It was weird at first. Having other people around was awkward, and Mari was even more stressed than normal. Chloe actually enjoyed their company and tried her best to make sure Mari got her down time. Things got better as the Sirens stuck to the rules Mari implemented, and the ones she added after the fact. Things like Bud and Lou weren’t allowed to destroy the furniture, or Ivy couldn’t just let her plants wander around the house. And the big one being that they were forbidden to train in the house. The garden was more than big enough and after the fourth broken window Mari was ready to commit murder no matter who paid for it.
As expected, the Bats were livid. The few times she or Mari left the property, one of them showed up immediately to try and figure out what was going on. The fact that the Sirens were maintaining their promise not to talk to any of them had everyone even more on edge. It was hilarious. So Chloe wasn’t surprised to walk out of the house and find Red Hood arguing with Harley, but what they were arguing about was another matter.
“Oh come on! It’s poker night. Can’t we just call a truce for a few hours? I need time away from everyone judging everything about me, and this is the only time that happens. We can play outside if none of you want me in the house, or we could go back to your place. I really don’t care. I just want to lose money and drink.”
“Sorry sugga, we made a promise. Why don’t you go to the Iceberg Lounge? I’m sure there’s plenty of people there willing to take your money.” The man actually pulled off his helmet to pout at her. He still had a mask on, at least.
“But you guys are more fun. Not to mention I can bitch about B and you won’t use it against him or me later.”
“You’re the one that was laughing at Nightwing when I called him out in civies.” The voice startled everyone and Red Hood even let out an unmanly yelp. Mari was just standing under a tree studying him. “You’ve died before.”
“Uh, yeah. So?” Chloe wasn’t certain which part of Mari’s statement he was agreeing to.
“You should get the Pit residue removed before it causes permanent damage.” Harley and Red Hood both froze.
“What do you mean, removed?” He sounded somewhere between shocked and insulted.
“The Lazarus Pits are an impure form of healing magic. You can get rid of the residue using a pure form of healing magic. Honestly, how does the Justice League not know that?” And now Mari was pissed, just what they needed.
“What constitutes a pure form of healing magic?” And now he just sounded confused. Chloe had to hide her own reaction since Harley was studying her and Mari. She had no idea what Mari was talking about, but no one else needed to know that.
“Wait, is this why Batman is looking for Ladybug?” Red Hood scoffed.
“Like I ever rated that high on his priority list.” Oh, finally a crack in the bat team’s lines. This could be useful. “Do you really think she could do it?” His voice was softer, and it seemed like he was trying not to get his hopes up.
“The Miraculous are powered by Gods, there isn’t much they can’t do.”
“Then why was Paris left in ruins?” Chloe was perfectly ready and willing to go for the jackass’s throat, but Mari just rolled her eyes.
“Ladybug could have made a world altering wish to reverse what happened. In doing so, she would have completely unbalanced the universe. At best, it would have created even more disasters around the world. At worst, it would have literally destroyed the universe. Please tell me what you would have done in her place.” Red Hood just gaped at her. “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.”
“You seem to know a lot about this magic.” While it could have sounded accusing, Red Hood’s voice was soft and held a question more than anything else.
“I lost everything in that last battle. My home, my parents, my grandparents… I wanted answers, and I got them. Even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.” It made sense, but Chloe could tell Mari wasn’t telling the whole truth. She could only wonder if she’d ever get the real story.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Most of us were under the impression that Batman told Ladybug about her worthless partner at their last meeting before the fight. It doesn’t excuse anything, but I also won’t make excuses for the head asshole the way Nightwing does.” That finally seemed to ease some of Mari’s tension. Not much, but some.
“I appreciate that. You guys can use the gazebo to play if you want.” Mari wandered back to the house after that. Harley and Red Hood were just shooting each other confused looks.
“The whole not discussing us or anything you’ve seen here still stands, of course.” Chloe said it more to break the silence than because she was worried. The Sirens hadn’t shown any sign of breaking their word, and Chloe still didn’t get any mixed signals from them. Red Hood raised his hands in a placating gesture.
“I swear I’m not here to mine information. Honestly, watching B almost have a stroke every time the topic is brought up is more fun than I’ve had in years. Being able to say I was here playing poker might just finish the bastard off.” He sounded thrilled at the thought. Chloe was left wondering if Red Hood was just psychotic or if Batman did, in fact, piss other people off as badly as he had them. Probably both, if she was being honest.
