Chapter 3 : Soulmates

Dick Grayson

Paris, 2:30pm.

Dick was really happy to have his little brother Jason back.

For many years he had felt guilty and carried a heavy burden of regret. He had been a very bad older brother.

In those days, he thought he had all the time in the world...

Alas, life had shown him more than once that things did not always go as one would wish.

Jason's death had hurt. More than he'd like to admit. That's why he'd done everything he could to be an exemplary older brother to Tim, and later Damian.

When Talia had announced that this brother, whom he thought was lost forever, was alive... He wanted to hold on to this idea with all his heart.

It was an unexpected chance to make amends, to redeem himself, to remove the horrible weight that had followed him for so many years.

The path was difficult, but eventually the little lost bird came back to the nest. At last, he visited the nest from time to time...

It was the biggest surprise Jason's return brought.

His little brother was married.

He honestly found it hard to believe, until he saw it for himself.

Not only was Jason married, but his wife was extraordinarily beautiful! The kid who once lived on the streets of Gotham, who was a rude little thug and swore like a train engine, had married one of the most fashionable designers on the planet! He had won the lottery for sure!

Dick was happy for his brother. After all he'd been through... he, more than anyone else in this family, deserved happiness.

But then again...

There was one question in particular he was dying to ask Jason.

Dick was at one of the Todds' many, many coffee shops, helping out as a waiter. Jason didn't hesitate for a second to use him as a " catch-client". It was already a little late, and the café was about to close its doors, the last customers were leaving the establishment.

The young man then took advantage of the fact that Marinette had left to meet a client, to ask his younger brother a question.

Dick was alone with Jason cleaning the tables.

— Hey, Jay, can I ask you a question?

— You just did... but I guess that's not the point. Keep trying.

Dick wisely chose to ignore his little brother's sarcasm.

— How did you know?

— How did I know what?

— About Marinette.

Jason stopped sweeping and looked at him strangely.

— What are you talking about, Dick?

— I mean, how did you know it was the right person?

Why did you marry her?

That was the question he wanted to ask.

Jason stared at him silently for a moment. Then he looked down at the ground at his feet.

— It was April, the day of... well, you know... I woke up from a nightmare with... him. It wasn't... the first time it had happened to me. Every time, she was there with me. But that day... it was worse than the other times. That night she stayed awake with me all night. I stayed in her arms. She didn't move once. She didn't say anything at all. She didn't give me a big speech, didn't try to tell me that she understood, or try to give me any advice. She just stood there with me, silently. I told myself that someone who was able to respect my feelings so much, who could understand me without a word was necessarily my soul mate.

— I see, um...

Dick actually didn't know what to say. He was pensive. Jason looked at him again, a slight sarcastic smile clearly visible on his face.

— Dickie... Are you jealous?

— Wait, what?!

— I can't believe you really are! Pffff!

— Absolutely not.

— Ahahhahahahahahahahahaha!

— ….

Marinette chose this exact moment to enter the café. Seeing Jason laughing out loud and Dick's scowling face, the young woman raised an eyebrow.

— Am I missing something?

Tim Drake

Tim was watching Jason and Marinette happily discussing the decoration of their next coffee house. Both were considering opening franchises in other countries.

The young man loved to watch them exchange. He never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that one day he would see his favorite Robin discussing decorations with his wife.

It was strange for him to see a couple being so close. He had grown up with absent parents, and Bruce was still single (certainly very courted, but single... Unless he was back with Selina and didn't tell anyone). Dick wasn't really a model of stability; Cass was fine on her own... Damian was still too young.

He and Steph were... complicated.

So he liked to observe.

The subject had ended up drifting through Jason's years as Robin.

— Do you seriously want to talk about the time when you were jumping around in your panties on the rooftops of Gotham?!

— Those weren't underwear!

— Who cares?! It was ridiculous! It was like a failed cosplay of a traffic light...

— I didn't pick the design.

— I haven't forgotten the atrocities I found in your closet the first time I sorted your laundry, honey. Don't try to incriminate Dick.

