“We aren’t creatures of love, you and I,” the hero admitted. The villain was a statue behind their back, as if content to catch only the ends of their words. The hero kicked a foot against the side of the building, legs cold in the night air.
“Did you cook that up by yourself, or did they force feed it to you.”
The hero shrugged.
“Semantics.”
The villain appeared over their shoulder. The hero craned their neck to look up at them.
“They think you’ll fight me if they take away all the soft edges of you.”
The hero hummed, turning away. The villain settled on the lip of the roof a moment later. Almost close enough to touch, but not quite.
“They made me.”
“They’re remaking you,” the villain corrected.
The hero shrugged, again.
“Do you believe that?”
“I can see it on your face. It’s not a matter of belief, it’s a matter of ignorance.”
The hero laughed, bright enough to pretend they didn’t feel like a wound with the scab picked off. “You see too much.”
The sigh that came out of the villain was wrought with tension.
“Only with you.”
When the hero looked over they found the villain watching them, eyes intent.
“Stop looking, then.”
“Stop letting them break you, and I will.”
The brick crumbled beneath the hero’s hand. The villain paid it no mind.
They stared at them with something too close to concern, too similar to affection.
“You’re not supposed to like me,” the hero reminded.
The villain sat back. “I’m not supposed to murder people, either.”
“I’m hardly a crime.”
“I won’t hold it against you.”
“Even with the heroics?”
“Because of the heroics,” the villain admitted softly, and the hero had to look away.
“We can’t do this,” the hero whispered. The villain simply stayed, radiating heat next to them.
“There’s a lot of things we can’t do. Don’t let this be one of them.”
The villain rose, brushing themselves off.
“Coming?”
The city hummed below them. Their city, even if they left it in ruins around one another, because of one another.
The villain waited, patient. Somehow, the hero knew they’d wait forever, if they had to.
Marinette ducked down as she stopped, taking a moment to look at what she had grabbed and enjoying the cool night air. She inspected the necklace, gently wrapping it around her hand as she looked at it.
The ears on top of her head twitched as she heard someone land on the rooftop behind her. She cursed softly pocketing the necklace as she turned around to come face to face with Nightwing.
“Hello there,” he greeted.
Marinette gripped her baton as she grinned at the vigilante. “Evening. What brings you here this fine Gotham night?” she asked, leaning on her baton, chin resting on the back of her hands.
“Got a tip that something a priceless necklace was stolen. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that now would you?”
Marinette hummed, tapping her cheek for a moment. “Hmmm. No, I don’t believe I do.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. “Is that so?”
“Mhmm.”
“Then what were you in such a rush to to pocket when I got here?” he asked, she cursed under her breath as he moved closer. “You can’t take that.”
“Good thing I wasn’t asking for permission then,” she replied, edging away from him. She glanced behind her to find the edge of the roof. She grinned when her heels hit the ledge, hopping up to stand on top of it. “This is where I bid you adieu, Nightwing. Catch you later,” she said, winking before leaning back.
She laughed as Nightwing rushed over to look over the ledge. Falling through the air for a moment before extending her baton, pushing herself to another building a bit a way and taking off.
She smiled as her ears picked up the faint sound of Nightwing making pursuit. She put on a burst of speed, swiftly changing directions, backtracking her path to return to her original rooftop. She swung down through an open window, quickly latching it shut and pulled the necklace out of her pocket, gently laying it in a box, before stashing it away in a drawer.
“Plagg Claws In,” she called off her transformation, falling into bed.
“Nice work Pigtails.”
“Shhhhhh. Sleep time.”
-------------
Marinette had barely landed on the roof when a voice called out.
“Second time this week. Kitty’s been busy,” Nightwing’s voice rang out behind her. The ears on top of her head flattened a bit as she turned, before righting themselves as she recognised who had joined her. She twirled her baton before holding at ready to her side.
“I never introduced myself last time did I, Birdy? I’m Lady Noire. Pleasure to formally make your acquaintance,” she introduced herself with a bow, grinning. Nightwing raised a brow at that. “What were you doing waiting out on the rooftop?”
