First of all, I want to apologize for the long wait. Unfortunately, I'm extremely busy, and it's not going to get any better with time. As a result, my publications will become even more irregular than before.
I thank everyone who continues to read this story. If it wasn't for you, I would have given up long ago... ^^"
Chapter 18: What I can't tell you.
"You're a murderer, Red Robin proves his incompetence once again by letting psychopaths like you into this town!"
"Fuc* you, Robin! We killed NONE! You want to talk about incompetence? You had ONE thing to do and you managed to fuc* it all up! If there's a bastard here, it's you!"
"Don't kill anybody? Don't kill anybody?! Besides being crazy, are you also stupid?! Did you see the state of these guys? They won't make it out alive!"
"They won't? And whose fault is that? Because monsieur thinks he's better than everyone else, we had to improvise! And just so you know, these guys are alive. If the doctors in Gotham are incompetent, it's not my problem."
Red Hood sighed.
Why did he agree to help his replacement in the first place?
It wasn't like he wanted to see Bruce again. In fact, he had now moved on. He didn't care what Bruce thought of him at all. If he was alive or dead, it really wasn't his problem anymore.
Now he was forced to protect Gotham with two kids who didn't get along at all.
It had been almost a month since he had moved to Gotham with Roy and Marinette.
Damian was still unbearable, and Marinette had probably decided to fall to his level.
It had become almost an obligation. As soon as these two were on a case together, they spent their lives arguing. Robin refused to acknowledge them as partners. It was absolutely not awkward. Jason didn't need that kid's approval.
Marinette was no longer a little girl who let herself be stepped on. She wasn't being taken in and refused to just listen to Damian's nonsense in silence.
Jason was taking a lot out of him, not just to get rid of Damian in good faith. Unfortunately, he had made a promise, a promise not to kill. So he took his pain in patience. He wanted to show Marinette that keeping your word was important.
"Robin had a total crush on Lucy."
Jason looked at Roy next to him.
"...Seriously?"
"I'm serious, Jay! Some guys are aggressive with the girl they have a crush on, it's a bit of an aggressive pickup technique but-"
"Well, in that case, Robin has a huge crush on Red Robin."
"And then... Wait what?"
"He tried to kill him several times."
"…"
"Now that you understand how enormously stupid you are, help me separate them."
Jason walked towards the two teenagers, while trying to royally ignore this uncomfortable feeling that was growing in his gut.
This feeling of discomfort growing inside him, at the thought that Marinette might one day abandon him for "another one".
After all this time spent with the bluenette, he cared about her as a member of his family. He didn't want to lose her; he didn't want her to abandon him.
And yet that was what she could do if she found out that he knew secrets about the Paris incident, and he didn't tell her. She had a right to know that her "Master" had been killed by a man he knew well enough.
A dangerous man.
A man who was in Blüdhaven, according to the replacement, who had asked for reinforcements the day before. Which meant he was potentially a few hours away from them.
Deathstroke was only a few hours away from his precious partner.
Sorry replacement, I'm too selfish to keep my promise.
He had to find a way to incapacitate Deathstroke long enough to keep Marinette safe.
He was going to have to leave her with Robin for a while.
Forgive me, Minette, I hope you don't hate my guts.
-XxxX-
Plagg was eating his camembert on Marinette's bed.
The bluenette was worried.
The kwami cat was changing his color. He was completely black with green eyes. Now he had sky blue eyes. His ear and his cat tail had turned white.
"Plagg... You are not Michael Jackson... How can you change your colour?"
"You don't like me, Mini-bug?"
"That's not the point, Plagg."
"Don't you get it? I'm just a reflection of your own image, Tiny-bug..."
"W-What?"
"If a guardian is evil, then the Kwamis under his protection gradually become evil as well. That is all."
"You're telling me, it's my fault?"
"Yes."
"So... the other Kwamis?"
"Yep, they're changing too."
"I've become evil, huh..."
"No."
"Plagg, seriously..."
"Kid, you're neither "evil" or " nice", you're just you."
"What does it mean?"
"You'll understand on your own, like a big girl, when the time comes."
"…"
The Kwami ignored her completely after this exchange.
Marinette lay down on her back and stared at the roof of her room carefully.
She put her headphones over her ears and listened to Clara Nightingale's song over and over again. It was the song that the young singer had composed especially for the heroes of Paris.
Another day, I don't know why
He looks my way and I get so shy
So insecure, all in myself
Till someone says they need my help
Listening to this song, the bluenette wondered if Clara didn't know her identity. It sounded so much like "Marinette Dupain-Cheng".
