#Lyceé age

[generalluxun]

He's Perfect (Fanfiction) 1 of 3

I wrote this fic a while back, but it's blossomed into a sequel, and an AU in my brain now. I call it my 'gothic' AU, because it's ML marinated in victorian/Gothic Horror, though set in modern times. I'm just posting this first one shot to maybe draw eyes. (Yes I'm shallow and need validation) The AO3 link also gives a more comprehensive tags/warnings list for people. (and somewhere to add kudos!)

This fic is Adrienette! Yay! Everyone loves Adrienette... and what could possibly go wrong?

Part 1

Marinette pushed the intercom button nervously.  She'd delivered to many places before, but the Agreste mansion was one of the creepiest she'd ever seen.

A harsh female voice came crackling over the intercom. "You are late."

"Sorry.  We had a lot of orders today. I had to make two trips."

"Do not be late again.  Up the stairs, to the door on the right."

Marinette balked. "Normally we deliver to the front door."

"You were late."

That was hard to argue with.  "Okay."

"Make the delivery and leave. Do not dawdle."

The gates buzzed, and Marinette pushed them open.  She found the door unlocked when she tried it, the thick wooden barrier swinging silently upon well oiled hinges.  Inside was pristine white marble with sharp black accents.  Marinette felt as if the emptiness of the atrium might swallow her up.  She trotted up the broad steps and turned right.  There was only a single door along the balcony.  Marinette straightened her jacket and gave the bag she carried a little shake… Ack, why did I do that? You don't 'straighten' a bag of pastries.  With one last glance behind her to shake the feeling of being watched, Marinette knocked.

From the voice on the intercom she had expected a middle aged woman, so when a beautiful blond boy her own age answered, Marinette stared. His sparkling emerald eyes matched his smile, with only a red mark from the corner of his jaw to his ear blemishing an otherwise cherubic face.

"Hello there, miss…?"

"Croissant.  I brought you the Marinettes you ordered."

His smile grew even more dazzling, and his eyes flashed with mirth.  He tilted his head in response before answering. "Ah! Marinette!  Thank you.  I hope I like these.  You're much nicer than the last delivery person."

Unwelcome, the voice on the intercom sprang into Marinette's memory. Do not dawdle.  Was ogling a type of dawdle? Marinette thrust the bag to the boy.  "ItsbeenverynicetomeetyouSir. Wehopetoserveyouagain."

He took the bag, but his eyes stayed on her.  "Thank you, I hope so too."

He stepped back and closed the door,. At the last moment, he stopped it and whispered through the crack. "I’m Adrien."

—-----

The order was back in again in two days.  This time Marinette took extra time to brush her teeth to gleaming and double checked that not a hair was out of place before heading out early to make the deliveries.  There was no greeting this time when she rang for entry, only the buzz of the gate unlocking.

"Hi Marinette!" Adrien greeted her, opening the door almost in time with her knock.

Suddenly Marinette doubted all her preprarations.  She felt ogrish and ugly under that soft gaze.  "Hello Mr. Um—Adrien.  I've brought your order, sir!"

She thrust the bag at him, very nearly knocking him out.  A quick backstep and catching her hands saved him.  He carefully plucked the bag from her death grip and grinned as if it were some joke between them, not her nerves trying to ruin her.

"Thank you, please just call me Adrien.  My dad is sir."

While Marinette was still lost, memorizing that smile, Adrien leaned in past her outstretched hands.

"I ordered an extra one today. Would you like to share with me?"

Marinette lowered her hands, and her brain spun up into action. "The voice on the intercom said not to dawdle."

"Nathalie's down in the lab with Father.  We're the only ones up in the house right now."

His smile turned puckish, and Marinette couldn't have said no to it even if it weren't set in a perfect face.  It reminded her of Peluche on a good day. "I have a little time before school."

Adrien stepped aside, allowing her entry into his room.

He did most of the talking.  Adrien sat atop his desk in a stark white room with little decoration.  He offered her his chair as they dug into the order.  With croissant in hand, he gestured with each question, inexhaustible in his curiosity.  He had two questions for her every answer, and so much of it was about herself.

Marinette would normally have balked at so many personal questions, but his earnest innocence was disarming.  How long had she worked at the bakery? Could she bake? Did she go to school? What was her favorite subject? Could she speak any other languages? Was pink her favorite color? She answered between bites of a croissant she wasn’t even hungry for, and all too soon her phone beeped at her.

Marinette scrambled for it and sighed in disappointment.  “I have to go. I miss enough school as it is.”

She snapped her mouth shut. THAT was a little too much information, even for someone who appeared to be homeschooled.  As she stood, Adrien took out a watch from his pocket, old fashioned brass with a round face.  Somehow the anachronism just seemed to fit, and Marinette found herself smiling a different sort of smile, one that pinked her cheeks when she realized it was there.  He looked up and she quickly looked away, putting her phone away and willing her blush to leave.

Adrien asked softly, “Will you come again tomorrow if we order more?”

Her gaze shot back to him.  “Tomorrow? I—uh what—Yes.  I mean, I’m the only person who does the deliveries for the bakery, so whenever you order I’ll be here.”  Marinette flexed her biceps, then prayed she might spontaneously combust as she lowered them awkwardly.

Adrien’s smile was openly fond, without a hint of reserve or embarrassment. “I’d like that.  Would it be okay with you if I did?”

“I um—okay?  Yeah, sure.  I mean, I’m the delivery girl, my time is your time.  No—”

Marinette caught herself, an act of willpower.  She just had to think of her partner. How would she handle this?  Well, maybe not exactly the same, tone it down by about half.  Marinette clasped her hands behind herself and stood up tall.

“I’d like to come see you again.  You call, and I’ll be here.”

“Whew.”  Adrien grinned sheepishly.  “I was worried I’d asked wrong.”

As he spoke, he pushed a hand up through his bangs and Marinette caught sight of a red mark across his brow, at the hairline.  Only now it clicked that the other was gone from his cheek.  The spotted part of her mind filed it away with questions for later.  The civilian side merely shook her head with a reassuring smile of her own before they exchanged goodbyes and she was off to school.

—-----

It was a marvelous several days.  Marinette was up early so regularly that her mother asked her if something was wrong.  Each morning she made sure she was made up as good as if not better than the one before.  Sitting and talking with Adrien was a little slice of heaven, and she didn’t want to miss a moment of it.  She was even contemplating asking the class nightmare Chloé for any makeup tricks.  It might be worth the brief ridicule.

Marinette also considered telling her friends about Adrien, and about how talking with him made her feel.  They were simple, short conversations, but there was a connection there.  It wasn’t just the hot rush of a cute boy anymore.  She’d experienced that with other guys in the past.  Sitting with Adrien was like finding a part of herself she hadn’t known was missing.

As she walked to his home this time, Marinette was contemplating ways she might try to coax him out of his house.  The first suggestion had not gone over well.  His eyes had grown big and in a shocked voice he’d answered, “I can’t.  I couldn’t possibly leave the house now.  Father’s still not done fixing what’s wrong.  I can’t mess things up for him.”

Fixing what’s wrong.  What exactly was wrong?  Adrien’s mark had gone and she’d been glad, but then she’d noticed how his right hand twitched the whole day while he ate.  The day after the mark was back, this time on his left hand.  It didn’t look like bruising, just an innocuous birthmark, but why would it move?  She didn’t have answers.  Maybe Max might know.

Marinette rang for entry, and to her surprise the intercom crackled.  “You must be quick today.  He is tired.”  *buzz*

It was with trepidation that Marinette knocked on Adrien’s door.  He opened it after a pause, and his bright smile banished her worries, “Hello.”

Marinette rattled the bag slightly, shaking out the lingering worry.  “Hello, Adrien.  They said you were tired this morning, are you feeling okay?”

He blinked.  “I am?  I suppose Nathalie knows best. If I am tired, I should get some rest. Thank you for delivering my breakfast.”

He took the bag, and Marinette gave him a smile every bit as bright as his. “Happy as always, Adrien.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She turned to go, and he called after her.  His words brought back all her worry and then some.  “If you’re coming back, maybe you could tell me your name?”

[blackmagicforever]

red spots & black canvas: chapter one

Chapter One: Cruel Summer | Master List | AO3

in which we get a summary of marinette’s summer

There was a buzzing sound right next to her ear. Marinette groaned lowly as she swatted away the source of the sound as she rolled away from it. A giggle was heard.

