Chapter 1: An angel named Marinette

Jason looked at the remote control in his hand. It was simple, though. All he had to do was press a small button and his revenge would be accomplished. Sadly, by doing so, then Batman would simply die without ever knowing who had got him, or even why he had lost his life.

And most importantly, he would never know that Jason was back, alive and well.

Batman came back, entered his Batmobile and left.

The young man dropped the remote control to the ground and left the scene. He chose to go to the nearest bar and spent part of his night there. The next day, Jason woke up in an abandoned building. He couldn't even remember how he got there.

The black-haired did not move from his place, he contented himself with taking out the packet of cigarettes in his pocket. And started smoking.

One.

Two.

Three.

The package.

His head hurt like hell. His whole body was numb, as if he had spent the night fighting. Given the amount of alcohol he had consumed this was not an assumption to be excluded.

The more time passed, the more a thought popped into his mind.

"Bruce didn't kill the Joker even after he attacked Barbara. He didn't kill him after I died. It's not now that he would do it even if I intervene, isn't it? After all, I've been replaced like a common disposable object. I was just a vulgar pawn, wasn't I?"

His eyes were burning. But he categorically refused to cry. Fucking Bruce didn't deserve someone to shed tears for him. He didn't even deserve the attention. He wanted his beloved Joker so badly to stay alive? Well, he could stay alive. That son of a bitch better not have the audacity to come crying to him after the Joker wipes out all his little soldiers! Jason didn't care anymore.

Fuck Batman!

Fuck Bruce!

And fuck Talia!

Jason stood up, staggering slightly. He then headed to the airport and bought a ticket for the first flight out.

Thus, the man who was to become Red Hood renounced his revenge and instead found himself on a plane bound for France.

Three months later.

Jason settled comfortably in his new apartment -buy with money borrowed from Talia-. It wasn't very big, there was only one room, and the kitchen was going to seriously need a little makeover, but it was his. It was also not the most upscale district of the capital, but sincerely he largely preferred a simple life to the madness of the bourgeois bobos.

He began to carefully store each box in the right place. It took him part of the day. Once his work was done, he went out for a moment to buy something to prepare a lunch.

As he returned from the supermarket, once in front of the door of his building, he found himself in front of a mountain of walking fabrics. It took him a few moments to realize that the person was clumsily trying to open the door while holding the mountain of fabrics.

— Do you need help?

— Oh? Uh, yes. Could you please open that door for me?

— Of course.

Jason then opened the door for the person. As the person was about to return, she took her foot off the step and collapsed. By reflex, he manages to catch the person hidden behind the mountain of fabrics. The person equipment, on the other hand, spread to the ground.

— Are you all right?

—Y-Yes! Thank you very much! Oh my God, what a disaster! I'm a walking disaster!

The young woman agitated in every direction trying to pick up the catastrophe she had just caused. He scratched the back of his head for a moment. On the one hand what happened to this girl was absolutely not his problem. On the other hand, it would be cruel of him to leave this poor girl alone with this mountain of textiles.

He sighed for a moment, then stooped in turn to pick up the tissues on the ground. The young woman looked at him for a moment surprised, then smiled softly. Once all the textiles were collected, Jason, in his kindness, helped her to wear everything.

Jason discovered with surprise that this spoofed girl was his next-door neighbor.

— Thank you very much sir!

— It's nothing, miss.

— Marinette! My name is Marinette.

—Enchanté Marinette. I'm Jason.

—Jason... Thank you again, really.

She gave him a beautiful smile. It was at this moment that Jason took the time to look at her better. That girl was pretty small, but really cute. Her skin was very clear... A real baby complexion. She had Asian features, splendid bright blue eyes, highlighted by a fine line of liner and mascara. Her lips were pink, luscious and slightly raised by a glossy gloss. Her hair was bluish black, tied in a little bun. She was wearing cream-coloured high-waisted pants, highlighting her wasp waist, with a slightly transparent flowing white top. Finally, she had black closed shoes with little heels.

All right.

She wasn't cute, she was fucking hot.

He then smiled back at her.

— It was really nothing Marinette.

Jason finally went home with his shopping bag still in his hand. This day had ended on an interesting note.

Time went by.

The former Robin regularly had nightmares. He kept this information to himself and did his best to live his life despite the lack of sleep. Some days were more difficult than others, but none of this was comparable to dying alone in a building after being beaten practically to death by a sociopath. Oh, and betrayed by someone he thought loved him.

Sad world eh Jason...

Despite this, the young man found a job as a cook in a restaurant a few train stations away from his building. The job suited him, it was well paid. The manager was a bit of a cougar on the edge, but nothing he could handle.

