#25daysofchristmasprompts2k18

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 9 (December 9th) – “Snow Ball” Fight

(Okay, so I took some liberties with the prompt…)

It had started off so well, too, Alya thought regretfully. She and the girls had had a fool-proof plan. Use Chloé’s “Snow Ball” to get Adrien and Marinette together. Don’t tell Marinette he was coming, so she wouldn’t have time to panic. Use dancing and the snack bar to move them closer together, and then, oops! Push them under the mistletoe together! Badda-bing badda-boom, the lovebirds start kissing and realize how right they are for each other!

Simple, right?

Well, not really, but she thought she’d covered all the bases.

She’d gotten Nino to convince Adrien to tell everyone he wouldn’t be able to make it, and then they’d smuggle themselves in, incognito. (The poor, sweet, sunshine boy thought he was hiding from his father, not everyone else.) Rose and Juleka would hang out at the buffet table, making sure the mistletoe remained open and available as soon as they needed it. Myléne and Ivan would dance nearby, keeping an eye on Marinette and blocking the door so the girl couldn’t bolt as soon as she got a glimpse of the love of her life.

Alya should’ve known they were screwed the moment Alix volunteered to distract Chloé….

“Wow, it’s so beautiful!” Marinette exclaimed, as soon as they entered the Snow Ball. Alya had to agree. The Bourgeois family had gone all-out on decorations. Glittering crystals in the shape of snowflakes hung everywhere from the ceiling, and the gold and red motif of the Grand Paris Hotel’s lobby had been replaced with silver and white, edged in blue and covered in glitter.

“You can really tell Audrey was involved,” Alya commented.

“Glitter everywhere,” Marinette agreed. They shared a giggle.

Then Alya caught sight of Chloé, and immediately understood the need for all the extravagance. The gold princess ballgown the blonde was wearing would look out of place at any other party.

“Wow,” was all she could say. Marinette caught sight of where she was looking and nudged her best friend.

“It’s not so bad,” she said. “It kinda reminds me of Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”

“If you say so,” Alya said doubtfully. Personally, she thought Marinette looked a thousand times better. Her light pink dress suited her perfectly (of course, it was a Marinette Original, so no one was surprised) and was more graceful and flowy than… poofy.

“Hey, Marinette!” Kim said, coming over to them. “Would you like to dance?”

Alya panicked. This wasn’t in the plan!!

“NO! I mean—umm, we were just heading over to the buffet table, right, Marinette?” she said, trying to tug her friend away.

“It’s okay, Alya. I’m not hungry yet anyway,” Marinette said, blissfully unaware of Alya’s internal screaming. She took Kim’s hand and smiled at her bestie. “Why don’t you go ahead without me? I think I see Nino over there.”

Kim twirled her away and Alya turned towards the buffet table. Sure enough, her boyfriend was already here, right beside a blond in a top hat and a masquerade mask.

Really, Nino? That was the best you could do?

Nino caught her gaze and gave a helpless shrug. Not his fault then. Alya sighed. Adrien could be such a dork sometimes. And now Kim had Marinette practically on the other side of the room, both of them laughing as they twirled around carelessly.

Alya sternly resisted the urge to scream. Why did her plans keep getting derailed?!

“What the heck, Alya?” Alix hissed, coming up beside her. “I’ve had to talk Miss Lemon Cupcake for ten minutes now! Do you have any idea how self-absorbed she is?! Where were you guys?? Where’s Marinette??”

“We got held up with last-minute fixes,” Alya admitted glumly. “And M got stolen by Kim as soon as we walked in the door.” She waved in their general direction. Alix narrowed her eyes.

“That big lug. This calls for drastic measures.”

And then she was off. Alya blinked. Was she wearing roller blades under her dress? Typical Alix. Oh well, time to meet up with the other girls and formulate a new plan—

“HEY, KIM! CATCH!!”

Alya stared in horror as Alix lobbed something from the buffet table right at Kim. It was some kind of marshmallow dessert, meant to imitate snowballs, but it came apart midair. Kim, realizing that there was no way he could catch it all, grabbed Marinette and used her like a shield.

Alya gasped in horror as Marinette spattered in marshmallow crème. Oh no! Her new dress! Any moment now, Marinette would burst into tears and run out of here, sobbing! She’d be akumatized! Alya had to—

Marinette’s eyes narrowed. Slowly, carefully, she scooped the worst of the mess off her dress, studying it in her hand for a moment…

Before turning and smashing it in Kim’s face.

Kim sputtered and flailed around as he wiped it off, laughing. “Okay, yeah, I deserved that!” he said.

But Marinette was already moving, headed straight for the buffet table, and Alix.

“In my defense,” Alix said, holding up her hands and slowly backing away, “I didn’t mean to hit you—” She was cut when a fresh handful of the marshmallow crème was flung in her face. She glared at the class president and wiped it off.

“Oh, it’s on.”

“Now see here—!” Chloé snarled, coming up behind them. Marinette ducked Alix’s next attack just in time, and Chloé went down, covered in crème.

“FOOD FIGHT!!!” Ivan yelled, gleefully lobbing a pudding at the nearest person.

And the party devolved into a free-for-all.

And, to her horror, Alya watched as Adrien approached Marinette, still incognito. He was frowning, probably mad that she was spoiling his best friend’s party.

Sure enough, his voice was reproachful.

“Hey, I don’t think this is—”

Marinette, in the midst of her battle-induced bloodlust, threw a scoop of marshmallow crème right at him, knocking off his hat. Adrien stood there, dumbfounded, and then slowly took off his now-crème-covered mask.

Maarinette paled. “ADRIEN??”

He stared back at her, his gaze calculating. “So, you wanna play, huh?”

“I—I—I’m sorry!” Marinette stammered. “I didn’t know it was you! I didn’t—”

She was cut off by a chocolate pie to the face.

Adrien licked his fingers. “Now you just need a cherry on top, princess,” he said, grinning at her cheekily.

Marinette glared at him and wiped the worst of it off.

“You’re dead to me, Agreste,” she growled.

“Strong words from a chocolate mousse.”

What happened next could only be described as a lovers’ quarrel. Alya had never seen somebody throw so accurately as Adrien did while diving, and Marinette quickly made an ingenious shield with an empty platter as she continued to barrage the love of her life with various food items.

In fact, Alya would’ve recorded it all to show to their future children someday, but Nino came up and lovingly smushed a banana crème pie into her hair, so she had to go introduce him to the pudding.

...WaRC

[chimpukampu]

Day 7: Bright

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 11 (December 11th) – Scarf

(continued from Day 6 – Gift Wrap and Day 10 – Blanket)

@bowser14456

Chat Noir landed in Adrien’s room and practically dove for his desk, flinging open drawers.

Where was it? Where was it?! He knew he’d put it here some—Oh, it would be so much easier to look without his hands full!!

He went to the bed and flung open his brand-new blanket, spreading it lovingly over his comforter. Then he allowed himself a moment to squeal with delight.

It fit perfectly on his bed!! AND IT LOOKED SO GOOD!! The colors! The craftmanship! HIS LADY WAS SO AMAZING!!

And she deserved a present just as amazing! He shook himself out of it and started searching again. He’d put the little box away so Plagg would stop beating him with wrapping paper (another good reason not to de-transform right now; Plagg couldn’t stop him), but he was sure it was in a drawer here somewhere…

Ah ha! Found it!

He clutched the little box to his chest. He hoped she liked it! Now, to get back to her! One mustn’t keep a lady waiting, after all!

He spared one last glance at his blanket, warmth flooding him. Maybe he should take it with him? Ladybug had mentioned she was cold after all… But it looked so good! Like it belonged on his bed! There must be some other way to keep his lady warm….

A thought struck him, and he ran to his closet. Moments later, Chat Noir was leaping into the night again, two precious items cradled in his arms.

He landed at the Arc de Triomphe and panicked. Ladybug wasn’t here! What if she’d decided not to wait for him? What if she thought he wasn’t coming back?! OH NO, HE’D TAKEN TOO LONG! SHE WAS GONNA HATE HIM—

“There you are, kitty,” Ladybug called, swooping down to join him. “I decided to go for a little run to keep warm. What—?” She eyed the items in his arms and gave a cute little giggle. “Couldn’t wait to get it home, huh?”

