Damian gets the deets on Plagg and makes a decision
Notes:
As a general rule, chapters won't be coming out this quickly, but Inktober and Fictober both begin tomorrow, so I am squeaking one out before the insanity hits me. Enjoy!
Marinette made a beeline for her kitchen, promising tea as she went, which gave Damian a moment to study her living space. The apartment was cozy and soft, much like her. The windows were clear and bright, letting in as much natural light as Gotham could boast. Several plants grew in pots around the room, a vibrant counterpoint to the cream and red furnishings.
It suited her, and yet —
"This is not what I expected."
Marinette handed him a cup of green tea before settling into the corner of the sofa, her legs curled beneath her. "Let me guess. You thought it would be all pink."
His eyes flitted over her pink top and black jeans. "Perhaps."
"My bedroom is pink. I might be easy to read, but I like to think there's more to me than meets the eye. There's blue in the kitchen and green in my guest room. My sewing room always looks like whatever project I happen to be working on—it transcends decor."
Damian would have liked to have said that he knew she was multi-faceted and interesting, but the Cat had other ideas.
"Alright! Back to me!" Plagg interjected. "Sip your tea and recenter yourself or whatever, because the Ring needs to be worn to balance all the darkness permeating the city. If the Ladybug is going to be present, we have to curb the imbalance before things get interesting. Nobody wants a war."
Marinette tensed. "That's a bit of a stretch—we have some time still before things get out of hand." She insisted.
"I still don't understand what's going on." Damian was growing frustrated, and he didn't much like it. Visiting Café Noir was usually a respite from the stress of medical school and whatever his family was up to. It was a chance to spend time with Marinette while a lapful of cat gave him something to do with his hands while they spoke. Today had not been that. At least the reason for all his stress, Plagg, seemed to think that he had a chance at pursuing some sort of romance with Marinette. That alone might be worth the upheaval of his expectations… depending on what was up with the Cat, of course.
Marinette sighed once, cast a glare in Plagg's direction, and watched until he slunk away. "Sorry. This will probably be easier without interruptions. From Plagg! Please feel free to ask questions. Since he gave himself away, I can tell you just about everything."
Damian waited while she gathered her thoughts. It was apparent that she hadn't planned on having this discussion today.
"Plagg is a Kwami. A god of sorts, an eternal being tied to a piece of jewelry that can give powers to whomever wears it. He is the first Cat, and kwami of destruction."
Damian stared at Marinette. If anyone—even her—had tried to tell him that an ornery flying cat was the god of destruction, he would have reserved them a room at Arkham. But he had seen the little god before he got the explanation. Barring some sort of delusion on his part, Marinette was telling him the truth.
"What does any of that have to do with me?"
Marinette held out a ring, and his traitorous heart sped up. "Not just anyone can be trusted with a miraculous, and not just every trustworthy person is compatible with any given kwami. Plagg is… particular. And sometimes abrasive, but very loyal, even if he doesn't admit it."
She tapped her earrings. "I carry the goddess of creation. They have a sort of yin/yang relationship, and it's not good for either one to be in use for prolonged periods of time without the other. Plagg's last holder was good, but he had a lot of reasons for giving the ring up. Plagg says the two of you are even more compatible."
"Because I'm surly?"
She shook her head with a giggle and grabbed one of his hands, leaning across the sofa to reach him. "Of course not! Because you know what it is to wear armour to protect yourself. Plagg's heart is as good as yours, but his prickly personality is just a defense mechanism."
It took some effort to pull his attention away from where she clung to him, to remain focused on the task at hand. But he'd had practice in putting aside his own desires.
"And the powers you mentioned?"
She stood, releasing him, and set her tea aside. Damian followed suit even though he wasn't sure why. "Hopefully, I don't have to say that what I've already shared, and what I'm about to share, must be kept a secret."
Damian nodded once. "Tt. I assumed as much when you brought me up here." It must have been the right answer because the look in her eyes was making all sorts of promises he wanted to cash in on. He could read relief and trust and something warm that snaked its way down his spine.
"Spots on."
There was a flash of pink light, and then in Marinette's place stood Ladybug—though her suit was somewhat altered—the once triumphant hero and saviour of Paris some ten years prior. "There is power just in wearing the ring… as time passes, you'll probably develop a sixth sense, faster reflexes, possibly a heightened sense of smell, and a preference for overpriced cheese. But you can also be a superhero."
