Chapter 119

Marinette's P.O.V:

I was walking around the Gala with Damian when Tim came strolling up to us with Barbara. "All the guests have arrived. Bruce wants us up on stage."

"It's showtime." Barbara smiles up at us. "Are you ready?"

"You bet." I squeeze Damian's hand.---------I should have felt out of place up there with the billion-dollar family, but I didn't. It was strange to me. This was not how I thought my life would go but I was happy to be standing up on this stage, hand in hand with Damian Wayne of all people. The crowd of people were quiet as Bruce walked to the podium. The only sound was the clicking of a camera here and there.

"Thank you all for coming." Bruce began. "It is thanks to events like this that keep Gotham running. Your donations tonight will be going to a multitude of charities that benefit the people all over this city, from the homeless to those in need of an education. Just as every year before this, I will be matching each donation dollar for dollar. I was just informed that before I got up here, we have already raised over $946,000 without any input from myself." Bruce waited for the applause to die down. "That's impressive and the night is still young. We hope to beat last year's record of 2.6 million and at this pace, I'm sure we can do it. Now," He smiles at the crowd. "we had quite the commotion outside and I believe we promised to answer your questions about someone who arrived with my family tonight."

I watched as the camera flashes quickened. I know that this is what a lot of people are waiting for.

"This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng." Bruce smiled at me and motioned for me to come forward. "Come on up. I'm sure they have some questions for you."

I smiled before reluctantly letting go of Damian's hand to step up next to Bruce. Hands shot up from the people in the crowd, most of them wearing press badges but some looked to be some the elite guests.

"Yes." Bruce pointed to someone in the crowd.

"Is it true you are dating Damian Wayne?" They asked.

Bruce nodded at me to answer.

"Yes, I'm dating Damian." I answered confidently. I saw a person off to my left raise their hand excitedly and I pointed to them.

"How long has this been going on?"

"It's relatively new." I smiled. "But we all agreed that keeping our relationship a secret wasn't something that we wanted. We are happy to let the world know."

Damian grabber my hand and I looked over to see that Bruce had left my side so Damian could take his place. I smiled softly at him before pointing to the next person.

"How did you two meet?"

Damian was the one to answer this time. "My brother Dick was touring her class when he introduced me to her." It wasn't technically the first time we met, but it would be our public story. "Her mere presence practically punched me in the face. I was smitten and it's been history ever since."

I smiled when I heard Damian's brothers chuckle behind them and I pointed to the next person to try to cover up the fact that we were all laughing at an inside joke.

"Where are you originally from?"

"Paris." I point to the next person.

"Was Dick Grayson the first member of the Wayne family you met?"

"No. That would be Jason. I accidentally bumped into him on the street." I giggle. "Literally."

These simple questions about the Wayne family and I go on for a bit before I finally point to Lois, who had just raised her hand.

"I heard you will be going to GU in the fall for fashion and design. Care to tell us where you got that spectacular dress?"

I smiled at Lois, knowing that she already knew the answer to that question. "I made it myself along with Damian's tie." I smile brightly.

This brings on another onslaught of questions, this time about me and fashion. Eventually though, Bruce says that they have taken up enough time and we make our way back to their table. As soon as we are off the stage, the band begins to play again.

"You did wonderful, kitten." Selina says as we are all seated. "You'll be making headlines by morning."

"Thanks, Selina."

Before anything else could be said, dinner was brought out to every table.

"Angel?" Damian asked as they were eating.

"Yes?" I smiled up at him.

"Is it okay if after we are done eating, we go and dance?" He said sweetly as he gestured to the dance floor, where only a few people occupied it.

"Dancing?" I grinned. "Of course, Damian. I would love to."

Valerie's P.O.V:

I wasn't much of a fan of these events. My aunt, Vicki, always got the better stories for the Gotham Gazette but things were starting to look up for me. I found myself lucky that I was one of the first on scene of the attempted robbery at the Gotham Museum a few weeks ago. My boss was proud of the article I wrote on the new hero of the city, Ladybird.

That still didn't change the fact that I was still reporting on the Gala. I felt that the article I wrote every year for this event was the same old fluff piece. I almost wanted to jump with joy when I found out that this would be anything but. I had a different hero today and her name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. The small girl probably didn't have a clue what she was really doing for me just by being here. This will be a story that my boss will want published ASAP.

I knew that I needed a better scoop than the rest of the people that would no doubt be reporting on her as well so I watched the girl closely, hoping to find a good opportunity to ask her or the youngest Wayne some questions.

I had just finished eating my dinner (which was usually her favorite part of these evenings) when I caught sight of the young couple walking to the dance floor. I was quick to move amongst the crowd to watch them but was smart enough to stay far enough back as to not alert them. I took out my camera to capture the two as they danced.

I almost forgot to start filming, they were so graceful. I held the camera steady as I videotaped them and was happy that I had such a great angle of the two. You would have though these two were putting on a show for everyone there. The only thing that seemed to prove that they weren't was the fact that they didn't even seem to notice anybody around them. It was almost like I was witnessing a private and tender moment. I knew this little fact would drive the donations up. This is something people would pay to see. Hell, I wouldn't blame them.

The dance went on for nearly ten minutes. It was clear the band didn't want to change the song because they new it would mean an end to the sight before them. Eventually though, the song came to an end. The moment it was over and the young couple made their way off the dance floor, those ready to donate stood up and did just that.

I took this opportunity to break away from the crowd who would be questioning the elite guests to go find the couple. I hoped I would be the first to find them and yet again, I felt lucky to find the two all alone at their table. The other members of the Wayne family must be socializing. I didn't really care about them at the moment though.

"Hi. I'm Valerie Vale with the Gotham Gazette. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?" I smiled brightly at the couple.

Damian looked like he would rather not but the young woman was happy to help. "Sure." Marinette said. "I don't mind."

"Thank you." I sighed in relief. "I won't take up too much of your time." I took out my phone and set it on the table to start recording their voices. "First of all, I would like to say that watching you two dance was such a treat."

"Angel is graceful, isn't she?" Damian smiled fondly at the bluenette.

"Angel?" I questioned.

"That's his nickname for me." Marinette giggled.

"That's so sweet." I grinned. "Do you mind telling me how you came up with it?"

It was quiet for a moment before Damian spoke up. "When I first met Marinette, I could have sworn that she was an Angel that was miraculously sent down to save me. Before I met her, I hadn't realized that I was seeing the world in black and white. Everything was dull shades of grey. But then there she was and all of a sudden, I saw blue and red and pink. This veil that I hadn't realized was covering my eyes was lifted and I could see the sunshine for the first time. It was almost blinding... But then she smiled at me and the rest of the world came into focus. All my life I was blindly searching for something and I didn't know what that something was. It wasn't until I met Marinette that I realized that I found it. I found her. So, yes. I believe that 'Angel' is a name that is befitting of her."

I hadn't realized that I was crying right along with Marinette at his words until I felt my tear fall. I quickly wiped it away before smiling at him. "That was beautiful." I whispered.

"Damian." Marinette reached up to cup his cheek and he smiled down at her with nothing but love in his eyes. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you." He said more audibly.

"Well I think I have bothered you two enough." I picked up my phone from the table. "Thank you for your time."

"Oh, right." Marinette looked over to me like she just realized I was there. "Have a good night, Valerie."

"You too." I smiled before leaving.

I know that Marinette didn't realize this, but she had just become my lucky charm. I was getting that good story tonight and my boss would have to send me out for better stuff after this. My days as a journalist was looking up.