— I'm not trying to incriminate Dick. I'm trying to incriminate Bruce. And seriously, angel, if you think my tastes are atrocious, it's a good thing you didn't go through the "Disco Wing" period.

— I've already looked through Dick's closet... I had to take a break, so I didn't pass out.

— And then you see the current wardrobe ... If you had seen the clothes he had as a teenager ...

— That bad?

— I'm sure Tim must have pictures somewhere. He was Batman's stalker before he became a Robin.

— Really?

They both turned to Tim. He suddenly wanted to disappear.

— I wasn't a Stalker...

— Do you really have pictures of Jason in his underwear on Gotham's rooftops? Can I see them?

— They weren't underwear!

Marinette royally ignored Jason.

— I'm sure I'm not the only one who was traumatized by the design, even Timmy at least wore tights... They were a terrible color, but they were better than underwear.

— They... weren't... tights...

— For the last time, it wasn't un... You know what? Forget it, hon. Why don't we talk about that wall color again?

Marinette laughed at Jason's embarrassed look.

— Don't worry, honey, I've seen you in less clothes than this before... I'm sure you were absolutely a d.o.r.a.b.l.e!

— Tim... If you show her any pictures, I will wipe you off the face of the earth.

— …

Tim suddenly didn't know where to stand.

Barbara Gordon

It had become a habit for everyone to see Bruce and Marinette fighting.

The main reason being that Bruce was particularly intrusive in the couple's life. He constantly tried to be close to Jason (even when the couple was clearly on a date), wanted to decide in which hotel they should stay, wanted to control how they ran their business, constantly asked them where they were going, he even went so far as to put cameras in their apartment in Paris...

Like Jason was a teenager who just brought home his first girlfriend.

Naturally, Marinette was particularly irritated by the situation, and she didn't take any notice to tell Bruce that his behavior was bothering her. Boy, did Barbara love that!

— Bruce, could you give us a moment?

— Hmm?

— Old man, it's our wedding anniversary.

— Oh? Congratulations.

Jason looked at him with wide-eyed eyes. Marinette frowned furiously.

— Bruce, we want to be alone on our anniversary. Do me a favor and get lost!

Barbara had been particularly shocked by Bruce's extreme behavior.

She sincerely felt sorry for Marinette.

In the eyes of the young woman, Bruce did not seem to have understood that they were a married couple. That Jason was no longer a little boy, and that he didn't just have a passing crush. It wasn't his girlfriend. It was his wife.

As Barbara knew, Jason truly loved Marinette.

She remembered one time when she came to the Manor to talk with Cass, and she had stumbled upon a particularly lovely scene.

Marinette was working in a room at the Manor.

— Angel, you really should take a break. You've been working since 5:00 in the morning.

— I can't Jay, I have to return all these orders by the end of the week at the latest.

Jason walked up to Marinette and kissed her in the neck. Marinette was startled.

— What the hell are you doing?!

— Trying to convince you to take a break.

Marinette looked at him for a moment, then sighed.

— No more than ten minutes, Jay, I really need to finish this job.

Jason stroked her chin with his finger and smiled mischievously.

— Ten minutes Uh... that's a little short time, don't you think?

Marinette turned completely red.

— You're... I, um... Y-You're u-unbelievable!

Jason's smile got bigger.

Marinette put the garment she was working on the side of the sewing machine. Then raised an eyebrow, this time amused.

— You see, Mr. Todd, I'm not sure I'm convinced by your arguments.

Jason put a hand on her cheek, leaned over to her and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

— How about I bring your lunch here, you take a short break for lunch, and tonight... I give you a reward for your hard work?

— Okay, Mr. Todd, you've convinced me.

— Glad to hear it, Mrs. Todd.

Marinette laughed softly. Jason put his forehead against hers and smiled. He looked at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She looked at him as if he was the most beautiful creation in the universe.

Barbara left before the couple saw her, a slight smile on her lips.

She was genuinely happy for Jason.

