Within minutes, Alfred had the Wayne family corralled into the main lounge. Minus Stephanie, Dick, and Cass of course. Dick due to his civilian obligations in Blüdhaven, and Cass due to her mission tailing Lady Shiva.

Even Bruce was present. Tim knew from the set of his jaw and deliberate avoidance of eye contact that he wanted to be anywhere but here. He almost snickered when he realized why. Bruce knew exactly what his kids had been up to. And he didn't stop it.

"Well," Alfred sighed, taking his place in front of the central brick fireplace. "I hope you are all proud of yourselves."

The seemingly nice words only set Tim's teeth on edge. Babs and Bruce's as well by the looks of it. Damian scoffed from his perch on the arm of the plush armchair Duke claimed. Duke's lack of time in the manor clearly showed as he took Alfred's praise at face value, pleasantly surprised, if a little confused. Jason rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly in the most open display of guilt of them all. He had always cared for Alfred, with a devotion rivaled only by Dick and Bruce.

"Have I not spent years in your service, Master Bruce?" He received no answer. He didn't need one. "One would think I have proven my trustworthiness in such time."

"I keep a profile on everyone we interact with." Bruce's expression remained an eerie calm, his words monotone.

"And yet I hoped you were moving beyond that stage." Alfred left the implied 'it's unhealthy' ring in the silence following his words.

Time stiffened as Alfred turned a stern look his way. "As for you, Master Tim, it is at least understandable, if rude."

"You knew?" Now he stepped forward. "You let her in here knowing who she works for?"

"Yes. I am on friendly terms with Rahul. I severely doubt she is here to cause you or me harm." His omission of the rest of the team did not go unnoticed. More curious, however, was his quick gentle pats to his breast pocket, as if comforting himself. "If it assuages your fears, she did not know him as Rahul during her time in his company."

"It doesn't."

Another sigh. "Very well. Master Jason, dare I ask what you were intending outside of my door? No eavesdropping, I hope."

"No." He unfolded his arms. "I wouldn't do that. Unlike these cows, I happen to respect you, Alfred. I was simply waiting to talk to her when you were done." He paused before landing the final blow. "Tim put me up to it anyway."

Alfred tilted his head at Tim to verify. Tim bit back a curse. He definitely heard Jason mention him on comms. "Idiot," he grumbled. "Watch your comms next time."

"You wanna say that again?" Jason's earnest focus on Alfred burst into fury as it turned to Tim. "Maybe after someone tells you they know how to cure your madness?"

"Don't have madness, not my problem." Tim grinned. "And I'd still have better comms etiquette than you."

"You don't get it! Demonspawn, back me up."

Silence.

The arm of Duke's chair was empty.

"Shit," Jason muttered.

Tim ran through Damian's various attempts to assassinate him in the early days of their relationship. At least one came when he was in the kitchen. How did the twerp do it… He had seemed so sweet that day, even bringing Tim his coffee.

"He's going to poison her," he realized.

Bruce moved before Tim even finished his sentence. Jason made to follow, Tim hot on his heels. Ice flooded through their veins from a familiar stern glare before they could take a step out of the room. Reluctantly, both boys retreated back to the couch.

Three minutes passed in silence.

"She's dangerous, Father! Brown is in there alone. We're the only ones allowed to kill her. Not some League of Assassins interloper." Damian's voice rang cold through the hallway, echoing into the lounge. He appeared in the doorway a moment later, Bruce following close behind.

"I am aware. But she is Alfred's guest," he said.

"Precisely. Now I trust you will sit down and behave yourself, Master Damian?"

"She's a meta," Damian hissed, using Bruce's momentary surprise to wrench his shoulder free of the man's grip.

Alfred sighed but did not comment.

"Explain," Bruce demanded.

Duke was the one to answer. "Since the camera couldn't see her get in, I thought I'd trace her light signature. But… I couldn't. I mean, I could for like three steps but then it just vanished. Like she appeared out of thin air."

Bruce's signature glare shifted to Alfred. A quick conversation passed between the two without a word spoken. Ultimately, Bruce relented first.

"Alfred…?"

"Yes, Master Jason?"

A beat. Tim watched Jason shift nervously. He'd seen it before when Jason was Robin. Between analyzing old footage and a few run-ins face to-face, he knew that shift. But on a grown Jason, a pit-revived Jason? Never.

"Does Marinette know how to fix me?" His voice wavered ever so slightly.