She fell off the bed with a loud ‘Oof!’.

Marinette lifted her head from the floor and saw a pair of feet about half a meter away from her.

Laughter was heard from the person, “Sweet Marigold, are you awake?”

“Nonna,” Marinette groaned pitifully, dragging a hand across her face.

“Wake up, Marigold!” her nonna, Gina, ushered her on her feet. “We have to pack! This is your last day, non?”

Marinette nodded empathetically as she dragged herself out of the bedroom towards the living space of the bungalow they had been spending the last few days.

Tikki poked her head out of the sheets of the bed and quickly made her way on top of Gina’s shoulder.

The older woman smiled gently at the kwami, “Morning, little one.”

It had been an accident, in Marinette’s defense. Gina had entered so suddenly into the room that Marinette didn’t have time to close the portal and detransform from Kaalki’s and Tikki’s merged form.

Surprisingly, Gina was chill with it. She was also friends with the Red Hood, it explained why Gina didn’t freak out.

During that summer, Marinette had escaped Paris under the wing of her grandmother. They traveled through Europe and the United States.

Marinette found out quickly that her Nonna didn’t agree to her policy of helping everyone and giving her time and work for free. She also was taught the wonders of profit.

Marinette met new people her grandmother knew from one reason to another. From vigilantes to heroes, to the occasional anti-hero (Deadpool and her instantly connected, and he gave her his number in case she needed outside help for Paris)

(Not that she would ever use it against Lila. Of course, not)

After Lila turned every single classmate against her, she had to take down her social media down and change her phone number.

The only saving grace she had was that MDC’s identity was still hidden from the public eye, and the social media for it was in another completely different phone Marinette only used for her profession.

Or else Max would probably had hacked into it and ruined it as well, Marinette had thought back then.

She, along with Gina, had gone to a few concerts of Jagged. Marinette to help Jagged with his outfits, and Gina to spread chaos.

To say that Jagged and Penny were angry at Marinette’s classmates and the Liar was to put it simply. Penny was already contacting the lawyers as Jagged texted a few celebrities about the defamation and slander Lila Rossi was causing.

It wasn’t until they were in Gotham City, Jagged’s birthplace, when Marinette met Damian and Tim.

They were the younger brothers of the Red Hood, who was conveniently a second cousin thrice removed adopted by a honorary sibling Gina had. Alfred Pennyworth was the most badass butler and honorary granduncle Marinette ever had.

It didn’t take long for her to figure out the whole Wayne family was also the Bat Family. Blame Nightwing, who cooed at her the same way Dick Grayson had not mere hours ago.

Marinette, in all her fashion glory, ripped apart every single costume the bat family wore for their night activities.

It was then where the nicknames Traffic Light Boy and Ketchup Mayo were coined.

She also revealed she was Ladybug from Paris.

“Paris has heroes?”

“Paris has villains?!?”

It took five seconds for Marinette to make the bat boys silent with her clearing her throat and throwing a nasty glare at them.

“Yes, Paris has heroes, and villains.” Marinette sighed, “It’s been three years and Paris is tired. I am tired. Of fighting victims, children, even babies.”

Batman contacted the League about this. And somehow, Marinette and Gina were dragged to Themyscira while adopting Diana, Wonder Woman, as her niece.

Marinette was bewildered.

Turns out, Hippolyta was one of the past Ladybugs holders and that made her Marinette’s sister!

Tikki was happy to see one of her bugs safe and sound.

Gina somehow wondered how in the world her grandchild got herself into these situations.

Marinette learned to be more confident and ignore the negative thoughts her mind conjured when she internalized her panic. She learned to wield a sword and to unlock certain powers she didn’t know she had.

Calling out for ladybugs to aid her was so weird but fascinating. It was like she was Cinderella and her ladybugs were the mouses that helped her.

She also modified her suit. Long gone was the spandex onesie that clung to her as a second skin when she was thirteen.

Now at age sixteen she had a full black suit with red accents. Boots that were flexible but sturdy with metal toes. And kevlar that covered her chest, shoulder blades, back, and some random pieces that varied between her elbows and knees.

She also had wings!

The goodbye from Themyscira was tearful, but Marinette promised to come back. Ladybug was also drafted in the Justice League, but on the low-key.

It was decided that Damian would join her in Paris as Tim hanged around the French branch the Wayne Enterprise had when Ladybug asked for help in defeating Hawkmoth.

“Le Papillon, a butterfly.” Damian had snorted derisively, Marinette had giggled.

Wonder Woman also was near, proposing to set up a small boutique in case Ladybug needed her. (Chat Noir had been slipping out of patrol and akuma attacks lately)

It had gone well. Marinette was content and satisfied with her summer. And she only had one more year of Lyceé left! Maybe even shorter than that, if she pushed her credits to be due beforehand.

“How are we feeling?” Nonna asked.

Marinette hummed, “Content.” she settled for the word.

She waved a hand, focusing on the tingles running towards her fingertips, and a swarm of ladybugs arrived through the window. In mere minutes the place was spotless (pun not intended) and their things were packed for the drive back home.

“I’ll admit having a magic girl transformation magic has its perks.” Gina broke the silence.

Marinette buried her flaming face within her hands.

“Nonna!” she whined.

[victimhood]

Me: thinking about TOG restaurant AU

Somm!Booker’s favorite wine would be a Côte Rôtie (in particular the Marie et Pierre Bénetière Dolium) and when asked about what wine he would “match” to each of his coworkers he says Nile is a viognier (bc of my shipper heart) but look it’s basically saying he thinks Nile is pretty with real substance but he’s also saying Nile could be a delicious addition to his life ajsjdhddjjd SIR STOP.

Viognier

Floral, aromatic white grape variety, with the finest examples coming from Condrieu AOC (yellow circle in diagram), which is just beneath Côte Rôtie in the Northern Rhône.

Condrieu AOC permits only 100% viognier white wines, the wines here come from very steep vineyards (50 degrees even!). The vineyards are located on terraces carved into the southern facing slopes of granite rock. The wine is highly perfumed with delicate floral notes and stone fruit aromas, with medium acidity.

Côte Rôtie

Côte Rôtie tends to be made out of the Syrah grape, though a blend of up to 20% viognier (usually <5% though) permitted to add the floral aromas. It is a very dark and tannic wine, and in hot climates can become a very jammy, overpowering wine. In the Côte Rôtie we find the most elegant expressions of this wine due to the colder climate (it is the northernmost region of where this grape varietal can grow), and the wines require long bottle aging to fully develop. It’s a very hyped wine, with prices to match, but the unique combination of terroir can’t be replicated by the other regions that grow this grape. This is a brutal wine to make and yet the difficulty is what makes it so special. To wit, this description, which makes me think of our boy: “Côte Rôtie is a excellent wine, and totally unique, but not far off from being a complete disaster.”

As a side note, our boy Booker attended the Lyceé hôtelier de l’Hermitage, which contributes to his preference for his “home” region of Rhône Valley wines. Maybe he did a stint in Australia, because Australia is a major producer of Syrah wines but also bc I love me an Aussie shoutout but also a lot of young French people do go to Australia to study wine for the dynamism I guess maybe they want more sun too idk but they do!! They do go to Aus for whatever reason.

[ID: map of the wine regions of the Nothern Rhône, with the northernmost regions of Côte Rôtie (red wine) and Condrieu (white wine) highlighted for reference in this post]

[the-navistar-carol]

Daminette Songfic: ‘Summer of ‘69’ by Bryan Adams

From the Maribat AU of @ozmav

@maribat-archive I’m back at it again >:)

I got my first real six-string

Bought it at the five-and-dime

When he had first been taken in by Bruce Wayne, he had turned up his nose at the prospect of entertaining some kid superhero from France. She wasn’t going to be impressive.

She wasn’t even going to be good!

Man, Damian thought to himself, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, was I wrong.

Played it 'til my fingers bled

Was the summer of '69

It had taken forever for them to even consider being on speaking terms, let alone friends. That alone had been a marvel in and of itself.

Not that he’d trade it for anything in the universe. If it came to it, he would probably let the world burn for another minute with her.

“Dude,” Dick had whistled. “You are whipped.”

Again, he’d turned up his nose at the prospect. He hadn’t even known what the former Robin had meant.

But yeah. I had been.

