The Granddaughter - Chapter 2: family
"Tikki, I'll have to talk to Sass later about this. Honestly, I didn't expect my grandfather…" Marinette spoke as she saw Tikki stopping in front of the mirror. The little Kwami smiled sympathetically. "I don't have time for that right now. Later…"
"I'm sure Sass will be able to explain this better. But it's not the right time, don't get your head in spiral right now… Let's go so you won't be late." She said returning to the pocket of the jacket she was initially.
Marinete took a deep breath, compartmentalizing the problem and leaving it in the back of her mind for her to solve later, leaving the bathroom afterwards.
Damian was not having a good day. First, he failed to rest properly. He had arrived from a trip a few hours ago and, to avoid jet lag, he chose not to sleep. He tried to take Titus for a walk and ended up having to dodge some paparazzi when leaving the park and, to top it off, his father had informed him that he was forbidden to initiate any investigation during his classes at the university. Definitely not the best of his days. After feeding Titus and Alfred the cat, Damian went downstairs to see if Alfred needed any help when he found a woman in the hallway, automatically putting himself in an alert position, looking around and observing the person in front of him. She had a short, athletic build and was dressed in dark jeans with dark red heeled boots. She wore a leather jacket the same shade as her boots with her hair in a French braid.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Damian spoke sharply, seeing her tense up as soon as she heard his voice. He took a step forward, watching her step back, looking him up and down.
As soon as Marinete left the bathroom she heard a male voice, getting alert immediately. She turned slowly, getting into a defensive position, watching the man in front of her. He was tall, with obvious muscles and he was glaring at her? She didn't try to decipher or understand what was going on at the moment. She watched him approach, simultaneously taking a step back, hearing him speak again.
"I'll repeat it just this once. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Marinette looked at him, frowning then taking another step back and adjusting her posture. She began to observe the corridor they were in, the objects and everything she could take advantage of at the moment, hearing the kitchen door open behind her.
Alfred had just finished talking to Bruce and was leaving to find Marinette when he heard a voice in the hallway. He left quickly, watching the interaction between Damian and Marinette, both in defensive positions.
"Master Damian, I'm sure I taught you how to treat visitors well." He spoke, seeing both relax. "Marinette, my dear, let me introduce Master Damian, son of Master Bruce. Damian, this is my granddaughter, Marinette" he said putting a hand on his granddaughter's shoulder who gave a slight smile towards her grandfather "she will be starting classes at Gotham University, just like you."
"I didn't know you had a granddaughter Alfred. I'm sorry for my earlier behavior miss." He spoke, extending his hand towards her.
Marinette looked him up and down, her face relaxing giving a light smile. "Nice to meet you. It's not specifically a secret, but we like to keep that information to ourselves." She paused, turning her attention to her grandfather. "I need to go now Alfred, but I'll call you so we can finish our earlier conversation."
"I'll accompany you to the bike, my dear. This way…" Alfred said, indicating the way for her to follow him. "Dinner will be served in 15 minutes. I suggest you get organized and head over there."
"Have a good night Mr. Wayne, Damian" the young woman said, nodding slightly, following her grandfather towards the door. She hugged the older one tightly as soon as they reached the vehicle, picking up the helmet next. She put her purse in the bike's compartment, turning her attention back to her grandfather. "I'll text you when I get to the restaurant and as soon as I get home, okay?" She spoke with her helmet visor open, looking at him.
"Be careful on the way. I'll wait for your message and I'll call you tomorrow. Take care of yourself, please sweetheart."
"I Will" Marinette gave a slight smile, seeing a motorcycle approaching and stopping beside her. She squeezed Alfred's hand in such a way as to reassure him that she would be fine, getting on the bike next, listening to the man beside her talking to her grandfather.
"Good night Alfie!" He said, stopping beside Alfred, looking at Marinette on the bike as he crossed his arms. "It's a beautiful bike, fast, powerful and with beautiful curves." he spoke looking at the black Kawasaki with red details and then at the woman.
Marinette's eyes widened, shaking her head and laughing lightly. "Thank you, I guess?" she spoke towards Jason, turning her attention to Alfred "I Will wait for your call tomorrow Alfred." She spoke starting the bike and heading to the exit, leaving towards the restaurant where she would meet her uncle.
"Who was she Alfred?" Jason asked, following the butler into the house.