Alfred's stern demeanor relaxed in an instant. Smart butler softening to caring grandfather. "Yes. I believe she does."

For the first time in the impromptu intervention, Babs spoke. "Why don't we invite her to stay for dessert?" Without missing a beat, she sent equal glares at Damian and Tim, as if daring them to talk. Tim wisely snapped his jaw shut, teeth biting off the protest on his lips. Damian followed suit. She continued. "I'm sure Alfred would appreciate it if we attempted to get to know her before passing judgment."

He nodded his assent.

"And if she answers our questions enough for us to trust her, we can ask her to help Jason."

Bruce's lack of conviction showed in his crossed arms.

With a sigh, Babs laid down her final card. "Look, if we run her out now, what do we gain? Tim and I dug into her; we couldn't find anything unusual. We have no grounds to run her off on, and if we do, Jason goes without help and we go without answers."

"Well said, Miss Gordon. However, I believe the decision has already been made."

Sure enough, as soon as the words left his mouth, Steph burst into the room with a nervous-looking Marinette in tow. "Alfred, can Marinette stay for dessert?" She stuck out her bottom lip and widened her eyes in a well-trained pout. "Please?"

Marinette wasn't sure what she was thinking when she agreed to Steph's invitation for dessert. Or, she knew exactly what she was thinking, but it was stupid in retrospect. Of course, the girl didn't just want to have dessert alone with her. Of course, she meant dessert with her entire… family? She still wasn't sure how exactly the family worked. Alfred Pennyworth, she thought that was his real last name at least, but Stephanie Brown? Her curious side practically pleaded for more information. So, dessert with the family it was.

No one at the table looked exactly thrilled to have her there, however. No one except for Alfred and Stephanie that is. The Lazarus-touched man who introduced himself as Jason looked hopeful, at least, though still unsure. The wheel-chair bound woman introduced herself as Barbara. Polite, if distant. Marinette was ninety percent sure her attention was more on keeping the boys in check than Marinette herself.

Then there were the boys. She could feel the weight of the spiky-haired kid and Tim's stares on either side. Fortunately buffered by Stephanie's presence on her left and Duke's on her left. He, at least, was determined to pretend this was normal. That left only Bruce, who did his best to look optimistic, but that smile looked far too similar to Adrien's for comfort.

"Are you planning to stay in Gotham for long, Miss Dupain-Cheng?" Bruce asked.

Marinette folded her hands in her lap to hide her fidgeting fingers. The crepe before her looked delicious and she wanted nothing more than to dig into it and use it to block out the world. Yet the rest of the family's untouched crepes did not go unnoticed. "I'm not sure," she answered truthfully. "I have only recently graduated lycée."

"You could attend Gotham University!" Steph leaned over to grip Marinette's arm. "That's where I go. Tim graduated from there last year. We could show you around."

Spiky, his new name until he saw fit to introduce himself, and Tim's glares sharpened.

"Stephanie." Bruce's voice held a low warning.

"Non, it's alright." Marinette turned to Stephanie, deliberately keeping her attention on the girl and not Tim sitting just past her. "Unfortunately, I am not sure I can afford to. It is just me now, and school abroad is expensive." She decidedly did not mention the full ride waiting for her in New York if she chose to accept Audrey's offer. Nor the summer home in Metropolis Jagged offered to let her stay in.

"The Wayne Foundation- ow!" A distinct red mark appeared on Stephanie's arm, a welt about the size of a blueberry. Stephanie grumbled, rubbing the spot. Across the table, Damian played innocently with his spoon, popping a distinctly purple fruit into his mouth.

"If you need a place to stay, I have a spare apartment."

Marinette's eyes widened at Jason's offer. "I couldn't accept that!"

He only scoffed. "You said you'd help me. I think a spare apartment is a small price to pay for that."

Oh, Merde. She'd been upset and flustered on her way to the kitchen. Letting knowledge of the Lazarus Pit slip to someone very likely involved with the League of Assassins was not her intention. And certainly not her ability to purify those affected.

"I-…" She trailed off with a sigh. Her gaze flitted around the table until it settled on Alfred. "They all know?"

He inclined his head in confirmation.

Another sigh. "Fine." Her attention returned to Jason. "This won't be easy," she warned. "Especially if any of you still have active ties to the League of Assassins."

She noted Damian's immediate reaction. Bruce feigned unfamiliarity with the name, cocking his head curiously, but she was under no delusion that he was unaware of now two of his kid's involvement with the League.

