Wish Me Away: Hold Me Close & Hold Me Near

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Summary:

*waves* Hi

Bruce muses on his new life despite it only being a couple days since the family welcomed Marietta into it.

Nothing could have prepared Bruce for life with a baby, two days had passed and it felt like his life had been completely flipped on its head. She required a lot of attention and physical affection. The attention he had no problem with, it was the physical affection he was terrified of. Marietta was such a tiny little thing, she was so fragile that Bruce was so scared that the slightest wrong move from him could hurt her. Yet, sometimes the physical affection came so easily to him, so easily he felt like he was robbed of this time he could have had with Damian and found himself wishing Talia had told him about his son sooner. When she smiled up at him when he tried to feed her, it was almost instinctual to give her a kiss on the head, or when she babbled and held out a hand to him, he was compelled to coo and let her grab at his fingers. Hugging her is what scared him most, she was so small, so warm, and he had never understood what all those people said about the smell of a baby but he got it, and hugging her brought him such a feeling of joy and love that he couldn’t even put it into words. Bruce just felt scared of hugging her too tight because of all the new feelings of love that filled him. 

Once she had fallen asleep her first night in the Manor, at her new home, he had been entirely too frightened to sleep in his large bed with her, but he and the boys made a pretty sturdy wall of pillows all around her as he stayed up to study. He bought parenting books, so many parenting books, from baby meal cookbooks, to psychology. He wanted to know anything and everything he had to about taking care of a one year old. And from the many boxes that arrived at the house he deduced he wasn’t the only one. The manor now looked like a bomb went off in it, one that filled the place with bassinets, diapers, baby food and snacks and so many freaking toys. Most of which came surprisingly from Alfred, Bruce had wanted to laugh but Alfred had basically said he had no room to talk. He was right. Bruce had kind of gone overboard when buying her clothes, it’s not fair that tiny versions of clothes were so cute and apparently brought him more joy than his own. 

A Little Birdy Told Me 18

Beginning

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Summary:  It's morning in Wayne Manor and Gordon and Bullock stop by for Marinette's statement.

“Good Morning Gordon, Bullock.” Bruce welcomed as he opened the door wider so the two men could enter his house.

“How many times have I told you you can just call me Jim, Bruce?” Jim asked with a shake of his head and a fond smile on his lips as he stepped inside the familiar manor.

“You forget Boy Scout, he was raised by the butler, I think he’s incapable of shaking off that proper speech.” Harvey joked as he followed Jim inside. The two followed the familiar path to the kitchen with Bruce making polite conversation, catching up from the last time they had seen one another. Bruce made sure his voice carried so the kids would know they were closing in on the kitchen. They all did better when they knew people were approaching rather than when they were snuck up on. Came with their night jobs unfortunately. He also did it for Marinette who was so tense, of course he knew why she was but it still made him frown when she flinched at his and the boys’ voices or simply seeing them out of the corner of her eye. He could tell that she was trying her best not to do so but he also knew it couldn’t be helped. 

They don't! And I do know people would love to see that but I do overall want this story to be about Marinette healing. I mean of course there are those moments with the classmates in the future and the meeting with Emilie and Adrien and other instances, but in my mind there is just no reason for Marietta and her family to meet Lila and there's no way for Lila to meet them after her Karma is dealt.

Don't get me wrong, they do feel the need to teach her their own brands of lessons but they wouldn't want to put Mari through that pain of seeing the girl again. Intentional or otherwise. But Tim does know where she is at all times just in case they need to avoid her after she's out of Juvenile Prison.

Gordon is 1000% done with Bruce, and yes, in my version of things Gordon does know that Bruce is Batman though they never officially sat down and spoke about it, they both know that Gordon knows. So after the whole baby bug-hero flies directly into Batman while gleefully yelling "Daddy!" When Batman and Gordon were just finishing up talking on the GCPD roof about the latest in crime and what Gordon would appreciate help in, Gordon of course visits Bruce and everyone at Wayne Manor to get brought up to speed on the newest Wayne.

Once there he actually meets the little one, they called her Marietta, and he is even more horrified at how young she is and just seeing her not in her hero costume? Form? Whatever it was was daunting to say the least. It took everything in him not to outright yell at Bruce and Alfred right then and there with the baby there. Baby. Because that's what she was. A baby. And he thought the first Boy Wonder had been young...

"Before you say anything Gordon, please just listen. It really isn't...I don't...she has unconventional powers that she doesn't understand." Bruce had all but shouted as he picked up his newest daughter and held her close.