“It looks great!” he agreed, nodding eagerly. “And… for the lady… to keep her warm!” He wrapped his scarf, the gorgeous blue one his father had gotten him for his birthday, around her neck and beamed. “Just as I thought! It really brings out your eyes!”

Ladybug blushed. “Chat….”

“And, of course, your actual gift!” he said, swooping down to one knee and holding up the little box with the gold bow. He could swear that she was blushing even more as she took it and carefully unwrapped it. She froze when she realized it was a jewelry box.

“Chat, I can’t accept this,” she breathed, her face nearly as red as her costume.

“Of course you can! I mean, I know I don’t have the skills or the time to make you something as amazing as your gift, but please…,” he begged.

Ladybug reluctantly opened the box and sucked in her breath, staring at the little red and black ring in disbelief. “Chat, this is an engagement ring!”

“No, it’s not! Look, I know it’s kind of expensive—”

“It’s clearly an engagement ring!” Ladybug insisted. “The onyx is even in the shape of a heart!” She gaped at the ring a bit more before looking at her partner with narrowed eyes. “It is an onyx, right?”

Chat gulped. “Black diamond.”

“CHAT!”

“It reminded me of you!” he blurted. “See? With the rubies surrounding it, it kinda looks like a ladybug spot!” He gave her a winning smile. Ladybug groaned and buried her face in his scarf.

“I can’t accept this!”

“Hey, only the best for my lady! And don’t worry, I won’t make you wear it or anything….”

“Chat,” Ladybug said slowly. Chat Noir turned away, refusing to take his gift back.

“You can even wear it on a chain or something—”

“Chat, where did you get this?” she asked, suddenly stern.

“I didn’t steal it if that’s what you’re worried about,” he pouted, turning back to her. Really, how could she think that he was some sort of cat burgler—

She wasn’t even looking at the ring! She was staring at the scarf he’d wrapped around her!

“That? That’s mine,” he said, confused. “I got it as a birthday gift.”

She looked up at him, her face suddenly pale.

“Who—who did you get it from?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“My father,” he answered, still not following. She whimpered softly and slowly backed away from him. “My lady?”

“No no no no no… It can’t be. It just can’t be,” she was mumbling.

“Ladybug? What’s wrong?”

“I have to go.”

“WHAT?” Chat exclaimed. “No, wait! Please!” he cried, catching her arm before she could let her yoyo fly. “If it means that much to you, I’ll take the ring back! I’ll get you something else for Christmas! Just don’t be mad at me, please!”

“Chat….” Was it his imagination, or was she trembling in his arms? “I’m not mad at you,” she finally said. “I—I’m just… I think I just figured out your secret identity.” She looked up at him guiltily.

Chat was floored. “HOW??”

Ladybug swallowed, took a deep breath, and visibly steadied herself.

“Because I’m the one who made you that scarf for your birthday.”

Chat blinked at her for a moment, and then burst out laughing.

“This isn’t funny, Chat! I’m being serious!!” Ladybug exclaimed.

“I know! And that’s what makes it funnier!!” he howled. Still chuckling, he wiped the mirth from his eyes. “I’m sorry, Ladybug, but I seriously doubt you’re an emotionally-constipated, middle-aged man.”

She puffed out her cheeks angrily at him (Oh God, she was so cute!!) before carefully schooling her face back to normal.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say about your father, Adrien.”

“Yeah, well—” He froze.

OH SHIT, SHE DID KNOW WHO HE WAS!!

He stared at her, barely daring to breathe.

If I’ve had a crush on my father for over a year, I’m going to need sooooo much therapy.

Apparently, the look on his face reflected his inner horror, because Ladybug’s own expression softened.

“And no, kitty. I’m not your father,” she said, carefully unwrapping the scarf from around her neck. She ran her fingers along it until she found something she was searching for, and held it out for him to see. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but you looked so happy.”

He looked down at the part she was offering. There, embroidered in the same color as the light blue yarn (and barely visible), was a familiar signature.

Marinette.

...WaRC

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 22 (December 22nd) - Naughty or Nice

@inkshila Who asked for something like this a loooong time ago! Merry Christmas!!

Alya waited for Marinette at the front of the school, her foot tapping irritably. Ugh it was cold! And sure, the girl was usually late, but today, the Ladyblogger had some amazing news!

Some frustrating news, she added silently, checking the blog again.

Nothing.

No one.

Not one person!

Not one Parisian had betrayed Ladybug and Chat Noir when Hawkmoth had them cornered yesterday!

He’d created an akuma that mimicked Carapace’s powers. Shields only, made of something that no magic could pierce. He’d forced Ladybug and Chat to use their powers, and then trapped them in a transparent box to wait out their transformations.

Soon, everyone would know their identities! Hawkmoth would know their identities! And even though the Villain of the Day was too weak to get rid of them, Hawkmoth could hunt the superheroes himself at his leisure.

A good plan, Alya had to admit.

Until the citizens of Paris decided to do something about it.

Just before the transformations dropped, the crowd nearby had driven the akumatized villain away. (He was not a fighter.) Then, they’d covered the invisible box with a piece of fabric from a nearby store.

And then, as the pièce de résistance, they’d formed a human shield around their superheroes, blocking anyone from seeing who was inside.

Everyone had turned their backs and looked away.

Nobody took out their phone or snapped a picture.

They’d chased away anyone who tried to peek, including throwing themselves at the akuma to distract him until the superheroes had powered up again.

No one. Not one single video or photo.

Alya would be lying if she said she wasn’t just a little bit disappointed.

But also proud. So very proud of her fellow Parisians! No one had come forward with the scoop of lifetime. No one was willing to damn their superheroes into a life of hiding.

In fact, it sounded like Ladybug and Chat Noir were the only ones who’d discovered each other’s identities yesterday! Some people had come forward with a first-hand account of what they’d heard.

Apparently, there’d been some screaming, some accusations (“You weren’t supposed to turn around, Chat!” “You looked first, Ma—my lady!” “You both peeked at the same time because of that big explosion, now where’s my cheese?!”), and some very intense munching sounds.

Badda bing, badda boom, they saved the day again and flew off into the sunset together. Yay.

At least Ladynoir was trending.

“Where is that girl?!” Alya growled, checking the time. If she waited any longer, she was gonna be late! Marinette better not be expecting her bestie to come up with her excuse this time! Alya stomped up the stairs and into the classroom.

And stopped dead.

There was Marinette, sitting in her seat like nothing was wrong.

And, sitting beside her, holding her hand and gazing at her adoringly, was Adrien Agreste.

“Hi, Alya!” Marinette said brightly, waving her free hand. “Do you mind switching seats with Adrien today? You wanted to sit next to Nino, right?”

Alya blinked. And blinked again.

WHAT THE—!!

Her eyes flew to Nino, but he shrugged, as lost as she was.

“Don’t worry, Alya,” Adrien said, winking at her. “I’ll give her back eventually.”

He grinned at Marinette and lovingly kissed her knuckles. And, instead of melting into a puddle of Marinette-goo, blushing and stammering incoherently, or just outright dying on the spot, Marinette reached up and playfully tapped him on the nose!

“Careful, kitty,” she teased coyly. “You can’t take up all of my time. We still have to pass the class, after all. You need to be a good boy for Santa Claws.”

“I can’t help it if the most purr-fect subject in the room is right beside me.”

“Ok, that one was a-paw-ling and you know it. You can do better than that!”

“My a-paw-logies,” Adrien laughed. He leaned in closer. “You’re just so hot you’ve fried my brain.”

No, Alya’s brain was the one that was fried. WHAT THE—HAD SHE SLIPPED INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE??

And apparently, she wasn’t the only one to notice.

“Did you two get akumatized or something?” Alix asked, leaning against her desk and looking bored. “You’re acting weird.”

“Not that we’re against it,” Mylene added quickly. “But you do seem to be moving awfully… fast.”

Marinette and Adrien looked at each other, surprised.

“Are we?” she asked.

“I don’t think so,” he shrugged.

