Chapter 69

Marinette's P.O.V:

I found that this weapon didn't have the kind of range I was used to. I liked being able to step away from someone and still be able to attack without outright throwing the weapon away.

Dick kept telling me to think of the weapon as an extension of my own body and for the most part I did. The only problem was how easily Dick seemed to dance out of the way of my own attacks.

I soon realized that Dick was mimicking the moves he had showed me on the previous equipment we used. He would do a graceful back flip away from me like he was on the balance beams again and in that moment it all finally clicked. I was being too basic with my attacks and he could always see it coming.

Dick has always been the type to be observant of his opponent but would always use his special brand of flair to throw the opponent off.

I laughed to myself. Creativity has always been one of my strongest attributes but I was too focused on Dick himself when they sparred that I never really thought to have a bit of fun when it came to my movements. I would always wait for his movements to find some sort of weakness or I would go in for the most outright attack.

Keeping all of my previous training in mind, I took a few steps back to prepare for my own attack.

Running straight for him, I knew he would assume I would be going for the most effective overhead strike, but instead leaped over him to strike him in the back of the neck with the right Escrima stick on my way down.

For the first time tonight, that actually seemed to catch him off guard.

Keeping my momentum going, I used the opposite stick to sweep his legs from behind the moment I hit the ground.

Dick landed flat on his stomach and I took the opportunity to roll onto his back and slip one of the Escrima sticks under his neck and pull it closer to herself to trap him in a choke hold.

Dick found it easy enough to stand up but I never loosened my hold onto him. I clung onto his back even harder as my choke hold held strong. He blindly reached behind him to grab ahold of me but I always managed to maneuver myself out of his reach while never letting go of his neck.

The struggle lasted for maybe ten seconds before Dick finally tapped out. The moment I let go, Dick found himself gasping for air.

"You good?" I stood beside him and gently patted his back as he caught his breath.

"I'm great." Dick smiled at me. "Good job."

"I know!" I jumped with excitement. "I finally beat you. I was just over analyzing everything."

"Yeah. Bruce's method of trying too hard doesn't always work." Dick looked over at Bruce training with Tim. "Don't tell him I said that though."

"Your secret is safe with me." I giggled. "What's next?"

"I think it's time to use the trapeze." He grinned at me. "What do you think?"

"Finally!" I grabbed Dick's hand to drag him towards the trapeze. "What are you going to show me first, circus boy?"

"Well I've already seen you do some of the basics the first time you were here so I think we will skip that. You seem to be very comfortable swinging through the air and that makes total sense so I'm thinking we do more of a partnered routine." Dick stopped at one end of the trapeze set up. "Why don't we start with me handing you off to the next set of ropes?"

"Okay." I nodded.

"Let me climb up and get on and then you climb up after I'm settled."

I watched as Dick easily made his way up and grabbed onto the trapeze ropes. He jumped off to start up a wide swing and he pulled his legs up to dangle over the bar to let his hands free.

"Come on up." He yelled down at me.

I made my way up and stood at the top to wait for Dick's instructions.

"On my way towards you, I want you to jump and grab onto my hands. You ready?"

"Yep." I smiled.

"There is a net at the bottom so don't worry about falling."

"I'm not."

I let Dick swing a few times before I took my leap of faith. The two of us easily grabbed ahold of each other's wrist and then swung a few times before I looked up at Dick with absolute glee.

"Keep our momentum going." Dick smiled back. "I'm going to need you to flip around in the air to grab the other trapeze. I know you can do this." He encouraged.

I tilted my head back to get a better look at the trapeze in question. This is most likely where their work with the uneven bars came into question.

"I got this." I had a determined look on my face.

"Okay then. On our third swing I'm going to let go. You ready?"

"Yep."

I counted each swing and on my third one, I easily flipped myself around to catch the other trapeze.

As the two of us were working on the trapeze, the other members of the family found themselves wrapping up their final workouts. One by one they all lined up to watch the two of us fly through the air like it was the most natural thing. The more we got comfortable with each other, the more daring and amazing their tricks would become.

"You'd think Sunshine grew up in a circus too." I heard Jason say to Tim.

"Yeah." Tim agreed. "That stupid trapeze isn't as easy as it looks."

"Look how happy Dick is." Bruce sat down next to the rest of his kids. "It's as if he is back in his natural habitat."

I turned to Damian while I did a flip to see him watch in what seemed amazement at how effortlessly I flipped from rope to rope and from the look on his face it looked like he could probably watch me do this all day.

All too soon, Bruce clapped his hands together to grab everyone's attention.

"It's getting late you two. Time to wrap this up."

"Okay." The two of us said in synchronized lackluster enthusiasm. We both clearly wanted to keep going.

Our feet hit the pedestals at the same time like we were rehearsing this for years and then climbed down to meet with the rest of them.

"That was so much fun." I gave Dick a high five.

"You guys put on quite a show." Jason leaned onto my shoulder. "You guy's should tour with that little act. People would pay good money to see it."

"Oh, I'm not much of a performer." I waved the thought away. "I would much rather do that for fun."

"Yeah, and my performing days are behind me. But that was tons of fun. Haven't felt like that in years. I think my parents would have really liked you, Marinette." He smiled at me.

"Thanks." I smiled awkwardly. "I wish I could have met them."

"Well," Bruce gave us a small smile. "It's time to hit the showers. Sleep is important. Goodnight everyone." He began to walk off.

"Goodnight." We all called back in unison.

"I guess I should shower and get to bed. Damian and I do have to meet up with Harley and Ivy tomorrow."

"Oh, that's right." Tim spoke as we all headed for the exit. "I'm excited to hear how all of that goes."

"I'm not really looking forward to it." Damian scoffed.

"Oh, come on Damian. I think those ladies are great. They have been nothing but nice to me."

"Well yeah." Jason agreed. "They would have to be complete idiots or total psychopaths to not like you. Like that idiotic psychopath Lila." He laughed.

"I agree." Tim smiled as he turned toward his bedroom door that we finally reached. "Goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight." We all said as we split up to each go to our own rooms.

"I'll see you in a moment." Damian said to me after everyone else had shut their door.

"Y-you can come take a shower with me if you want." I blurted out and immediately began to blush.

Damian looked shocked for a moment at my straight forwardness before nodding with a mischievous smile. "I'll meet you there. Just let me grab some things."

I had no idea where this burst of courage came from but I sure as hell wasn't going to back down now. Ignoring the knowing looks from my kwami's, I made my way into my bathroom to start up the shower and I quickly stripped down to get in and patiently wait for my soulmate to join me.