"So...she's a meta?" Metas were still a rough subject for both men...God, even calling Bruce a man was hard because in his mind, Jim would always see that ten year old boy covered in his parents blood, his eyes and soul faraway from everything.

"Not exactly. She's....she possesses magical abilities, and has...Christ I don't know how much I can say. I promise you James Gordon is trustworthy. He's kept the family "business" a secret from everyone, even his own partner and wife. It would be best for everyone if I could explain the whole story to him." Bruce had spoke like there were others listening in other than Alfred and maybe the boys. But this was Gotham so Jim was on high alert.

He however was not expected flying plushies that spoke to just pop out of nowhere, and he will deny to the day he died that he screamed before he pulled out his gun and shot at the red spotted one. Thank God nothing save for a broken vase happened. After a frankly, very long and disturbing talk about little Marietta Wayne, Jim was ready to go yell at a whole ass state in France. She was just a kid! A kid! And they treated her like that? They wished her away!?

It took longer for him and Marietta to calm down since she started to cry at his obvious distress. She had him hold her as she cried and told him not to be sad. Not to be mad. In her limited toddler talk...it was heartbreaking. It did nothing to waver his worry at the young one just randomly popping up at Rouge fights. She was a soldier once, she didn't have to be again, but like Bruce, Alfred, and uh...Plagg and Tikki explained, she didn't understand yet.

So Jim could really just grin and bear it and maybe try and bribe the small one with treats and toys everytime she appeared before him if he was talking to the "Dark Knight" or his associates. Well that was on him and he would gladly have Bruce be mad at all the sugar he was giving the kiddo rather than the father of so many being distraught or distracted by his baby being hurt.

When Marietta called him "Gampa Gordon!" Well he wouldn't change a damn thing that was for sure.

You're so sweet thank you!

Short answer, yes they do.

Long answer, something big does go down and Marietta knows that her family is trustworthy, reliable, and she can sense they are good matches for the Miraculi. So it's easy to place her trust and the Miraculi in their hands.

Aaaaaaa thank you so much!!!

Yes she does actually! She has a lot of nicknames given to her so I shall compile a list!

Bruce: Princess, Etta, Baby girl, Sweetie, boy pulls out every endearment he can for his youngest daughter to be honest.

Selina: Kitten, Baby bat, Etta, Little One, My baby, Pancake (an alternate to short stack and Selina thinks it's cute just like her), Darling

Alfred: Darling girl, Sweetheart, Sous Chef, Dumpling, Etta, Mari, Little One, Mini Bat, Little Lady, Ladybird

Barbara: Smarties, Kit Kat, Baby Girl, Mari, Kiddo, Gremlin #2 (when Mari messes with her electronics),

Dick: Baby sis, Kiddo, Mari, Cake Pop, Princess, Peanut, Magical Girl (especially when she was a child using all the Miraculi), Baby batcat, Spots, Maribird

Jason: Pixie, Short Stack #2, Mini Menace, Little Red, Baby Bug, Little Lady, Houdini (because she just disappears sometimes), Girlie, Mari

Tim: Coffee Bean, Kiddo, Mari, Maribird, Buggie, Petit chou (little cabbage), Bâo Bâo (baby),

Damian: Sokar (sugar), ʾḫt ṣuġrā (younger sister) , tifl alkhafafish (baby bat), Mari, Little One, Baby bird, Minietta,

Steph: Cutie Pie, Macaron, Mari, Sweetie, Honey,

Cass: Bâo Bâo, Xiǎo biānfú (little bat), Precious, Baby sis, Dumpling, Mari

Duke: Minibat, Kiddo, Mari, Biscochito, Trouble Maker, Baby sis, Button, Fun Size,

Rogue List because they do run into her as a baby

Harley: Pigtails, Little Fox, Foxtrot, Doll, Darling, Baby girl

Ivy: Flower, Honeybee, Little One, Baby Bee

Joker: Mini Mouse, Whiskers, Baby Bat, Vermin, Little Shit, Mighty Mouse

Riddler: MENACE, Bane of My Existence, Bully, Gremlin, Scales

Awwwwww thank you ☺

Headcanons For When Marietta Starts Dating:

• Nobody, and I mean nobody, was ready for her to start dating or just take an interest in anyone. The boys were dreading the day and had pushed that inevitable knowledge that she would maybe one day want to be romantically involved with someone out of their minds. Who was dreading this day more? Marietta or Bruce? The world may never know.