“IT’S RIDICULOUS!” Chloé screamed. “UTTERLY RIDICULOUS! You’ve put some sort of spell on my Adrikins, Dupain-Cheng, and I’m going to prove it!!” And Chloé stomped out of the room.

“Should we try to stop her?” Adrien asked Marinette.

“No,” Marinette sighed. “It was only a matter of time before—”

The tell-tale screams of “AKUMA! AKUMA!” started outside. Everyone in the classroom sighed.

“That didn’t take long,” Alix muttered.

“You two should hide,” Nino added, looking at his best friend and his new girlfriend. “She’ll be after you first.” They nodded and, still holding hands, ran out of the room together.

If Chloé getting akumatized (again!) was record-breaking, Ladybug and Chat Noir’s defeat of her was nothing short of miraculous. Unable to find the couple she wanted, she’d been disoriented and hesitant to attack her former teammates. She even started crying when Ladybug purified her akuma.

Sabrina took her home for the day.

Alya, meanwhile, didn’t know why she was surprised when Marinette and Adrien didn’t immediately show back up after the fight. She thought she knew that girl!

But Marinette had been doing a whole lot of unexpected things today, so Alya followed a hunch and asked to go to the bathroom.

Sure enough, the janitor’s closet was making some odd sounds.

“GOTCHA!” she cried, flinging open the door.

She was still shocked to see Adrien’s mouth on Marinette’s throat, with her hands buried in his hair.

They yelped and broke apart, blushing and stammering excuses.

“YOU TWO,” Alya hissed through her teeth. “HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO! Making out in a closet?! I can understand if it was just a show to piss off Chloé, but what you’re doing in here is enough to get the two nicest people I know onto the NAUGHTY LIST!!”

The two stared at her, wide-eyed and blinking. Adrien recovered first.

“Sooo…,” he said slowly, a wicked smile forming on his lips. “You’re saying we’re already on it….”

“You’re at the very top unless you have a very good explanation!” Alya raged.

Adrien nodded, unaffected by her fury. He shrugged at Marinette.

“Well, my lady, if we’re already doomed…,” he reached out to pull the door closed again, having the nerve to wink at Alya as he did so, “you can give us a few more minutes then, right?”

...WaRC

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 21 (December 21st) - Warm

(continued from 13 – “Hot Chocolate Mustache” and 14 – “it’s too cold for this”)

“Wha—?” Marinette exclaimed, looking at him wildly, her hand automatically going to her choker. “Adrien, what are you talking about?!”

Tell her.

Say it. She’s begging you! Just say it!!

But….

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, turning to leave. Her hand shot out, catching the sleeve of his coat.

“Don’t. You. Dare,” she growled, her voice shaking. “Don’t you dare leave me here with just that!”

“I already said sorry.”

“I’m not talking about—Are you—?! Tell me something!” she cried, shaking her head. “Something only he would know!”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“IT DOES TO ME!! I looked—I looked everywhere for you!!”

“And I just stood there.”

Marinette pulled him back around so she could stare into his eyes, as if she could search his very soul. Adrien gave her a tired smile, too exhausted to fight it anymore.

“I just stood there, milady. The police were taking my father away, you were giving statement after statement, and I… I just stood there. Poor little Adrien Agreste. I told myself later there was no use in giving Plagg more camembert, you already had it under control. There was no use trying to give a statement; they were all focused on you.”

He gave a little laugh. “The great Ladybug, a simple baker’s daughter. A great human-interests story, but,” he swallowed, “can you imagine the sensationalism if Chat Noir turned out to be the son of Hawkmoth?!” He took a moment to laugh. “There’d be riots in the streets! Protests! ‘Experts’ giving their ‘expert opinion’ on how I might’ve affected the team….”

“Chat….” Marinette’s eyes filled with tears.

“People wondering if I might’ve been helping my father all along! It did take us years to track him down, after all.”

“No—"

“And, let’s face it. You didn’t really need me.”

“That’s not true!” Marinette choked out, tears streaming down her face. “You—Do you have any idea how much I regret how that night played out?! I sent Chat away and never heard from him again! And one of my best friends from school lost both of his parents and had to go live with relatives in another country! I never heard from him again either—and I was sure he hated me, because I was the reason he was alone!!”

“My face was revealed, Chat! Nobody would leave me alone! News crews! Photographers! Stalkers! Hollywood! Do you have any idea how many nights I spent on my balcony, hoping you would come and save me?!”

“Sorry I let you down on that one too, then,” Adrien said wryly.

“You didn’t let me down!” she insisted. “You—he was your father, Adrien! My God! Of course you were in shock! I wouldn’t expect anything else! But why didn’t you tell me afterwards?!”

“Master Fu came and got the ring the next morning,” Adrien admitted. “Said he was sorry; he hadn’t known who Hawkmoth was either. It was just… bad luck.” He shrugged and gave her a smile. It was an old joke of theirs; their powers being based on luck. “But he also couldn’t risk the ring leaving the country, and my cousins were coming later that day, so….”

He gave her an apologetic smile. “I asked him not to tell you who I was. I didn’t want to… sully your victory.”

“You… you idiot!!” Marinette sobbed.

And then, to his surprise, she reached up and pulled him into a kiss.

Warmth radiated into him from her lips, filling him, soothing him. It washed away the rage, the loneliness, the ache that had filled him ever since that night. In its place was a calm. A feeling of rightness.

This was where he belonged.

In her arms, kissing her.

He kissed her back.

She pulled away, her hand coming up to rub her face. “Stubble,” she giggled.

“Sorry. I can shave it—”

“Don’t. I kind of like it,” she said, running her hand along his cheek. “My kitty’s got whiskers,” she murmured.

Adrien breath caught.

Her kitty.

Even after all this—! Even after he’d abandoned her for so many years! She still—he was still hers?!

This time, he was the one to kiss her. He practically lunged at her as he pulled her into his arms. But she gave as good as got; her gasps breathing fire into his veins with each passing minute. Finally, though, she pulled away.

“We need to get back to the party,” she whispered against his skin. Adrien groaned, dropping his head onto her shoulder. “And I think we need to find some mistletoe.” He perked up, liking this plan a bit more. Marinette giggled again at the expression on his face. “To explain that lipstick on your collar. I don’t think a quick rinse is going to get it all off. Chloé made me buy the expensive stuff this time.”

“Thank you, Chloé.”

Marinette laughed, and continued to straighten his collar and mess with his jacket, before she finally looked up at him.

“Then, you aren’t going to leave my side for the remainder of the party,” she said, decision made. “And when it’s over, I’m going to take you back to my place and make certain you never want to leave Paris again.”

He sucked in a breath. “This is a good plan,” he whispered. “I like this plan.”

She gave him a smug smile. “I thought you might.”

“But what will the people of Paris think? About their hero dating a—”

“Who cares what they think?” Marinette demanded, pulling him close again. “You are mine, Adrien Agreste. I lost you once. And I will fight anyone who tries to take you away again.” She looked him up and down. “Even you.”

Hers. Warmth blossomed again in his chest at the thought.

And really, Adrien thought, there was no use in arguing with Ladybug.

So, he did what any rational man would do. He kissed her again.

End.

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 19 (December 19th) - Holly

(continued from Day 6 – Gift Wrap, Day 10 – Blanket, and Day 11 - Scarf)

Ladybug waited with bated breath as Chat Noir (Adrien!!) looked at the scarf. He looked up at her, then back down to the scarf, and then back up to her again.

“Marinette?” he asked quietly. She nodded. He sucked in a deep breath and then started pacing frantically, muttering to himself.

She could relate! She was pretty sure she was in shock, otherwise she’d be joining him over there!

After a minute, he stopped and looked at her again, as though to reassure himself that she was still there. Ladybug waved. Chat blinked, and brought his hand up to his mouth, biting down on his knuckle.

Then he emitted what could only be described as a mini-scream. Like he didn’t want to alarm anyone, but couldn’t quite hold it all inside. Ladybug nodded; she could empathize. She was about two seconds away from a mental breakdown herself.

“Marinette? You’re Marinette. I mean, of course you’re Marinette—this makes so much sense,” he babbled. “You’re amazing and smart and clever and brave and—ahhhhhhh!”

