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Marinette was tired .
She’d been working hard on commissions and school was too much, not to mention patrol with the bats was becoming a pain. Her latest partner assigned to her by Batman was Robin. He was very driven but didn’t know how to communicate properly. He went off on his own, rushing head first into danger and leaving her behind. It annoyed her to bits but whenever she tried giving him criticism, he disappeared.
Nightwing told her he used to be the same way, she’d just have to give him a bit of time. He’d come around.
Nightwing also poured a cup of coffee and then handed Robin the rest of the pot in which he chugged so she wasn’t too sure how much she could trust his judgement.
Marinette let her head fall to the ground with a little bang. She could not take all this pressure. It was really starting to get to her head. Why couldn’t there be a classes dedicated to napping? All her problems would be solved then!
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet- it was half an hour before class after all- and it was still about fifteen minutes until other students would begin to fill the room so Marinette let her eyes drift close, just for a moment.
That is until she heard footsteps come into the room. She debated getting up as being on the ground wasn’t the most flattering way to find her and a random person passing by could think she was dead or something… but she couldn’t find the energy within her to lift herself from the floor. So she didn’t.
The footsteps got closer and stopped before her. The figure loomed in front of her but she made no move to try and see who it was, rather basking in the shadow that now covered her, giving her a break from the harsh fluorescent lights. It stayed for an unusually long time before whomever it was squatted down beside her and she heard something be placed down on the cool tile she was sprawled on. She sucked in a breath to return air to her body now that she must move, turning her head so she could look at the black boots of the person who came in. Her eyes drifted to what they’d placed down finding a large bottle. She boosted herself up on her arms and peaked into the container, the sweet smell of coffee wafting out, immediately brightening her mood. She reached for the coffee and pleasantly hummed as the hot liquid scalded her tongue, the bitter drink giving her that jolt she needed to start the day. She closed her eyes as the warmth seeped into her chest, spreading to her bones until it tingled in her fingertips making her feel whole and more awake once again. She kept her eyes closed and enjoyed the wonder that was coffee until the flask was empty. Only then did she finally open her eyes and was greeted with the sight of the person who had given her this gift.
Tim Drake.
“I love you” Marinette gave him a lopsided grin as she set down his, now empty, bottle.
“Yes I'll marry you,” Tim winked.
Marinette sat up so she could sit besides the boy, bumping their shoulders together.
Tim was Marinette’s classmate. One of the only people who she shared every class with and one of the only people she really interacted with in this school as well. They worked well together and he was fun to be around. He made classes bearable as they droned on with their boring topics they forced all kids to learn despite most of them most certainly going to be forgotten by next school year if not that very same afternoon.
“Long night?” Tim asked as he stretched his legs out.
“You have no idea.”
“Maybe you should stop working on all those commissions and designs so late into the night,” Tim joked as he bumped their shoulders together.
“My best ideas come at 3 am, Tim. It’s the inspirations fault.”
“Of course. An artist's inspiration is both a blessing and a curse.”
“I’ll drink to that!”
“Cheers!” Tim said as he pulled yet another bottle from the side pocket of his backpack and smiled bright at her as he opened it.
“Oh! Gimme gimme gimme!” Marinette made grabby hands with a little pout.
“Only if you let me help you design your wedding dress for our wedding,” Tim chuckled as he held the caffeine just out of reach.
“Deal!” Marinette offered the second bottle to him as she nodded in agreement.
Tim took the bottle and split the drink, handing her the bottle, and they clinked the metal together. They sipped at their drinks on the floor slowly, leaning against one another until the teacher arrived, signalling that it wouldn’t be long until students trickled in. They arised and headed to their seats, ready to start the day.
And that day was long . Marinette was so tuckered out and ready to fall asleep walking by the time the day finally ended. Tim rolled his eyes affectionately as he grabbed her arm and led her out of the building, all but dragging her to the car awaiting him. He opened the door and made she she got inside and secured before making his way around to the other side of the vehicle and got in. Alfred looked back at him with a raised brow.
“She stayed up all night designing and I don’t want her walking home looking like she might pass out any second,” Tim shrugged.
Alfred nodded and pulled out- after ensuring both kids had their seatbelts on- driving to Marinette’s apartment. They dropped her off and then headed to their own home.