"I'll explain later Master Jason, for now go call everyone I'll serve dinner." he replied heading towards the kitchen. About fifteen minutes later, the table was already set when the members of the house started to arrive and help themselves afterwards.
"So Alfred, the young lady who was talking to you in the doorway a few minutes ago, she was leaving when I arrived..." Jason started to speak when he was cut off by Tim.
"Did anyone come here today?" Tim said taking the cell phone and looking at the security cameras, seeing Stephanie leaning over him.
"Wow, she's pretty!" Stephanie said. "Who is she?"
"You didn't see her on the bike outside. The curves… of the bike!" He said looking at the butler who was a grandfather figure to everyone at the table "Could you do the honors and introduce her?" He said seeing the image on the cell phone and then passing it to Dick, seeing Damian smirk.
Alfred just sighed, coughing lightly. " The young woman who was here a little while ago is my granddaughter Marinette Pennyworth Dupain-Cheng. She lived with her adoptive parents and moved a little while ago because she will start studying at Gotham University" he finished talking seeing Jason widen his eyes " I would greatly appreciate Master Jason that you would be very careful how you speak of my granddaughter." He spoke seeing Damian smile while the others laughed.
"I didn't know Julia had a daughter Alfred. The last time you mentioned her was fifteen years ago" Dick said as soon as he managed to control his laughter.
"You have a daughter and a granddaughter? How did I not know that?" Tim commented by looking at Dick once he finished talking about Julia.
Alfred stopped eating, placing the cutlery he used on the table. He heard his own phone vibrate, glanced at it briefly and checked the message that Marinette was at the restaurant. He took a deep breath and was a little relieved, seeing Tim's curious look, then speaking. " Julia, my daughter, was born from a relationship I had after the war. She and her husband passed away 15 years ago and left a 4 year-old daughter, Marinette. As you may remember, Gotham and the mansion could not be considered the best places at the time to raise a child who needed all the stability of a family. Julia had already expressed her wish that, should anything happen to her, Marinette should stay with her honorary brother Tom Dupain. After we talked later of the incident we thought it best to leave her in a more stable environment."
"I'm so sorry Alfred. I didn't know you had to give up your family again for… us." Dick spoke, then looked at his father.
"Don't worry about it Master Dick. In return I expect you to do me a favor and I've already requested the same thing from your father. I hope each of you will respect her privacy. She doesn't deserve , after everything that's happened to her in the last few years, that none of you start tearing her life apart as is usually done with most people who pass through here. This is a personal request."
"Can you give us an overview of her?" Tim asked, looking at his grandfather thoughtfully "I'm not going to search her, but it's good to know the basics so that if something happens we can act."
"She lived most of her life in Paris, despite being born in London. She lived the last years under Hawkmorth's regime" he sighed "she trained with an old friend to know how to defend herself during the period she was in Paris"
"Is that why she reacted defensively to my presence?"
"Yes Master Damian. Even in a safe environment, some habits are difficult to change. She is a fashion designer and will start at Gotham University. Her adoptive parents knew Julia for many years and own a bakery in Paris. Anything else I believe is unnecessary."
"And how is she doing after all these years, after everything that's happened?" Bruce asked concerned.
"She's getting better, but it will take some time for her to recover." Alfred paused looking at everyone at the table. They were his family too, but he had to make it clear what he thought. "Bruce, you know that I consider you a son, that I raised you as if you were my blood, and that I consider all of you as my family after all the years that have passed. However, I want you to understand that Marinette is also my family, my blood. She is all that I have left of Julia and I hope you have the same consideration for her that you have for me. You will realize with time that, even though we were far away from each other, she is much more like me than you think."
"Don't worry Alfred. I believe everyone will comply with your request." Bruce spoke, which led the members of the table to immediately agree. "To the other family members who are not present, I will speak in person and I hope everyone waits for me to speak with each one before commenting anything."
Dinner continued in a leisurely fashion with quiet conversation about Alfred's relationship with the family.
"Before everyone leaves, tomorrow we will have three guests at home. I expect everyone present to be at their best behavior" Bruce spoke shortly after dinner ended.
"Great…" complained Damian, being cut off immediately by Alfred
"And who should we expect tomorrow Master Bruce?" Alfred asked, getting up to clear the table.
Bruce sigh, looking at his sons "Jagged is in town. He said he's bringing his design with him and his wife"
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