Devastating

Chapter 34

By the end of dinner, Barbara was more than well acquainted with Marinette and vice versa. They got along very well, almost too well... Damian began to think of the mayhem if Gordon roped Marinette into a prank war. Marinette was too creative and resourceful, despite her inexperience she could probably hold her own, especially under Gordon's wing.

The family then made their way to the family room, everyone's favorite movies and snacks at the ready.

They watched Zootopia first, everyone sitting on a large sofa or the Titus walked in towards the beginning and shoved Damian off the two-person couch to lie with Marinette. Alfred the cat joined shortly after. Damian huffed as his family laughed, he was able to sit with Marinette on his lap leaning on him and Titus on her's. Alfred curled up on Marinette's chest nuzzling into the crook of the Parisian's neck as the black and white cat purred softly. At least Batcow wasn't allowed in the manor or he'd never get Marinette back.

Damian didn't pay much attention to the movie, instead he watched Marinette, playing with her hair. By the end of the movie, Marinette's hair was loose as Damian continued to carefully stroke her hair.

"That was a wonderful film! I found the paresse to be very funny."

"What's a par-es?" Mar'i asked miss pronouncing the word despite her uncanny ability to sing in french.

"It's a sloth." Damian translated, "Now I'd like to-"

"Nice try, Demon Spawn, you aren't getting out of family night. If I have to so do you. Now, no 'if's' 'ands' or 'buts' we are watching Home Alone." Jason said before Damian could try and get his portrait. Marinette looked up at him smugly, but they both knew she only delayed the inevitable.

Marinette asked a few questions but found the movie overall to be funny. Mar'i was creeped out by the shorter robber but ended up laughing uncontrollably when he got burned and fell down the stairs. Once the credits began to roll, Damian spoke:

"Now, before I get interrupted again, I finished a new portrait and would like to show you all." He said while smirking at his girlfriend's embarrassment. He then proceeded to get up, get the painting from his art room, and walk back, everyone waited in quiet anticipation they hadn't seen any of his work since Mar'i's last birthday.

Damian walked into the room and ceremoniously showed his family the portrait. Everyone studied the canvas, they seemed a little shocked. A little too shocked, except for Mar'i who was telling Marinette how pretty she looked.

"What?" Damian asked. Everything looked like all his other portraits. The person sat in the middle, the cream wall surrounding the large window, the completed paintings peeking up from the bottom, the rose gardens-

The rose gardens aren't visible from the window, he added them while trying to come up with a solution for painting Marinette's eyes and lips. He always painted what he saw, but this time he didn't. Of course, it looked good and contrasted Marinette beautifully but the garden's shouldn't have been in the painting.

Once he realized what he did, his face turned into one of understanding. Marinette then began to look concerned.

"What is it?" Marinette asked curious and worried as to why everyone was so quiet.

"He painted the rose gardens, but they aren't visible from that window. Master Damian has the tendency to paint exactly what he sees no matter the flaw or difficulty, it was simply shocking to see him deviate from that pattern." Alfred explained.

"In any case, it's beautiful. You captured Marinette wonderfully!" Selina complimented honestly, Marinette seemed embarrassed at the fact that her portrait was being put on display. The noirette herself blushed at that, refusing to look up from the ground as the rest of the family agreed and added their own comments and compliments.