The Moon and her Shadow
LONG STORY
Luka sighed as he walked to the front of François Dupont Lychee. Juleka had left her notebook on the table and she had mentioned how important it was the night before, for a test. He looked around the campus, hoping to spot his sister's purple locks when he noticed blue instead.
He shifted on his feet before he weaved his way through the crowd, hoping he wasn't wrong. It had almost been three years since they broken up. He wished several times that Marinette would give him another chance, once she was ready to openly tell him the truth about herself. He hadn't expected to see her in the arms of another guy or for him to kiss her.
"Luka!" he heard Juleka call, waking him from his stupor.
"Who?" he demanded.
'Why hadn't she told him Marinette moved on?'
Juleka tilted her head in confusion until her brother turned back to glance at Marinette under the shade of a large tree. Juleka's eyes widened when she saw Marinette with some guy she didn't recognize.
"I don't know." his sister replied, "I had no idea she was seeing anyone. It's the first time I've seen him, but I'll ask the girls. I'll get back to you, okay?"
Luka handed over her notebook and left without a word.
'Has she really moved on?'
"You're dating?" Alya shrieked as they made they're way into the classroom, "Marinette!"
"What?" Marinette asked, confused as to why everyone was suddenly staring at her.
"Why didn't you tell us you got a boyfriend?" her friend questioned, "How could you keep this from us?"
"Oh." Marinette spoke, trying to find the right words, "Well, we just haven't been as close since College. None of us really talk anymore like we use to in Bustier's class; we all sort of do our own thing. I work two jobs and still have to strangle out doing homework."
Sure they had grown apart, but they never really thought it had caused that much of a change. Kim and Alix were usually at the sport's table and sometimes with Max in the library for help with classes. Kitty Section and Nino stuck together to get things done faster so they could have band practice and he could work out some new songs. Chloe, Adrien, and Marinette shared some of the same business classes. Alya was usually with Nathaniel and Marc for help with her blogs and getting and new perspective on how she could make things better. Ivan and Mylene had some classes with Sabrina. Everything had changed and none of them had realized it. No one was really sure what to say. Adrien took a step forward. He was the one who took the first step for their friendship, he wasn't gonna let it fade.
"How did you and your boyfriend meet?" he asked.
Marinette smiled, "He was visiting Paris with his father and cousin. I ran into them several times and ended up inviting them to the bakery. We all talked and we stayed in touch. He asked me out and I said 'Yes'. We visit each other when we can and we talk daily."
The Agreste heir smiled, "You sound happy."
"I am happy, Adrien." she replied.
Adrien put an arm around her shoulder, "Good. That's all that really matters."
"Can we meet him?" asked Rose.
"Yeah!" shouted Alix, "We should get to know him."
"We have plans for lunch, but I can see if he's up to meeting you guys after school. Would that be okay?" Mari questioned.
Everyone nodded.
"What did you find out, Jules?" Luka asked, when Juleka arrived.
"I found out in class that Marinette started dating two years ago." Juleka spoke, softly.
'Two years ago? All this time, I was still waiting; for nothing.'
"No one knew because she's been working two job; she was always so busy. Even she brought it to our attention on how we never really hang out anymore." she continued, "She said she was going out with him for lunch and see if he'll meet us after school. If so, we're gonna meet in the park after school."
"I'll be there." Luka responded.
'Luka?'
"I'll listen to his song." he insisted, with a smile, "We have to know if he's good for her, right?"
'Have you really not moved on? What if you don't like what you hear?'
Luka was the first one in the park. He had made sure to get there five minutes before the school let out. He left his yellow bike near the tree and waited by the park bench for everyone else to arrive.
Suddenly, a low, deep song approach the park. He turned quickly to see the guy from this morning. He sounded horrible.
'There's no way his song will be harmonious with hers!'
"Dami!" Marinette shouted, running right past him.
When she kissed him, their songs played together so clear, as if he was listening to a concerto. He had never heard her song so clear, so beautiful.
'How?'
After Marinette introduced everyone, she turned to 'Dami'.
"I haven't told them anything, other then we got together two years ago. I haven't even told them your name." Marinette spoke.
"My name is Damian Wayne." he stated.
'So formal.'