He let out that little mini-scream again. It was kinda cute, and Ladybug was thinking about stealing it. She was about due for her own freak-out here.

Chat was staring at her again, and still biting his knuckle. He looked torn. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to be able to read his thoughts right now!!

He appeared to come to a decision and let out a long, shuddering breath. Ladybug reflexively clutched the little box he’d given her. Whatever he said next—

“I take it back.”

She blinked. “Huh?” He gulped and glanced down at the box in her hands, then back up to her face.

Oh. He wanted his ring back. Of course. That was understandable. She was no longer just his beloved, fearless partner. She was his classmate, who he saw trip over her own feet on a daily basis and who couldn’t formulate a complete sentence in his presence.

Still, it hurt a bit, she thought, clutching the box one last time. He’d just been saying such nice things about her and then—

“I take it back,” he repeated. “That is an engagement ring!”

“WHAT?!” Ladybug nearly fell over in shock.

“Yeah,” Chat said, nodding, his eyes wide and frantic. “And I want you to wear it—all day, every day—and marry me, and date me, and kiss me—wait, that’s not the right order—umm….” He was babbling again.

She burst out laughing. “Chat, you dork!” Geez, he’d really given her a scare there!

“I’m being serious!” he insisted. He bit his lip and started muttering again. “Oh, this is bad. This is very, very bad!”

Aaand the hurt was back.

“It’s not that bad that I’m Marinette, is it?” she asked quietly.

“Are you kidding me? It’s awful!” he cried, his eyes wild again. “Ladybug is distant and untouchable, but Marinette has people asking her out all the time!!”

“What?! No, I don’t!”

He gave her a flat stare. “Nino. Luka.”

“That is two guys in the space of a year,” she said, unimpressed.

“Nathaniel.”

“He was akumatized!”

“Theo.”

“He—WHAT?! What are you talking about?”

“Oh, um… nevermind,” Chat said, looking uneasy.

“Besides, you’re one to talk!” she shot back, gesturing to him. “Adrien Agreste has girls stalking him all the time!”

“What?! No, I don’t!”

“Adrien,” she said, giving him the same flat stare he’d just given her. “You have a bodyguard.”

“That was not my idea!”

“And I seem to recall an incident where we had to go to the movies in disguise,” she added, folding her arms.

“Haha, yeah, that was fun—Hey!” His eyes lit up and he looked her up and down. “I’ve seen Ladybug’s pajamas!” he said gleefully.

“Dork,” Ladybug said, shaking her head. The smirk didn’t leave his face. “You’re imagining my hair in that towel, aren’t you?”

Chat nodded shamelessly.

“Ugh, I’m out,” she groaned, flinging her yoyo.

“Hey, wait!!” he cried, chasing her onto the rooftops. She kept going, leading him on a merry chase through town, hoping to lose him.

Problem was, he was just as magically-powered as she was, and he loved to hunt her.

“Chat!” she finally said, whirling around on a rooftop to face him. “As much as I like to spend time with you, I need to go have my own freak-out about our identities—”

“Go ahead!” he said cheerfully, slinging his baton across his shoulders.

“—and I’d really rather not have you there.”

“Aww,” he pouted. “Why not?”

“There’s going to be lots of screaming.”

“That’s understandable,” he nodded. Then he paused. “Wait, no it’s not! You’ve never had a problem with me before! Is… is Adrien bad?” He asked uncertainly, his eyes big and pouty.

Ladybug barely refrained from screaming.

I feel like I just kicked a kitten.

“No, Adrien, you’re not bad,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Okay, so what’s the problem?”

She sucked in her breath, and then… she couldn’t take it anymore. She let out the little mini-scream. Chat blinked at her, and then laughed.

“I think I know what to get you next year. You sound like a tea-kettle!”

“You’re one to talk!” she burst out.

“So, matching tea kettles, then?” he asked hopefully.

Ladybug stared at him in disbelief.

Oh my God, I’m gonna marry this dork.

And speaking of…. She held out the jewelry box he’d given her. “I still can’t accept this.”

Chat panicked. “Nooooo!” he cried, pushing the box back towards her.

“Nope,” she said decisively. “We haven’t had a proper date, or a proper first kiss, and that proposal was terrible, by the way, I want something waaay more romantic—”

“So, let’s fix that!” he said eagerly, darting away. Ladybug stared after him in bewilderment, especially when he came back clutching a tiny green plant in his hand.

“First kiss under the mistletoe!” he said proudly, holding it above their heads. “That’s romantic, right?”

She bit back a smile.

Yup, I am so gonna marry this dork.

She leaned in and gave him a soft, sweet kiss on the lips. When she pulled back, he had the dopiest smile on his face. Ladybug giggled a little.

“Chat,” she said, stepping away. “That’s holly.”

His smile disappeared. “Oh. –Wait a minute! Then why did you kiss me?! LADYBUG?!”

But she was already swinging away.

 ...End.

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 4 (December 4th) - “All I Want for Christmas”

“Adrien,” a soft voice called, stirring him from his sleep. “Adrien, honey, wake up!”

He knew that voice.

But it couldn’t be!

Adrien opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, unable to believe the sight before him.

“Merry Christmas, sweetie!” his mom cried joyfully, holding out her arms to him.

“Mom?” Adrien said, sitting up slowly and praying he wouldn’t wake up. This was everything he’d ever wanted! His father was even standing beside them, beaming at his family with a smile Adrien hadn’t seen in years. “Is—is this a dream?”

“No dream,” his mother said, stepping forward and giving him a hug. Adrien returned it, and then clung to her. Her warmth. Her scent. He could never forget that smell! It was her! She was back! She pulled back just enough to smile at him. “Oh, I’m sorry I was gone so long—”

“What happened?!” Adrien cried, still clutching her. “One day, you were just –poof!— gone!”

“I know, I know,” she shushed him, kissing him on the forehead. “And I’ll tell you everything when you’re older. For now, I’m just so happy to see you! Look how much you’ve grown!”

“Two inches,” Adrien said proudly. “Ever since Dad let me go to school.” He was eager to share everything she’d missed.

“Oh, he did, did he?” Emilie chuckled, giving her husband a look that said they’d be talking later. Gabriel coughed into his hand.

“Didn’t you two want to decorate for Christmas?” he suggested lightly, obviously changing the subject. “We’ve been waiting until you got back, my love.”

“Yes, let’s!” his wife cheered. “Get dressed, sweetie!” she said, turning to Adrien. “I’ll have Nathalie get us the biggest tree she can find!”

Adrien eagerly obeyed, full-out running out of his bedroom to rejoin his parents once he was dressed. And there she was. His mother hadn’t disappeared the moment she’d left his sight. In fact, she was laughing with Nathalie about something, Father was sorting through their Christmas ornaments, and Christmas music sang softly through the halls of their house once more.

Adrien wanted to scream for joy.

This was what Christmas should be. This was what home should be!

“There you are!” his mother sang delightedly. “Come help me decide on a theme, Adrien. Your father isn’t letting me do all red.” She pouted at Gabriel, who looked away and cleared his throat nervously.

“There are plenty of other colors to choose from,” he pointed out.

“Fine. How about blue, Adrien?”

“I love blue!” Adrien agreed excitedly.

Bluebell eyes.

Adrien blinked in surprise at that thought.

“Strawberry with black chocolate chip, blackberries for her hair, blueberry ice cream for her sky-blue stare!”

Why was he suddenly thinking of Ladybug? And why did it feel like he’d forgotten that memory until just now?

Weird.

“…and then we can invite some of your new friends from school!” Mom was saying.

“That sounds great, Mom!” Adrien exclaimed. Wait until she met Nino and Alya! She’d love them! And—who? There was another friend he wanted her to meet. They’d get along so well! And when Mom found out Marinette was a designer—

Marinette!

That was who he’d been trying to think of! He shook his head at his brain fart. How could he possibly forget her name? Silly. He needed to get more sleep….

“Speaking of school,” Gabriel said, interrupting Adrien’s thoughts. “Adrien will need to leave soon to be on time.”

“Aww, but we’re not done decorating!” his wife pouted.

“That was before I knew you’d want to do every single room in a different color,” Father pointed out.

