Wrong number

Chapter 33

She could feel her pulse begin to rise. The voice was so familiar, after hearing him speak for hours she was use to the comfort it typically brought her.

But now she paused unsure, did he know it was her? Was he disappointed in who she turned out to be had she spent months connecting with a person as she would a close friend for their friendship to end so suddenly.

She hadn't realised her lack of response until her name was called once more though in a softer tone before and with it a small nudge from Tikki in the direction of the door?

Slowly she stood and walked to the door, grabbing the cool metal handle she pulled the door back so fast and unexpectedly. Damian stood arm half raised in anticipation to knock once more.

He blinked at the scene in front of him, Marinette appeared a mixture of fatigued, mildly stressed and almost upset. Yet he couldn't imagine what had occurred since tea for such emotions.

"Are you alright?" He asked tone more empathetic that he was with anyone else. Eyes searching her face for any signs of pain or further unease.

"Yeah, no it's- well I" she sputtered, hands moving as she fired to come up with the words. Not daring to meet his eyes as she tried to come up with the correct way to ask him.

"Marinette" he said once though was utterly unheard amongst her mixture of rambled words.

Hesitantly he placed a hand on her shoulder, stilling both of them at the unexpected touch. Two pairs of eyes staring at his hand.

With Damian mustering up the courage to finally ask the dreaded yet hopeful question he was longing for.

Marinette took it as her chance to finally ask, hoping luck was on her side.

"I know this might sound crazy but are you the Damian I think you are? If not can you forget I said anything and pretend this never happened?" She murmured her voice growing quiet as she came to a stop.

Damian blinked surprised at how someone so small was able to speak such a high volume of words in the span of a minute.

"I.. yes" he finally answered, confusing them both as to how they should progress.

"Yes?.." Marinette questioned, which half of her statement was he referring to?

Damian paused seeing her features change to an expression of confusion, till it clicked

"I am one in the same" he confirmed, leading to an akward silence.

"So.. what do we do now?" Marinette asked insecure at the sudden change in pace to what she was used to.

Damian hesitated at the insecurity she displayed; he was used to her being confident and passionate over the coming months having grown past this awkward and unfamiliar stage.

"You sketch correct?" he asked, receiving a shy nod.

"Grab your supplies, I'll be back in a few minutes" he said with confidence masking the doubt he felt.

Without another word he headed in the direction of his room, as Marinette watched him turn down an unfamiliar hallway.

Turning into her room she closed the door searching for her kwami for advice at what the upcoming situation could hold.

"How do you feel?" Tikki asked sensing her holders indecision at her of conflicted feelings

"Relieved I think, it's him that much is guaranteed but is he happy about that? Do you think-" she began only for the god to stop her as she zipped closer resting her cheek against hers

"Don't overthink this, Damian had been nothing but honest. And no matter how this turns out I'm with you" she spoke, giving Marinette an encouraging smile.

Nodding with a newfound sense of hope Marinette turned to her satchel ensuring all her art materials were, using it as a distraction to all the possibilities running through her head.

Moments later a soft knock rung out into the day once then once more as Marinette excited the room finding Damian with a satchel of his own.

Now wearing a coat and a softer expression than his previous blank stare.

"You'll require your coat for this outing" he started watching as she turned and grabbed it before shutting the door.

The two walked in quiet silence as Damian led them up until the reached the manor's top floor, a small space that was kept inside with glass panelling that held a door leading to a snowy terrace.

From their location Marinette could see the grand backyard that was the gardens spotting a large maze, various plants and green house in the space.

Looking out she felt her mouth gape at the view this was nothing like the rooftops of Paris this was something else entirely with the garden dusted in a light layer of snow.

"Would you like to join me?" Damian asked a moment later, taking in her awed expression, watching her gaze follow him to the seating area.

He had laid out his sketchbook and coloured pencil, now gesturing to the free spot beside him. Marinette sat down taking in the view once more before grabbing her materials.

Feeling a small hand tap hers reassuringly, it felt good knowing Tikki was close by something familiar, surrounded by the unknown.