Me and some guys from school

Had a band and we tried real hard

She’d never given up, not even when she was flung into the floor. Not that she did now. Ladybug, Marinette, was and is the greatest girl he knew.

Top of her class, an aspiring designer, with the biggest heart he had ever seen. And not only that, but she was a superhero, saving cities on the daily and pulling the croissants out of the oven.

At least he had a family, people who were there as backup. And not to mention the budget of a billionaire.

She managed with a family who barely knew what she got herself into, a class who had turned against her, and the funds of a bakery. Plus public schooling.

Damn, he mused. If she was one of us, look out Joker.

Jimmy quit, Jody got married

I should've known we'd never get far

Dick had befriended her first. Well, second, after Alfred. But he had taken the first step.

His teasing had never failed to make her laugh, giggles scrunching up her nose and a beaming smile that lit up the room. Ladybug and Nightwing would have late-night philosophy talks, making each other think beyond their boundaries.

She’d taught him to bake, always there with patience when he’d fudged a recipe.

The eldest Robin had shown her more complicated gymnastics (not that she wasn’t already more flexible than most of them would ever be), and acrobatics that turned her every slip and fall into a tumble, and she’d roll right back up onto her feet.

Dick had taught her how to get back up.

Oh, when I look back now

That summer seemed to last forever

Jason had taken her under his wing after Dick.

Whenever she’d curled into a ball, shuddering after a hard practice, he would toss her into the air and take off like a shot, careening through the halls of Wayne Manor. It wasn’t long before her laughs rang off the walls, the Red Hood with a wild grin.

They had the sibling dynamic — there for each other, even at their faults.

Marinette had introduced Jason to color schemes and designs, at least how costumes worked. It was most definitely because of that awful helmet.

Jason, on the other hand, had taught her how to shoot. It was out of necessity, he claimed. If she didn’t know how to defend herself, and her yo-yo was out of reach, she may not have a choice.

Jason had given her the tactics nobody thought she would know.

And if I had the choice

Yeah, I'd always wanna be there

Tim had warmed up to her third, although he had been a bit worried about her age.

As her superhero duties became more needed back in Paris, the two of them started working together at night, on cases none of the rest could crack. The Insomnia Buddies, she’d dubbed them. Or, rather, as Tim called them, the Coffee Crew.

Whenever he became stressed to the point of a breakdown, she taught him meditation, she taught him calm.

The Red Robin showed her computers, and how to bypass firewalls with a tap of a key. Underhanded, but in case she needed the information.

Tim had taught her how to think.

Those were the best days of my life

He, Damian, had taken the longest. It had taken years to become as close to her as the other three were.

But they eventually bonded over common interest and curiosity about the other, growing closer every time they spent an hour in each other’s presence.

Marinette opened his mind to possibilities outside simply what had been placed in front of him. You never have only two choices, she told him firmly, eyes narrowed in determination. Never.

The newest Robin may not have been the first to pick her back up after a tough spar, but he would always be there in a real one, whether it was to take the hit or let her rest.

He, Damian, had given her a real partner.

Ain't no use in complaining

When you've got a job to do

The summers she spent at Gotham had become less of a chore and more like a long-lost family member returning to them. They gained inside jokes, and Skype chats between Gotham and France became more common, until it was almost an everyday thing.

They watched each other grow from bratty kids to mature teenagers, from gangly to sure of themselves.

And man, had her almost literal transformation had him whipped.

Watch out, Hawkmoth.

Spent my evenings down at the drive-in

And that's when I met you, yeah

He’d joined an exchange program to Paris, planning on not telling her, but of course the day he had Jason blurted it out on their nightly video call.

She’d gone absolutely red, and fallen off her desk chair with a loud thud. To this day, it brought a smile to his face.

“R-really?” Her voice had been hesitant, but excited nonetheless. “I can’t believe it! When are you coming?”

Dick, from his position out of the way of the camera, gave Damian a knowing look, a wry grin, and a small wiggle of his eyebrows.

Dumbass.

Standin' on your mama's porch

You told me that you'd wait forever

It wasn’t long after that announcement, when she was in her final year of lyceé, that her video chats had started to become more… tired. She’d change the subject whenever they talked about her classmates or, worse, her friends.

It wasn’t only him who had noticed it. Tim had been the first to pick it up, and immediately set off on finding information about the class. Without telling Marinette, of course.

What he found was no concrete proof, but more videos on the Ladyblog detailed a girl named Lila Rossi.

An awful liar if he ever saw one.

Oh, and when you held my hand

I knew that it was now or never

The detective work lasted a week and a half before it was outed. Marinette didn’t get mad about it, but simply hung her head and apologized for not telling them.

His heart had torn to see his angel beaten down like this.

She was across the ocean, president of a class he couldn’t defend her against.

He, Robin, a superhero, was useless.

The exchange program left in six months.

Too long.

Those were the best days of my life

He went to her over winter break, though. Thank whatever higher power he could.

As soon as he had stepped into her room with the door closed, she had broken down in his arms. His brothers were right behind him, and joined the hug with words of comfort and encouragement.

It had taken her half an hour to calm down, but when she had finished, they were tears of happiness. Happiness that they were there for her.

“We’re gonna make this the best two weeks of your year, little lady” Jason had promised her with a crooked grin, the white patch in his hair tousled.

Tim didn’t miss the way she looked away at the word lady. “Mari-bug, what’s going on?”

She took a deep, shuddering breath, and tugged Damian over to her bed, not wanting to let go of him. “It’s a long story.”

We aren’t going anywhere, angel.

Oh, yeah.

Back in the summer of '69

When she finished, she had had to take breaks three times—three times!—to calm herself down.

“And I’ve almost been akumatised because of this, a few times,” she admitted, her voice a quiet whisper. “I figured out how to not let my emotions get the best of me, though. My parents don’t really know.”

Jason’s expression clearly told Damian he was in need of a skinning knife. Or guns. Guns were faster.

A series of pops filled the room. Dick, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face, had popped his knuckles. “I think that it’s time some other people knew the harm Lila caused.”

“And if she gets akumatised,” Damian added, “she’s well deserved it.”

“She can’t keep going like this and not receive the consequences,” Tim put in. “It’s not right.”

Hell’s coming to Lila Rossi.

Man we were killin' time

We were young and restless

And the damned Lila situation didn’t even begin to cover Chat Noir. But Marinette insisted they get away from the topic.

She was on winter break, dammit, and Jason was hellbent on making good on his promise.

Tim had the best idea, oddly enough. An arcade.

While Damian had found the concept childish at best, the way Marinette’s eyes lit up at the prospect quickly stilled any protest.

To the flashy lights and cheap prizes we go.

We needed to unwind

I guess nothin' can last forever, forever, no! yeah!

Once they got there, Dick was quick to pull out his credit card and get a near- unlimited token supply. He nudged Damian with a sly grin. “Get her a big prize, loverboy.”

Thankfully, he said it out of her hearing range. Then he pushed him over, and they toured the arcade together.

Naturally, Jason was a master at the shooting games. Tim was an unexpected genius at Guitar Hero. Dick, of course, managed to beat the highscore on DDR by a good hundred thousand points. Show-off.

You deserve all the joy, angel.

And now the times are changin'

Look at everything that's come and gone

The two weeks had come and gone like nothing. But the two months afterward were an absolute hell of a waiting game.

But Marinette was happier, knowing that her Gotham friends were there for her.

“He’s still whipped,” Dick cackled one night after a video call.

Tim grinned, and ruffled Damian’s hair. “I can see why.”

He’d only growled at them, but they persisted anyway, giving bad advice they knew full well was awful.

But what else were brothers for?

Sometimes when I play that old six-string

I think about you, wonder what went wrong

The exchange program left them in Mlle. Bustier’s class. Well, at least Damian and a few schoolmates.

He could see just how bad the class was for himself.

At his first step into the class, he had been mobbed by a tanned brunette (Lila) claiming to be his lost soulmate, which he quickly and sharply shut down, and proceeded to sit next to Marinette.

Damian could hear her fake sobs from all the way in the back.

“Can you believe it?! He doesn’t remember me!”

Oh, fuck off.

Standin' on your mama's porch

You told me that it'd last forever

He stood, furious, and proceeded to give a thorough explanation on why she was wrong, a liar, and an awful person.

“I’ve never met you, I’ve known Marinette since I was ten, and I don’t see how the daughter of a single French domestic diplomat would ever meet an American at a charity gala in Gotham!”

Silence.