"Damian Wayne?" Max questioned, "As in, Wayne Enterprises?"
"Yes. My father and Drake are Co-CEO. Father doesn't understand the meaning of retirement." Damian answered.
"What about you? What do you do?" Max asked.
"Well, I'm very knowledgeable about business, but I haven't decided which direction to head in. I'm sure I'll eventually do something for the company." Damian replied.
Luka smiled. He already knew what he was gonna do; he had a plan. He was going to follow in his father's footsteps and go into the music industry.
"Just...business?" asked Nino.
"No. My mother made sure I had a wide range of knowledge growing up. I have already acquired three doctorates in different fields. I got bored so right now I'm pursuing veterinary school." he stated.
Everyone's jaw dropped, while Mari just smiled at his accomplishments. Next year, Luka had planned on going on tour with his father, taking college courses online. This guy, here, was already lightyears ahead of him. He could have a job right now if he wanted to.
Adrien quickly stood up, walked over to Damian, and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"Never, ever, meet my father, please. I'll be homeschooled again if he learned that was possible." Adrien pleaded.
Damian smirked, "I don't intend to."
"You're my new best friend." Adrien claimed.
"Hey!" shouted Marinette, Nino, and Chloe.
"Damn!" shouted Kim, "Agreste out here throwing out best friend cards like they were bachelor roses." making everyone laugh.
"What do you plan to do later?" Alya asked, "Do you have a place you want to travel to or-"
"I'll go wherever My Angel goes." Damian stated, looking at Marinette.
"Dami!" she cried, blushing madly.
"You know I don't say anything half way." Dami responded, admiring the blush on his girlfriend's face.
"What do you mean?" questioned Rose.
"Dami is very blunt about his opinion. He will tell you exactly what he thinks of you, your decisions, and anything else." Mari explained.
"Like?" Adrien asked.
"Ooh! Say soemthing about me!" Alya volunteered, raising her hand.
"Your two-toned hair reflects you indecisions. You are brass and push your way onto other to get what you want." Damian spoke, looking her over.
Alya wasn't sure how she felt about his opinion of her and turned to look at Marinette.
Marinette shrugged, "I mean, he's not wrong. That pretty much describes you to a tee. When you go after a story, you have blinders on, like when I work on clothes."
Alya pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
'He said it rudely, though. I let my music speak for me. My music is soft and mellow, but it holds the truth. He use harsh, cold, unfeeling words.'
"Dami is honest and that's something I've always looked for." Marinette announced.
Luka frowned at her words. They had broken up because she couldn't be honest with him.
"What about when there's secrets to keep?" Luka asked, letting his feelings be known.
Marinette turned to Luka and glared at him. Damian immediatley brought her into his arm.
"I don't keep secrets from her. She knows about my past." he declared.
"What about the secrets she keeps from you." Luka growled out, making everyone look between the exes.
"I know there is a reason and she will tell me when she is ready." Damian spoke up.
"That doesn't sound fair." the guitarist sneered.
"Maybe not to you, who has no knowledge of business, but I know she signs NDA contracts. I know she has to keep secrets because of her work. Father does the same. I know that once she is allowed to say something, she will come to me first and I will listen to every word she has to say. She's very excited to share her accomplishments. I am proud of her every time I see her clothes be worn." Damian growled out, glaring at the musician.
'Does he know who I am?'
"Habibiti?" Dami whispered, but Mari only shook her head.
Damian tilted Marinette's chin up, making sure her sole focus was on him.
"I plan to go wherever you go. I know you will work late and I know I will have to remind you to eat." he began, "I can assure you, I don't see anything in my future, but you and I plan on keeping it that way."
Marinette eased into his hug and nuzzled her face into his chest.
"Hey, I've seen you at a bunch of animal charities." Alix brought up, turning the couple's attention back to their audience.
Luka frowned at the unasked questioned. He knew Marinette loved animals; he, unfortunately, didn't share her sentiment. He had an allergy to fur. Marinette had expressed how she wanted a pet when she finally moved out of the bakery. When she had asked what kind of animal he had wanted, he had answered he would prefer a snake.
'Wouldn't a cat or hamster be cuter?' she had asked. 'I'm allergic to fur.' he replied. 'Oh.' she frowned and the matter had been dropped. She never brought up animals again, at least to him.
