Chapter 9: Just this time...

"No."

"Goddess, be-"

"I said no!"

"That's it, kid, don't give up!"

"John, you're not helping."

Marinette had received a visit when she went home to pick up a few things. Here she is now with Nelson (aka Fate or her adoptive father who took his role too seriously), John Constantine (aka annoying older brother) and Zatanna Zatara (aka overprotective older sister).

When Marinette saw them appear in her living room, she immediately understood that she wouldn't like what she was about to hear.

When Fate explained to her that the Court of Owls knew who she was, she almost felt the urge to laugh. It was surprising that they hadn't found this information earlier. Marinette hadn't been hiding this time.

These people had already taken everything from her the first time. Marinette swore that she would never run away again. She was more than tired of always hiding, of always being the one who had to run, of always being the one who was asked to give up everything.

Those few days she had spent with Dick had made her realize something extremely important: she was happy with him.

And this time... Just... this time...

She didn't care if she was hurt.

Just once...

I want to taste happiness... Just once...

Zatanna walked towards her and caressed her cheek affectionately.

"Marinette, I understand that you don't want to leave, but things have changed. I don't know how much longer I can keep the League away from you."

"But that's not all. I know Robin has discovered your identity too. For now, he's keeping quiet, but it's only a matter of time before he spills the beans to Batman."

Marinette remained silent.

John decided to intervene, he was clearly annoyed by the situation.

"Marinette, if you want to stay, stay."

"John!"

"Zatanna!"

"…"

"What I mean is, instead of pushing what you want on the girl, cause let's be honest, neither of you wanted her to leave "the nest", let her make her own choices."

The three started arguing about it. Marinette loved them with all her heart. Fate, Zatanna and John were the three people who welcomed her when she was at her lowest point. They taught her how to master her powers. They were also the ones who made her realize how much she had been... manipulated all her life.

She had been conditioned to always do what others expected of her. She always had to sacrifice everything for the good of others. If something went wrong, it was her fault. She had been betrayed by the people she loved with all her heart.

Even though she had her faults in the story with Lila... Nothing justified her father's murder.

It was all those small actions that had made her a person with so little self-confidence even today. Marinette was still prone to periods of intense depression.

But everything had changed recently...

He... had changed everything.

Those days with Dick had made her realize how she felt. There was no point in denying it, she had fallen madly in love with Nightwing, Officer Grayson... that simpleton Dick. When he made stupid jokes that weren't funny, when he made fun of her clumsiness, when he jumped from roof to roof to protect the city... Marinette loved every facet of the young man.

And Dick shared her feelings.

Marinette was able to literally see people's emotions. She could see their souls. Dick had strong feelings for her. However, someone else also had the affection of the young vigilante.

It was precisely because Marinette was aware of this reality that she hadn't tried anything yet.

She was willing to wait a little. To give him time.

However... she was THE universal balance.

Dick was strong. Nightwing was a formidable opponent. But he could do nothing against fate. If she stayed with him, then inevitably disasters would pile up around them.

I should leave.

Fate and Zatanna were right.

But... I don't want to... Can I... just once... be selfish? Just one time...

Marinette cleared her throat to attract the attention of the other three adults in the room.

"I... need time to think."

"Marinette, there's no more-"

"Please."

Fate sighed. Zatanna looked at her sadly. John shook his head from right to left, clearly upset. They had the "kindness" to leave her alone.

Marinette returned to Dick's apartment. At last... their apartment, as she liked to think.

Deep down... The dreamy little Marinette had never completely left her.

The days that followed were not easy. She didn't know what to do.

Did she have to leave?

Should she risk staying?

Could she confess her feelings?

Should she just keep them to herself?

Fate, meanwhile, gave her some disturbing information: she had several killers on her tail. And some of them had already started to move.

Of course, Dick wasn't an idiot, he soon realized that something was bothering her.

"Mari-...[...] Marinette!"

"Uh?! What?! I-I'm sorry... You were saying?"

"Mari... what's wrong? You know you can talk to me, right?"

"I..."

The eurasian woman then looked him straight in the eyes, looking into his azure eyes. He was sincerely worried about her.

"I... have to go, Dick."

"Yes... Your coffee shop and your apartment are almost reformed."

"No... I... have to leave Blüdhaven."