Tim busied himself with chores and homework until it was time for patrol. He made a pot of coffee and brought with him two flasks of it. He donned his suit and took to the rooftops. Dick was gone for the weekend- with the promise to return in a few days, having to take care of a few things at home in Bludhaven- and Alfred was forcing Bruce to stay in to heal his ribcage that was beaten and bruised from their fight last night. He’d only be able to manage to get him to stay put for a singular night so Tim enjoyed running the rooftops freely and solo for tonight.
He made his rounds, his cape fluttering behind him as he jumped across the large gaps between buildings. The night air was cool as it whipped around him, biting his nose with the chill of it. He briefly wondered whether Lady Bombay would join him tonight, but dismissed it.
She didn’t typically come out for patrol. She chose to show up when necessary to lend a hand. He couldn’t say he blamed her; Batman was always dismissive of her. He grudgingly accepted that she was only here to help and assigned him to her, but that was it. She didn’t get to take part of their plans and wasn’t welcomed into the Batcave and he was overall pretty rude to someone who just wanted to help. But Tim couldn’t say he didn't understand the sentiment.
They didn’t know her motives, who she was, why she was there, how she came to gain these powers she seemed to possess, and where she came from. She had just appeared one day.
Either way though, he had to accept her as part of their little “team”. But that didn’t mean he had to like it. He couldn’t find it in himself to feel bad for leaving her out of his plans, for going ahead of her, taking care of things without her. She’d either have to keep up and stay on her feet or get left behind.
That was the life she had chosen.
She didn’t have to stick around.
Robin bounded across another rooftop, this time pulling out his grappling hook to fully swing across so he didn’t fall down this large gap. But he stopped atop this particular roof; his eyes drawn to a balcony dimly lit by fairy lights and decorated by plants. What caught his eye though was the girl sitting on a pink lawn chair, knees pulled up, focused on whatever was in her lap.
Marinette.
Robin grinned and lept over. He landed on the railing with a clang ringing out, gathering her attention. Her eyes shot to him, widened in surprise before narrowing. Robin was taken aback a bit at her look, having never received this particular one. She looked like… she didn't like him. Tim had to remind himself that he was currently Robin not Tim so that was why she was looking at him like that but why? Why wouldn’t she like Robin?
“What are you doing here?” Marinette’s voice was as firm as her gaze.
“Hi.”
Tim cringed internally as his tongue didn’t work as well as his brain, cursing himself for how stupid he sounded.
“Hi?”
He suppressed a grin at her hesitance, clearing his throat. He didn’t even think of what excuse he could give her, coming to her balcony as Robin. Robin, a vigilante who has never met Marinette and has no reason to visit her. They’re not friends. Tim and Marinette were.
“I just saw the lights and wanted to make sure you were ok,” Robin said, deepening his voice.
Marinette hummed in consideration, tilting her head in consideration before offering him a slight smile, “I’m perfectly alright. Just working on a project while it's nice out.”
Robin chuckled, “you certainly don’t hear many people call Gotham nice.”
Marinette shrugged in response, “they don’t look in the right places. You have to be willing to see past the smoke to see the beauty in the fire.”
“You an arsonist, then?”
Marinette actually cracked a grin at that as she giggled, “would that make you chase me?”
“Isn’t that something I already do?” Robin froze when the girl's shoulders tensed and she looked him directly in the eyes, a hint of fear in them. He quickly held his hands up and tried to back track from his joke, “I don’t actually! Just wanted to continue the joke.”
He was relieved when she relaxed and nodded in acceptance before picking up her project and continuing on it again.
“What are you working on?” Robin asked, hoping down from the railing of the balcony to the floor, plopping onto his butt and sitting cross-legged in front of her with a good bit of distance between them.
Marinette didn’t even look up as she responded, “A gift.”
“What type of gift?”
“One that you give away when you finish it.”
It was Robin's turn to have his lips quirk upwards with amusement, “fine, don’t tell me.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a bit so Tim let his eyes travel up to the sky. It was dark with the smallest splatter of stars. There was a nice chill in the air. And it was calm. Marinette was correct, it was beautiful. Something he usually didn’t associate with Gotham. But Marinette was that sort of person, the one that doesn’t really belong in Gotham. Her light was too bright and she was destined for so much. He didn’t understand why she was here but she was so he’d appreciate the time he could have with her before she realised somewhere else called her. Somewhere filled with beauty just like her.
“It’s a sweater.”
“What?”
He found Marinette looking at him, a certain softness to her eyes that he was glad to see as she repeated for him, “It’s a sweater. For my friend.”
“That’s nice of you.”
