Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She was awake for two days in a row and didn’t finalize any commissions for the Autumn Holiday… She thought it would be nice to sleep for a day or two but this was also the time of year when the bakery started to get busy and her parents needed any help that she could offer.

Bummer .

“Hey, Marinette!” two voices shouted her name in harmony but a little bit too abruptly. She only had enough energy to lift herself a little more upright on the school bench.

There stood two of her favorite comic book artists as she opened her eyes. However both Nathaniel and Marc had a messed up appearance which was kind of strange. Or they rented the janitor’s closet again for their in-between-classes rendezvous in school. Their cheeks were flushed enough and they radiated some very positive energy which was too shining to her tired eyes.

“You are too bright!” she moaned breathlessly as she tried to look at them without hurting her already delicate eyes.

Marc giggled at her obviously. “Do you remember when you introduced us to Thomas Astruc who helped us togetapublisherhereandthenUKtoo?” 

It was too complicated and fast for her brain so she just nodded and nodded then turned to Nathaniel for a translation of his boyfriend's rantings. It was a casual occurrence.

“Marc, calm down!” He also laughed gleefully at her unashamed no-clue face. What was with people and being happy? It’s too early for that. “In short we got invited to New York Comic Con because of Ladybug's english version and we…” He paused in his tale a little and looked at Marc. “We also can bring someone along with us.” 

Hmm… It was not the whole story. “And?”

Marc nodded. “And since without you we couldn’t have reached this level of fame… we thought… you can be our plus one?” The question was shy and said more slowly than before so even Marinette’s worn out brain could comprehend it. 

She blinked at them with surprise. A little bit more awake than two minutes ago.

“Of course Mom and Marc’s brother would come with us so we won’t be alone… and…”

“Guys!” She cut Nathaniel’s tirade in half with her teary sob when finally she grasped the meaning of all of this. And she didn’t even realize how much she freaked them out with her sudden cry. Her eyes wanted to tear up anyway from the two days in row work, at least she was happy crying in front of them and had a good reason for it. 

“I am so honored for the thought alone…” She blew out her nose with a handkerchief that Marc offered to her shakily. “I would like to tag along with you, guys!”

The two happy shouts were heard even in the teachers room downstairs.

*

He didn’t know how the brat found him. He thought Damian was still on his ‘find yourself’ journey. However he was kind of wrong.

“Drake, I need your assistance.” It was not a request, it was a simple statement which also meant that he needed to leave his happy boat after a week… Or it was two? He didn’t know.

He carelessly grabbed the closest tonic can and drank from it… and with that momentum he also spit it out. There was a fly in the tonic.

“You are more disgusting than before.” Again a well deserved compliment from the brat.

“What do you want?” He was not in his kind mood. After last month’s events he won't be in his kind moods ever again. He reached out to a coffee can. Oh , it was unopened. Perfect .

The scoff was too loud to ignore it so after the first few sip of caffeinated nectar he turned to his little brother fully. “So what is your really important thing that you needed to interfere with my breaking up grief?”

He was too honest. It was also too much information. Maybe Dick was right and he needed some sleep… No, sleep meant dreaming and dreaming meant Bernard. So nope .

Damian with a grimace tidied up one of the last usable chairs and sat down. He also ordered Titus to his feet. The Dan dog happily complied. “As I said before I need your assistance.” he started with that posh accent which always reminded him of Alfred. “Next week we are going to New York Comic Con so I need you to be presentable.”

Did he hear him correctly? “Comic Con?”

“Yes.”

“Next weekend?”

“Do you have hearing problems besides the obvious stupidity?” His always perfect eyebrows were lifted up without any effort. Damn the teenager brat! His own face never was that intimidating even now when he was already nineteen and five years older than this mini Thalia.

He ran out of coffee again. “Why me?”

The leveled glare was starting to remind him of Bruce. So some traits were inherited too, nice . “Grayson is too… overjoyed for these events. Todd is more of a bookworm than nerd… And father…” He searched for the appropriate word. He will help him.

“Himbo?”

The second batglare was more of an intuition than a message. “And you also interested in Warlocks&Warriors, so… it can be a… good team… bonding time.” 

Huh? Bonding time? With Damian? 

He needed to sit upright and drink some water so his surprise wouldn't be that clear on his face. The brat also was embarrassed if the telltale red on his ears or Titus caring whining to his owner was anything.