Adrien looked around as his parents continued to banter and argue in good humor. They were actually… mostly done. How long had he spaced out?

“What if I don’t go to school today?” he blurted out, going to his mother and latching onto her arm. “I want to spend more time with you!”

Emilie smiled at him, her eyes shining with love. “And we will,” she promised. “But for now, your father’s right. Education is important. And… you can go invite all your friends to our Christmas party so I can meet them!” She winked at him. “I expect only one girlfriend, young man!”

Adrien blushed. “I—I don’t—”

“Now, off to school with you!”

The rest of his protests were ignored, but Adrien bore it with a light heart. Especially when his mother promised he could still come home for lunch and eat with them. He took off, still drinking in the sight of his happy parents waving goodbye.

“Nino!” he squealed, pouncing on his best friend as soon as he saw him. “You’ll never believe it! My mom’s back! She’s okay, and she’s back home with us!!”

“Dude! That’s awesome!!” Nino crowed, giving him a high-five. “Wait ‘til Alya hears! Hey, Alya!!”

Alya also squealed at Adrien’s good news, and gave the blond a huge hug. He returned it gladly. Oh, his heart had never felt so full!! He finally had everything he’d ever wanted for Christmas!

“Where’s Marinette?” he asked, looking around for the final member of their usual group. He couldn’t wait to share this Christmas miracle! She’d be so happy for him!! He was so eager, he almost missed Nino and Alya’s confused stares. Catching their change of mood, he calmed down a bit. “Guys? Where is she? I know she runs late, but shouldn’t she be here soon?”

“Dude, who?” Nino asked, looking lost. Adrien came to a full stop.

“Marinette,” he repeated, confused.

Nino and Alya shared a look, and stared at him like he’d gone crazy.

“Who’s Marinette?”

 ...WaRC.

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 12 (December 12th) - Traditions

Her alarm chimed at her, and Marinette smiled. She didn’t really need it, but it was nice to know that she wasn’t running late for once. In fact, with just a little bit of scheming on her part, this should be the best night ever!

She heard a tell-tale thump on her balcony above, followed by a familiar knock.

“Come on in!” she called, and grinned mischievously.

After that horrible night when they’d confided in each other during the Glaciator incident, she and Chat Noir had found themselves meeting more and more. He’d “just happen” to be passing by. She’d “just happen” to have some leftover pastries.

“Hey, would you like to talk?”

It’d gotten more and more regular, and the excuses got fewer and fewer, until they’d finally declared Saturday night to be their own personal movie night (it left Friday night open for sleepovers with Alya, and Sunday she needed to go to bed early for school).

Their own tradition. A close-kept secret that they hid away from the rest of the world.

But this year… well, could she help it if their little tradition overlapped with another family tradition?

Chat Noir dropped into her room with his usual incorrigible smirk.

“Hello, and Mari Christmas!” he said with a bow.

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Sometimes I forget how much I hate that nickname, and then this time of the year rolls around….”

“Aww, but it’s cute! Cute. Little. Mari.” He playfully flicked her nose and grinned. Marinette tried to fight her own smile, but it was hard with him around. His easy humor had always made her laugh.

“Well, speaking of Christmas,” she said, clearing her throat, “I have a proposition, if you’re interested.”

“Oh?”

“As you know, my parents run a very successful bakery.”

“No, really?” Chat said sarcastically. “I couldn’t tell from all the delicious smells wafting up here.”

“And, as you may know, the key to being successful is to keep the store open when people need it,” Marinette continued, ignoring him. “My parents have found that a large number of people discover last-minute that they need pastries or bread on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Problem? Practically nobody is open, because everyone wants to be with their families.”

“I sense you’re coming to a point.”

“So, my parents decided to capitalize on the business they could get by remaining open, and still have a family get-together for Christmas,” she explained. “The trick was… simply choose another night to celebrate. We have a feast, play games, and open presents together. And… tonight’s that night!”

Chat Noir blinked in surprise. Then he stepped back, his ears already drooping a bit.

“Oh! Well, I don’t wanna intrude on your family time….”

“That’s just it, Chat!” Marinette said brightly, scooping up a package from her desk and holding it out to him. “I vaguely asked my parents if I could bring a friend this year.”

“Vaguely?” He repeated, slowly taking the package.

“I didn’t mention who that friend was, so if you decide you don’t want to join us, no pressure.” She smiled as the package’s wrapping paper fell away to reveal a green Santa hat with a black paw print on the front. Chat gave a choked little laugh. “But I’d really like it if you came,” she added.

He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling. “Well, what are we waiting for?!” he said, eagerly jamming the hat on his head. He laughed a bit when his cat ears poked through the little “ear flaps” she’d added.

“You’re amazing, princess. But wait! I don’t have any presents!”

“I think your ‘presence’ will be enough, Chat Noir,” Marinette giggled, taking his arm and leading him downstairs.

“Christmas puns!” he said, delighted. “You shouldn’t challenge the master, princess, or Yule be sorry!”

Marinette laughed. “Icy what you did there!”

“Just wait,” he winked. “There’s myrrh.”

They were both laughing as they came down the stairs. Tom and Sabine looked up at their arrival. They were only surprised for a moment before their faces burst into welcoming smiles.

“I was wondering when Marinette’s friend would arrive,” Sabine gushed. “I didn’t realize he was already here!”

“Err, yeah…” Chat said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He and Marinette were suddenly very much aware of how shady his upstairs entrance was.

“Do you have any allergies, Chat Noir?” Tom called from where he was stirring a sauce, breaking the tension.

“No, sir! At least, not to any foods.”

“Great! Then you and Marinette can set the table. We’re almost done here.” Tom said jovially. “And after supper, I’m challenging both of you to a battle royale in Mecha Strike III. I need to regain my title!”

“Oh, bring it on, Papa!” Marinette called back, passing a stack of plates to Chat. “Chat here took on a real MX-01 when Gamer was akumatized!”

“Ah, that’s right!!” her father said, an eager glint in his eye. “I heard about that one on the news! You’ll have to give us a first-hand account, my boy!”

“Not much to tell,” Chat admitted, following Marinette so she could set the plates where they needed to go. “Ladybug did most of the driving; I just followed orders.”

“Oh, please! Do you know how many times I died just trying to figure out those controls?”

Marinette shared a wink with her mother as her father continued to banter with Chat. They’d cornered her earlier about having someone over on Saturdays (apparently, their last movie night hadn’t been quiet enough) and she’d had to confess. She hadn’t told them much about her “friend,” just that he didn’t have a very good home life and would likely be alone for Christmas. They’d instantly jumped at the chance to invite him over officially.

And honestly, she should’ve known he’d get along so well with her father. They’d already started gaming puns.

She truly hoped Chat became a permanent fixture in their holiday traditions. And from the big smile growing on his face, he did too.

...WaRC

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 14 (December 14th) - “It’s too cold for this”

(continued from 13 – “Hot Chocolate Mustache”)

“It’s too cold for this,” Adrien muttered under his breath, continuing to smile his model smile for the cameras.

Coming to Paris for Christmas meant that he got to see his father (and Nathalie) during the holidays, but it also meant that he was obligated to go to Chloé’s annual Christmas Gala. It was the social event of the season; a party held in honor of Paris’s heroes, while all the proceeds went to charity.

And as the heir to his father’s company, well, a lot of people would be in financial ruin if rumors started (again) that he wasn’t 100% behind Paris’s heroes and the downfall of Hawkmoth.

So, for them, he would smile his bright smile on the red carpet set on the freezing snow. He’d buy one of the biggest, most expensive items up for auction, greet the heroes of Paris, thank them once again for their service…

And hopefully get very, very drunk tonight in his hotel room.

How much egg could an egg nog nog if an egg nog could nog egg? He quipped to himself, allowing his laughter to shine through for the cameras. If he’d still been Chat Noir, he could’ve told that one to Ladybug to see if he could make her laugh…

Speak of the devil, he thought, as twin streaks of gold and red streaked overhead. The crowd erupted into cheers and screams as Ladybug and Queen Bee landed on the red carpet.

“And here they are! The two most powerful women in Paris!” he heard Nadja cry behind him.