He also became friends with his neighbor. Marinette thus became a constant presence in his life. When she learned that he had recently arrived in Paris, the brunette made it her mission to show him all the nice corners of the city. The few months he had spent at the young lady's side taught him a few things.

First of all, Marinette was a disaster in the kitchen. The only thing the miss knew how to make was cakes and sweets... Unless you wanted to feed diabetes, no one could stand on a diet based exclusively on sugar! Jason started cooking for two.

Next thing he knows: the girl was a fashionista. And in his humble opinion, the young lady would soon break into the business, she had real talent. Maybe too much talent at times...

— Jason? Is that your wardrobe?

— Yeah, why?

— You only have T-shirts, a blazer and three jeans!

— I don't see what the problem is, it's more than enough.

— You don't even have a sweater! How are you going to do it in the winter?!

— I'm going to buy some. The cold doesn't bother me anyway.

The next day, Marinette made him go shopping. Not to mention the box full of sweaters, pants and a lot of other clothes that the young woman brought back for him. All the clothes in question had been hand sewn by her...

It wasn't until one day while shopping that he really understood the value of the clothes he was wearing...

— Sir, excuse me!

He turned to see a group of young girls, who looked at him with bright eyes.

— Your clothes are original MDC pieces, aren't they? If I can afford where you got them?

—Uh... Well...

— Didn't it cost too much?

— How far in advance did you have to go to get them?

Questions follow one after the other. However, the former Robin manages to get out alive. As soon as he was out of the reach of the snot, he took out his cell phone to do some research.

MDC was apparently the nickname of a stylist who was making a buzz on the online fashion scene. No one knew her real identity. To get MDC clothes, you had to ask for a commission on her website.

On his way home, Jason examined the sweater he was wearing more closely. Indeed, there was the signature of the famous "MDC" on it. Completely shocked, he then looked at other clothes he had, all offered by Marinette. All of them, without exception, had the signature of the famous mystery stylist.

Why the hell did Marinette go out and buy him such expensive clothes!

Then a detail came to his mind. Marinette said she had made all these clothes by hand.

Is that...

MDC. It was initials... Like Marinette Dupain-Cheng?

OH MY GOD! MARINETTE IS MDC!

That same evening, the brunette confirmed his suspicions. Jason wished to pay her for the clothes. After all, it was a beautiful piece of clothing, and most of all, it was made by a designer. Marinette refused, almost offended.

— Jason, you're a friend. I would never ask you to pay me anything!

— Mari, I adore you. Like... really a lot. But seriously I can't accept you offering me gifts that cost you a fortune to make and that take so long. It's not fair.

— I did it because it makes me happy, Jay... it really does.

They discussed the subject for quite some time. In the end, faced with the persistence of the damsel, Jason finally capitulates. She was even more satisfied.

Time passed again.

Nightmares became more and more intense. He now had trouble hiding it from those around him. Especially Marinette.

— Jason... If you need to talk, I'm here.

— I know Marinette, but I assure you I'm fine.

She looked at him skeptical but did not insist.

The date of a famous event was getting closer and closer, the young man was feeling faint. He did absolutely everything not to think about it. He began to work even harder than before so that he wouldn't have to think about the events related to this famous date.

Three months after the famous date, Jason didn't hold out anymore. He began to walk away from his work by asking for time off. Then he walked away from Marinette, avoiding her as much as possible during a week.

Then the famous "date" came: the same day he died. (Actually, the anniversary of his death had long since passed... But this "date" was present every month... He couldn't stand the sight of that number)

He couldn't keep it.

Jason started going around to every bar early on. By the end of that day, he wasn't even sure he knew his own name. He didn't particularly want to go home anyway.

If he could just disappear...

Maybe he'll finally have peace?

The pain would stop.

He would finally be free... He'll go back to where he should be: underground.

Jason had no idea where he was. Maybe an alley. He just let himself slide along a wall. He felt a shiver running through his whole body.

Oh, yes... It was winter, he was outside without a coat.

Hopefully he would die of hypothermia.

— Jason? Is that you?

That voice. He reopened his eyes -when has he closed them? - . In front of him there was a figure, someone dressed in red and black. He thought he heard other voices...

— ... Bad...!

— It's... Pit... Serious!

— ... Warm... House... Help...

Then he blackout.

When Jason woke up, he was warm. The dark-haired was feeling really good. He was in there surrounded by a soft blanket. And that smell... something sweet, gentle, exhilarating. It was a familiar smell.

It's the smell of Marinette...