"I am an animal lover. I turned vegetarian after rescuing a cow from a slaughter house, one night." Damian answered Alix's question, "I donate to several charities and visit the shelters to make sure all animals are treated respectfully."
"A cow?" questioned Mylene.
Damian nodded, "She lives on my friend's farm at the moment. They make sure she is well fed."
"Do you have any other animals?" Asked Nino.
"Five." the young Wayne answered.
"We would have to keep Adrien away from Jerry though." Marinette stated.
"Jerry?" Adrien pondered, out loud.
"He's a turkey." Marinette smiled.
"But-" he began to argue.
"Feathers." Mari sang.
"Yeah." Adrien laughed, "I'll keep my distance."
"Another rescue?" questioned Ivan.
"Yeah." Marinette laughed, "I've always been indecisive about what kind of pet I would get later in life, but Dami has most of them. I get to baby them all when I visit him for the holidays."
"Marinette introduced me to Jagged and Fang last year." Damian announced, "Fang is very well trained. Once father learned about where I went, he declared he wouldn't be allowing me to build a moat."
'Father knew about this!'
Everyone began to laugh.
Marinette tip-toed up and kissed his cheek, "Maybe when we get our own place, you can build a menagerie for the animals in the back."
"You always know how to cheer me up, Angel." Damian whispered.
Luka looked away, frowning. It hurt to hear that Marinette shared his sentiment about living toegther in the near future.
"Why are you all dressed up?' asked Rose, "Are you going to a party later?"
"I was involved in several meetings in Father's company earlier, but I'm usually in suits." Damian admitted.
Alya noticed Marinette's cheeks begin to tinge pink.
"Why are you blushing, Mari?" Alya teased, "Are suits a thing for you?"
Luka huffed at that notion. He had never worn a suit. They felt too stuffy and would deprive him of his creativity.
Marinette began to take a red hue, "No!" and admitted, "I...I was just thinking what he looks like out of the suit."
"You two have....you know?" mumbled Nathaniel.
"No!" Marinette cried, blushing as Damian chuckled, "No! No! No!"
"But?" Alya goaded, hoping to get a real answer out of her friend.
"Dami....works out, a lot. Sometimes I watch." Mari explained, blushing, "He's very athletic and it shows."
"I bet I'm more athletic!" declared Kim, flexing his arms.
Kim raise his shirt, revealing his slim and flat stomach.
"Adrien looks more athletic then you." scoffed Alix.
"No way! Put it up, Agreste!" he demanded.
Adrien blushed and reluctantly reveals his four pack to his friends. Kim's jaw dropped, shocked. He thought Adrien was just skinny. He didn't know it was all lean muscle. On the bench, Luka tried to hide his disappointment. He was slim like Adrien, but he had Kim's stomach. Biking was great for his legs and stamina, but he never actively worked out.
"How did you know?" he asked Alix.
"Your photoshoot last week in the park. I was passing by on my blades." she smirked.
"HOW?" shouted Kim.
"Father keeps me on a diet. Modeling is more then just being a pretty face and posing. I have to actively keep my figure throughout the year." Adrien sighed.
"What exactly is your diet?" asked Marinette, "He's not feeding you only salads right?"
"No! Father has me on a low carb-high carb diet. I really enjoy it. Low carb has me eating a lot of vegetables and fruit, but I can't eat carbs during those days. By the time I get to my high carb days for rice and bread, it's just really heavy. Then I work it off." Adrien explained.
Marinette sighed in relief to his answer, "I'm glad you enjoy your diet, Adrien. If he was only feeding you salads, I was gonna march over and have some words with him. If you ever decide you want to continue modeling and you don't like the way he tells you to do it, you are more then welcome to come to my world of fashion."
"Yeah! Join the dark side, Adrien!" Nino shouted, "Marinette will feed you cookies!" making everyone laugh.
"Would I really get cookies?" he questioned.
Everyone just laughed harder.
"Okay. Okay. It's your turn." Kim spoke, pointing at Damian.
Damian turned to Marinette, who shrugged.
"It's completely up to you. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to." she stated.