Tim cracked his joints out and looked around his boat. It was a mess. After the break up he barely left this room. Only Dick and the girls came to comfort him about his relationship change. Also Bruce at least called him and he also found a Jane Austin book at his table three days ago. 

He knew they cared. But this… As he scanned his little brother's perfect royal posture he found the cracks. Damian was flustered about the whole thing yet he was still sitting in front of him.

His little demon brother was worried for him. Just like everyone else.

He sighed.

“Okay, but you’re organizing everything.”

Chapter Text

Tim was an inch away from committing murder. And it was a big statement if he looked at his really irritating - finally teenager - little - ex-assassin - brother. He knew he was the one who let the brat organize everything… Let him be in control! But… but this was a felony ! “What do you mean I can’t drink coffee?”

After a devastating glare Damian finally answered. “Father and Pennyworth both think you are consuming too much caffeinated and sugared beverages so they entrusted me to supervise your water intake. Only water intake.”

That emphasis was a little bit weird to him and maybe aggressive(?). The ‘only’ meant he couldn’t drink anything else. The ‘ONLY’ meant he couldn’t taste anything within a right caffeine level. “You are a demon!”

“Of course.” 

The pride was too shining.

He muttered some more curses under his breath then turned to his little hobbit for directions. “So my absolutely little demon,” he got a real deadly stare now but who cares!? “Where does our journey take us next?” And during their walkthrough if he would be able to acquire an event map so it would be easier to check out where he would be able to potentially get coffee, nobody needed to know. 

Especially his watchguard.

“Tt.” The characteristic reply before the ultimate mission discourse. “I think the best course of action is if we visit the game section first. There we both can enjoy our favorite plays and try out some new software together too.”

Huh?

It’s quite a nice strategy? Like he really thought and logistics it out for him? He was a little bit surprised. “The CheeseViking got a new update, right?” 

Some contribution at least from his side. He could hang out with his little brother for a weekend. He was able to do it without any quarrel. 

Or thinking about his miserable life decisions.

“And Ultimate Mecha Strike V. too.” Yepp, the language of nerds was always a neutral topic between the two. Sometimes they could rope Jay in it too but Dick… The ancient was a lost cause.

As they got closer to the gaming section he acquired an event flyer (or two for emergency). Without being too suspicious for the brat’s liking he scanned the areas for buffets or some staff room. Because staff rooms always had good access to caffeinated beverages. Their deprived souls needed it just like him.

The best timing could be when Damian would be immersed in the ChesseViking saga so he would be able to sneak away to the closest coffee site. 

But first the gamer section. At least he could try out the newest UMS game.

The countdown has begun.

*

Finally Marinette was able to break away from the artist duo and more importantly from the chaperone duo who promised her parents they will keep away any caffeinated drink from their precious daughter. Despite their precious daughter’s volition, who only could survive that many people (and lack of sleep) on high caffeine.

Oh , it's the gaming section. She almost walked past it.

Hmm .. Maybe she could try out some new software first. She looked down to Tikki who carefully perked at her from the side bag. The little Goddess's disapproving eyes showed how much she believed in her and her - mythical - coffee-free life.

Ugh…

Just for Tikki I will be strong! (… for now.)

With a sigh she lined up to the new UMSV. game. Of course she already tried it out since she was the European Champion for four years straight and the developers let her beta test the whole software half a year before the release. And she ‘surprisingly’ enjoyed it. It had more diversity than any earlier games and the graphics were phenomenal too. 

The only big negative thing was that she couldn’t compete any longer in the UMS tournaments. 

Pity …

The two boys who were playing that moment were also super competitive and would be really exciting to slash them down. The younger one was a little aggressive to her liking but the older one was more sluggish… Maybe he also needed his high caffeine level. She chuckled. And looking at the line in front of her… her system also demanded more caffeine than to play a game of which she already knew every corner.

She was a little bit confused or her thoughts jumped a random way… Surely from the lack of coffee.

She shrugged. All the same. Tikki will be bribed with some american cookies and she will enjoy some coffee without any drama.

Or so she thought.

Just as she would have received the cup - the barista’s hands held the God’s liquid out already - Nathaniel appeared out of nowhere (or from that huge crowd of the con). For some moments the time froze up and they just eyed each other. Nathaniel more of a “ what do you think you are doing? ” glare and she with an “ I’m trying to survive ” look. 

Then Marinette grabbed the cup and bolted…

She will not be caught alive.