“Don’t think you're so special. I was just patrolling when I spotted you.”
“You wound me with your words, Birdy.”
“What did you take this time?”
“Nothing… much.”
“Give it back and maybe your sentence won’t be too hard.”
“No, I don’t think I will.”
She smiled slightly as Nightwing grabbed his escrima sticks and twirled her baton, extending it to a staff. SHe jumped to the side as he lunged at her, turning to block a hit from his sticks, pushing back and swinging her own staff at him. “So what do you hope to get from this?” she asked.
“Maybe I’m just hoping to get lucky and get whatever you stole off of you,” he replied, going for the attack.
“Luck isn’t something one should hope for with me.” Marinette said, twisting her staff, pulling the escrima sticks from his grasp. Pouncing on him, the two of them rolled, Marinette landing on top, she pinned him down with a grin.
“And why is that?”
“Well you know what they say. It’s bad luck for a black cat to cross your path.”
“I’d say I’m feeling pretty lucky.”
“Is that so?” she asked, leaning down slightly. “Little birdy got something they want to tell me?”
“Mmm considering I have this,” he opened his hand slightly to reveal the bracelet she’d stolen in it before clutching it closed once more. “I’d say I’m fairly lucky.”
Marinette narrowed her eyes at him. “So that’s how it is,” she muttered, pushing off of him, and heading to the side of the roof. “Well you can keep that one. I’ve got plenty at home. ‘Til next time Birdy,” she said, saluting him before taking off over the rooftops.
-------------
Nightwing grinned up at Lady Noire as she pinned him down, her long braid trailing down, part of it hanging over her shoulder as she looked down at him.
“Well you know what they say. It’s bad luck for a black cat to cross your path.”
“I’d say I’m feeling pretty lucky.”
“Is that so?” Nightwing felt his face heat up slightly as she leaned closer to him. “Little birdy got something they want to tell me?”
“Mmm considering I have this,” he opened his hand slightly to reveal the bracelet he’d snatched off of her when she had pounced on him. He closed his hand on it once more. “I’d say I’m fairly lucky.”
“So that’s how it is,” she muttered, pushing off of him moving to the side of the roof. “Well you can keep that one. I’ve got plenty at home. ‘Til next time Birdy,” she said, saluting him before taking off over the rooftops.
He scrambled to his feet, watching as she moved effortlessly over the uneven terrain making up Gotham’s skyline. He shook his head slightly as he looked at the bracelet in his hand, before tucking it away and retrieving his escrima sticks.
So this is how it’s going to be. Two can play that game, Lady Noire.
-------------
Nightwing stared at the figure sitting, balanced atop the tip of the antenna on Wayne Enterprises. That- that should not be possible.
“You can come out, Birdy. I know you’re there,” Lady Noire called out, shifting to look at him.
He looked up at her as he came out from the shadows. “How’d you know?”
She pointed at the pair of cat ears on top of her head. “These aren’t just for decoration you know. Also helps when you can see in the dark,” she told him with a soft smile. Nightwing raised his brow at that. “Anyways you don’t need to worry about me tonight,” she said, standing before jumping off the antenna, flipping in the air before landing delicately, on her feet. Not even a small stumble. Dick found himself staring in mild awe as she continued. “I haven’t stolen anything tonight, nor do I plan to, so you can fly on your merry little way. No need to try and catch this cat.”
“What if I wanted to catch this cat?” he found himself asking. She raised a brow.
“You would find yourself out of luck tonight, but you might want to start entertaining a game of cat and mouse. But tonight, I’m calling a truce.”
“I was unaware we were at war.”
She laughed, the light sound filling the air, as she flicked her braid over her shoulder, sitting on the ledge.
“Of course we are. We’ve been since the first night you found me. Got to have a bit of challenge in life, don’t we.”
He laughed, taking a seat a few feet away from her. “I suppose so.”
The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Nightwing spoke up. “You have no fear of falling do you?”
“I’m a cat. We always land on our feet.”
