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It was another white Christmas this year, and yet somehow a snowy Gotham wasn’t the same as Paris, the atmosphere may not have been as bright and jolly but it was the closest to festive gotham had ever been. But, that didn't change the joly mood of the atmosphere. The couple had found a cosy cafe in the middle of the city. They’d had warm fairy lights and that coffee shop aesthetic you’d see on social media. Crowd’s at a minimal and hot cocoa, a homemade concoction to die for on a snowy day.
As she laughed, Damian couldn’t help the grin that etched its way onto his face at the sight of his girlfriend with a chocolate milk moustache.
“Bahahahaha- th-they said that?”The ravenette stuttered through her fits of laughter, the smile being sported beginning to ache her cheeks.
“Yes,” her boyfriend nodded solemnly , “It was very embarrassing as we drove off, and Grayson was very confused at the ordeal,”
“I mean, it can’t be as bad as stealing Santa’s hat and claiming he kidnapped your friend,” she rolls her eyes, sipping her hot chocolate nonchalantly.
Green eyes narrow sceptical at her, “Really…”
“Yep, nearly got onto the naughty list, found my friend and avoided being mauled by a Santa akuma all on the same night, heh,” she grinned at the memory. Damian snickered before being sent a quizzical look. Was she not joking?
“Oh… you were being serious…you believe in him?”
“You don’t?” she challenged, “I can recall that night very vividly and I’m sure Adrien would too,”
“Sorry, it’s just when Drake says he met the man, I find it hard to believe despite the…. Other, stranger people I’ve met, forgive my scepticism towards a jolly fat man being real after years of commercialising, and now here you are with,” he gestured around her, “Your story,”
“I guess sharing akuma stories with people not from Paris, they do sound kind of crazy,” she shrugged, “Christmas really never was a boring time,”
“It really isn’t, especially with the ridiculously over the top celebrations,” he rolled his eyes playfully.
“They are not over the top!” Marinette protested.
“Maybe yours are not, but I assure you, at the Manor, it is excessively ridiculous,” he said.
“Utterly ridiculous?” she prompted, but as expected, he was rather confused by the question, “What?”
“Never mind but they can’t be that-”
“You’ve met Drake, no? I’m sure by now you’ve seen him skate down the W.E. hallway at least once during your internship,” “Weeeell-” “Now picture, a dozen Drakes in various levels of absurdity,”
“Oh,” was her only comment. She could not in fact, imagine that many Tims. And living in the same house no less. Don’t get her wrong! Damian’s brother is a…nice person, but very extra. Maybe unique is a better word. Yes, the co-CEO was very unique in personality.
“Yes, ‘oh’-. And I live in the same space of at least four or more on occasion. You wouldn't believe the things-” his reply was being cut short by the abrupt jingling off bells as the cafe doors opened.
“DEMON SPAAAAAAAAAWN~” a voice boomed through the cafe, causing various stages of surprise to circulate through the few customers and staff.
All heads whipped towards the entrance, any chatter ceasing immediately. At the door stood a tall and buff man with a goofy santa hat and leather jacket on. He sported a boyish grin and his sing-song tone sounded almost teasing. Eventually, people just shrugged it off.
More interestingly, Damian seemed to shrink into himself almost instantaneously. He slouched and ducked his head low, and at the sight of his girlfriend’s questioning look, he placed a finger to his lips. Honestly, he looked like he was going through five stages of grief all at once.
Demon spawn- Demon spawn- where had she heard that name before?
‘Oh,’ she grinned mischievously. ‘This was one of his brothers’
As soon as the boy noticed the smile Marinette sported, he felt a sink in his stomach. She wouldn’t sell him out right? She knew how much a nuisance his siblings were from her time at her job, and their calls and his stories- She wouldn’t do that to him…Right?
“Damian! What were you saying about your lovely siblings?” the ravenette asked, purposely raising her volume. He scowled at the betrayal.
“How dare you-” he hissed.
The man at the front seemed to catch the Parisian’s speech and walked over quickly. A hand was placed on the table as the young Wayne groaned.
“Good morning Todd,” he mumbled. “Good morning!” Marinette chirped.