Damian hesitated. He'd done his time as a vigilante. Had already set it aside to focus on other things.
"I'm in medical school. Nearly finished. I don't have time for—" He glanced at her, then past her through an open door where a pink bed was just visible, and back to the ring in her hand. "—anything really."
Marinette followed his line of sight, her face pinkening as she avoided his gaze. She passed the ring back and forth in her hands a couple of times before whispering.
"Is that why you haven't asked me out, or was Plagg wrong about that?"
He nodded. He had longed to ask her out, to find a way to win her heart before someone else realized that the owner of Café Noir was sweet and lovely and kind to animals, but who had a quiet strength running through her. "He wasn't wrong—not about my feelings for you. Though I don't know that I'm meant to carry a magical ring."
"I know it's asking a lot. It's one of the reasons I tried to make Plagg wait. Damian, I need you to know that you can say no, whatever Plagg says. But if you do accept — You don't really have to worry about the hero thing here. Batman has a whole team of vigilantes taking care of things. Just wearing the ring while I'm wearing the earrings will help ease the darkness in the city and make Batman's job easier."
A small measure of guilt, which he rarely acknowledged, ebbed away. He'd felt bad about shifting his focus to medicine. But only because he felt like he was leaving his family in harm's way… Medicine was his calling. His. Not his mother's or father's.
"So, I can wear this ring, be haunted by Plagg, but otherwise continue my life as is, and somehow, magically help Batman?"
"Yes. Spots off." Light flashed brightly but briefly, and Marinette stood before him again. She offered him the ring. "Will you do it?"
"I have one more question." His mouth went dry, but he spoke anyway. "Will you go out with me? Knowing that Medical school will keep me busier than you deserve?"
She blushed; it was pretty and distracting with the way it heated her cheeks before the color spread down her neck and beyond where he could see. "Yes. I'd like that. Not the busy, but I like you, and I think you'll be worth it."
He managed a small smile, relieved and excited, and she smiled back. She looked happy. He had made her look happy. His smile grew.
The Cat reappeared. "Well?"
Marinette grimaced, but didn't send the god away; instead, she looked at him. "So, will you, Damian Wayne, accept the responsibility and the burden of Plagg, to partner with me in making the world a better place?"
"Tt. Of course." He accepted the ring, watching in shock as it shifted, lengthening into a smooth black chain. "Huh."
Marinette looked only slightly surprised. "I'm guessing you can't wear rings while you're doctoring."
"Certainly not." He fastened the chain around his neck. Plagg grinned, and something about it seemed malicious. "So, kid. What kind of cheese do you have at home?"
Lucien doesn't ask for too much in life, all he really needs are the basics like food, fucking, and of course, fun. As a vampire, however, he usually seeks them in unconventional ways... and quite often from the same person. He's quite interested to see which you'll provide as his victim for the night... until unfortunate circumstances render you trapped together. Will you try to escape, plot against him, or try to work together?
This is my vampire OC Lucien/Luc Deroche!
I started writing a fic with him because I had him on the brain, and then I've spent hours working on these over the last few days because I was desperate to get him up for Art Fight 😅
Lucien came together as a character because of a few things I wanted to incorporate into my next OC, but the main one is that I decided I wanted to make a vampire OC for @cptsadist's Cafe Noir 🤭
He still does have a role as an OC for that, which will become apparent in later Sadistic by Nature fics, but I've also ended up coming up with a VN concept for him, it's called Last Through The Night. He's the main antagonist and love interest, so that's what the above description relates to!
VFX Artist on Jem The Movie (2015), Truly Outrageous: A Jem Fan Film (2018), Misfitsized: Track II (2020), many Music Videos, many Movie Trailers, Feature and Short Films, and More #SuperQueer
How did you get into Jem?
I have watched Jem since 85' and truly fell in love by 88'. I would join in with my sisters, who had all the dolls & playsets, to watch Jem. When the Internet was available to everyone I was able to revisit Jem episodes, find fellow Jem fans and eventually meet Samantha Newark. Now... #JemIsLife
Favorite Jem villain(s)?
Techrat! Computer wizard, tech geek, awkward, stylish and a total haphephobic #ItsMe
“J'aimerais être au bord de la mer à Thessalonique, profiter du soleil et boire un café dans l'un des cafés branchés de Thessalonique.” 📷 - Teaonamango