“I saw. That flip was beautifully executed.”
“Birdy is an aerialist is he?”
“Why do you want to know? Besides, didn't curiosity kill the cat?”
She laughed as she grinned at him. “Yes, but satisfaction brought them back.”
“Well then. Perhaps I am.”
“Vague answer. It’s fine. I understand. Well, Birdy, while I appreciate the company, I’ve got places to be unfortunately. Maybe we’ll have that game of cat and mouse next time,” she winked at him before leaping off the building flipping midair, before her baton- how is it extending that much- hit the ground and swung her momentum to the next rooftop, collapsing in on itself as she disappeared over the rooftops.
He sat there for a moment before covering his face with his hands and groaned. I am so screwed, he thought to himself as he thought about the graceful, lithe thief that had preoccupied his mind. First Bruce, now me. This family has a type. He smiled as he shook his head, a small smile making its way on his face as he looked over the city.
-------------
Marinette laughed as she ran over the rooftops, hearing Nightwing a few roofs behind her take off after her as she put on a burst of speed. She leapt, extending her baton and balancing a top it in the middle of an alley, roof level, as Nightwing skidded to a top. She cocked her head to the side.
“You were quick on the draw tonight Birdy. Are you following me?”
“Noticed you tend to end up in this area towards the end of the night. Thought I might be able to get lucky. Turns out I was. So what was it tonight?”
She held out a hand and wiggled a finger, showing off the ring on it, on the opposite hand as the Miraculous of course. She grinned. “I think it suits me. What do you think?”
“How about I get a closer look?” he asked before running, tackling her off the top of her staff onto the opposite roof, pinning her down.
“Well this is familiar isn’t it.”
“Mhmm. Now about this ring,” Nightwing said, grinning down at her, swiftly pulling the ring off her finger. Her eyes widened as felt which hand he had pulled the ring off of and tried to close her hand to stop him but was too slow, as a light flashed and she detransformed.
“Merde,” she hissed, struggling under Nightwing’s hold. “Give that back, now.”
His eyes had widened as he stared at her. “I knew something was happening with your baton but I was not expecting this,” he muttered.
“Do you have no respect for secret identities? Give me my ring back.”
“Not when the person is a thief, not particularly no. Why is this so important?”
“You have no idea what you have. I need that back, now.”
“I don't think so. Where’d you steal this? Magical artifacts aren’t a common thing to come across.”
“I didn’t steal that. I’ve had it for years.”
“Sorry, kitty. I don’t believe you.”
She hissed under her breath as she twisted underneath him, managing to flip their positions. She leaned close to him, pleased when she saw, his cheeks flush a bit.
“I’ll ask one more time. Please give me my ring back.” She narrowed his eyes as he just closed his hand around it tighter. “Listen, that ring is very important and very dangerous if it were to fall into the wrong hands it could, quietly literally, spell disaster for the whole world. I know you might not believe me, since I am a thief, but that ring needs to return to me so I can keep that from happening.”
“You’re right, I don’t believe you.”
She groaned. “As much as I love being on top of you, I’m afraid I need to get that ring back and be on my way so if you’d be so kind?”
“Like I said-” she cut him off, catching his lips with hers in a kiss, her heand moving to slowly weasel it’s way into his, snatching the ring in his surprise. She flushed as she felt him kiss back, hating it when she broke the kiss, sliding the ring back onto her finger.
“Plagg Claws Out!” She stood as the transformation washed over her. “I’m so sorry about that, and for taking you by surprise. I would have hoped our first kiss would have been under better circumstances. But this is war, and I really did need my ring back. I hope you understand. I truly am sorry Birdy,” she told him, making her way to the edge of the roof. “I hope you can forgive me. See you later, Birdy.”
She gave him an apologetic smile before taking off. Turning back once to see him watch her leave.
-------------
Nightwing sat in the shadows, keeping an eye out for Lady Noire. “you might want to start entertaining a game of cat and mouse,” she had said. And he had considered it. And after her little stunt the other week, he decided it was time for that game. There. Dick narrowed his eyes as he spotted the faint outline leap, gracefully from rooftop to rooftop. He stood running to cut her off, grinning as he did so.
