Moving On

Chapter 3

Marinette was not looking forward to returning to Paris. She still can't believe she oked them getting rid of Lila.

FLASHBACK

"Marinette Dupin-Cheng, you will be staying here while your class is in Gotham. Being around them is not healthy." Alfred said, he only used her full name unless it was important. Crap.
"Grandpa Al, you don't get it. If they knew I kept you a secret from them, Lila will make it look like I didn't like them or trust them enough to tell them. I will look like the bad guy. UGH!!!!"
Marinette flopped down and on the couch beside Damian, who instantly put his arm around her and drew her closer to him. He kissed her forehead and frowned when her brows creased in frustration. He rubbed circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. It helped ease some of the tension but not all of it.
"Come on Mari, your class will be in Gotham in two weeks. They will be in on your territory. Let us get her back for you." Jason begged
"UGH....FINE!! Just don't do anything when I'm around. I don't want the lashings when they turn to me to yell but I am not there. I will probably get it anyway." Mari said as she baried her head behind Damians shoulder.
"SWEET!! Operation Get Lie-la out of Paris is a go!"
After awhile Marinette went to her room. When she got there she saw text messages from Alya, Nino and Adrien. When she looked she nearly dropped her phone.
AL- Why did you text Lila all those mean things?
NI- So uncool Dudette
AD- You promised you wouldn't do this stuff. Princess you know better
AL- you should stop. It's not nice, you whore.
NI- Stop being a slut and get it together
AD- Princess just be nice to Lila and this will go away. Just surrender. It's not hurting anyone.

Marinette dropped to the ground. The words Whore and Slut sticking out the most. She felt the tears before she realized she was crying. She threw her phone on her desk and stumbled into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and frowned. She could stop herself even if she wanted to. She made sure she locked her bedroom door before entering. She leaned back and punched the mirror as hard as she could. The glass wedded out, creating a beautiful rendition of a spider-web. She punched it again this time breaking it completely. She heard banging on the door outside her room but didn't move.

Damian and Tim burst into the room and frowned. Damian ran over to Marinette who had collapsed to the floor. He saw the glass all over the place. The point of impact. He looked back at Tim and saw his getting angry as he read something off of something. As he looked closer he noticed it was Marinettes phone. Tim passed it to Damian and let him read the texts from her class mates, and the ones from Lila. He was fuming he looked at his Angle and saw the tears leaking from her face as she looked at her hand that were covered in blood. The glass on the floor was cutting into her legs. He picked her up bridal-style and walked her to the love seat. He got the first aid from the closet and patched her up. No one spoke as Damian worked on Marinette and Tim fumed in the corner, pacing back and forth. When Damian was done he saw Marinette blink once then twice, finally coming out of whatever trance she was in.

