Gotham Mouse, Paris Bug

Chapter 20

Marie had looked forward to her graduation for years.

Of course, she had thought it would be graduating Terminale and standing beside her friends in royal blue cap and gown. But as she stood beside Jason, having graduated High School in a black cap and gown less than two hours ago she finds that she doesn’t mind as much as she thought she would.

True, she doesn’t have many friends now. Just her family of three, and the strange friendships with the emotionally constipated three Wayne children and their likewise emotionally constipated dad. Their dad copes with shit by adopting children apparently. (Also their butler Alfred who owns the Wayne family’s brain cells)

She stares out her apartment window, smile soft as she allowed herself to breathe. Finals had been a nightmare, and her and the BatBoys had skipped patrols more then they’d like- but they had made it.

She made it.

“Penny for your thoughts? Or do you want a quarter, love?”

She couldn’t help but let out a small squeak. The intruder chuckled as she quickly spun around, scowling when she realized it was Jason. “Jerk,” She hissed at him as her heart thudded from the scare. “Just reflecting.”

He smiled, moving closer to her to flick at the tassels that hung in front of her face from her cap. “You plan on taking that off ever?”

Jason had already changed, he was wearing some jeans and a black shirt that was left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Seriously, he might as well not even be wearing a shirt. NOT that she didn’t want him to wear a shirt it was just a passing thought- not that she often thought about him not-

She was getting sidetracked.

“In a moment,” She smiled at him even as she rolled her eyes. She reached up o poke him between the eyes and giggled a little as he went cross-eyed. “Everyone inside already?”

He smiles, grabbing her hand loosely to guide her inside. “Just waiting for the guest of honor.”

______________________________________________________ TWO WEEKS LATER ______________________________________________________

“Marie!”

She gasped in surprise as Max crashed into her in excitement. She squealed in excitement, returning the hug with gusto only for both of them to lurch into the air as Kim picked them up and jumped. When he finally let them go she was more than a little dizzy, and she had to grab Kim’s arm to steady herself.

“Guys! It’s so great to see you here! But,” She paused as she took them in standing in her apartment. “How are you here?”

Max smiled, reaching forward to grab her hand with a small squeeze. They looked at each other for a moment before looking back at her. Then, with a lot of blushing, Kim handed over a small stack of papers. “We’re moving here. I just got here like an hour ago actually. Ya know we missed ya.”

The paper was the renter's agreement for their apartment, the one directly across the hall from hers. She couldn’t help but beam in excitement. Then she noticed that it was the one apartment. “You guys moving in together already huh?”

Both boys turned a brilliant shade of red immediately, stuttering and blabbering like a train wreck. Merde, had she been that bad? She decided to take pity on them, if only because she could sympathize.