"I can take it. You don't wind up in the Pit if you've had an easy life, kid."

"Very well." She closed her eyes. "In that case, it seems I will be staying for some time. Purification does not happen overnight."

"What!" Damian pushed back in his chair. He would have stood if not for Barbara's tight grip on his arm. "Father, you cannot seriously allow her to stay. We have rules against people like her here."

Marinette tensed. Stephanie and Duke immediately followed suit. Stephanie's grip only grew tighter on her arm.

Now Duke's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean, Damian?" The challenge went undisguised.

"You are entirely different, Thomas. Do not act like this is about you."

"From the way I see it, it kinda is. I thought maybe you'd gotten over your problem when I knocked you on your ass. Guess I was wrong."

"Damian, Duke." Bruce's stern voice cut through their argument. They both fell into silence. "I apologize Miss Dupain-Cheng. You've heard of Batman, I'm sure? Gotham's hero?"

Numerous noses wrinkled around the table in distaste. Though Marinette couldn't really put her finger on why. "Only some," she lied. Though her confusion on why this line of questioning was relevant was earnest.

"Mmm. I see. Batman is not a fan of meta-humans in his city. That combined with our friendly rivalry with Metropolis means Gothamites as a whole tend to be unwelcoming to them." He paused, fixing Damian with a harsh stare. "I thought I had taught my son better than that. We don't tolerate prejudice in this family."

Marinette blinked. That… was not the conclusion she expected them to jump to. By the time she thought about rolling with the conveniently established cover, her pause had been noticed.

"You aren't a meta." It wasn't a question. Marinette couldn't bring herself to face the oh-so-familiar voice. "What are you? What makes you so special that Rahul Lama was willing to train you?"

Silence. Stephanie attempted to offer a subtle squeeze of comfort. Marinette only pulled her arm away.

"Master Drake, I believe it is best if-"

"No. He needs to know. I've avoided it for too long already." She took a breath. Shaking fingers wrapped around the unused knife sitting innocently next to her plate. The room tensed. Stephanie moved. Marinette was faster. In an instant, a red line appeared on her arm, matching the small glistening stream running down the blade. Stephanie's hand gripped her wrist too late.

Their eyes met. Narrowed eyes ready for a fight widened now, taking in the scene. Marinette only offered a wan smile. She didn't pull her arm away from Stephanie's strong grip.

"Why?" she finally asked.

"Think of it as a hospitality gift. Those are common in America, no?" She tilted her head. Stupid. She needed to get out of here. To leave before they could come up with more questions. And yet, she couldn't help but tease Stephanie. Couldn't help but hoard her careful attention for just a moment longer.

Her surprise morphed to confusion. "I guess?" She slowly let her hand slip away. Marinette immediately missed the warmth.

This time, she forced her gaze away to avoid falling back into the trap. Placing the now glistening red blade back to its proper place beside her plate, she stood. "Thank you for having me, Monsieur Wayne, Monsieur Pennyworth. But it is quite late for me. I bid you adieu."

With a single glance backward, she left the room.

Tim practically dove to get his hands on the knife first. He wasn't proud of his ungraceful slide across the table to make it happen, but he didn't really care. Not when she was finally giving him answers. Not when Alfred gave him an encouraging nod.

"Tim! What the hell? Did you have to be such an ass?"

He idly recognized Stephanie as the one shouting. That was familiar enough. He tuned it out in seconds. Only one thing mattered now. He bolted to the supercomputer, his family hot on his heels.

"Dude, seriously?" Duke groaned from somewhere behind.

Tim delicately scraped the blood sample from the knife and placed it into the supercomputer's DNA analysis component. He held his breath as the progress bar slowly ticked along.

"She's not a meta. She isn't even a suspect. Why are we analyzing her DNA?" Barbara asked, rolling into the cave a bit behind the rest.

Twenty-five percent.

"She knows of the League. She's suspicious," Damian answered.

Jason laughed. "Scared you're gonna find out you have a little demon sister?"

A scuffle broke out. Tim ignored it.

Fifty percent.

"Didn't her profile come up clean?" Steph asked. "I just don't get why we need this. She's too nice to be a sister of Damian's."

Something sang through the air. A batarang if he had to guess. Stephanie's yelp told him she wasn't seriously injured.

"She did appear out of nothing," Duke admitted with a sigh. "I don't think she's a meta but she could be… something. Doesn't the league work with a few magic users?"