Bruce Wayne

Bruce had risen a little later than usual, as the previous day's patrol had lasted longer than he had expected. On his way to the kitchen, he heard laughter. The door was ajar, so he took the liberty of looking to see who was defiling Alfred's precious kitchen.

It was Jason and Marinette.

They were probably preparing the meal together. It was surprising, where had Alfred gone?

Marinette was cutting vegetables, while Jason was preparing the meat.

From the ingredients Bruce concluded that they were preparing boeuf bourguignon.

— I'm telling you it's true! I was so shocked that I bumped into the pole in front of the school...

— No, seriously?!

— And that's not the worst part... He's like, "Roooo, Roooo! Paris is now under the rule of the pigeons! FLAP FLAP FLAP, ROOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Jason burst out laughing, as he watched the weird Marinette impersonation.

— His supervillain name was "Mister Pigeon"...

— Okay... And here I thought Gotham's criminals had strange names...

He listened to the young couple chatting while preparing the meal. Marinette was sharing some stories from her childhood.

Jason cried - literally - from laughing.

Bruce chose to slip away, satisfied that he could hear his son's laughter once again, even though he wasn't the cause of his joy.

Damian Wayne

Bruce's son didn't understand his father.

Why did he want Todd and that woman to be part of the family?!

He wasn't even a vigilante, he was just a civilian!

Besides, he'd been stupidly killed by the Joker. That meant only one thing. He wasn't a good fighter. That made him inferior to Drake, which by Damian's standards was unacceptable.

And this woman dared to disrespect his father... That was the last straw!

She was just a common civilian. There was nothing special about that woman. The only thing she seemed to do was sewing. Sewing!

Seriously?!

Even that stupid blonde who hung around the manor was more useful than that woman!

So, just WHY was everyone doing everything they could to keep those two in the manor?!

Damian was going to rectify that problem.

His father was clearly not in his right mind. It didn't matter after all; his father was human. It was lucky he was there to watch his back.

Todd and that woman were gonna leave the manor and never come back, Damian's faith!

Damian began by being unpleasant with the couple, making sharp remarks to them whenever he had the chance.

They ignored him royally.

Damian then tried to play tricks on them. Once he deliberately destroyed the clothes that this woman had made and that had remained in the Manor. When the couple returned, the woman uttered a scream of horror.

It was perfect!

Todd was even ready to tear his guts out. Even better! He was going to be able to put him in his place, show him how useless he was to this family.

But alas...

— It's all right, Jason, let him go.

— No way, that little shit ruined your work! You've been working on those commissions for months! Mari, he deserves at least a kick in the ass!

— A kick in the ass, eh...

She pulled Todd's sleeve and whispered something in his ear.

To Damian's surprise, Todd just nodded and went to get the destroyed clothes. She looked him straight in the eyes, then shook her head from right to left. Then she joined Todd and they left together for "their" room.

Damian was punished by his father. He was not allowed to be Robin for at least two whole weeks... Grayson lectured him for several hours, he received the disapproving glance of Pennyworth. Even that idiot Drake decided to snub him!

But he hadn't said his last word.

Damian sabotaged the woman's orders, making the packages go to the wrong place. She lost several customers as a result of this mistake.

He had seen her cry.

Todd was with her to try to " comfort " her (just like other members of the pathetic "family"). They were planning to go home. It was perfect.

His plan was working. Bad luck for him, that damn Gordon managed to track him down and inform his father.

When his father found out, he became furious. He was banned from all night activities until he apologized to the woman and Todd. He was also banned from going out, deprived of training and all his drawing equipment was confiscated. His phone was confiscated, as well as his internet access.

Damian didn't care, he won't apologize!

Then, one day on his way home from school (as he was finishing his first week of punishment), he heard voices coming from the kitchen. He walked over and saw his father, Todd, the woman and Pennyworth. The butler wasn't part of the conversation, but Damian could see that he was listening to them attentively.

— Don't be too hard on him Bruce...

Jason saw red and didn't give Bruce time to answer.