Then explosion.

Not fiery, of course. Of apologies, launched directly at Marinette.

She simply raised a hand to quell them in their tracks. “Some of you I will be able to forgive. Some of you I will not be. Thank you for your apologies.” Her tone was nowhere near the broken girl who had sobbed in his arms two months ago. She was reforged, stronger than steel.

And with a head held high like that, nothing can bring you down.

Oh, and when you held my hand

I knew that it was now or never

Nathanaël, Alix, Ivan, Myléne. They were able to be forgiven easier than the rest.

Sabrina and Chloé, she was neutral to. They, if they wanted to gain her trust, had a neutral starting ground.

Max, Kim, Nino. They were forgiven less easily, and would take weeks to even be on friendly terms again.

Alya, Lila, and Adrien she probably never would.

And he was perfectly fine with that.

They don’t deserve her.

Those were the best days of my life

Near the end of the exchange program, he took her to the Eiffel Tower as the sun set, overlooking all of Paris. He wasn’t nervous, of course he wasn’t. Damian Wayne, nervous in front of the girl he had been absolutely whipped for for the better part of a year?

Oh, you better believe it.

At the top tier, he covered her eyes for the entirety of the ride.

“Damiaan.” She was struggling to hide giggles. “I’ve seen this before, y’know?”

“Nah,” he grinned. “You haven’t.”

The top deck was empty, devoid of any and all tourists.

And then the fireworks started, filling the sky with all the colors of the rainbow.

Worth it.

Oh, yeah

Back in the summer of '69, oh

She grabbed his hand, eyes widening in surprise as a dazzling smile swept any amusement off her face and replaced it with wonder. “Oh my God, Dami.”

“I told you, you haven’t seen this before.”

“Wait— you— for me?”

Don’t you dare freeze.

“For you,” he agreed. “I love you, Marinette.”

Those words had been like weights—saying them the first time was hard.

It was the summer of '69, oh, yeah

Me and my baby in '69, oh

She didn’t say anything, only turned her gaze away from the fireworks and to him, the colorful explosions mirrored in her silver eyes. She was close, he could quite distinctly smell the strawberry lip gloss.

“Dami, I…” Hesitation. Shit.

Then, she launched herself at him, arms going around his neck as she crushed him in a tight hug. His arms came up to pull her close.

“I love you too, you extra idiot!”

Oh.

It was the summer,

They had shared a first kiss then, beneath the fireworks and the stars and the moon.

Neither of them were particularly any good, and she kept giggling, but he wouldn’t have traded it for anybody else.

Nor anywhere else.

Never in the world.

the summer,

This time, after she had graduated université, started as a designer, and finally moved to Gotham, they didn’t have to wait for time zones.

This time, as he caught his breath when he saw her in dazzling white, they would never have to wait again.

And this time, they could face things together.

Was he still absolutely whipped for Marinette Dupain-Cheng?

Always.

the summer of '69, yeah

[crazyrandomfucker]

Marichat May day 5: Dare

Summary:

What happens when a group of teenager superheroes visit regularely two civilians and become close friends to them with their superheroes' identities? The answer is heroic sleepovers with a chance of truth or dare.

Notes:

Here all of the characters are a bit aged-up to the point of being on their 20's. The identity reveal still hasn't happened but it's become a type of tradition to hang out with the Dupain-Cheng twins after patrolling. The fox miraculi and the turtle miraculi have already been established as permanent aditions to the heroe's team with the four superheroes: Salihafa (Nina), Carapace, Rena Rouge and Zorro Rojo (Alen). And there are also two new villains called Papilioniadae and Le Paon, who are Gabriel's sister-in-law Amy and his secretary Nathan, the former being Le Paon and the Later Papilionidae. The heroes believe that Papilionidae is the boss of Le Paon, but it's the opposite way.

-------------------------

After a disastrous series of events, the superheroes knew that they would loose sooner or later if they continued to do everything simply by themselves. Hawk Moth had gained the knowledge to repair one of the broken miraculous of the Peacock, assuring Mayura as a definitive addition to his forces. That would have forced the heroes to choose temporary superhero to help them on the fights and return the miraculi afterwards, but something worse happened. The other pair of lost Miraculi became activated and two new villiains decided to attack Paris under the names of Papilionidae and Le Paon. To make things even worse, the normal akuma andamok attacks turned into a new direction as the villains also fought against each other. Three sides were stablished: the heroes, who tried to manage fighting against crime and supervillains on a daily basis; the original villains, Hawk Moth and Mayura; and the newcomers villains, Le Paon and Papilionidae, who mainly focused on disrupting any attempts of Hawk Moth just to the go against the heroes to claim the miraculi.

Since the newer criminals were addad to the frame, the heroes battles became so intense that they were overwhelmed and could not slither away to recruit new heroes. After some serious discussion, they decided to add four more miraculi into the frame: the Fox miraculi, whose illusions could help to escape and recruit new heroes, having learnt from their past mistakes; and the Turtle miraculi, who could protect them for a while in case that things came to worst. Both heroes duo, the cats and the bugs, had quite the hard time to choose who would wield the miraculi, given that Hawk Moth and most likely Papilionidae knew the identities of the previous wielders. After long discussions, they decided to give the miraculi to their previous wielders and teach them to change their outfit in order to fool the villains.

It was decided that Chat Noir and Kitty Noire would give the miraculi of the Turtle to Nino and Nina Lahiffe while Ladybug and Lordbug would be giving the Fox miraculi to Alya and Alen Cesaire, explaining the current situation and then used their spare moments after patrol to completely train them. Just like that, the battles against Hawk Moth and Papilionidaee became easier to handle and the big amount of stress that the heroes had previously accumulated with the simultanious attacks of their enemies. And even if the villains had gained allies lika Lila Rossi or the Bourgeoise twins, the group of eight superheroes had much less difficulties dealing with them.

Once the newbie heroes were definitely stablished and use to their patrolling routines, Ladybug and Lordbug decided to show them their secret meeting place, the Kwami Cave, a teashop under the name of Xia and Ming Quiet Tea Shop that also hosted a mini bar of sorts for superheroes at the second floor, having a secret entrance for superheroes on the rooftop. It was fine for them to hang out there since the owners of the place were no other than the siblings of master Fu, so they knew everything about the kwamis and the miraculi and also supported from the shadows the heroes. After all, it was them who initially suggested taking the risk of incrementing the number of miraculous holders to turn the tides against Hawk Moth and Papilionidae.

On the other side, whenever the bugs weren't patroling, the meetings post-patrol at the Kwami Cave were a bit bland, but the cats had an idea. Why couldn't the newbies meet the other two people who secretly supported them too. They discussed the idea with Lordbug and Ladybug for a long time, but the bugs eventually gave in and explained the situation to the new superheroes, specially emphasizing to Rena Rouge and Zorro Rojo that they were not to interrogate either Marinette or Marin about Ladybug's and Lordbug's secret identity, also asking them to forgive the designers for keeping such a secret from them, but apparently the foxes could understand it.

And so, on a fated day, the cats, foxes and turtles went to the Dupain-Cheng rooftop. Chat and Kitty knocked on Marin's and Marinette's trapdoor and the twins came out, surprised to see all of them there. They spent the afternoon in Marin's bedroom talking and eating cookies, but there definitely was some major teasing towards the cats for apparently hanging out so much with civilians, specially to Chat Noir who mainly visited Marinette and not Marin. They left a couple of hours later, everyone happy after having so much fun, which led them to agree that it would be something that they wanted to repeat from time to time.

And so they did. In just a matter of months, the regular nightly visits to the Dupain-Cheng teenagers from the cats turned into visits from everyone. They loved to spend time like that, using her superheroes identities to interact with their own civilian friends, befriending them once more and generally enjoying spending time with them since they had been quite busy lately. Then the normal visits would sometimes turn into sleepovers at either Marin's or Marinette's room, playing games and watching films until the designers fell asleep. It was quite usual to make videogames competitions, but not even the faster reflexes given by the miraculous could help the heroes win against Marinette, who almost always won their competitions.