"When did you guys get here?" She asked
Damain and Tim shared a look and frowned. "A couple minuets ago. Are you ok?"
She just stared into space. Probably reliving the words that were sent in the text. "Angel please don't do stuff like this. You could have gotten hurt far worse than you did."
That seemed to have grounded her long enough to look confused. "Birdy what happened?" she asked
Tim walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Shocked to feel so much muscle. "You punched a mirror."
She looked at him and shrugged. "I've done worse apparently." she said it so casually that it startled both Tim and Damian. Damain knew there were three people that would have answers about the rest. Damian walked Tim to the door handing him his phone.
"Call Kagami. She will tell you what happens at school that we don't know. Ask about the other times Mari blanked out." Damian stated. Tim nodded, took one last glance at Marinette and left.
Damian closed the door and grabbed some pajamas for Marinette and got her into bed. Tikki was flouting nearby and frowned that this happened again. Tikki flouted over to Damian and landed on his shoulder. They didn't say anything as they waited for Marinette to fall sleep. It didn't take long. When Tikki was ready landed on the pillow next to Maris head and fell asleep. When Damian made it to the dinning room he wanted answers. Tim was still on the phone. He walked over and took his phone back.
"Kagami, tell me about the other times Marinette blacked out. She had an episode just now, and I want answers."
"I am going to kill all three of them. This happens more times then Marinette will admit. One time she almost jumped off a bridge into the river, in the middle of winter. Lila has more of a hold on her than Marinette will ever admit. You need to watch her. She wants to get a new phone but she can't afford it. I tried and Chole tried, she refuses to accept it. When Marinette goes off on her own you need to have Tikki report to you if she is starting to fold in on herself. Tim told me what happend, they are all going to die."
"Can it. Just make sure you and Luka are on the trip to Gotham. in two weeks. We are going to expose Lila."
"YES! I knew I liked you for a reason. Tell Marinette that I will be picking her up from the airport when she gets back."
"I will. By Kagami."
"By"
When Damian hung up he relayed all the information to his family. They were not happy about that. Damian ordered a new phone for Marinette and a new phone number. He went upstairs to check on her but noticed she was pacing in her room. He walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"Angel are you ok?" he asked
"No. I am really sorry I broke your mirror. I don't remember what happened."
Damian pulled her chin up and kissed her, deeply and passionately. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as they kissed. Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. They stayed this way for awhile.
"Marinette" He whispered against her lips. "You are not in the wrong. You are to good to be any of those names they call you. I love you more than you will ever know." He pecked her lips and smiled as she kissed him.
"Damian I love you too. I am sorry I broke you window. Did you talk to Kagami?"
"Yes and she told me all about you almost jump off a bridge, three months ago." Damian watched as her eyes darkened "You wanna explain that one to me why that is."
"Not really. I don't want to sleep but I don't want to sit here either."
"We could go for a run. You always feel better after a run. I am sure that the Joker, Harley and Poison Ivy want to see you." Damian suggested
"yeah, let me change."
When Marinette came back out she was wearing a robin themed work out cloths. The sports bra was red with an R on the right breast with a black backing, the pants were green skin tight. Damian froze and blushed.
"Like what you see Birdy?" she teased
"You have no idea." He walked over and pecked her cheek, earning a giggle from her in return. They walked out and Mari didn't wait for Damian to stretch just took off. Damian struggled to catch up at first but managed.

Running felt amazing to Marinette. She ran, and as she ran she saw Lila and Alya running after her. She kept pushing. She felt Damian beside her. Soon Lila and Alya faded till she was running to Gotham park. She stopped her breathing evened out enough that the adrenaline felt good. She looked around and smiled. She felt so much better. She felt good enough to sleep. She felt good for the first time in awhile. She smiled at Damian as he tried to catch his breath.
"How are you breathing so hard? You don't have powers and run around in a suit to." Marinette asked
"Because-you-have-long-legs-and-I-am-tired-." He wheezed.
"Sorry. Just had to get it out." She said as she kissed his cheek. "come on lets walk back."
When they got back they grabbed a quick shower, separately, and headed to bed.

The next day Marinette prepared to leave back to Paris. Could she do this? Could she go back knowing that they were going to find out about the Waynes, and that she had a boyfriend. She packed all her clothes. She put on the outfit inspired by Harley Quinn. It was a white blouse with red and blue strips on the sleeve, with a black skirts with the words Puddin' in gold. She really liked this one. Auntie Harley was always willing to talk to her. Ivy attended to her plants at the park, and the Joker was always in prison. She sighed as she accepted the fact that she was letting her class into the other part of her life. Was she ready? No. Did she want to do this? No. Did she get a choice in picking the location? No. She walked out with all her bags. She saw Damian and Tim sitting on the couch and Jason and Dick playing with Mar'i in the dinning room. Starfire was over by the kitchen with Alfred and Bruce. She smiled as she realized this group of people were her family, even if Damian and her didn't work out she was still happy to call them family. Star was the first to notice her.
"Marinette, you look amazing. Did you make that?"
"Yes star I did. I was inspired by Auntie Harley. She was very happy about that." Marinette replied with a giggle
"Well, I love it. So how is the new MDC line? I have been waiting to get my hands on a new dress for the gala in two weeks."
"Star I will be back in two weeks. I start school in three days. Don't worry about it. Besides I already have everything made for you guys at the Gala."
Star floated off the ground a few feet. "Joy!" she exclaimed.
Damian came out of no where and kissed her cheek. Star looked baffled. "Did I miss something?"
"Yes. Demon Spawn and Marinette have been dating for three years and didn't tell us."

After awhile Marinette had to leave. She looked out the plan window as Gotham disappeared. She sighed. Tomorrow she was facing Paris.