Even if she wanted to with all her heart, this feeling of inferiority and shyness hadn't completely left her. Lately, she felt like she was becoming the stupid, weak and useless Marinette again.
All because of that damned Robin.
Oh oh oh, oh yeah they'll never know,
Oh oh oh, cause I'm unstoppable,
Oh oh oh, and when it's time to go,
That's when I become...
Marinette closed her eyes.
She was no longer a hero. That was a fact.
She had blood on her hands. That too was a fact.
She was physically stronger. Another fact.
When the bluenette was around Jason, it was like nothing could get to her anymore. They were unstoppable, together.
Miraculous, simply the best,
Up to the test when things go wrong
Miraculous, yeah, I got this,
I gotta confess, I feel so strong
There was a time when a superhero costume made her stronger.
Today, it was carrying guns that made her invincible.
She had lost her soul, hadn't she?
Was that so bad?
Maybe that annoying Robin was right?
Maybe she had just become a psychopath?
I'm watching him, he looks at me
We know our names, not our identity
He's super cool, he's really fast
And he knows how, how to make me laugh
Marinette had done much worse when she was "in love" with Adrien. She had to admit that she was still quite obsessed.
Yet, while listening to this verse, she couldn't help thinking about that stupid Robin.
The memory she had of him was this cool guy who had tried to help her last year. In fact, that cool guy was the biggest jerk on the planet!
What was his problem with her?
They didn't know each other at all!
That being said...
She didn't give a damn whether Robin liked her or not.
She just needed Jason.
Oh oh oh, he's got me spinning 'round.
Oh oh oh, my feet are off the ground.
Oh oh oh, and when it's time to go,
That's when I become...
Yet deep down...
She wanted to have another friend her own age.
The bluenette didn't want to completely close her heart.
She wasn't an insecure little girl anymore.
She was still able to socialize with people around her... Right?
Miraculous, simply the best,
Up to the test when things go wrong
Miraculous, yeah, I got this,
I gotta confess, I feel so strong...
You had to be honest...
She felt helpless.
What was happening to Plagg wasn't normal. But she was afraid to talk to Jason. Marinette could handle anything.
She didn't care that she was homeless.
She didn't care if she got hurt.
She didn't care about killing.
She didn't care about death.
She didn't even care about the Miraculous. (Basically... If they were gone, it wouldn't make much of a difference to her life. Besides, the Kwamis are immortal. If the jewels are broken, they'll just return to their spirit form, and in the end, it wouldn't be any worse. At least they wouldn't suffer anymore).
But there was one thing she couldn't stand.
It was the thought of losing Jason.
Was he going to hate her for not telling her about the " Black Cat" case?
Was he going to hate her for killing his old partner? Making him break a promise to a member of his "family"?
Marinette sighed for the umpteenth time that day.
Forgive me, Jason... I'm too selfish to follow through on this stupid promise to a guy dressed as a pigeon who calls himself "Red Robin."
The lady then turned to the kwami cat.
"Plagg. I take it you can't tell me the name of your former holder, right?"
"Uh?"
"The name of your holder."
"Nope, I can't say anything, even if you force me."
"I see... I guess confronting Wayzz won't do any good either?"
"Oh, but you can, Tiny-bug."
"I guess there's a "but"?"
"Well... no Kwamis will ever trust you again if you force their hand."
Marinette sighed.
She couldn't go hunting for Cat Noir with that jerk Robin on her back all the time... Besides, Jason would notice something right away. He knew her too well.
The bluenette got up and went to wash her face in the bathroom. Looking at her reflection, Marinette realized how much she had changed.
Then her gaze was drawn to something in her reflection. There was a red spot on her chest.
That was the moment she remembered.
The Kwagatama that Tikki had given her!
What if...
An idea came into her mind.
An extremely dangerous and risky idea, but...
If it ever worked, then she'd kill two birds with one stone!
She hurried back to her room and took the box of Miraculous in her hands.
Plagg watched her do it. A sadistic smile appeared on his face. His left paw turned white as well.
Things were getting more and more interesting.
The next night, Paris, 2:00 AM.
Swiper looked at the book he was holding in his hands with satisfaction.
He had finally managed to retrieve the Miraculous Book from his father's house. Swiper had been preparing for this moment for several months. He had hoped to be able to retrieve the Miraculous of the Butterfly as well, unfortunately his father always had it with him. Swiper did not want to risk being discovered by his father. He could have had the help of Selina and the girls, but that included telling them the truth about his life. Telling them about the Miraculous and his life as a hero, which he wouldn't do.