Damian smirked as he removed his blazer and placed it in her hands. He untucked his shirt, revealing nothing , as he unbuttoned his shirt. Once Damian finished, he lifted up his undershirt and exposed his eight pack. No one spoke a word as he lowered his shirt and began to fix his state of dress.
Alya and Luka look to Marinette, only to find her openly staring at her boyfriend.
"You need a minute alone there, Girl? You're drooling." Alya spoke up.
Damian chuckles as Mari turned her face away form him and buried her face in his blazer.
"I'd ask what you eat, but you said you were a vegetarian. Even Adrien has better abs then I do." groaned Kim, "I think I'm gonna have to change my diet."
"You're ripped!" Alix shouted, "How? It can't be just fruits and vegetables!"
"I was trained in martial art since I was three." the Wayne heir admitted.
"Why so young?" inquired Max.
"My mother demanded perfection in many aspect of my youth. Martial art was one of those." he explained.
"Father just demands that I should fence, play piano, and learn Mandarin. He'd freak out if I bruised or broke something." Adrien sighs, "It seems really cool, though.
"I haven't attempted piano, but Mother had me classically trained for violin and my friend Jon taught me guitar." Dami spoke up.
"You told me he made you play Guitar Hero!" Marinette shouted.
"It wasn't all that different. Chords were the same and the plucking is similar to a violin." he declared, unintentionally pissing off Kitty Section.
"Right." Mari stated, "I don't even know why I was surprised. You beat Gar at DDR, on extreme, despite having never played it."
"It's all about coordination. Once your brain recognizes the pattern, it's very simple to follow through with. The same way you react to playing UMS4." he continued.
Marinette glared at him.
"Now I feel like you're not taking me seriously when we play. I know I can beat Tim 'cause he whines about it and demands rematches. You don't do that; you're analyzing my style!" Marinette realized.
Damian kissed her head as she huffed in defeat.
"So, can you fence and speak Mandarin?" Adrien asked, brining the questioned full circle.
"As well as seven other languages." Damian stated.
"Mari, where do you find these guys?" Alya questioned, "Adrien. Luka. This guy!"
"Me?" Adrien asked, confused.
"Oops." Alya whispered, trying to shrink in on herself.
"I had a crush on you, years ago." Mari admitted.
"Really?" the Agreste heir asked.
Marinette and Damian nodded in response.
"When I relaized you weren't gonna see me as anything else but a friend, I let go of my crush. Later, I dated Luka for a bit." she explained.
"Yes." Luka spoke up, "Until we broke up because you couldn't be honest with me."
Marinette nodded in response, not denying his statement.
"Beside, Alya, it's not like I dated Adrien and Luka had been the one to ask me out. He confessed several times before I finally agreed to date him." Marinette turned back to answering her best friend's question.
"Yes, but your attention was still on Adrien." Luka sneered.
"No, it wasn't! Adrien was happily with Kagami. When I found out that they broke up, my first reaction wasn't 'Oh my god! I can try to get Adrien to like me this time!'. I immediately sought out Kagami and tried to get them back together." Mari glared at Luka.
"She did." Alya announced, "I was the one who told her they broke up. I told her it was her chance, but she insisted that Kagami was perfect for Adrien. Any time I went over to see her, she was head down in her sketchbooks and wouldn't let me see what she was working on."
"And that focus, is what made me see the Angel hidden in Paris." Damian spoke, turning Marinette's eyes away from her ex, "Your head floats into the clouds when you are very busy, Habibiti."
"Good thing have a Demon to drag me down to Earth." she giggled.
"Demon?" asked Rose.
"My brother's nickname for me. I carried my mother's last name until my father changed it to his. It means 'Demon' in her native tongue so they took to calling me 'Demon Spawn'." Damian reassured her.
"You were also a bit of a troublemaker, as a kid." Mari smiled, "You weren't use to sharing a parent."
"Also true." he smirked, "Though that shouldn't be an issue for my heir." causing Marinette to blush.
"So, your parents are cool with him?" asked Nino.
"Yes." Marinette smiled, "Damian has met my parents and I've met his very large family."
"How large?" wondered Ivan.
"Twelve." Mari stated.
"Woah!" Nathaniel exclaimed, "That's a lot of mouths to feed."
"Indeed, although I am the only blood heir. I have three legally adopted brothers. My sisters are all but in name. My eldest brother has his own family, as well." Damian explained.