But then it came, the night where they really made a decent sleepover, asking for permission to Tom and Sabine to stay and everything. The cats were obviously ecstasic about the whole ordeal, since it wasn't a normal ocurrence that they had an sleepover. The turtles were quite hyped, because hanging with their superheroes friends was so rad, particulary when they got to hang out with Marinette and Marin too, even if it was a pity that Ladybug and Lordbug couldn't go as well in order to avoid that Marin or Marinette accidentally slipped their secret identities. And of course, the foxes were soooo smug about the sleepover, having already planned beforehand lots of tricks and games to play all night long, like seven minutes in heaven or never have I ever (thought they weren't drinking alcohol to avoid any... Possible incidents).

It all started pretty much as usual, they came after patrol and knocked on the trapdoors. Marin and Marinette let them in, but instead of staying on their rooms like usual, they went to greet Tom and Sabine and have dinner with them, helping to set the table and bringing the food to the table. After finishing their meal and sing their praises to Tom for his eggscelent foccacia and quiche, they had upstairs again to Marin's bedroom to begin their sleepovers. Marinette brings two trays filled with treats for the night while Marin prepares the sleeping bags for everyone. The heroes put on their pyjamas (over the suits of course) and lay on the floor in a somehow circle-like shape around the tray of baked goodies. And finally, the fun begins.

"So, has any of you planned something for tonight?" asks Marinette.

"We haven't, we'll go along with whatever you think it's fine" says Kitty Noire.

"I'm thinking of playing the usual sleepover games" says Salihafa. "Unless someone in here is too much of a chicken to go through a bit of embarrassement~".

"Is that so? We also planned on playing those" says Zorro Rojo with a very suspicious smug smile.

"After all, what's better than playing those kind of game in a sleepover?" ask Rena Rouge equally smugly.

"I don't like where this is going" says Marinette, perfectly knowing what Alya can do after six years of being best friends.

"Don't be such a party-pooper Princess, I'm sure this will be funnt" says Chat.

"Chat Noir, I'm sorry but I don't think anything can get funnier than seeing you in that Ladybug pyjama" says Salihafa snorting.

"Hey!" protests Chat Noir.

"Don't worry dude, I think it's awesome" says Carapace.

"I would personaly say that is awkward to see a guy with a pyjama based on the girl he was after for so much time" says Marin chuckling. "But hey, it's still respectable".

Rena and Zorro burst into laughs while Marinette giggles and Salihafa chokes on the macaron she was eating. "Damn Marin, are you flamethrower? Because you just roasted Chat like a boss" says Zorro.

"I think I can understand now why Chat Noir doesn't visits you that much" says Marinette rolling her eyes, while Chat is trying to articulate words to reply to Marin.

"I don't know, I'm pretty sure that it's because he prefers to see a pretty lady" says Rena with the face™.

"Well, I think Ladybug makes sure to avoid being here whenever anyone of you comes" says Marinette. "So I don't think there's any other pretty lady for him to visit".

"Says the young aspiring designers who left behind a club of fans on Lyceé and as my sources reveals, is being worshipped as a goddess on college" says Zorro Rojo as he gestures like he's checking something on a notebook.

"Wait what?"asks Marinette very surprised turning her head to the foxy-boy.

"Well, according to a contact of ours you do have some sort of followers and probably are the main focus of a new-founded religion about stunning designers" says Rena. "And by the way, Marin is considered the 'Top 1 boy I would want to date' by the ninety-eight percent of your college's girls and a fair bit of the boys".

"Such a pity that he already has a model as his girlfriend" says Kitty, I would have loved to snatch him and Marinette all for me" says Kitty Noire winking at the designer twins.

"How many times I've told you Kitty Noire, I'm not into polyamorous relations, specially if my brother is on the equation" says Marinette.

"Also, I'm claiming her for myself" says Rena squeezing Marinette. "So you can't have her you mangy cat".

"Excuse me? I think you are all forgetting something" says Marinette slightly amused.

"Yeah, you're all forgetting that she's my gaming rival!" says Chat Noir, finally recovering his sanity.

"Dude, they are fighting for a woman to marry her, you can still play videogames with her after their wedding" says Carapace.

"Oh, but I thought that Carapace and Rena Rouge were already a thing, same for Salihafa and Zorro Rojo" says Marin smirking. "That's what Lordbug told me at least".

"Traitor! How could he!" roars Zorro. "That was not very bro of him".

"While I do agree with you brother, I think were forgetting about something" says Rena. "We were going to play games, weren't we?"

"That we were Rena" says Salihafa smiling knowingly. "Should we beggin then?"

"But of course" says Kitty Noire. "Should we begin with a classic like truth or dare?"

"Oh girl, I like the way you think" says Rena Rouge.

"I'm sensing disaster" says Marin.

"Don't be so sour Marin, it's just going to be a fun game" says Chat.

"Yup, definitely, catastrophe is ensured" says Marin.

"Come on man, the pussycat should be Chat, not you" says Zorro and Marin rolls his eyes. "Come on you can even go first".

"As if that would make it better" says Marin. "Alright, I go first then".

"Don't be shy Sewwy-Boy" teases Salihafa.

"Then Salihafa, truth or dare?" asks Marin with a smile on his face.

"Dare, do your worst" says smugly Salihafa.

"Gladly" says Marin with a full-blown grin. "I dare you to sit on Zorro's lap while hugging him for five turns".

Salihafa and Zorro Rojo both turn Ladybug red and laughs burst among the teenagers. "Just remember that this is not your house guys, so don't get too touchy feely" teases Marinette.

"I'll get you two for this" says Salihafa mortified as she sits on top of Zorro and hugs him. "Rena, truth or dare".

"For now let's do a truth" says Rena.

"Then tell us, is it true that my brother is the one leading your kisses" asks Salihafa.

"That was a low blow sis" says Carapace.

"He sometimes does, but normally I'm the one kissing him senseless" says Rena Rouge.

"To the point of being distracted before patrol" adds Kitty Noire smirking.

"Kitty, sweety, truth or dare" says Rena Rouge glaring her.

"I'm going to say truth. Who knows what would you make me do" says Kitty.

"I think Rena is the type of person who makes worse truths than dares" comments Marinette.

"Relax, I'll start softly" says Rena smirking. "Tell us Kitty, is there some boy or some girls that you're in love with?"

"Totally, I'm dating with someone you know" says Kitty Noire smirking. "Such a pity I can reveal who I'm dating because of the secret identity".

"Very clever" says Rena squinting. "Very. Clever".

"Thank you ReRo" says Kitty. "Now, Marinette, truth or dare?"

"I get the feeling that I'm goig to be embarrassed either way, so dare" sighs Marinette.

"I'll be kind to you Princess. I dare you to give a butt slap the most beautiful of the room" says Kitty Noire.

"Beautiful? Not hadsome but beautiful, huh?" says Marinette pondering. She stands up and slaps Rena's and Kitty's butts very loudly. "This are the most beautifully slappable of the room".

"Damn girl, you do now how to butt slap" says Rena caressing her rear.

"It's not my fault you two have two slappy butts, is it" asks Marinette. "Actually I think Salihafa is the most beautiful, but I didn't quite want to interrupt her quality time with Zorro".

"Understandeable, the council declares this as valid" says Chat Noir.

"Silly cat" says Marinette rolling her eyes at the buffoon. "Anyways, Carapace, choose".

"Normally I would be glad you're the one daring or asking me a question, but I'm honestly quite afraid right now" says Carapace.

"Just choose already so we can turn the tides on her" complains Rena Rouge.

"Then I choose dare" says Carapace.

"Don't worry Shelly, I'm not going hard on you. For now" says Marinette winking. "I dare you to tickle Rena Rouge on... let's say her feet, something tells me she's the type of person to be ticklish there".

"Carapace, don't" says Rena. "I'm warning you. I'll punch you in the face".

"But babe, it's a dare" says Carapace sheepishly. "I have to do it".

"Carapace no. CARAPACE N-" tries to say Alya as she tries to back away, but Chat holds her while Carapace tickles her feet, making Rena burst into laughs until she begs for mercy breathless.

"Okay, I've done it now" declares Carapace. "Chat, truth or dare dude?"

"I'm all in for a dare from my bro" says Chat looking at Carapace on his eyes with his full model power.

"Bro" says Carapace looking at him.

"Just kiss already!" says Kitty chuckling.

"Bro, by the power of bromance, I dare yo to yeet a macaron to the fairiest of them all" says Carapace ignoring Kitty.

"You know that's how the war of Troya begun, right?" says Marin. "Especially since there are already taken girls".

"Oh my, thank you for worrying Marin, but I won't sway away from my Shelly for a leathery catboy" says Rena.

