Talia arrives to take the twins back, with an aged-up clone of Damian at her beck and call. It is a testament to how much Marinette really means to her mother that there is no clone of her.

Damian and Marinette refuse. They are done with the League's ways. They don't want to kill (not that Marinette ever did) and prefer their father's methods. Their family stands by them, willing to fight if necessary.

It is full-out war.

Even when faced with assassins now trying to kill them (Marinette was disposable since she wasn't a suitable heir, Damian was now disposable since Talia could make clones of him to be the heir instead. Why keep them alive when they've betrayed their purpose?), Starling finds herself using the non-lethal moves her family has taught her as she ducks and rolls and slashes with her fans, then switching to her katanas for a longer range.

More and more assassins are falling. Starling engages her mother in combat, and Black Bat joins in, which brings a tiny sliver of fear to Talia's eyes. Cassandra Cain was groomed from birth to be the perfect assassin, and was unbeatable for even the top League members. She knows this, and she is rightfully scared. Good.

"Marinette. You are a disappointment." Talia hisses as they fight. Once, in a time where Talia was the only one who believed in Marinette, in her own twisted way, those words would have hurt more than an injury ever could. Now, she is far beyond seeking her mother's praise.

Starling's eyes flare green for a moment. "You assume that I wish to be valued by the League, Talia. I would prefer to be a disappointment to you. It would mean that I am some semblance of a good person."

They are pushing the assassins back, they are winning, and then Robin's shriek of pain pierces the air.

Starling turns in time to see the Heretic, Damian's adult clone, pull his blade out of her brother's chest with a sickening grin. Robin is dead before he hits the ground, and she lets out a furious scream in tandem with her father and family before the Lazarus Pit takes over.

She launches herself at Heretic, picking up her twin's fallen katana on the way and battling the clone with all the brutality of someone on the verge of madness. Everything is tinted that sickly shade of green, and she takes a satisfaction in every hit she lands on the Heretic's body, until-

Shink.

Heretic's head falls to the ground, severed from its body, which slumps to the floor a moment later.

Starling returns to herself standing over a headless body, holding her brother's bloody blade. Somewhere deep down, her mind whispers that she broke her Father's rule, that she killed a man for the first time in years.

The rest of her doesn't regret it. Damian is dead. Her twin brother is dead, and she would break all the rule in the world if it meant avenging his death.

Justice, not vengeance. That little corner of her mind reminds. What you just did was vengeance.

Seven people left the Batcave that day, alive. Only six return, the eldest carrying his son's body, with shattered souls and broken hearts and crushing grief.

.o0o.

Marinette moves to a guest room that night, but she doesn't sleep. When she walks into the kitchen, it is evident that nobody else has, either. Alfred hands her a mug of hot chocolate, and she sandwiches herself in between Cass and Tim. All of their eyes are red-rimmed, and Marinette wants to cry again, but her tear ducts have already been drained dry.

It cannot be real, a part of her insists. Damian cannot be gone. He is too strong, too well-trained. But his absence from the table when the rest of the family is present says otherwise.

When the sun rises, and the city starts to awaken, Marinette gathers up her remaining strength and calls Jon.

He is there almost instantly, holding her as she breaks down all over again in a guest room instead of her own, because she thinks of him every time she passes. Jon cries his own tears, and they end up spending the entire day crying and mourning the loss of their shared best friend.

That night, they have a sleepover, both wanting to bask in the comfort of each other's presence. Twice, Marinette wakes up screaming, eyes flashing green. Both times, Jon is there.

Eventually, he has to return to Metropolis, and she is left with the aching void in her heart once more.

.o0o.

She doesn't remember much of the funeral. Only that it was raining, she was wearing a black dress he helped her design, and everyone was crying, but no one could tell their tears from the ones the sky shed.

.o0o.

Marinette isn't sure how much longer she can stand to live in this home, this city, even. She is followed, haunted, by a ghost, finding evidence of Damian's existence everywhere but never finding her brother himself. She promises herself to last until her thirteenth birthday. Damian died a week before it took place.

Marinette descends to the Cave, where Father is sitting at the Batcomputer, as he normally is now. Everyone in this family mourns by throwing themselves into work. She is no different.

"Father." She says carefully. What she is about to propose may not be taken well.

Batman turns. "Marinette. How are you doing?" His costume is menacing, but his aura is gentle.

"I wish to leave Gotham." Marinette is blunt and to the point. "This city holds too many memories. I would like to start over."

"That is... understandable." Father finally says. "Do you have anything in mind?" Everyone in the family agreed that Batman was emotionally constipated, but in this case, it is helpful. Marinette isn't sure she could refrain from crying again if Richard had been here instead.

She hands him a file. "Sabine Cheng. Sister to Sandra Wu-San, otherwise known as Lady Shiva. Reformed assassin, currently married to Tom Dupain, a baker. Owns and lives above a popular bakery in Paris, the Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie, located right next to Collége et Lycée Francois Dupont, one of the top schools in the city. I have already contacted her, and she has agreed to host me for as long as I need, provided I help out in the bakery."

Batman nods approvingly. "Civilian cover?"

"The name Marinette has French origins, so I will continue to go by that name while adopting the last name 'Cheng'. Born in Gotham, but came to live with her aunt and uncle to study in Paris instead, because Paris is the fashion capital of the world and I would like to be a designer someday. I already have all the necessary paperwork forged and a flight booked for August 10th."

Another reason she chose to keep her first name: Talia named her Marinette because it means 'one who rises.' She had been knocked down, hard, this time, but Marinette knows she will always rise up again, eventually. She always had, in the past. This blow was substantially larger, but she will mourn her brother, and one day, she will move on.

"If this is what you need, I won't stop you." Batman says. Marinette cracks a tiny smile for the first time since Damian's death.

"Thank you, baba. "

Marinette exits the Cave feeling a little bit lighter, and knows she is on the path to getting up again.

.o0o.

Saying her goodbyes is the hardest part.

Richard hugs her, sobbing, and nearly crushes her in his embrace. "You'll keep in touch, right?"

Marinette gently pats his back. "Of course, frate. I promise."

Jason ruffles her hair. "If any assholes bother you, punch 'em in the balls."

One side of her mouth quirks up in a smile. "Noted."

Cass kisses her forehead, looking at her with sad brown eyes. "Be safe, meimei. "

"I will, jiejie. " Marinette smiles again.

Tim gies her a burner phone, with all the necessary contacts programmed in. "Just in case."

She tucks it into her carry-on bag. "Thank you, frère. "

Alfred wishes her a safe flight, and then it is her father's turn. They look at each other for a long moment before Marinette finally gathers up her courage to hug him.

"Thank you, Father. Be careful."

"The same goes for you, Marinette. Just because you won't be a vigilante doesn't mean you can't get hurt." He replies.

"I will do my utmost to stay out of trouble." Marinette promises.

Marinette Wayne enters the airport, but it is Marinette Cheng who boards a flight to Paris, France, and Marinette Cheng who lands in the fashion capital of the world seven and a half hours later.

Either way, her name is Marinette, and one day, she will rise.