The man stared between the two teenagers, scrunching his eyebrows. Then he was smiling even brighter.
“Morning to you too, Damian,” he turned to the girl, “Miss,” then back to his brother “Say Demon Spawn, never said ya had a girlfriend,”
“I-” he tried to defend himself.
“Shush,” Marinette cut him off, he stared at her the unasked ‘what are you doing’ illustrated by his gaze, “If it was up to him, I’d never meet any of you! It’s nice to meet you…Jason right? I’m Marinette!”
“Shutting him up with one word eh? I like you already,”
“What do you want Todd,” Damian demanded, regaining composure and ignoring Marinette’s glare because they talked about rudeness already.
“Well, since you refuse to pick up your phone, B has resorted to having Timbo track you down because they want you home for the party,” he says pointedly, “And Alfred is busy in the kitchen so I called dibs,” he added.
The boy is quick to check his phone, and sure enough he has over 99 messages-
“Oh,” he flushed in embarrassment.
“But I see you are rather held up at the moment…Say, what do you think about inviting your girlfriend over here to the Manor, everyone would absolutely love to meet her,”
“Absolutely no-” “I think that’s a wonderful idea!” they said simultaneously.
“No/Yes!”
They both glared at each other.
“I’m being invited by Jason Damian, you can’t decline for me,” she warns. “And as one of the hosts I am rescinding the offer,” he counters.
She sighs and just when he thinks she’s conceded defeat, “I guess, you won’t be tasting any of my Christmas baking within the foreseeable future then…” she hums, picking at her nails. And she definitely did not revel in the distraught laid bare on his facial expressions. But she watched as her partner turned to his brother with a panicked expression.
“Todd, how long do you suppose they will complain about not meeting her sooner after the fact?” he asks, as though contemplating if it’s worth it.
“Eh, ‘bout a few weeks till the next hot topic,” he shrugs, putting his hands in his pockets.
“Fine,” he sighs heavily, “Would you like to join my family’s Christmas celebration as my date Marinette?”
“But of course mon amor!,” she bats her eyelashes, “How sweet of you to offer! if you want, we can even stop at my apartment and pick up the Tarte au Citron and the Madeleines I made earlier for dessert,”
“Holy shit, you bake too?” Jason says causing Marinette to laugh at his ridiculously feigned exaggerated surprise, then he whispers in Damian’s ear, “I dunno how you pulled this off, but she’s a keeper,”
Ignoring his brother’s comment, Damian smiles at his girlfriend, “Alfred would very much appreciate the desserts if you’d be willing to share mon ange,”
“You’re so whiiiiipped,” Jason says under his breath.
“Shut up Todd,” Damian seethes, already regretting his life choices.
~Entering the Wayne Estate~
“Damiaaaaan how do you ever stop drawing,” Marinette whined as she looked out the window and onto the pretty escape the property stood on.
“I don’t,” was his simple reply as he watched his girlfriend stare out the window in awe.
“Oi lovebirds, we’ve arriiiived~ last stop Wayne Manor, please unbuckle your seat belt and emotionally brace yourselves for the heavy downpour of questions scheduled on entry,” Jason says, mimicking the weather station.
“They can’t be that bad,” the Parisian rolls her eyes,
“You have no idea” the Wayne brothers said in unison, although one cringed as the other grinned.
~INSIDE Wayne Manor~
One thing, Marinette noticed, was that there were a lot of people there. From the bits Damian had told her about his family, she could identify about half of the room’s occupants and boy were they having fun.
From stuffing their mouths with food to aggressively (a blonde dressed in purple, she could vaguely remember the name of) to removing wrapping paper enthusiastically, the Wayne’s seemed to be having a blast. Carols had been playing and everyone was in deep conversation…or chewing.
Until Jason took all their attention. From the corner of her eye, she could see her partner trying to escape, but the older sibling had grabbed him firmly by the shoulder forcing him to stay.
“I have acquired the Demon spawn as requested,” Jason announces announces. When he was sure he had everyone's eye, he gently nudges Marinette forward next to him, “And his Lady,” he grinned.
And all hell broke loose.