The two superheroines nodded at each other and de-transformed in sync. The crowd went wild. This time, Adrien couldn’t blame them. They both looked stunning; Chloé in glittering gold with a sexy black streak running through her hair, and Marinette in a gorgeous, elegant red number that she’d obviously designed herself. She’d even used black accessories, as a nod to her alter ego, including a tiny gold bell on a black choker.

Adrien had to look away.

By all reports, she’d searched for him for weeks after Hawkmoth’s capture. She’d done interviews, exclusives… practically begging Chat Noir to come forward. There’d been a few copycats, but his lady had seen through them all.

Not that it had mattered.

He’d known exactly when Master Fu must’ve told her that the Cat Ring had been returned. She’d started wearing that choker to any event she’d needed to attend as Ladybug. She’d stopped looking for him.

It was for the best.

He turned to head inside. Now that the guests of honor were here, the party could begin. Carapace, Rena Rouge, and Chat Noir’s identities had never been revealed to the public, but they were always included on the guest list.

“Adrien Agreste!” He froze on the spot as her voice sang out to him, far too close for comfort. He turned, and sure enough, Marinette was coming towards him, her arms open for an embrace, and big smile on her face. She kissed his cheek before he could react. “I know you don’t want to talk to me,” she whispered in his ear, “but smile nicely for the cameras now.”

As ordered, he beamed at her as they pulled apart. “Always great to see you, Marinette!” he said cheerfully. “And you look amazing! Did you make this yourself?”

“Yes, I did, you charmer!” she gushed, taking his arm. She was far more flirty than she’d ever been with him before. Maybe his stock was going down or something. The cameras around them flashed.

“Ladybug! Ladybug! Does this mean you are dating Adrien Agreste?”

“How does the Heroine of Paris know the son of Hawkmoth?!”

“Ladybug! What does this mean for your relationship with local rockstar, Luka Couffaine?!?!”

Adrien ground his teeth harder and harder at each question being thrown at them. Fortunately, Marinette was used to this by now.

“Oh, come on, Alec!” she gushed, laughing at the reporter. “It’s public record that Adrien and I went to school together!” She gave his arm a squeeze and gazed up at him adoringly. Adrien took her cue and smiled back at her. “And Nadja,” she admonished, giving the other woman a slight frown. “Luka and I parted as friends, as you well know. I even designed a couple of his tour outfits before he left! Now, if you’ll excuse us….”

She waved to the crowd and tugged Adrien towards the door. Still cold, he didn’t resist, even when he heard her soft voice, meant only for him.

“You never called.”

“I’ve been busy,” he grunted, waving at the last of the reporters.

To his dismay, she tightened her grip on him and as soon as they were in the main room, she steered him towards a side door. Oh no, not a private talk…. Sure enough, she dragged him into a hall meant for servers, and closed the door behind them.

Damn.

“Oh my, Ladybug, how forward!” he joked, trying to lighten the mood. “If you wanted a kiss from me, we could’ve just found a mistle—”

“Stuff it, Agreste,” she snarled, her eyes dark in the low light.

Finally, he dropped his happy façade. “Then what do you want from me?” he asked, glaring right back at her.

“The truth! I’ve always, only wanted the truth from you!” she exclaimed.

He regarded her for a moment. “I’m fine,” he finally said, turning away. “I’m happy you defeated Hawkmoth and saved the—”

“Adrien!” Marinette cried, exasperated. “I’ve been studying pictures of you since we were fourteen! Your shoulders are stiff! You’ve got that little stress-wrinkle in between your eyes—”

“I have a wrinkle?”

“—You are obviously not fine! Please!” she stepped closer to him, trying to get back in his line of sight. “I want to help you! Just tell me what I can do!!”

Oh, that was it. The stress of the past few days. The pressure building inside him whenever he saw someone from his past….

“You have to know I never meant to hurt you!”

“I did it all for you, Adrien.”

“Your father loves you, he really does. He just… doesn’t know how to show it.”

“CHAT, RUN!!”

“STOP PROTECTING ME!!” he yelled, slamming his fist into the wall beside them. Marinette stepped back, her eyes wide. Chest heaving, he forced himself to calm down a bit before speaking again. “I—I don’t…”

He couldn’t, could he? Should he?

Did he dare?

“That was my job,” he breathed. Marinette blinked up at him, all innocence and sweetness, and—HOW did all that power and bravery and goodness get wrapped into something so tiny and fragile-looking?!

“I was supposed to protect you, bugaboo. Not the other way around.”

...WaRC

[chimpukampu]

Day 5: Ice Skating

[chimpukampu]

Day 11: Scarf

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 8 (December 8th) - Christmas Music

(continued from Day 4 - “All I Want for Christmas”)

Adrien’s head was spinning when he finally got home for lunch. No one. Not one single person remembered Marinette. Alya sat alone behind him. Chloe was the class representative (not that she ever did anything with her role, she just liked the power). There were no photos. No homework assignments. He’d even asked Alya to show him a video that he knew Marinette had been in. She wasn’t there anymore.

She was just… gone.

Now, here he sat, eating lunch with his parents (his parents! Plural! His mom was back! He should be ecstatic right now!!), wondering if he was going crazy. He didn’t even have his lucky charm anymore.

“I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need…”

He blinked at the soft Christmas music. His parents’ happy chatter as they ate lunch. It was such a far cry from the silence he’d endured before. Nothing but the sound of his own fork scraping against the plate. Tired, and sad, and almost unreal now that he had music and laughter all around him.

Maybe it had just been a bad dream?

Could that be it? Could he have just dreamed Marinette up? Somebody sweet and brave for him to look up to…

Her face flashed in his memory. Her huge smile, her antics whenever she was flustered—

NO. He hadn’t dreamed her up! She was real! She had to be!

“Adrien?” his mom’s voice broke through his thoughts. She was looking at him, concerned. “You’ve been so quiet, sweetie. Is everything okay?”

“Yes! Yes, I’m fine,” he said quickly. Stupid, he berated himself. Your mom is back! You’ve got your very own Christmas miracle and you’re sitting here moping! But—but still….

“Dad,” he said slowly, “do you remember… who won your hat contest?”

His father blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly. “Miss Bourgeois, of course,” he replied. “Though I later had to disqualify her for blatant plagiarism, so we won’t be presenting anything for the show. Surely you remember that?”

“But didn’t—”

“Did Chloe ask you to put her hat back in the show?” his mom asked gently.

“No, no—”

“If Miss Bourgeois is harassing you at school, I can have a word with the mayor—,” his father began.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng!” Adrien shouted, leaping to his feet. “Don’t you remember Marinette Dupain-Cheng?! She made a feather hat! I was sneezing the whole time!!”

Gabriel Agreste went white. “You shouldn’t remember that name,” he blurted.

Adrien stared at his father in shock. “Wha-what?!” he choked out.

“I—I mean, I’ve never heard of her—”

“You do remember her!” Adrien exclaimed, racing over to his father and eagerly grabbing his hands. “Dad—!”

“Gabriel, what is going on?” Emilie asked, also standing.

“You shouldn’t remember her,” the older man repeated, staring at his son in disbelief. “You shouldn’t be able to. You—” As though a thought had occurred to him, he looked down at their joined hands, and carefully turned Adrien’s so he could see his son’s fingers.

“Adrien… where is your ring?” he asked, horror rising on his face.

Adrien froze, staring at his own hand in disbelief.

His ring. His Miraculous!

Plagg!! HOW COULD HE HAVE FORGOTTEN PLAGG?!

“Plagg,” he whispered, fingering the place the ring used to be. His father stepped back, shock written all over his face.

“Chat Noir,” he murmured. “She said the magic wouldn’t work as well on someone used to the Miraculouses.”

“How did you—she?” Adrien stammered. “Who’s ‘she?’”

His father’s mouth snapped shut and his gaze hardened. “Never mind. You should forget Miss Dupain-Cheng. After all, your mother is finally back, Adrien. This is a time for happiness! Let us focus on more important things.”

“Marinette’s my friend!” Adrien protested. “She—!”

“She’s gone, Adrien,” his father snapped. “It would be best if you simply let her fade from your mind.”

