Devastating

Chapter 47

"Miss. Dupain-Cheng, I hope Damian has been an acceptable suitor. When you become his betrothed-"

"Mother, enough." Damian said sharply, he was done humoring her.

"Is something wrong? Do you not wish to wed her?" Damian knew what she was doing and refused to play the game.

"That is not what I was referring to, my relationship has nothing to do with you or the league which as I have told you, I will never rejoin. When I betroth her, it will not be for political purposes and will certainly not be within the coming months." Thalia smirked, not 'if'' but 'when', luckily he was able to control his emotions and maintain his composure.

"You will take your rightful place as the head of the league, but that can be dealt with at another time- if you are so insistent on needing more time before a betrothal that is fine, but I do expect one. Now, I need to be going." Thalia stood.

"Goodbye, beloved, Damian, it was nice meeting you Marinette." Thalia walked toward the window, and without turning her back to the group, opening the window before making her escape. Red Hood and Red Robin were hot on her tail, making sure she left Gotham.

Damian quickly turned his attention to Marinette as Bruce and Alfred left the room, likely to give the teens privacy and to track Thalia for as long as possible.

"Was all of that true?" Marinette asked standing, staring at where Thalia stood only a moment ago. Damian's silence was deafening, she waited for his answer- no, she waited for his explanation. She was giving him a chance to explain, to lay it out for her so she could have a full understanding. Damian gently took her hand and guided her to a seat before grabbing a cup and filling it.

He handed her the glass and began telling her everything, how he came to be who he was today, how he used to think himself above everyone, how he used to be proud that he was an Al Ghul, he used to kill and steal and harm others thinking all he did was fine because he was above those he hurt, he told her that he had been trained to feel nothing, trained to lead and conquer, eventually getting to when he first met his father, how he painfully adjusted to his new life and family, how he worked to become better person. He told her how he had sworn he was different than when he was a child and that he would never go back to his old life, ashamed of his past actions and those of the people who raised him. He swore to himself long ago to never kill again, he swore his mothers attempts to bring him back were in vain. Finally, he swore to respect whatever decision she made. If she did not want to be with a murderer he would leave her alone.

By the end of his retelling, Damian was on the verge of tears, all the things he'd done were laid out for not only her but for him to reflect on. He'd done so many awful things but he knew he was different. He'd worked for who he was today and while he knew there were still things he needed to improve on Damian was proud of how far he'd come.

"Ja- Marinette? Are you alright?" Damian asked after he finished, all she did was look at the ground still pale but slightly calmer. Damian wanted to take her hand or pull her close and hug her until the natural rose returned to her cheeks, until she smiled and the ends of her eyes crinkled but he knew she might not want to be touched by him, a killer.

"You're good." Was all she said after a minute of loud silence, the hum of the refrigerator filling Damian's ears as he stared at her, dumbstruck.

"What?" It was the only thing Damian could croak out.

"You're good. You might have been raised to do those things but when you were given a choice between going back to your old life and your new one- you chose your new one. You said it yourself, you aren't proud of who you used to be- you had every right not to tell me any of that but I'm glad you did, now I can really see how amazing you are. Sure, some people are raised to be good people but you had to fight to earn that title- you had to choose to better yourself and go against the things you were taught as a child. You are a good person." Marinette explained softly, still pale, still afraid, but kindly.

"What is wrong with you?!" Marinette flinched as Damian raised his voice at her, standing in his anger.

"How can you be okay with any of that!? I killed people! I tried to hurt my family! And all you can say is that 'I'm good'? What kind of a person are you to see that as okay?" He was yelling at her, his emotion betraying him, Marinette's face scrunched in determination.

"Do you really think it's your fault? Do you really think that all those things you did as a child were your choice? What? Did you want me to say that everything was your fault and to just leave? Do you really think that's what you deserve?" Marinette exclaimed her voice getting louder as she gained momentum standing, no trace of fear could be seen.

"You said it yourself, none of it was your choice! We can't choose our family, and if we're being realistic lets face it! You didn't have a chance! You were surrounded by people that made it seem okay to do the things you did! It's the same thing as you learning to drive at five! You saw that as normal enough! It's the same principle! And when you were shown another, better path, another way to live your life you worked hard to get there! You need take a step back and realize that none of your childhood is up to you, every decision is made for you! What you do when you are allowed to make decisions for yourself- that! That is a true reflection of who you are!" Marinette said, not a shred of fear, not a doubt in her mind that she was wrong- she truly believed Damian was a good person.

"How can you say that? Brush off everything I've done in my past and ignore it? Like its nothing?" Damian's voice cracked, he felt something warm run down his cheek. He was crying.

"I didn't brush anything off, I listened and accepted that you did those things but I also accepted the fact that you changed and who you are today is a testament to you and who you are as a person." Jamilati continued but more softly stepping closer to Damian, gently taking his hand and pulling him into a hug as he quietly cried. The couple eventually sank to the floor, holding each other close.

Eventually, Marinette consoled Damian and he realized that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders because she knew everything and she still wanted him. Her ability to accept people for who they are is incomprehensible to Damian, and finally a question that had been gnawing at him was asked.

"You said it would take something big to get you to leave, what could possibly be bigger than this?" Marinette didn't even have to think.

"You not wanting me anymore. I am with you because we like each other, that is the reason behind our relationship- it's the big thing keeping us togeth-" Marinette stopped as Damian gently kissed her, his gratitude and love pouring into the action. When they pulled apart he spoke:

"How could I not want you, Habibti?" They stayed close, hugging for a few more minutes until they decided to look for Damian's family. They checked the bat-cave but no one was in there, when they were making their way to other places they could be, Mar'i saw them and ran, latching onto the couple.

"Auntie Nettie! uncle Dami! Are you okay? We heard yelling." Mar'i and the rest of the family had heard the faints indiscernible echoes of the couples argument. The girl focused her attention onto Damian, who looked like he'd been crying.

"Are you okay? Did the lady hurt you?"

"No, I'm alright. Where is everyone else?" Damian asked, Mar'i just held onto him Koala style as she answered.

"The living room, everyone is sad because Auntie Nettie might leave soon. But you aren't, right?" Mar'i was almost scared she was going to leave as she turned to look at her aunt.

"No, Ma Bichette, like I told you I'm here whenever you want me." Mar'i seemed to perk up slightly, when the trio arrived at the living room everyone took note of how Damian's larger hand engulfed Marinette's much smaller one and relaxed slightly. Dick and Kor'i sat with their shoulders touching and fingers intertwined, Bruce sat with Selina leaning on him- claiming him as hers, Jason was pacing, and Tim was on his computer typing vigorously. Alfred stood a calm façade firmly in place but anyone that knew him could see some of the worry leave his features as he saw both teens enter the room.

"Is she gone?"