"Well, while I do admit that you are gorgeous Rena, you're not my type" says Chat as he picks up a macaron. "But I think the closest one to my type here should be our little Princess" says throwing her a macaron gently.

She grabs it mid air. "You flatter me Kit-Cat, but you won't get more treats because of this" says Marinette smiling at him.

"I was rather thinking on a certain mouse instead of pastries" says Chat winking at her.

"Say one word more and you're not getting any more croissants Chat" says Marinette.

"That sounds interesting" says Rena smirking.

"Want another tickle attack?" replies Marinette.

"Ah, yes. That's the Sassinette I love" says Kitty Noire.

"Anyway" says Chat holding his hands up to gather attention. "Zorro Rojo, care to chooseth thy fate of thee?"

"But of course Chat" answers Zorro getting a chievalry-like feeling of inspiration. "I choose truth, for I have no secrets to hide".

"What do Salihafa's lips taste like?" asks Rena.

"Dear Rena, I believe it was my turn" says Chat feigning offence. "I ask thee, Zorro, whom I will respect as a chevalier, what is your take on anime?"

"OP I love some of the animes my man has recommended to me, but I know nothing outside of those" says Zorro.

"I see your man is a man of culture then" says Chat Noir.

"That he is" affirms Zorro Rojo. "Then, tis mine turn, isn't it? Marin, truth or dare?"

"Truth, I ain't getting your revenge simply like that" says Marin.

"Then please illuminate us, is it true that you were onto someone before going out with mademoiselle Agreste? If yes, whom?" asks Zorro grinning.

"That's not something you could easily guess, and something only a bunch of people know, are you perhaps hinting that I know your civilian side?" asks Marin smirking.

"I have my ways to get information. After all, a good illusion can't be done without information" replies smugly Zorro.

"Fine. Yes, I did have a crush on someone" says Marin. "But since it's just a truth, and not two, I won't say the name".

"Sneaky, but fair, I'll accept it" says Zorro.

"Then it's my turn. Salihafa, you've been awfully quiet, so tell me, truth or dare?" asks Marin.

"Truth" says Salihafa glaring at Marin.

"Is it nice to be able to be so lovey dovey with your boyfriend?" asks Marin.

"It is very much thank you" says Salihafa with her face burried on Zorro's chest.

"It's good to be young" says Marinette smiling.

"Rena, avenge me" says Salihafa. "Truth or dare".

"Dare, to make it spicy before our revenge" says Rena.

"I dare you to pick two person for seven minutes in heaven and shove them in a closet" says Salihafa.

"With pleasure" says Rena as she stands up and picks up Marinette, carrying her bridestyle just to dump her onto Chat arms and then shove them inside Marin's bathroom.

"I didn't expect that, but I approve" says Kitty Noire.

"Oh don't worry, it's your turn sweety" says Rena Rouge. "You said you were dating someone right? What do you like about... Him? Her? Them?"

"Well, there are an awful lot of thinks I like about him. Like, for example, the adorable face he puts when he's concentrated, the way he can picture us both being a happy family in the future, his kindness" says Kitty staring at the universe. "And let's face it, that killer body he has is definitely a huge bonus. Like he seems fit at first, but whenever I grab his arm I can feel that he's ripped".

"Damn girl, I never knew you were like that" says Alya.

"Say whatever you want sweetie, but I'm just saying that he could crack nuts with his arm" says Kitty Noire smugly.

"I know someone else who can crack nuts with his arm" says Carapace looking at Marin.

"I'm not that fit Carapace" says Marin eye rolling.

"I'm not sure about it, should we check that?" asks Rena smirking.

"Oh for sure" says Salihafa. "We need to check that. Care to help us discern Kitty Noire?"

"My pleasure" says Kitty Noire as she jumps onto Marin, shoving him to the ground as she picks her arms.

"I think we need to get off his pyjama shirt for that" says Zorro Rojo as he somehow gets some markers out from thin air.

"I'll help with that" says Kitty grinning as he picks one of the markers. "Don't resist Prince Charming".

"I'm just gonna say that wouldn't do that" says Carapace.

"Don't worry Shelly, this is just for scientific purpouses" says Rena as Salihafa get's Marin's shirt up.

"Damn Marin, I didn't know you were this fit. You could grate cheese in here" says Salihafa.

"Oh, let me show you just how is the shape of his muscles" says Zorro drawing on Marin's torso, outlining his abs.

"And look at this strong arms, I'm sure you could even win against us in a wrestle match" says Rena Rouge inspecting his arms.

"He can" says Carapace. "That's why I said that I wouldn't do that".

"Wait, what?" asks Kitty just as Marin switfly gets out of her hold, quickly jumping to Zorro Rojo and locking him.

"Now it's my turn, isn't it?" asks Marin as he picks the marker and begins to draw on Zorro's face.

"What the funk just happened?!" asks Salihafa flipping.

"There's a reason why you don't mess with a designer son of a baker Salihafa" says Marin picking a rope from underneath his bed and quickly ties Salihafa and Zorro Rojo with it.

"Since when can you do that?!" asks Rena surprised.

"I carry a lot of heavy ingredients sacks and thanks to designing, I know a thing or two about laces, ropes and knots" says Marin cracking his knuckles. "Prepare for tickles Miss Pickles".

"It's scary how threatening souned that despite being so lame" says Kitty Noire.

"Marin Dupain-Cheg, do not dare to tickle me" says Rena seriously. "Babe! Do something!"

"I legitelly warned you all" points Carapace. "I know how damn strong he is, I saw him beating Chat in a wrestling competition. I also saw Marinette knocking Chat out of a roof throwing him a pillow from her balcony, so I ain't messing with them".

"Babe!" exclaims Rena Rouge indignant.

"Alright, alright. But I'm not getting on his bad side" says Carapace getting up. He pushes Kitty Noire towards Marin. "Shellter!"

The virtually impenetrable sphere surrounds Marin and Kitty Noire, preventing Marin to get Rena. "Carapace!" complains Kitty Noire.

"You were the one who wanted to have a feel of his muscles" says the hero shrugging. "Now, Marin, I'm taking you both to Marinette's bedroom. You do wahtever you have to do".

"You know I'm not going to do anything like hitting them or so, right?" says Marin. "I was simply going to tickle Al-Rena and then remove the treats for Kitty".

"You wouldn't?!" says astonished Kitty Noire.

"You bet I'm doing it as soon as we get out and I get something for Carapace's kwami to eat" says Marin.

"Thank you, I'll need lettuce. I'll be inside my sleeping bag" says Carapace and leaves them on Marinette's room.

"Now this is awkward" says Kitty Noire.

"Just this? Stripping me and holding me down wasn't awkward for you?" says Marin.

"That's that and this is this" replies Kitty Noire. "That was just a little prank".

"This is just a little prank from Carapace" points Marin.

"I'm not sure that this could be considered as a prank" says Kitty.

"Again, and stripping me was?" says Marin.

"Of course it was!" says Kitty Noire.

"Sometimes you remember me so much to my girlfriend Adrienne" says MArin. "You both are stubborn and have quite the wrong definition of prank".

"I'm sure that your girlfriend is as sorry as me for not having the same definition as you" says pettily Adrienne.

"Don't think so, because even if they aren't quite exactly pranks, I still love her effort" says Marin. "I love your effort too by the way, just try not to get me naked next time, alright?".

"Hey, Marin" says Kitty suddenly. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, shoot".

"Who were you in love with before your girlfriend Adrienne? I don't remember ever hearing about that from you" says Kitty Noire.

"That's... That's because I never told you" says Marin blushing a bit.

"Why?"

"Because... It was an impossible love from the beginning. Someone who was out of my reach, just like Adrienne. But Adriennedid her best to reach to me and managed to make me fall for her".

"Someone as out of reach as a supermodel? Who is that girl?" asks Kitty.

"You. It was always you. I couldn't get you out of my head and my heart raced each time you came to have a chat after patrol" says Marin, turning around so Kitty couldn't see his face.

"M-Me?" asks cautiously Kitty Noire.

"Yeah, the girl who bravely fought against the first akumas without even flinching or wavering" says Marin.

"I'm so stupid" says Kitty laughing and sitting. "I loved you too Marin. I truly did. That's why I would always come. But I thought you wouldn't be interested on me and moved on".

"We're both pretty stupids, aren't we?" asks Marin smiling.

"Yeah, we are" agrees Kitty Noire.