As much as he loved Selina, Harley and Pamela, he didn't trust them enough to tell them such an important secret.
So he lied about many aspects of his life. Like telling the girls that his father had actually been obsessed with him since his mother's death because he looked like her. That he had tried to abuse him... several times. Oh, and that his father was also a necrophiliac and kept his mother's body in their basement (which was true...). Selina immediately took pity on him and took him under her wing.
She had promised to help him get revenge.
Swiper had started by saying that he wanted to recover some precious items that had belonged to his deceased mother. Therefore, he had now succeeded in recovering the Miraculous Book. He had insisted on doing it alone, it was a challenge to himself.
Swiper had pulled it off.
He was going to be able to find Selina and the girls to celebrate with dignity.
Soon, my lady... very soon, we will be reunited.
Because soon, with the girls' help, he would finally be able to kill the bastard that was his father. And regain his entire fortune, which was rightfully his.
He could then officially say that Adrien Agreste was dead.
Suddenly, he felt a shiver run down his spine. He abruptly turned around.
There was no one there.
Strange.
The blond boy continued on his way, as if nothing had happened.
As the blond boy walked away, a silhouette appeared. She looked like a little girl. Her hair was red with a black streak on the front. She had ladybird wings, wore a little black dress with matching shoes. Her eyes were completely blue, without any pupils. On the top of her skull there were two small antennae.
She smiled.
Her mistress had given her three missions. The first was to take care of a certain "Lila Rossi" and to "pay her back a hundredfold". The second was to get rid of all the former Butterfly akumatics and to make everyone forget about the subject "Miraculous". The third was to find " Cat Noir " and to discover his identity.
Who would have thought that finding his last target would be so easy?
She had carefully placed a tracer on the young thief. He could go anywhere he wanted; she would always find him.
She quickly flew away from the scene, and immediately set out to find her first target.
She had an Italian girl to hunt.
She would do everything to satisfy the demands of her precious mistress.
It was her role as sentimonster, after all.
-XxxX-
It was official.
As soon as Red Robin returns to Gotham, Robin will kill him.
What was the idea of leaving Todd in charge of watching over the city?
It had only been a month, and Todd had already found an excuse to leave town! He was supposed to have an emergency. To make it worse, he took Harper back with him.
Robin was left alone with "Scarlet" to watch over Gotham City.
Batman's son couldn't stand her.
She was competent. He couldn't deny that. But he clearly hated her haughty attitude. She disrespected him, refused to follow his orders and always got in his way.
Robin wouldn't admit it. However, circumstances forced him to admit it.
He missed Grayson terribly.
At least if he had been there, he would have just assumed the role of Batman. Todd would never have come back to Gotham... Red Robin would have stayed with the Teen Titans.
Everything would be so perfect. Just him and Grayson...
But reality was different from fiction.
While on patrol alone on his own, he was joined by Red Hood's insufferable "partner".
Since Todd was letting this girl freewheel and do whatever she wanted... He took the liberty of handling her case himself.
Changed all the bullets in his guns to blanks.
Robin had arranged for Todd to give her the guns so she wouldn't be suspicious.
There was now no chance that this psychotic would seriously hurt anyone.
Robin stopped abruptly on a rooftop, ready to send "Scarlet" to hell. However, when he saw her face, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Scarlet looked abnormally pale.
Robin frowned.
Was this idiot intending to patrol when she wasn't in full possession of her abilities?
"What the hell are you do—"
He didn't have time to finish his sentence, the girl collapsed in front of him. Surprised, he approached. Robin realized Scarlet was bleeding.
Batman's son rushed to her side and helped to apply pressure to the wound. It was clearly a bullet hole.
How could it be?
"What happened?!"
"B-Black... M-Mask... m-m-my... magnums... didn't work... trap..."
She coughed up blood.
Robin suddenly grew pale.
He never imagined that his "initiative" would cause this result.
It was definitely not what he wanted.
He didn't like this girl, but he never wanted her dead.
Damn it!
A/N: So, a quick recap seems interesting at this point.
From chapter 1 to chapter 13: We mainly focus on the Jason & Marinette relationship. (I should have made a series, but well, what's done is done ^^")
From chapter 14: Beginning of the "Damian x Marinette" relationship.
There will be one last arc after the "Damian x Marinette" stage.