“Gabriel…,” Emilie said, also staring at her husband.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Gabriel said sharply, not looking at her. “For now, Adrien has to get back to school.”

“NO! I want to talk about this some more!!” Adrien protested.

“There’s nothing left to say,” his father said, turning away to head out of the dining room.

“FATHER!”

“I’ll talk to him, Adrien,” Emilie said quickly, ushering her son away from her husband. “I’m sure he has a reason for all of this. Try not to worry too much, all right?”

“But—”

“Off you go, dearest. I’ll see you after school.”

His mother kissed the top of his head, and Adrien felt himself automatically relax, his protests dying away.

“She’s my friend, Mom,” he whined anyway. “I need to know what happened to her.”

“Later,” his mother promised.

Slumped and defeated, Adrien shuffled back out the door, all of his earlier joy fading away. The world seemed quiet again.

Well, at least he knew he wasn’t crazy, he thought bitterly. Marinette Dupain-Cheng had existed. His father knew about her too. And apparently, Adrien remembered her because he had a Miraculous—

The pieces clicked together in his mind, and he whirled around to stare at his house in horror.

You needed to possess a Miraculous to remember Marinette. But there had only been three Miraculous activated, at least that he knew about. One for him, one for Ladybug, and one for…

“Hawkmoth,” he whispered, bile rising in his throat.

It was. It had to be him. There was no other explanation. There was no way his father was Ladybug!

“Make my wish come true…”

Adrien turned and bolted before his bodyguard could stop him. He ran until the blood roaring in his ears drowned out the sound of Christmas music. He didn’t stop until he got all the way to school.

 ...WaRC.

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 24 (December 24th) - Candle

Slight spoiler alert for season 3!

Lila lit her candle and placed it in her window with a shiver of delight. (Of course, it might’ve also been her open window…)

Moths were attracted to light, right? There was even that whole saying: “like a moth to a flame…”

She could only hope the same could be said for akumas.

She was ready. Oh boy, was she ready! She had so many ideas on what kind of supervillain she could become next!

Maybe fire-throwing, based on her candle? That could be fun! Of course, Ladybug would probably just find a way to throw her in the Seine….

Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening!—No, that one had been done already.

Ooo, telekinetic powers! Then she could lift Ladybug with her mind and toss her around like a ragdoll! –Wait, hadn’t there already been one involving dolls? How much could Hawkmoth cross powers?!

Oh, they had so much to discuss, if only he would come for her again. She could share her ideas, he would share his powers, and nobody would ever make fun of her again!

And maybe she’d even find that silly little nobody, Marinette. Ugh, who did that girl think she was? Didn’t want to be friends with someone as awesome as Lila Rossi?!

She was the daughter of a diplomat.

She had been to far off places and had daring adventures!

She could get anything she wanted, any time she wanted it.

She was crafty. She was clever. She could take on superheroes.

All Ladybug had was some magical jewelry.

Lila was more than a match for that little red bug!

And soon the world would know it! she thought with satisfaction, sitting down to wait for her butterfly to appear. She’d give Hawkmoth the Miraculouses he wanted so desperately. And after he made his wish and the world went back to normal, everyone would agree that she’d done the right thing. That Ladybug and Chat Noir had just been making a bad situation worse by being so stubborn and not giving in.

Lila would be the hero, beloved by all. Adrien himself would get down on bended knee and beg her to be his girlfriend. No more of that stuck-up attitude, pretending he knew what was best for her! Maybe she’d make him squirm for a bit, before magnanimously accepting his offer and forgiving his sins.

Yes, the world would soon be right once more.

She focused on her anger, on her desire to destroy Ladybug and everything the heroine stood for. Surely Hawkmoth would sense it and send for her. She simply had to be patient.

Oh! There!

The tell-tale fluttering of dark wings, right in her window! Lila stood, eager and ready—

Only for the akuma to get too close to her candle and suddenly burst into flame.

“NO!” Lila screamed in disbelief, but it was already ashes. She stared. All that time spent preparing and waiting and now—

“Oh! Hey, Lila!” Ladybug said cheerfully, waving just outside her window.

Still in shock, Lila waved numbly back.

“Chat and I were chasing an akuma, but it looks like you got it already! Good job!”

“Did you find it, milady?” Chat Noir asked, coming up behind Ladybug.

“Lila got it! She set it on fire with her candle!”

“You can do that?!” Chat asked incredulously.

“I know, right?! But it’s probably better if we keep purifying them. They’re actually kinda cute once they’re white!”

“True.”

“Well, bug out,” Ladybug sang cheerfully. “Thanks again, Lila! Keep up the good work and stay strong!”

“Merry Christmas!” Chat Noir added, waving goodbye.

Lila stared after them as they took off. Then, she turned around, flopped onto her bed, and screamed into her pillow.

...WaRC

[chimpukampu]

Day 2: Cookies

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 10 (December 10th) – Blanket

Marinette smiled and softly sang to herself as her sewing machine hummed. She fed it more material, keeping her pace steady and watching carefully for any missed stitches.

No mistakes. She wanted this to be purr-fect.

She giggled a bit at her own lame pun as she started another seam. Chat, Chat, Chat. Her kitty had really rubbed off on her. Slowly but surely, it had gotten much easier to banter with the Villain of the Day. She was no longer simply dodging her own terror, or single-mindedly focusing on finding the akuma to purify. She truly had grown in her abilities as Ladybug.

And she owed a lot of it to Chat Noir.

From the very beginning, he’d had her back. Encouraged her. Cheered her on and acted as a human shield to protect her whenever she needed him. She wasn’t sure she could find the words to tell him how much each “Pound It!” meant to her.

So, she’d decided to show him instead. After all, the closest metaphor she could think of… was a blanket.

Strong and warm and a little bit fluffy; something you could cuddle close and know you’d be safe…

She blushed at that last thought. It might be better if she didn’t try to explain it that way…

Last seam done, she snipped the thread edges and shook it out. She still had to press it, and their patrol time was coming up fast. She hoped he liked it.

The last few minutes seemed to fly by faster than her yo-yo before she was calling to Tikki and leaping out her skylight. She’d just barely managed to put a ribbon and bow on it. Hopefully Chat wouldn’t mind the lack of wrapping paper.

She sailed through the air, for once paying attention to how easy it was to fly over the rooftops nowadays. Those first few weeks… she’d gotten tangled up in her own yo-yo string, misjudged distances, decimated a perfectly good billboard….

And now, it was as easy as breathing.

“Hallo, milady!” Ladybug heard Chat call as soon as she reached the Arc de Triomphe (they’d decided against meeting at the Eiffel Tower today, Hawkmoth a tendency lure too many akumas there whenever they were spotted). He grinned as he landed beside her. “And how is Paris’s prettiest superhero today?”

“I dunno, Chat Noir. How are you?” she flirted back.

Chat’s jaw dropped. He stared at her in disbelief, his mouth moving silently.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked,” she laughed, flicking his chin up so he’d stop gaping at her. “We’ve already agreed I’m the badass, and you’re the cutie who poses for pictures with the fans.”

Chat burst out laughing. “You got me there,” he agreed. He gave her an adoring look, which morphed into curiosity when he realized she was carrying something. “What’s that?”

Ladybug held it out to him. “Merry Christmas!” she grinned.

His face lit up. “You got me a present?!” he exclaimed, taking it.

“Well, yeah,” she said, nervously playing with her fingers. “I know we just did cookies and hot chocolate last year… but I really wanted to say thanks. For everything.”

“I’ll have you know that those cookies and hot chocolate were the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten,” Chat said, tearing off the ribbon. The blanket unfolded in front of him and his mouth dropped open again. “Until now,” he amended. “My lady, this is amazing!”

Ladybug beamed with pride while he inspected her work. She made a sort-of patchwork quilt, with each square depicting the silhouette of every akumatized villain they’d defeated together. (Needless to say, there were quite a few squares!) And in front of each silhouette was a tiny, white butterfly, symbolizing their victory.

“I love it,” Chat whispered.

“Flip it over,” Ladybug suggested.

He did so, and promptly gasped. She’d divided the back into two triangles, red and black, with their respective symbols in the middle of each color. She hoped he understood the symbolism; they were partners. Two halves of the same whole. Together forever.