Marinette nodded, looking back at her project and continuing it. After a second she continued, “His name is Tim. He’s someone in my class. He’s always looking out for me and we’re friends. I wanted to do something nice for him. I noticed he always seems to wear hoodies so I assume he gets cold easily so I’m making him a sweater.”
Robin felt his heart burst in joy, ecstatic that Marinette thought of him highly and fondly enough to use her free time to make him a gift that had so much work, time, and effort put into it. That their friendship was strong enough that he was deserving of such a painstakingly wonderful gift as this.
“I am positive he’ll love it. That’s so kind of you.”
Marinette frowned and Tim wanted to wipe it gently off her face, hold her close to his chest and whisper in her hair that she should never have any reason to frown, that the world was hers if she asked for it and happiness was everything she deserved. This self-doubt wasn’t something he was used to seeing.
“I hope he does.”
“He will ,” and maybe that was too much to say from a random vigilante who had no idea what her personal life was. He didn’t know her and he didn’t know who Tim was. He shouldn’t be giving her this insight for his own identity risk but he couldn’t help it.
Marinette raised her blue eyes to his masked ones and seemed to be looking for some sign of deceit. He wondered if she found anything in a face where she couldn’t view his eyes. Couldn’t see the trust and love and feelings swirling in them trying to convey what his tongue wouldn’t. Whatever it was she was searching for, she must have found it as she lowered her eyes back to her project and began again, making headway.
“Thanks,” she whispered into the darkness.
“Always,” he shared.
“Why are you here anyway?” Marinette broke the silence again.
Tim sucked a breath through his teeth, his fingers tapping against his knees, looking around at all the different plants hanging along the balcony railing, not able to meet her eyes.
Why was he here?
He couldn’t very well tell her he saw her in passing and wanted to talk with her again. But he hadn’t really planned an excuse in the first place. He came over without thinking, led by his heart that was set on seeing her again.
Apparently he had taken too long to answer because the black haired girl nodded in understanding and focused on the yarn in her hands. What did she understand?
“It’s ok.”
Tim blinked, confused.
“You can come here whenever you need,” Marinette said softly, reassuringly.
“Really?” He kept his voice low, not wanting to break the little bubble they’d created around them. As if raising the volume will pop it and suddenly he’d be sent back to the rooftops, not able to be around her anymore. She’ll send him away back into the night he was supposed to be in the first place.
“Yeah,” she confirmed, “I know the life you live can be a lonely one.”
Robin froze, her words sinking into his chest like a stone. A pang in his heart he didn’t realise was a weak point ached as tears suddenly sprung to his eyes. He hadn’t even realised it before it emptied from her lips, as soft as a butterfly but as biting as a fly trap. How did she see through him like that? Something he hadn’t even known about himself.
Was that why he was here?
He was shaken out of his thoughts when he heard her shuffle and looked up from his hands he hadn’t even noticed he’d directed his attention to, staring blankly at them as if they’d hold the answers in them that his brain was denying him.
Marinette shivered as a gust of cold wind blew. Robin dusted the thought process off, putting a pin in it to overthink later. He stood up, catching the girl’s attention but rather than leave like he was sure she was expecting, he walked over, unlatching his cape along the way, and draped it over her as a blanket. Her eyes widened in surprise and he gave her a grin before plopping back down on the ground, though this time next to her legs.
She chose not to say anything, rather bringing the cape closer to her as a blanket and going back to her work with a yawn.
Tim laid back on the roof and focused on the stars, letting his thoughts run wild for a while; he felt safe here, like nothing could touch him and everything was ok. It was after the fourth yawn that Robin pulled out the bottles attached to his belt, sitting up and offering her one blindly. She took it gratefully and sipped from it slowly.
They sat there until the coffee was long gone and the chill had caused the cape to truly be wrapped around her and morning would be coming very soon.
“Hey, Tim?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
He smiled, “anytime.”
She returned the bottle to him and stood up, stretching her arms over her head and yawning.
“Bedtime?” he smiled.
“Bedtime,” she confirmed.
“Good night, Marinette.”
“Good night, Robin.”
He took his leave, finishing up his patrol and heading back home.
While his sleep was poor that night from how late he’d stayed up, it was so worth it. He grinned as he walked into class, his favourite person already drowsing on her desk. He placed the coffee in front of her, the bottle that was basically hers at this point. She lifted her head and gave him a smile that made him feel more awake than he’s ever felt.
“Marry me?”
Tim chuckled as he sat down and knocked their shoulders together, “always.”