"Magic compatibility does not show up in DNA analysis." Tim could hear the unhappy frown on Bruce's lips.

Seventy-five…

"If you ran her off for good I'm gonna kill you, replacement."

"I sincerely doubt she is gone for good, Master Jason."

The bar blinked green. Behind him, the sound of scuffling stopped. Everyone waited with bated breath. Tim clicked to confirm the notice.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng's profile appeared on the screen. Her name, at least, didn't seem to be a lie. Flashing in the relatives portion caught their attention. "DNA match," Tim breathed.

He clicked to open the prompt. The truth. At last. A meta? A relative of Zatana? They looked similar enough. And Zatana mentioned the magic properties of the Lazarus Pits off-handedly before.

The screen shifted.

Tim found his own face staring back at him. A line connecting his profile to Marinette's. Then more lines appeared, tracing back through blood relations. A line branching off from Jack Drake, to the left instead of the right where Janet's name sat. It continued until it intersected with a new name. Sabine Dupain-Cheng. From the line connecting the two, another dropped. Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

"Holy shit," Jason breathed.

"Holy shit…" Tim echoed. Someone placed a chair behind him and he gladly fell into it. Numb gaze trained on the screen.

It was Damian who approached him first, leaning down beside him and lowering his voice. "We will find her. We will make your father pay for this lie."

Tim said nothing, thoughts roiling. How did he not notice? Now, with their pictures side by side, he could see the Drake influence in her hair, and her blue eyes. And yet he had allowed himself to be blinded by her half-Chinese features. His thoughts twisted to a different set of features. A resigned, encouraging nod from Alfred when Tim grabbed the knife.

"You know…" it came out as a whisper.

"Yes." Alfred stepped up on Tim's other side.

"How long?"

"Today. Though Miss Dupain-Cheng mentioned she has known for the past five years."

"Five years." He rested his face in his hands. "I was studying under Rahul then." He wracked his memory. "I remember a girl coming in sometimes. Distant. Master Lama always separated us… That was her."

God, he was so stupid. Some detective. He researched everything that made him even slightly suspicious. And yet, Marinette Dupain-Cheng slipped past him.

"Alfred, see that Marinette knows she may stay with us if she wishes."

With a stately nod, Alfred backed away. "Of course, Master Bruce."

"Duke, follow her if you can. If anyone else knows her identity, she will be in danger."

"You got it, B."

"I'll go too!" Steph piped in. "I'm an expert Drake wrangler, after all."

Time didn't even manage an annoyed side eye her way.

"What about me?" Damian demanded.

A beat. "You will go with Tim when he is ready to see his father."

Marinette portaled back to her tiny apartment in the center of Paris as soon as she was in one of the cameras' blind spots. Kaalki aimed perfectly for her to flop backward on the ratty couch coming out of the portal. She closed her eyes with a sigh. Half a dozen curious gods swarmed her the moment she touched down.

"How'd it go?"

"Did you meet him?"

"Is Duusu okay?"

"What's Alfred like?"

"Are you okay?"

Marinette cracked an eye open to find Tikki hovering over her with concern. "I'm fine. I met Monsieur Pennyworth. And… my half-brother."

"Oh, Marinette. I'm so proud of you!" Tikki squeaked, darting forward to nuzzle her cheek.

"Yeah. You did good, kid." Plagg's always sarcastic drawl came from further than the others. He was one of the few Kwamii not hovering around her. He hung in a little hammock she made him when they first moved here, placed in a little sunspot by the window. Of course, it was well into the dark hours of the morning now, and no sun warmed the perch.

Marinette only closed her eyes again, squeezing them tight. That was enough to summon Plagg to her side.

"Pigtails?" he prompted.

"Jason, Tim's brother, he's been in the Lazarus Pit."

Angry buzzing rang in her ears. "I told you we should have destroyed them when we had the chance!"

"Master Fu would never have let us," Tikki sighed. Marinette practically felt her wilt against her cheek.

Plagg growled. "Then we do it now!"

"How, Plagg? I won't send Marinette in there to destroy them alone. I won't."

The Kwami fell silent. Marinette's hands flew to cover her face. Adrien. It should have been Adrien by her side during all of this. True black cat or not, he was her partner. But he earned his rest. She'd let him have it.

Finally, she dared another look at Tikki and Plagg's worried eyes. "I'll find a way." It came out weak. Soft.

"Bug…"

She held up a hand. "Just… I need time."

The weight of the worried looks exchanged between her Kwamii did not go unnoticed.