Daminette

Chapter 47

Marinette sat in a recliner by the fireplace he eyes were focused on the flames and not the people around her. She needed to focus her mind on something than the people in the room. The nightmare was still fresh in her mind. Her hand even drifted to the throat where Slade held it. She needed to push it away she knew that. But it lingered and the memories of Adrien in the dream and when she was being held kept repeatedly popping up in the front of her mind. "Marinette?" Chloe said as she held her best friend's hand. She was holding her hand as she sat on the armrest of the chair. But seeing her friend lost in thought she looked at the others.

"Alright Tim, what's going on with Mari?" Alix asked as she crossed her arms in worry. She knew that Damian would have done nothing to Marinette and they were fine together earlier. But when she and Tim walked in and saw a petrified Marinette and a distraught Damian she knew something was wrong. And when Marinette relaxed in the hug more than she usually does gave Alix even more incentive to find out what was wrong. Marinette gave her a second chance and she was going to do whatever it took to repay Marinette.

"I think it has something to do with how Adrien and Lila went about their plan." Tim started but couldn't say anymore due to Jason snorting very loudly.

"Yeah, that's pretty obvious captain replacement. How does that explain pixie pops skittish behavior towards demon spawn." Jason said with a smirk seeing how Tim was annoyed with him. Damian glared but he caught a few suppressed smiles.

"I was getting there Jason. You see they planned to bind Lila's and Damian's souls while having Adrien marry Marinette against her will. Most likely by binding their souls once Lila's and Damian's souls were bound. But in a twisted way, they took this a step further. Adrien dyed his hair and got a whole new wardrobe. Through the hacking of the hotel feed, I caught sight of him briefly. He looked similar to Damian. There were differences that in the light were easy to tell but in the dark not so much." Tim explained as the tension in the room increased. Damian was shaking in anger as he glared at the floor. Marinette remained silent the entire time not wanting to dwell on it.

"If that's true then why is she just reacting like this now? And not when she first saw Damian?" Dick asked as he thought about everything. Jason shifted in his seat thinking everything over. He had an idea of why that was.

"The thought she was free from them and back with the people she cares about. But when she woke up from most likely a nightmare. When she saw Damian because of Adrien she thought he meant to harm her or when she saw him all the memories from there came back." Jason said remembering when he first came back. The memories of his death plagued his mind and dreams for weeks. He knew that Marinette's experience was different but that doesn't change the effect of the traumatic event. Looking at Tim, Jason waited for him to confirm with him this. It took a few seconds but not Tim nodded in agreement with Jason. 

"How did you get passed it?" Marinette asked causing some of them to jump. They looked at her shocked that she spoke and the look in her eyes. They still held the light in them that she always had in them. But there was a hardness to them as she looked at them. "How did you get through the trauma Jayjay?" Marinette asked again breaking the shocked silence. 

"I leaned on everyone who cared about me. I didn't get reunited with my family right away like you but when I was surrounded by them and I got over the pit madness I leaned on them. I know it will be hard with Damian but everyone else is here. They will help you. Talk about what you can and don't talk about what you don't want to talk about. Don't hold it in."Jason said as he looked at the fire.  Memories were flooding his mind causing him to go quiet. But that didn't stop him from looking at Marinette briefly before focusing on the fire again. 

"I...I was in a hallway. It looked just like the one from where I was being held." Marinette said as she looked at her hands. "I fell and someone helped me up. When I looked to see who it was that helped me I saw Chat. aka Adrien. But he didn't look like himself. He had the same color hair as Damian. He...he....he wanted to make me his. But I was able to get away. Which led me to run into Lila. She was crazy with red eyes. She had a dagger that she used to cut my hair and probably would have done more if I hadn't she had done more. I ran away from her and ended up getting held by the throat by Slade. After that, I woke up." Marinette said as she fiddled with her clothes. Everyone was silent as they thought about what Marinette told them.

Damian got up and walked over to Marinette. Everyone's eyes watched him wondering what he was going to do. He stopped in front of Marinette and kneeled so he was at eye level with her. Reaching out he took her hands in his and held them tight. He made it so she could easily pull her hands away if she wanted to. "Marinette, I know this will be a challenge from here on out while you find your way through all of this. And I will be here every step of the way if that's in the background or by your side. You are the one who knows the pace you feel comfortable with. I'm not afraid and more than willing to help you every step of the way." Damian said as he looked at her face. He leaned down and kissed her hands before letting go. Standing up he took a few steps back to give Marinette space. 

"Thank you...Damian." Marinette whispered as she looked at him. Her eyes didn't reach his face but Damian could see the smile. He felt the corner of his mouth twitch. But he didn't want to smile at the moment. He needed Marinette to feel comfortable and for everything to feel normal for her.  He went and sat down in his original spot. 

"It's going to be a long process but we're all here for you Mari," Luka said as he pulled her into a hug. Marinette returned it feeling happy for her friends and family that she has. For the support that they were giving her to get over this. 

I know this is shorter than usual but I didn't know where to take the rest of this chapter. And I know you all have been waiting patiently for me to update you. So I am sorry that it's late. College and work have been taking up a lot of time. But I haven't forgotten about this amazing story. I am announcing that this story is coming to an end soon. Most likely in the next chapter or two. It's not because I lost the inspiration to continue writing it but because I don't know where else to take this story. I have loved reading the comments you all have left and so much more. This story has greatly improved my writing and for that I am thankful. I will continue writing Damianette one-shots and other Damianette stories. But I will also be working on other stories with different characters from different stories. But there is one thing I can guarantee I will be going back and correcting all of my mistakes and adding things that I forgot when I wrote the chapter. This story has been written over three years. Thank you all for reading my first finished fanfiction ever.

Honah-Lee .... until the next chapter