“I just thought you might want something to—CHAT, ARE YOU CRYING??”

“It’s liquid joy,” he insisted, wiping his eyes. He hugged the blanket to himself. “It’s so soft,” he whimpered. “And it smells like cake.”

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t have time to wash it after I finished making it, so you’ll have to—”

“I love it. I love it! I LOVE IT!!” Chat squealed, scooping her into a hug. He spun her around a couple times, laughing. Then, just as suddenly, he put her down, looking concerned. “But I didn’t get you anything! Well, I did, but my kwami said I couldn’t give it to you, so….”

“Chat, it’s okay!” she laughed, giving him another quick hug. “I don’t need anything in return. I’m just happy you like it!”

“I love it,” he corrected her. “But no, I have to get you something! I—just wait here! I’ll be right back!!”

“What? Chat, it’s cold out here! Where are you going?!”

“I’ll be right back!!”

...WaRC

[whatarubberchicken]

Day 25 (December 25th) - Merry Christmas

(continued from 4 - “All I Want For Christmas,” 8 – Christmas Music, 15 – Decorations, and 18 – Winter Wonderland)

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire….”

Emilie hummed along to the song as she added the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations.

“Ma’am,” Nathalie said, coming towards her, “the Dupain-Chengs called; they’re going to be a few minutes late.”

“Oh good,” Emilie said, “I’ve got a few more things to take care of. Did Adrien pick an outfit yet?”

“He was still deciding when I left,” Nathalie said, not quite biting back her smile.

Emilie giggled and took one final look around the foyer. Her eyes landed on the portrait of her husband and son at the top of the stairs. She frowned.

“No matter how much I look at it, I hate it,” she finally said. “Do we still need to get a permit from the city to have a bonfire in the backyard?”

“I’ll take care of it straightaway, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Nathalie,” she chirped happily. Maybe they could roast marshmallows on it!

“The chef said dinner’s ready,” Gabriel said, heading for the tree with a stack of presents.

Emilie tried not to peek to see if any were for her… oh, who was she kidding? She dove for them! Her husband quickly moved the stack of boxes out of her reach.

“No peeking,” he scolded.

“I’m not peeking,” she grinned impishly, still reaching for the boxes. “I’m taking a big, fat look! Come and stop me!”

Gabriel pulled her away from the tree, straight into his arms.

“Charmer,” Emilie grinned against his lips. He responded by kissing her again.

Finally, they broke apart, and Gabriel sighed, resting his forehead against hers.

“I still don’t like that deal we made,” he muttered.

“All right, kwamis,” she said, getting the attention of all three sprites now floating around them. “A life for a life. That’s the price and the price must be paid, isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” the little red one named Tikki nodded.

“But,” Emilie added, “is there any rule that says only one person must pay it? Could the price be divided between two—or even three—people?”

Tikki and Plagg blinked at each other. “Well, I guess so….”

Emilie glanced over at her son. “What do you think, sweetie? You were willing to give up your whole life for your Marinette. What if you and I each gave her half?”

“Yes!” Adrien breathed, hope shining in his eyes.

“No,” Gabriel said. But before Emilie could open her mouth to argue, he took her hand. “Thirds. We’ll each give up a third of our life to her.”

“Father…,” Adrien looked shocked.

“Master, are you sure?” the little purple kwami asked.

“Yes,” Gabriel said firmly. “We’re a family. And a family shares its burdens as well as its successes.” He looked at his wife. “Wasn’t that what you were going to say?”

She squeezed his hand. “You know me so well.”

“’Tis the season for sharing,” she whispered back. “Besides, there’s a lot of magic out there to be discovered. We could still find a way to live forever.”

He smirked at her. “I love the way your mind works.”

“I love you too.”

“Excuse me, sir, ma’am,” Nathalie said, entering the room. “I believe your guests have arrived.”

“Yay!” Emilie cheered, pushing away from her husband. “Nathalie, could you go tell Adrien? Oh, he’ll be so excited!” She rushed to the door to greet her guests.

“Tom! Sabine! We’re so glad you could make it!” she gushed, kissing their cheeks.

“Sorry we’re late,” Sabine laughed. “We had a little incident with one of the pies.”

“But we brought eclairs to make up for it,” Tom added.

“Your baked goods are always welcome here,” Gabriel assured him as the two men shook hands. “Please, let me help.” Ever the gentleman, he took Sabine’s package and he and Tom headed off to the dining room while the women continued to chat.

“How are you feeling?” Emilie asked.

“Fine, fine,” Sabine assured her. “The doctors say there’s nothing wrong with us, we just can’t remember those two days for some reason. Who knows what happened?”

“Maybe it was magic,” Emilie said, winking.

Sabine laughed. “Well, if it was Christmas gremlins, I wish they’d have cleaned my house for me too!”

They both laughed.

“Maman, where do you want me to put these boxes?” Another voice called. Emilie beamed as Marinette came into sight, carrying a large stack of wrapped boxes.

There’s my beautiful daughter-in-law-to-be! She thought gleefully. Oh, she’s going to be such a lovely bride for Adrien! And those snowflakes in her hair… maybe we should have a winter wedding?

“Here, Marinette! Let me help!” As if on cue, Adrien came running up to his friend. He stopped just short of touching her, both of them blushing.

“Hi.”

“Hi!” Marinette squeaked back.

They are so cute.

“Presents go under the tree, Marinette,” Emilie reminded them, hating that she had to stop them from gazing into each other’s eyes.

“R-right, Mrs. Agreste!” Marinette yelped. She and Adrien avoided eye contact as he helped her with her load.

“I’ve told you, dear. You can call me Emilie.”

“Y-yes, of course, ma’am. Err… Miss Emilie. Err—ACK!” She promptly dropped a couple boxes on Adrien’s head. “SORRY! Sorry!” He just laughed, rubbing his head as he looked up at her.

Emilie couldn’t resist cooing. There was just so much love there! It reminded her of the first time they’d seen each other after the spell had been completed….

“Adrien?” Marinette said dazedly, not quite awake yet.

“Right here, Marinette,” he said, grabbing her hand and holding it tight.

“Wha—what happened?” she asked, looking around. “You’re not supposed to remember me. You’re supposed… to be happy…”

“As if I could be happy without my Lady.”

She looked at him wildly for a moment, and then her gaze softened.

“Oh, Chat, I’m so sorry….”

“I’m not!” he said, hugging her fiercely. Marinette returned it, but she was already looking over his shoulder as well, staring at Gabriel and Emilie in confusion.

“But then… who paid…?”

“Adrien and his family decided to split the cost and they each gave you a third of their remaining life-force!” Tikki said, hugging her former owner’s cheek as soon as Adrien released her. “It’s something we haven’t tried before, but it worked!!”

Marinette blinked, staring at her former foe. “Oh. I—I really don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Marinette,” Gabriel said, nodding at her gruffly.

“And welcome to the family!” Emilie added.

“Dinner is ready,” Gabriel reminded them all, stepping into the room again, Tom right behind him. “Shall we?”

“Ready, Marinette?” Adrien asked, grabbing her hand as they followed the adults into the dining room.

His mother, however, was not quite done yet.

“Hang on, you two!” she ordered, as they stepped into the doorway. The teenagers froze. Emilie chuckled and pointed above their heads.

Mistletoe.

Their faces both went white.

“Mo-om,” Adrien whined.

“Ah ah ah,” she said, waggling her finger at them and trying not to laugh as Marinette went through several shades of red. “It’s tradition.”

“You are not even trying to be subtle,” Gabriel murmured into her hair, she could feel his silent laughter.

“Subtle is for sissies,” she whispered back. She cleared her throat and looked pointedly at the two teenagers. A couple more minutes of blushing and stammering, and they finally gave each other a quick peck on the cheek.

Emilie was not impressed.

“You got anymore Miraculouses?” she hissed at her husband as Tom and Sabine welcomed and cooed over the still-blushing young couple. “This is gonna be harder than I thought.”

“We’ll think of something,” Gabriel chuckled. They joined the rest of their family.

“… Although it’s been said many times, many ways: Merry Christmas to you.”

…End.