back at him, but something about the man seemed off, like if he wasn't totally human, and he was controlling every movement he made, making sure he didn't break anything. He didn't have a negative aura but coming from behind him she could feel darkness and madness, it was as disorienting as getting hit on the head with a baseball bat. She could feel the gods in her purse being agitated about it too, so she looked at the direction it came from. Another man was looking at them a bit impatient, he was the source of it, and his aura was dark, but soft at the same time and Marinette saw death in his eyes.

"Sorry, yes I'm fine I didn't see you." She rushed to say realising the first boy was still waiting for an answer.

"I'm pretty sure I was the one opening the door that hit you" he said laughing. "I'm Jon Kent, by the way!"

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng" she shook the hand he presented to her.

Jon's friend rolled his eyes and step in shaking her hand as well.

"Damian Wayne. Now can we go Kent, I want to get some training done before tonight, if possible." He turned away to face the exit, but his friend stopped him.

"Wait! So Marinette you're not from here, are you? Because we could go eat a bite and show you around if you want."

"Oh! That would be great, but I don't want to intrude, maybe we should do it another day perhaps. Tomorrow?" Jon's smile brighten and he nodded.

"That great! What about you Dami, joining us tomorrow?" the boy sighed and agreed with them, so Jon and Mari exchanged number, just in case, and they went their separate ways, until they met the next morning.

* * *

Even with Damian's hesitation towards her, the three of them quickly became close friends. They saw each other every day, when university started, they would meet up for lunch or to study, Damian and Marinette actually had a business class together, so it was easier to work in pairs, for the projects and homework. Some nights the boys would even go to her place to hang-out, they could watch movies, study and sometimes just talk about everything.

For her first Thanksgiving, Marinette was invited to the Kent's farm in Smallville, so the Three Musketeers were off for an adventure, with Jon's family. They had a wonderful weekend, the boys helped with the animals, especially Damian, while Jon also try to fix a tractor and a hole in the barn's roof. Marinette stayed in the kitchen with Martha and Lois, she was really excited to learn how to make apple pie and some American traditional meal. They had so much fun: messing around, stargazing, Jon even took them apple picking at the far end of his grand-parents land. Coming back from that weekend, the three were join by the hips, at this point they almost seemed like brothers and sister.

Later in the month, Marinette went for the first time to the Wayne Manor. She was stunned when she stepped out of Jon's car, the boy didn't had the time to get out, she was already on her knees, sketchbook in hand drawing all the inspiration she got from the old house and its gardens around. Shaking his head Jon went to knock on the door, a minute later Alfred opened and greeted him before turning to look at the girl kneeling in the driveway. The old man raised a brow at the young man in front of him, when Jon burst out laughing, unable to contain himself longer.

"Sorry Alfred, but Mari is always like that when there's a spark of inspiration around her. I know for a fact that Damian is the only one that can get her out of it." The butler was about to go get the youngest Wayne when they heard a motorcycle approaching.

Jason parked his bike and took out his helmet, when he got by Marinette's side he stopped and gave a questioning look at Jon and Alfred, but they just shrugged. He got down on one knee to be at the same height.

"Hey Pixie! What are you doing?" she didn't answer but gave him a quick look and smiled at him, before going back at her drawings.

She froze after a second and stopped everything, looking back at him, their eyes met, and she blushed, she couldn't look away. A smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and she felt her heart beating faster, the man in front of her was handsome, no more like gorgeous.

Jason was hot, too hot for the beginning of winter, but the girl kneeling next to him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, her dark bluish hair was down and her bluebell eyes captivating. He saw her cheeks blush and she bit her bottom lip, the only thing he could think of at this point was how they looked soft and the desire to kiss her was so strong he had to restrain himself. Nothing seemed to move around them, he felt like he could lost himself in her eyes, in her. For the first time in almost thirty years, he felt like he had found the one. For the first time he could imagine a future, a family and all of it, like if she was the answer, he'd been looking for all these years. Unknown to him, she felt the same rush inside her and in her purse as well.

A loud cough brought them back to reality. How long did they look into each other's eyes forgetting the outside world? Damian was at the door, arms crossed on his chest seeming impatient, while Jon and Alfred smiled knowingly. But the public to this moment was bigger than what they taught: Bruce, Tim and Dick were looking at it from the living room window stunned. Who was this girl? She had manage to become best friend with Damian, almost like a little sister, bringing with her at the same time Jon and now she was making Jason blush and unable to say a word. Really impressive if you asked them.

"Wow! Seems like you are not the only one in Gotham able to get her out of her designing bubble anymore" teased Jon nudging his best friend's shoulder with his own.

Jason got out of his trance and offered his hand to Marinette, so she could get up.

"Jason" he presented himself shyly.

"Marinette" she gave him a warming smile, which his heart stopped once again.

They were still looking into each other's eyes for a moment, when Damian got bored, by his brother's behavior around his best friend.

"Todd, let her go we have things to do" he shouts before going back in the manor behind Alfred. Jason let go of her hand and she quickly when towards Jon to follow him.

Not knowing how to react, Jason stayed outside for a minute trying to understand what had just happened.