Red Hood turned out to be semi prophetic. They were in the middle of the game, Chloe had stayed to watch just in case, when Batman himself showed up on the scene. The man didn’t show much expression, but he was radiating rage. Before he could open his mouth, Chloe stalked up to him.
“This is private property and I want you off it. Now.” He had been focused on Red Hood, but now turned his glare to her. “Oh please. I’ve dealt with far scarier things than an overgrown furry. Get the hell off my property.”
“What did you just call me?” Red Hood sounded like he was about to pass out from laughing so hard behind her, but Batman just sounded confused. It shouldn’t be possible that he hadn’t heard that comment before.
“A furry. Go look it up on your own time.” And back to the glare. He really needed a better emotional range.
“Red Hood is coming with me.” It sounded like a demand, and Chloe couldn’t stop herself from making things worse. Baiting him just felt too good at this point.
“No, he isn’t. He was given permission to be here and it would be excessively rude to leave before they’ve finished and settled up for the night.” Red hood was still laughing, but he had toned it down a bit. She couldn’t see or hear the Sirens, but given the way Batman was glaring behind her, they weren’t much better. Before he could yell at them, another voice sounded behind him, filled with a cold fury.
“You were told to leave. Do so before we’re forced to make you.” Chloe felt herself shiver. She’d never heard that tone come out of Marinette before. The rage in it was bad enough, but there was a deadness to it that put her on edge. Batman turned and Chloe got a good look at the other girl… were her eyes glowing? There was no way that was a good sign.
“I only wish to speak with you-” Mari cut him off before he could continue with his obviously rehearsed speech.
“No, you want to interrogate us about things you have no right to know. Have you not done enough damage? Have I not suffered enough for you?” A smart man would have noted the ball of pent up fury and desolation in front of him and retreated to fight another day. Batman, apparently, wasn’t a smart man.
“What happened in Paris was regrettable-” He didn’t get any further before Mari stormed up to him, grabbed him by the clasp on his cape, and pulled him down to her eye level. It was the most terrifying and hilarious thing she’d ever seen.
“Do not use such insipid language to discuss Paris. Better yet, don’t talk about it at all. You have no right to. You and your team came in, did nothing useful, and then left with your tails between your legs. Don’t pretend you have any idea what Paris suffered under Hawkmoth’s reign, let alone the devastation that followed. Now get off our property and don’t come back.” She released him with a little shove and Chloe got to watch Batman barely catch his balance. It was a shame. She would have loved to see him fall on his ass.
“I hope your pity party is worth the consequences.” It felt like time had stopped. Chloe was too stunned to react properly, or she would have gone for his throat. Movement behind her broke her out of her trance, but Mari’s expression of pure disdain kept her from interfering.
“And what consequences would those be? If there was an actual threat, you would be dealing with it rather than harassing us.” He continued to glare at her and Marinette just huffed and turned to go back into the house.
“The magic users in the league think that the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous need to be active in the hands of a balanced pair to combat the fallout from what Chat Noir did in Paris.” Batman was obviously gritting his teeth, and it sounded like the words were being dragged from him. Mari stopped cold and tensed, but didn’t turn around.
“Then have one of them come talk to us about their concerns. I have a few things to say to them as well.” Her tone was firm, but there was a panicked undertone. Chloe was fairly certain that no one else would catch it, but as Mari stalked into the house, she thought it was best to shift their focus.
“You have your marching orders. Now leave.” Batman turned to scowl at her, but she just raised an eyebrow at him.
“I do not take orders from civilians.”
“Then you won’t get any information, period, and you’ll have the indignity of being removed from the property. It would be better for that inflated ego of yours to bow out gracefully.” He looked like he wanted to argue, but Ivy had apparently decided enough was enough. As vines began surrounding him, Batman sent a glare at the group.
“We’re not finished.” He tossed a smoke canister and disappeared. Chloe could only roll her eyes at the display.
“He’s off the property.” She assumed Ivy knew that because of her plants. Chloe felt the need to go after Mari, but she didn’t want Red Hood to think anything was wrong. The man seemed on their side, but she didn’t trust him not to say anything to the rest of his team. She also wasn’t certain Mari would want her there right now. The girl tended to shut down any time the Miraculous were brought up. She spent a good ten minutes panicking about it internally until Mari sent her a text.
Come up to my room once Red Hood is gone. I need your help.