-----------------------------

"How many minutes do you thik that have passed?" asks Chat Noir.

"I don't know, my phone is outside" answers Marinette.

"It's getting pretty boring just to wait" complains Chat.

"Are you hitting on me Chat?" asks Marinette with a brow raised. "Or do you not know how this game works?"

"I'll be honest, I've never played" confesses Chat. "The 20 years old catboy has never been able to play such a thing, so I don't know the rules".

"The rules are that a couple enter a small space for seven minutes, so they can make out and stuff without anyone messing around" says bluntly Marinette and Chat goes red.

"Say what now, Princess?" asks Chat blushing.

"Yeah, they are playing match-maker. They most likely want us to make out and date or something" says calmly Marinette.

"How comes you're not phased by it then?!" asks Chat.

"You didn't made a move from the beginning, so I think I'm fairly safe" points Marinette. "Besides, it's not like you love me or something. You have a girlfirend if I'm not wrong".

"I had a grilfriend, we break up some time ag- Wait a minute, how comes you know I was dating someone?" asks Chat confused.

"Ladybug told me" answers Marinette quickly. Too quickly perhaps.

"I sometimes forget that you're her best friend and confident" says Chat.

"You're also her best and confident Chat, she trusts you more than you can imagine" says Marinette smiling.

"Thank you Princess" says Chat Noir also smiling. "It's refreshing to hear something like that".

"Chat..." begins Marinette, worried about Chat's and Kitty's momentarily comments from time to time. "Do you want me to pet you?"

"I'd never refuse an offer like that Princess" says Chat Noir as he rests his head on her lap.

"I'm here for you, you know?" says Marinette as she softly slithers her fingers thorugh his golden hair, caressing his head and scratching his favourite spots. "Everybody in her is here if you or Kitty have any problem".

"Don't mind it Princess, it's okay. I'm a tough cat" says Chat Noir winking at her as he boops her nose.

"That you are" says Marinette smiling.

----------

Epilogue: 

Carapace couldn't believe his eyes when he found Kitty asleep on top of Marin, who was sleeping like a log and hadn't even got anything for Wayzz to eat. Luckily the kwami had opted for a matcha macaron instead. But the one who was mostly surprised was Rena when she opened the door of Marin's bathroom and found Chat being pet by Marinette. To make it worse, it made her crave for some petting too and had to share Marinette with Chat Noir for petting duty. But man, Marinette did know how to pet. On a side nte, Salihafa and Zorro slept stied to each other until Marin woke up and untied them the next morning (but only after carrying Kitty to her bed)

[soulmate-game]

Ooh! What if Marinette, considering that she’s what? 12 or 13 when she starts designing for Jagged, what if she becomes like the fashion industry version of Chocolate Guy (Amaury)? She posts TikToks of all the wackier designs she makes, or after Jagged begins a tour she posts videos of how she made his outfits and it takes off because of all the cool stuff she pulls off.

And then that builds up to this, where she has an offer (from Wayne Enterprise’s Entertainment division, of course) to have her own show where she teaches other designers and challenges them to do the kinda stuff she does. It would be extra funny if the contestants include;

Selina, who is a fashionista who primarily loves buying or getting her favorite outfits and accessories bought for her but (since Bruce got her to severely cut down her amount of stealing, not that she can tell anyone that) got into making clothing so that she could still be as glam as she wants without either having Bruce buy it all for her or stealing the stuff she wants from museums. She’s known for making replicas of extremely famous clothing and jewelry displayed in, as I said, museums and other exclusive collections.

Diana Prince, because having Catwoman and Wonder Woman in friendly competition where they are legitimately as equal as possible is an idea I adore. And also I think Diana opened a boutique in canon before? So precedent. And also, Wonder Woman having fashion design as her career outside of heroism just feels right to me, along with her working at the Louvre in the past. We can have it so that Diana worked at the Louvre when Marinette was in Collége and Lyceé, so she and Marinette knew each other already (since Alix took all her friends to the Louvre all the time, and eventually they got to know a lot of the people who worked there. Diana was one of their favorite employees) but Diana left to start her boutique before Marinette graduated Lyceé.

Anyone else? I’m not sure what guys would be good to add as fashion designers, though adding Dick would be hilarious. 1) you could argue that he has experience making and altering he and his family’s costumes ever since his Circus days. 2) Disco Wing, if you age Dick appropriately, can actually be a very in-style design for the time it was made. 3) Dick knows some of his designs are ugly as fuck, but he makes them anyway because he loves color and experimenting, but can crank out a masterpiece whenever he actually wants to. Also, family drama if you add him and it’s adoptive-sort-of-Mother-in-law against sort-of-adopted-son-in-law

Did you guys know that Chocolate Guy has his own Netflix show called School of Chocolate? Where he teaches other chocolatiers how to do some of the crazy shit he does? I’m watching ep1 right now. Amaury is so cool.

[baneismydragon]

Far From the Maddening Crowd

A Chloenette fic- 

I was actually really proud of how this turned out so I wanted to share it will you all as well ^_^  This was my contribution to the ML Rare Pair Challenge

Chloe had brought it on herself really.

No matter how much time she had spent trying to learn to bite her tongue, every once in awhile she just couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been stretching her niceness quota to the max today anyways. To celebrate their last day of lyceé, she and Adrien had pooled resources to pay for the entire class to go on a weekend getaway at the coast, starting with a mass sleepover (the boys at Adrien’s mansion and the girls with her here at the hotel) on Friday night. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time. A feather in the cap of her ‘road to redemption’ as Adrien had taken to calling it.

She had not expected, when she had unthinkingly asked her father to make sure arrangements were made for refreshments for their celebration, that he would include a champagne fountain. She should have- after all it made perfectly logical sense that her father would simply instruct the staff to prepare their top tier catering package and arrange for it to be set up in Chloe’s personal suite. Her father had never really been one for personal oversight. Still, it ended up putting her in the rather uncomfortable position of playing babysitter to a hoard of tipsy, rambunctious, teen aged girls who clearly didn’t have her alcohol tolerance.

Still, she should have just kept her mouth shut. So what if Rose and Juleka had been extra affectionate from the minute they walked in the door? Who cared if they wanted to spend the evening cuddling and exchanging kisses in between bites of high end truffles and chocolate dipped fruits snatched off of the refreshment table? It wasn’t like she was jealous.

OK so she was totally jealous.

read the rest here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10750812

[nobodys-pearls]

Hit on Me Chapter 4

A Miraculous Ladybug AU about pro-fighting and amateur flirting ;)

Read on [AO3]

Ship: Kimax (Le Chien Kim and Max Kanté) 

If he was being perfectly honest, Kim was still surprised that Max had said yes. He hadn’t planned this far ahead. He hadn’t even thought through asking him out to dinner in the first place, it just kind of happened. It was moments like these when he fully realized how much trouble his impulsive nature could get him into.

As they approached the café up the street, Max a few paces behind as he struggled to keep up with Kim’s long strides, thoughts kept racing through Kim’s head. It reminded him of his days on his lyceé track team, dozens of athletes running around and around in circles on a never-ending loop of synthetic, rubbery material.

‘Why did I do this? Is-is this a date?’ Kim thought, almost stumbling over his feet. Then he clenched his fists. ‘No, it’s simply so that our teamwork is, like, super efficient or whatever Max said. Yeah, that’s all.’ Kim reasoned, nodding his head.

‘Then why am I so nervous?’ He stopped suddenly, and Max ran into his back. Kim turned around and rubbed his neck sheepishly.

“Sorry,” Kim apologized, then he pointed at the sign above his head. “We’re here.”

Max gave him a peculiar look and adjusted his glasses. “Are you feeling okay?”

Kim’s eyes widened. “Wh-what do you mean?” He shifted uncomfortably as Max continued to look him over.

“You’ve seemed kind of off today. I don’t have much data to go off of, but you definitely have been acting differently than you did in the elevator.”

“Oh, I’ve uh, been feeling a little under the weather. You know how those seasonal allergies can be.” Kim said with his most convincing smile.

Max simply hummed in what Kim could only assume was agreement. “Shall we sit down then?”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Kim glanced at the tables outside. The weather was perfect for outside dining, but they had come during the dinner rush so none of the tables were open. He tried to hide his disappointment. It really was a beautiful night.

“It’ll be better to eat inside anyway.” Max said. Kim wondered if his coworker could read minds as well as predict the future. “You know, because of your allergies.”