"What?! But... Why?"

"…"

"Marinette? What's going on? Talk to me."

He took her hand in his and put his forehead against his own.

It wasn't fair.

Why did he have to be so... so... thoughtful?

Her mind was telling her to cut the conversation short. Her heart was breaking.

"Marinette?"

"I'm... wanted by some people... who found me."

Dick says nothing. He just looked her straight in the eye, urging her to continue. His hand tightened around Marinette's hand.

She closed her eyes for a moment and then took a slow breath.

Instead of telling him that she was going to leave... Marinette finally told him the truth. The secret she was keeping preciously.

"Several years ago... when I was still living in Paris. A terrorist appeared. He terrorized the city using a magical artifact that allowed him to give a super-power to any person of his choice. He used this ability to control people and turn them into super-villains."

"I've heard about this."

"To fight this terrorist, two young people were chosen. These two people were given two of the most dangerous powers in the world. Two powers that represented the balance of the world: the power of creation and the power of destruction. That is how two heroes appeared in Paris. Ladybug and Cat Noir."

"Hmm-Mmm."

"And one of those chosen... was me... I was... I was Ladybug."

Dick's eyes widened slightly.

"At the time I was 13 or 14, I don't remember it very well. I was naive... and completely carefree... I had dreams, friends, family... a crush... At that time, I didn't want to be a hero. But on the other hand, becoming Ladybug was a huge honor for me. I was struggling to make ends meet. I was under constant stress. I had to live my life as a schoolgirl with the fate of the world on my shoulders."

Marinette remained silent for a while, trying to put her thoughts in order.

"I had no training, no coaching... I didn't meet the one who chose me until several months after I received my powers... The only thing that protected me was my magic uniform. My partner was the same age as me, and he had no training either. We were two kids who had to fight an adult man."

Dick frowned, but silently continued to listen.

Marinette told him about the fights, told him what the Miraculous were for. Then she finally arrived at the case of Lila Rossi.

The bluenette told him everything that had happened.

"She killed my father Dick... Because I couldn't accept his lies... All that to be the popular girl in college... And I... I had to keep on pretending to be a hero when I had no one left... What I used to do, didn't make sense to me anymore."

It was quite amusing. She seriously thought that telling this story would put her in a deplorable state, that she would cry every tear until she was dehydrated. But instead, the young woman felt nothing. Just an immense emptiness.

Marinette continued to tell her story. How she had gone to Tibet to train as a guardian. The mysterious disappearance of Master Fu... How she had to work four times harder than all the others, because the other guardians would not accept a woman among them...

The punishments...

The blows...

Inhuman training.

"I was at their mercy. I thought what was happening to me was right. That it was normal."

Marinette told him about the attack on the temple by the Court of Owls and especially... about her completely crazy choice to seal the Miraculous inside her.

"I was so desperate. I thought I had lost everything again. I thought that if I sealed the jewels inside me and then committed suicide, it would prevent the Court from having the jewels."

She told him about her meeting with Fate and then with the others. How they had made her realize that her situation was not normal. How they' d hidden her from the Justice League. And... from Batman...

"Today, all the existing Miraculous, which had been stolen by the Court of Owls, are under the protection of Fate, Zatanna, John and myself. The goal is to let no human come in contact with these jewels and to keep them safe. No one knows about this story... And now the Court is convinced that I own all the Miraculous jewels. And... They know who I am... That's why Fate and the others want me to leave Blüdhaven and return to live in the House of Mysteries with them. Where no one will be able to find me..."

"Hmm... So those scars on your back... Did the guardians do that to you?"

"Yes, they did."

"And so... you know... for me?"

"That you're Nightwing? Yes. Since day one. I didn't say anything, because it's your secret. And I know how important it is."

"…"

"Dick... I have to go. But... I don't want to."

Dick looked into her own eyes. He let go of her hand, which he held firmly throughout her story. He took her face in his hands.

At that moment, there was no need for words. His gaze told her everything she needed to know.

Their faces came closer and closer.

Dick captured her lips and kissed her passionately. Their lips moved, completely in sync.

Their hearts beat in unison.

The passion gave way to desperate touches.

A wild dance.

Two bodies linked together for the first time.

Just this time... She just forgot everything.

Just this time... Let me be selfish.