— Marinette, what he did is unacceptable. That little prick could have ruined your career!

— I know. I realize that.

— Then why are you defending him?!

— Jason, you know my story better than anyone. This isn't the first time this kind of thing's happened to me, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

— Exactly. It's because I know what happened to you that I can't accept it! This kind of behavior is neither normal nor acceptable. And the fact that you accept it so easily, as if it were a fatality, makes me want to cut his throat even more!

— Marinette. Jason is right (except for the " cut his throat " part), what Damian did is not acceptable. I am truly sorry. He will be punished appropriately.

— Hmm... how about instead of punishing him, you spend more time with him?

— Excuse me?

— What?!

Jason and Bruce looked at Marinette strangely. Alfred, on the other hand, showed a small enigmatic smile.

Damian, who was still listening to the conversation, suddenly felt lost. What was this woman playing?

— I think Damian is just jealous...

— Jealous? What do you want that piece of shit to be jealous of?!

— He's jealous of the attention you're getting, plain and simple.

— The attention? What attention, babe? We come here two or three times a year at most...

— Yes, and every time, everyone goes out of their way to receive us. Everyone comes to see us regularly in Paris... Christmas was celebrated at our place... You may not realize it, but we have the attention of the whole family. For a boy like Damian, who is the youngest and who is used to being the center of attention, that can't be easy to accept. I am willing to bet that he despises us, thinking that we are just civilians and that we have nothing to bring into the family.

— That's ridiculous.

- Mmm-Hmmm... Remind me, dear, how did you react when you found out someone else was wearing the Robin's mantle?

— That's... Different.

Marinette laughed softly. Jason folded his arms and rolled his eyes. His anger seemed to have dissipated. Then she turned to Bruce who was pensive.

— Bruce, no offense, but you're not the warmest person I know, and you don't strike me as the type to show your emotions. I think seeing you put so much effort into getting close to Jason may have hurt him. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't realize it himself, he's a lot like you...

— I... hadn't thought of it in that way.

— No kidding...

— Jay... you promised to be nicer to people.

— I am nice. I haven't punched anyone yet.

Marinette decided to royally ignore Jason and go to Bruce.

— I agree he should be punished. However, trying to talk to him a little bit about the situation. Explain to him why you want to spend time with Jay. He's a very smart boy, I'm sure if you explain your reasons to him, he'll understand.

Damian chooses to leave and lock himself in his room.

That woman was wrong. (She had hit the nail on the head)

As the woman suggested, his father came to talk to him. He accepted the explanation. But, to him, his father was wasting his time.

He will never admit that he appreciated having his father giving him more attention than before.

Maybe this "Marinette" wasn't so bad… And the scarf he received for Christmas was comfortable and warm.

She was a decent person.

And she didn't belong with someone like Todd. Maybe there was still a way to get them divorced, right?

Damian was sure that Richard would be a better partner…

Alfred Pennyworth

It was very early. Exceptionally, everyone was present for breakfast. Alfred was in a particularly good mood. The main reason being that Jason and Marinette were present at the Manor.

The butler especially enjoyed their company.

Knowing his young master was healthy, full of life and above all... happy, filled his heart with indescribable joy.

— You know, Alfred, Jay won a cooking contest in Paris. He could have been a great Michelin-starred chef if he wanted to!

— Marinette... Nobody needs to know that. I'm sure no one cares.

— Eh, what? You never realize all your accomplishments, so someone has to appreciate your amazing talents for you!

—...What are you talking about?...

Jason was clearly embarrassed. His ears had turned slightly red, betraying his discomfort. He was avoiding everyone's gaze, concentrating on what was on his plate.

Marinette looked at him strangely, not understanding at all what the problem was.

— Really... I'm impressed, Master Jason. Congratulations.

— Yeah... Well... Whatever...

— Don't be embarrassed, hon! OH, did I tell you about the time he got an invitation to a TV show?

— Mari, seriously, stop.

Alfred watched, with great amusement, how the family members teased Jason about his "exploits".

It was going to be a beautiful day.