Work Text:
When he had first gotten the texts, he was fully prepared to ignore it. He opened it by accident, never replied, even considered blocking the number.
Annoying Blonde Fuck: Be there or be square!
Damian Wayne did not, in fact, want to be there. He was perfectly content with being “square” as the blonde so eloquently put, but Alfred somehow found out. The butler made him go, something about socializing being good for him right now. Damian strongly disagreed, but there was no arguing with Alfred. It was simply impossible.
He did attempt though, pointing out that they were in Gotham and he needed to be in Paris by tomorrow. But all that did was get him into Paris with plenty of time for himself before he was to “be there”.
He considered lying, saying he did go there while just wandering the streets. But that’d be stupid, he lives in a family of detectives. One of them would be smart enough to ask if he was actually there. Then they’d start asking if he’s okay again and Dick will be annoying about it and I’m fine stop asking leave me alone.
He didn’t want to think about it, and maybe he was worried coming here would cause that.
Fucking Hell.
Damian spent the extra hours in his hotel room. Being in Paris brought a sick taste to his mouth. It kept reminding him of don’t think about it don’t think about her it just hurts it’ll distract you just stop.
When the time he was supposed to “be there” arrived, he finally left. He didn’t care if he was late. Maybe if he was late enough the annoying fuck would cancel.
The apartment was modest and small. He paid for it out of his trust fund and was going to college. Damian did begrudgingly admit that he seemed to be doing well for a superhero who’s father was a city wide terrorist with magical powers.
That didn’t mean he wanted to hang out with him.
He knocked on the door quietly. Maybe if he didn’t hear Damian could give the excuse that he didn’t think he was home.
The door opened. There goes that fucking plan, greaat.
”Wait you actually showed up?!” The blonde’s eyes lit up. “I didn’t think you were going to.”
I was forced to. The words were on the tip of his tongue but Damian bit them back. He thought he was annoying but… he was also Angel’s friend. Don’t think about her.
“I don’t know what “be square” means,” Damian replied stiffly. That wasn’t a lie, he didn’t know what it meant. But he also didn’t care.
Agreste laughed. “C’mon in! I have some snacks Mari always sai-“
“Don’t.” Damian bit out. “Just… don’t talk about her please.”
Agreste frowned. He beckoned Damian in and closed the door. “You… Don’t want me to mention her? Why not?”
Don’t think about it don’t think about her- “Just… why’d you invite me here again?”
Agreste was quiet for a moment before gesturing to the TV and controllers set up. “Do you play video games?”
No, he doesn’t.
But he would now to stop other conversation from happening.
“Damn you’re getting good at that one!” Agreste grinned at him.
Damian’s frown deepened. “You beat me.”
“Yeah, but it was a lot closer that time. You took off about 70% of my health instead of none of it!”
Damian rolled his eyes. He’s always been annoying, how does Ange- don’t think about her. How will I put up with him? “Is there a different game we can play?”
“Yeah! I have plenty, take your pick while I grab some food!”
Agreste got up while Damian surveyed the games. They all looked boring and gaudy. People do not naturally look like what these characters portray…
His eyes fell on one that was in a very worn case. Ultimate Mecha Strike 3. Seems the idiot played this one often… Damian picked it up to see what the game was about.
“I’m ba- oh, you picking that one?” his voice got all weird, not as happy as before. Damian wasn’t looking at him, still reading through the back.
“I saw that it was very used and got curious.”
“Ah, that’s cause it’s Nette’s favorite game.”
Damian froze, immediately dropping the box. “I told you not to-“
“Mention her?” Damian looked up and say Agreste frown. “She’s my friend. I can talk about her if I want.”
Damian stood up. “Fine then, do it with yourself because I’m le-“
“I miss her too.”
Damian had turned toward the door when Agreste said that. Don’t think about her.
“I don’t know when she’s coming back, she hasn’t talked to me. I’m guessing she hasn’t talked to you either, huh?”
Damian’s feet stopped moving toward the door.
“So that’s it. You miss her, you miss her so much that you’ve decided to pretend she, what, doesn’t exist to deal with it? Don’t think about her, don’t talk about her, don’t look at anything that reminds you of her?”
“Shut up.”
“That won’t work.” He heard Agreste take a few steps and sit on the couch. He could imagine the cat lounged confidently, eyebrow raised. “My therapist said repression doesn’t work. The more you try not to think about something, the more you will think about it.”
Damian turned around and opened his mouth to argue – it wasn’t repression it was-
“Instead I’ve been honoring her memory and letting myself miss her.”
The words halted in Damian’s mouth.
Agreste leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I talk to her parents at least once a week. I play her favorite games, visit her favorite spots. I get sad, but that’s okay, because I’m happy too. And I think… I hope she’d be proud of me turning missing her into something that makes me remember her. Something that makes me happy.”
“Stop- stop talking about-“
“Her?”
“Her like she’s dead!” Damian’s voice raised and his vision blurred. Agreste didn’t flinch at the growl, at the anger.
“I’m not. She’s just gone.”
“For how long? We don’t know! We don’t know if she’s hurt or-or scared or worse and it’s been over a year and my family all keeps talking about her like she’s not coming back! Like she’s dead!” Damian pressed his palms against his eyes, his throat felt tight, “They keep trying to fucking help like I’ll never see her again!”
“You will though.”
The words weren’t loud. But they snapped through the air like a gunshot. Damian looked at the blonde with shock, as if he were seeing him for the first time.
“I don’t get why they think the worst. Maybe they’re trying to help you prepare for it. But Mari isn’t incapable. She just happens to be late,” Agreste, no, Adrien smiled a bit.
She’s just running a bit late…
Damian didn’t know how to describe the mixture of hope and relief and disbelief running through him. He almost wanted to laugh at the joke, because he’s right. Agrest- Adrien was right. Marinette ran late more often than anything, but she always succeeded at what she put her mind to… His angel was fine.
Just late.
“You know, I actually invited you for her too,” Agre- Adrien chuckled a bit. “She wanted us to get along, so I figured I’d try. She loves you, and she’s my best friend, so you’ll have to get used to me since I’ll be her maid of honor at your wedding.”
Damian let a few chuckles slip there before gaining control of himself.
It was silent for a few moments before Damian’s eyes fell back onto the game he found earlier.
“…Will you show me how to play the Mecha Strike one?”
Adrien beamed.
“I thought you’d never ask!”