Marietta knows just how overprotective her family can be but she also knows if she tried to secretly date anyone, it wouldn't be a secret for long.

Bruce dreaded the day because he knew how protective he was, he knew how protective the family was, he didn't want to be the stereotypical overprotective dad when their daughter starts dating but he can feel the transformation happening as we speak.

• Tim legit has an Application to Date My Sister form that he carries around. If someone flirts with Marietta he slaps on of those on the person with a dead serious face.....he..he uh...he didn't think people would actually fill out and send in the forms.

• Dick is overprotective but he is ready to be his baby sister's wingman if he can. Has made the "My sister is single and ready to mingle, unless you're human trash" announcement in public too many times to count.

• Jason will point out potential suitors for Marietta and just look at her and say. "I'll fight em. If they can last 5 secs they have my approval to approach you." Mari just smacks him everytime.

• Damian is arguably the most protective of Marietta, if he sees someone flirting with her he does pull out and point his katana at said person. He says things along the line of, "You think you are good enough for her?" And Marietta will absolutely duel her brother for embarrassing her.

Damian pointing his katana at people interested in his sister happens so often that buzzfeed has made a list of his Top 10 moments.

• Babs will do an in depth background check on whoever Marietta is talking to and if she finds something she doesn't like she tells Marietta ever bad or embarrassing thing said person has done in their life.

• Cass, she doesn't even have to do anything ridiculous like her brothers, when her and Marietta go out no one approaches because really? How can you dare go up to these angels and disturb their peace? You monster?

• Duke really thinks his brothers are too much so he will take Marietta out when she wants to run some errands but doesn't want any drama. If she talks to someone go her! But if it's someone he gets a bad feeling about he will absolutely send a group message with their location and a picture of the person.

• Alfred, he doesn't do anything because he knows Marietta can take care of herself and well if anyone does hurt her well he has his shotguns and really this is Gotham, people die from mysterious means all the time.

• Bruce will give you the most intimidating interview of your life if you are interested in his baby girl. One time he was grilling this boy so hard and Bruce was having fun so he thought he'd trip the boy up with asking what his social security number was and the boy, terrified as he is, yelled his social security number at Bruce Wayne. The boy was so mortified. Bruce was laughing his ass off on the inside.

Bonus Auntie Harley: Harley absolutely wingmans for Marietta happily, but if she sees behavior she doesn't like she will not hesitate to drop kick a teenager.

How does Marietta react to Bruce and Selina getting married?

She is absolutely ecstatic! She was already calling Selina maman, now it's official! They ask her to be the flower girl. Damian is the ring bearer.

How does Talia react to Mari?

She really does start to question if Bruce has a problem when she sees the toddler. Then she sees Damian with the little one and she sees the soft look on his face and it does something to her heart. Damian would never understand, but Talia does love her son but she chose work above her heart. So no matter what Damian thinks is good for him she knows better, she knows his destiny.

So seeing him soften anymore than he already has is complicated. A small part of her is proud, but the bigger part of her curses the Bat and his family for "ruining" her son. Obviously this is the little one's fault and what better way to cure her son than by taking the problem out of the way?

It doesn't go as she plans needless to say.

A Little Birdy Told Me 14

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Summary:  All good sleepovers start with therapy right? Right?

Harley helped Marinette move some things into her and Ivy’s usual guest room while Marinette giggled at Bud and Lou circling around her trying to get her attention. Harley just shook her head at her boys. “Babies, let Marinette walk normally. We don’t want her to trip and hurt herself now do we?” 

The boys immediately stopped circling Marinette’s legs so close but they did walk beside her closely and nuzzled her legs which still had her giggling as she carried a small bag of toiletries and makeup along with her. “How long have you had them?”

“Who? The boys? Oh so long! It’s hard to think of a time I didn’t have ‘em.”  She admitted, though it wasn’t the full truth. Harley loved her babies but she did get them during her time with Joker, and well, she was well over him but she was still healing from him. Thinking about him still brought her pain, not because she missed him or missed how she was when she was with him, but because she finally saw everything for what it was. Mistreatment. Manipulation. A narcissist who only saw her as a tool, a means to an end, and who only kept her around because he wanted a loyal dog and human shield. She was never a person in his eyes. No, the only one he ever saw as a person was Batman, and the masked vigilante would be the only one he ever saw as a human being, as his equal. “We’ve been to hell n’ back together, me and these boys. And I’d go through it again for them and with them.”