“Evening, Kitty.”
“I was starting to worry I had scared you off, Birdy,” she replied. “How can I help you tonight?” she asked tilting her head, braid flopping over her shoulder.
“You told me if I wanted to catch a cat I might need to think about a game of cat and mouse.”
“I did.”
“Might want to get a move on, Mouse.”
She gave him a Chesire grin. “Someone’s feeling awfully cocky aren’t they. Hope you can keep up,” she told him before leaping off, and taking off in the direction she had originally come in, laugh echoing as she ran. Nightwing grinned as he gave her a few seconds head start, watching as she ran, before he began chasing after her.
He followed her trail over Gotham’s skyline, ducking under clotheslines, trying to keep her in his sight as he chased after, cursing silently as he lost sight of her.
“Little Birdy get lost already?”
He spun around to find her perched on the rooftop behind him. “Better get a move on. I believe you are the Mouse now,” she called, before starting towards him. Nightwing couldn’t help the grin that found its way on his face as he took off, flipping off a building before landing, as he heard the light laughter from Lady Noire trail behind him.
He ran, trying to choose the hardest route to be followed by. Glancing back and seeing that he had put some distance between the two of them, he grinned as he ducked behind a vent and held his breath. Hearing her land he inched around the vent, peaking out and finding her standing still, the ears atop her head, twitching at the smallest of sounds. She twirled her baton in her hands as she listened, eyes narrowed as she looked over in his direction. He quickly ducked back behind the vent, when he saw her start to turn.
“I know you're here, Birdy.”
He didn’t dare move as she slowly walked towards where he was crouched. He narrowed his eyes, before springing out from his hiding spot, pinning her against the wall of the small building housing the stairs to the rooftop. He pinned her hands above her head, pressing against her slightly to keep her from ducking out and escaping.
“I think that I just caught the cat.”
“Sneaky bird,” she said softly staring up at him. “So what now?”
Dick tilted his head to the side slightly as he looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well you’ve caught the cat. What are your plans now? Are you going to try and tame the feral cat or are you going to skin it?”
“I’d never skin such a pretty cat,” he said, grinning as she blushed. “But I would like to know why a kitten has such a dangerous ring.”
“I’ll bite. An answer for a game well played. This kitten is the guardian of this ring holding the power of destruction. Maybe you can see why I was in such a desperate rush to get it back. Shame you used your victory to waste on such a petty little question.”
“Who said I’d used my victory up? Maybe I’d still like to try and tame a cat.”
She tilted her head as she looked up at him, leaning closer, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Do you think you’d be able to? Might be a bit harder than you think.”
He hummed for a second before leaning closer, lips inches apart. “I think you aren’t giving me enough credit here. How about you tell me,” he said softly before closing the distance, lips meeting.
As they broke apart he grinned down at her. “Well?”
She smirked at him, flipping their position so he had him pinned against the wall. She leaned forward, closing the distance between them. “You only get one thing per catch, Birdy. YOu asked your petty little question. If you want to know that answer or try to tame me, you're going to have to catch me again. If you think you can manage your sneaky trick twice,” she told him. She twisted her hands out of his grip and bolted, grinning towards the edge of the roof.
Nightwing grinned as he pushed off the wall, taking after her. He reached out, catching the end of her braid, and pulled gently, not wanting to hurt her, but not wanting to let her get away again. He pulled lightly, bringing the two of them back together, as he wrapped his arms around her. She gave him a lighthearted glare as she went limp in his arms, trying to get him to drop her. He laughed as he went down with her pinning her to the ground once again. She stared up at him and huffed. He grinned down at her.
“We sure end up in this position a lot,” he said smiling. “Looks like I caught you again, kitty. I get another shot now.”
“That wasn’t very fair now was it?” she asked, head tilted slightly.
Nightwing leaned down, lips brushing against her ear.
“Don’t you know, kitty? All’s fair in love and war.”