"And you're the baby of the family." Mari teased.
Damian glared at her answer, but it had no effect. She kept smiling until he sighed and gave in.
"It will be amusing to see what the media comes up with when I have you permanently by my side, while Father still circles around Selina." the Wayne heir admitted.
Luka could see it was worse then he had originally thought. They weren't just thinking of living together. This was something they saw leading for long term. They were thinking marriage and kids.
"Marinette, it's almost seven." Damian interrupted.
"Oh!" Mari gasped, "Sorry, Guys, but we have some dinner plans."
Luka could hear the well wishes for their relationship, as they hugged her. It annoyed him to no end. He saw Adrien tap him on the shoulder and guide him away from Marinette.
"Hey, is it okay that Marinette had a crush on me before?" Adrien questioned, "I didn't know and I still view her as a friend."
"It's of no issue, Agreste." Damian spoke, "Marinette already told me when we started dating. I knew exactly who you and Luka were, when I laid my eyes on you. I am not one to decide how Habibiti operates her friendships."
'He knew who I was when he arrived. Bastard didn't even introduce himself. He just let me think I was a threat this whole time!'
"What does that word mean?" Adrien asked.
"Habibiti?" Damian inquired.
The Agreste heir nodded.
Damian leaned in and whispered something in Adrien's ear. He wasn't sure what was said, but Adrien's ears exploded in red.
"Do-Does she know?" Adrien garbled out.
"She does. That is the feminine term. Mother calls Father by the masculine term when they meet up. Would you like to hear it, as well?" Damian teased.
Adrien's cheeks heated up and shook his head.
"Shame." Damian spoke, walking back to Marinette's side, leaving a flustered Adrien in his wake.
Luka stomped over to his bike and slammed his helmet on. Without meaning to, he looked back for one more glance at Marinette. He saw Damian pull out a small remote and press something on it. Out of nowhere, a motorcycle appeared, leaving them stunned.
"Anti-theft." he announced.
"Cool!" shouted Kim.
Luka gripped his handlebars tighter.
'Is this guy just showing off or does he simply not care?'
Damian opened the back seat and pulled out two helmets, handing one off to Marinette.
"You're getting on?" questioned Alix.
"Of course!" Marinette smiled, "Why?"
"You're not scared?" Mylene asked.
"My Nona use to take me on her bike all the time. I actually planned on getting one years ago. Dami bought me a bike. It's just at his home; I use it when I'm visiting." she answered.
"You have a motorcycle license?" Juleka quizzed her.
"Yep." she replied, "Nona taught me everything she could. Damian and his brothers gave me pointers and let me practice on their bikes before the test, too. This was nice, but we're gonna be late for dinner. Bye, Guys."
Marinette got onto the back of the bike and slid her arms around Damian's waist. She smiled as they drove off.
Without a word, Luka peddled off. Juleka frowned as she watched her older brother leave. She never thought he was still holding out Marinette and they both knew it was already too late. Juleka could tell from his outbursts that he still harbored feelings for her classmate, but she never realized the depth of his feelings. Even now, she wasn't sure if he wanted to date her or have a detective question her until she explained why they weren't together anymore. She knew he would have called Damian out if he thought for one moment he wasn't good enough for Marinette.
'Sorry, Brother.'
"Aren't you excited that Marinette found someone she's happy with?" Rose questioned, hugging her girlfriend.
"Yeah." Juleka replied, before looking back to where her brother had been.
By the time Luka got back to the Liberty, he was itching to hold his guitar. On the bike ride over, he realized the only thing he had going for himself, in terms of getting Marinette back, was that he lived in Paris. Damian Wayne was a whole ocean away and he wasn't even sure how long that was an option. He made plans around his dream of being a musician. Damian Wayne made plans revolving around Marinette's whole life and it didn't seem like he was going anywhere. They had openly spoke about moving in together and the possibility of a child. He hated it. He hated how perfect they fit. He hated their song and how it demanded to be heard by millions. He hated how everything that was wrong with their realtionship was perfect in theirs. Any issue they had, Damian had no problem with. Damian Wayne was everything he wasn't. Marinette still shone as bright as the moon and it looked like she had gained her shadow, her other half.
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