Damian's POV

Mother forced me to drink the stupid concoction as she did with Miss Dupain-Cheng. It was disgusting. My head started to spin and I swear I saw people falling from the sky. But that's until I heard a familiar, infuriating voice. "Hey, demon spawn, you okay?" I held my head and looked up to see Todd. This definitely can't be a dream because he's already in every nightmare I've had.

Damian: What the..- When did..-

Batman: No time to talk. Let's go.

Damian: What about..-

Red Robin: Don't worry, she's with her friends. Now, let's get you both out of here.

Todd and Grayson helped pull me up to the jet and we left.

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The first week was hell. I felt dizzy and had belly cramps and aches and I wasn't hungry. But I was honestly more worried about Dupain-Cheng as her parents told us that; 1. She was in a coma and 2. The marriage deal was off. So..maybe it was a good thing that I didn't tell them about the ritual...

I'm not surprised, rather sickened by the fact that they trust those perverted womanizers. But I guess it wouldn't be fair to say that since father is a womanizer himself. I was currently in my room with Titus watching my favourite tv series when someone knocked on my door. I got up to open it and saw one of the guys who helped father rescue me and Miss Dupain-Cheng.

"You're probably wondering who I am. I'm sorry for coming here unannounced. I'm Luka Coffaine and I'm one of Mari's colleagues, in fact her partner in her singing business." Oh, he's Mr. Stone's son. I've been hearing a lot about him recently. "Now that I know your name, what business do you have with me?" He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck then was pushed aside by a girl around Dupain-Cheng's age.

"We're here to talk about the abduction of both you and Marinette." I narrowed my eyes then allowed them in.

~~~~~

"My name is Kagami Tsurugi and I'm Marinette's partner in her singing business as Nettie. Her parents told us to find out more about the incident that happened two weeks ago." I sighed with a nod. "Proceed.."

Luka: First question. As you are now known as the son of a 'criminal', are you risking your family's life or maybe the city's life as well?

Damian: Uhh...

I can't tell them I'm also the son of a vigilante/hero.

No...

Kagami: You seem hesitant. Anyway, next question. Do you know why Marinette's in the state she's in now? Her vitals are low, her powers are substantially weakened and she's in a coma. And part b. Is there a way to cure her?

Damian: Uhh... My mother made us both drink some kinda 'potion'. But it seems that Dupain-Cheng had a bad reaction to it.

Kagami: What do you mean 'Reaction'?

Luka: Seeing as you are fine, that means that maybe you've drank it or been exposed to it before?

Damian: Yeah, I guess. And no, I don't know a cure.

Dupain-Cheng's vitals are low indeed but I can just sense that she is fine. It's not her body that was tampered with, rather her powers instead. And I can't say for certain that these people know her secret... Wait...

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Flashback:

"My family knows and my friends but no one else. But now you know and it seems that your mother knew as well." She sat back in her seat and began to hum a tune. "Oh, and I'm Nettie and MDC as well. Forgot to mention."

~~~~~~~~~~

Present:

She did say that..but can I really trust that they'll keep it from her parents? I've only spent a few hours with her and I can tell that she trusts these friends of hers more so than her parents.

Damian: I think I might know what could've caused it..-

Luka: Wha..-

Damian: But, you can't tell her parents..-

Kagami: Yeah, we may have lied when we said that her parents told us to come here. We came of our own accord. We weren't sure you would've let us in otherwise. And yeah, we promise we won't tell her parents. We never tell them anything anyways so it's all good.

She..lied to me..? Dang, I respect this girl.

Damian: Alright. The substance my mother forced us to drink was from something called 'The Lazarus Pit'. It's basically a pool of unknown chemical properties almost like magic which have the power to restore or heal a person. It can even grant immortality. Truth is, my mother bonded our souls in marriage. So technically we are now indirectly engaged.

Luka: Nothing new there, you two were originally engaged anyways..-

Kagami: Back to the magic part.

Damian: It seems that the pit's magic interfered with Dupain-Cheng's and maybe that's why she's in the coma. I don't know how to get her out of it but all I know is that she's alright. Probably just in a deep sleep. I also have another quarry.

Luka: That is?

Damian: The kwamis, are they..-

Kagami: So she told you about them too. *sigh* They're actually in the room with us right now. Sorry we also didn't mention that part. They're fine. They gave us temporary sight of them until Mari wakes up.

Damian: Alright. And Dupain-Cheng will be up in the next few days to the end of the week. She's just trying to stabilize her powers with that of the Lazarus Pit. She'll be fine.

Luka: Thanks man. We owe you one.

Kagami: And none of this slips to her parents. Promise.

Damian: Okay.

And with that they left. Damn, that girl lied to me twice. But the fact remains that Mari..- I mean Dupain-Cheng still hasn't woken up yet. It's been almost a month. It's kind of...worrying. Add that to the surprise of a lifetime she'll be getting once she does. Having to marry the pampered model himself. It's a nightmare.

I almost feel sorry for her...after all, I have my own problems here at home to deal with. And they're my so-called 'brothers'.

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