Daminette December

2022: 29-Shimmer

Damian sighed as he looked out onto the Seine. He never wanted to come to Paris. His father and Drake had forced him on a plane to work on some counter-productive scheme at a Wayne Enterprise site in France.

Damian tensed up when he noticed a girl next to him on the bridge.

'When did she get here? I never heard her, let alone sensed her presence. I was trained to noticed the subtlest of movements. How did she get past me?'

Damian looked over the girl. She was wearing bright colors, something he should have noticed right away. Her hair was tied back, making her face visible. It was her eyes that got his attention. They were a dull blue, but that wasn't the biggest thing he noticed. He recognized those eyes. They were emotionless. He had grown up surrounded by those eyes in the League. Damian had also seen those eyes on the streets of Gotham.

He slowly reached out and touched her shoulder. Instantly, tears were brought to her eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt you." he spoke, softly.

The girl turned and he noticed bruising on her cheekbone and the makings of a black eye. She looked liked an angel.

"Are you okay?" Damian asked.

The girl shook her head. He slowly moved his hand from her shoulder to hers Damian pried her hands from the bridge rail and guided her to the nearest bench.

"What is going on?" he questioned, ready to call the authorities at a moments notice, "A fresh perspective can help."

"I being bullied by just about eveyone in my class. All of my friends believe this liar that joined a couple months ago." She began, "The one person who knows she's lying, lets bully me because 'No one is getting hurt'."

'The bruising on her suggests otherwise.'

He could see the heaviness in her eyes. The bullying was taking it's toll on her. If her grip was anything to go by, it was close to the breaking point.

"How long has this been going on?" he questioned.

"Since last year." she whispered.

Damian couldn't believe it had been that long with no intervention, "What about the staff?"

She shook her head, "My teacher expects me to an example to the class. The principal isn't any better. He believes anyone with more money."

Damian growled, "What school?"

"Francois Dupont College." she answered.

"It will get better; I promise you, Angel." he stated.

Marinette just looked away.

'She's likely heard those words before.'

"Let me walk you home." Damian suggested.

Tom and Sabine were shocked to see Marinette in tears, with a stranger leading her through the door. The purple on her cheek and eye stood out against her pale skin.

"Marinette!" Sabine shouted, "Is everything okay?"

Marinette just walked passed her parents and through the door leading upstairs. Concerned, they turned to the boy who had brought her home.

"Please, keep a heavy watch on her." he insisted, "I fear had I not been there, she would have jumped into the Seine."

"Why?" Tom questioned.

"When was the last time you her friends were over?" Damian asked.

"We saw them just the other day." Sabine frowned.