“Huh? I mean, yeah, you’re right.” Kim stumbled out, opening the door. “After you.” He said, gesturing inside. Max gave him a small smile and walked into the café. They took an empty table near the back, and outside the window they could see the Charles Arena in the distance.

Kim watched as Max opened a menu and scanned the page, his eyes moving back and forth. Kim could almost see the gears whirring in his head, and he wouldn’t be surprised if steam started coming out of his coworker’s ears. Then he glanced down at his own menu.

“You don’t have seasonal allergies, do you?” Max asked. Kim snapped his head up to look at him, but his eyes were still on his menu.

“What do you mean?”

“I have a hard time picking up on emotions, but I’m not completely devoid of social skills. I can pick up on things eventually, and it seems like something is bothering you.”

Kim waited as the waiter brought them a bottle of water. Then he filled his glass. “Nothing is bothering me.” Kim said, releasing a short laugh in an attempt to ease the tension. Then he raised his glass to his lips and took a sip. The little track stars in his head began to run faster.

“Is it because I’m gay?”

Kim choked on his water. “W-what?” He said between coughs.

Max put down his menu and looked at Kim. “It’s okay if it is. I know people need some time to – adjust – when I tell them.”

“No!” Kim exclaimed. Then he blushed and smoothed out the napkin in front of him nervously. “Trust me, it’s not that. You being gay isn’t a problem or anything. I mean,” Kim said, struggling to find the right words. Then he took a deep breath. “If anything it’s nice to know that we have something in common.”

“What do you mean?” Max asked, quirking his brow.

“I’m bisexual.” Kim said casually. “Or as Adela puts it, a ‘raging bisexual’ since she thinks that I’ll flirt with anyone I meet.” Kim added, rolling his eyes. “I like to say that I have a lot of love to give.” Then he chuckled to himself.

“What?” Max asked, curious eyes on him.

Kim laughed again. “I’m just imagining how those asshole, steroid-junkies would react if they knew that two gay men were doing the commentating on their favorite sport. They’d probably pop a vessel.” Then he erupted into more laughter.

“They’d be absolutely florid with anger.” Max agreed with a soft laugh of his own. Then he looked thoughtful for a moment. “Wow, two gay sportscasters, who knew the PFL was so progressive?”

“Actually,” Kim said, becoming more serious. “The PFL has always been quite ahead of its time. We’ve had a female league ever since it was founded almost seventy years ago. And now some of the tournaments are even co-ed.” He leaned back in his chair. “The champion five years ago was trans, I’m surprised you never heard about that. It was all over the news.”

“I had to study a lot that year. A lot of code to learn. Didn’t really give me much time for anything else.” Max said, looking down. Kim could see a slight blush on his cheeks.

“Hey, I get it. That was a busy year for me too, now that I think about it. The bottom line is that the PFL is actually a lot more accepting than other leagues. I don’t think that we’ll run into much trouble if it comes out that we’re gay.” Kim said with a reassuring smile. “Although, it would be fun to get into a fight with a juiced-up fan…”

“That is not happening.” Max said, giving him a withering look. Kim responded with a wide smile. They sat like that in silence for a moment.

“So, why did you act so strangely today?” Max asked quietly.

Kim ran a hand through his hair as he tried to come up with the right words. “I mean, you’re so put together and smart – like, freaky smart, I mean how did you know the exact moves that Chat Noir was going to use?” He exclaimed, then he realized that he was getting off topic and straightened up in his seat. “And you’re funny too. And good at a lot of things apparently. I guess I’m just…intimidated.”

Max covered his hand as he began to laugh. “What?” Kim asked, not expecting that response.

“You’re intimidated by me?” Max said, letting out a snort that Kim couldn’t help but find adorable. “You’re like a foot taller than me! And just look at yourself!” He said, gesturing to Kim’s chest. “You could squash me with your bare hands!”

Kim smiled at the compliment, and then that smile quickly shifted into a grin as he leaned forward in his seat. “Have you been checking me out?” He asked, quirking a brow. He could see the blush creep up Max’s neck.

“You know I like to collect data…” Max mumbled.

“Oh, you can collect as much data as you want.” Kim said with a wink.

Max rolled his eyes and opened up his menu once more, moving it so that it covered his face. “I think I’m good.”

Kim laughed and opened his menu as well.

“I’m glad that we’re good though.” Max said from behind his menu. “As – difficult – as this Kim can be, I like this version of you better. You seem more at ease than you were before.”

Kim smiled to himself. “Yeah, I’m sorry about earlier. I don’t usually get like that I promise. I like to keep moving, you know?”

“Then I guess I’m weirdly honored that I was able to stop you for a moment.” Max said, then he chuckled.

“What?”

“I guess this is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.”

Kim laughed as well. “I guess your right. I wouldn’t call you immovable though.”

“I guess I’ll have to prove it to you then.” Max said simply. And yet something about that casual reply made Kim’s heart skip a beat.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Max?!” A voice said from the middle of the café. Kim couldn’t see where it was coming from. Then a short, pink-haired girl about their age materialized from the crowd and gave Max a friendly noogie. “What’re you doing here?”

Max laughed and batted her away. “I was at the arena and my coworker suggested that we have dinner together.” He explained.

What Kim could only assume was Max’s friend looked him up and down. “So this is Le Chien Kim?” She asked, putting emphasis on his name.

“The one and only.” Kim said, putting on his most charming smile. “It looks like Max has already been gushing about me.” He gave Max a wink.

“Nah.” The girl said, coming to sit next to Max. She put her hands behind her head and looked out the window, seemingly uninterested in the guy in front of her. “He just told me how dumb your haircut is.”

Kim instinctively touched his hair, grabbing one of the spoons with his free hand to check his reflection.

“Alix, play nice.” Max scolded. Then he turned to look at Kim. “I didn’t say that.”

“I was paraphrasing.” The pest – Alix – said, giving Kim a wink as she slouched in her chair.

“Who is this?” Kim said politely, putting down his spoon. He had to stop himself from saying ‘What’ instead of ‘Who’.

Max sighed and smiled. “This is my best friend Alix Kubdel. She’s one of the PFL trainers; I’m surprised that the two of you haven’t crossed paths.”

“I never got the chance to meet many trainers during my internship.” Kim replied with a shrug. When he thought about it, employment had changed a lot the past two years. People were retiring, young people became more interested in the business – it was hard to keep track of it all. But maybe it was his own fault that he hadn’t been paying more attention to the people around him. He thought about that for a moment.

“It must break your heart that you’ve been deprived of my presence for so long.” Alix said, dragging out the last two words as she put her hands dramatically against her chest. Kim watched as Max tried to hide his smirk.

“Oh, it’s absolutely shattered. I don’t know how I would’ve gone on if we hadn’t met tonight.” Kim said dryly.

Alix straightened up in her seat. “I like this guy. He’s fun.” She said to Max.

“I’m glad I have your approval.” Kim said, rolling his eyes. But honestly he kind of liked this girl. She was interesting, and if she was friends with Max she had to be pretty cool. Even if she did make fun of his hair.

“So the Jolly Green Giant is paying right?” Alix asked Max, taking his menu.

“I could beat you up you know. You’re even shorter than Max.” Kim declared, crossing his arms.

“No, you really couldn’t.” Alix said, lifting her eyes to look at Kim. He could see the challenge in them.

“Yeah, you don’t really stand a chance.” Max confessed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

“Betrayed by my own partner.” Kim said, putting a hand on his chest in surprise.

“I was his best friend long before you two were partners.” Alix pointed out as she combed through the menu. Kim noticed the inflection in her voice when she said ‘partners’. It made Kim’s cheeks feel warm.

“And also realistically you would lose. Fighting people is her job.” Max pointed out honestly. Alix raised her hand like she wanted Max to high five her, but he gently put it down. “I’m just telling you for your safety.” Max said to Kim.

Kim huffed and crossed his arms. “Never bet against Le Chien Kim.”

“Oooooo, using your full name and the third person, I’m positively shaking in my combat boots.” Alix said, flipping onto the next page of the menu.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you here anyway? I thought you had a session with that new pupil?” Max asked.

Alix closed the menu and set it down, looking at her friend. “Yeah, but she’s been pushing herself too hard so I let her go home early for the night. And I thought that I’d treat myself to a nice meal. I didn’t know that you’d be here, or that the Le Chien Kim would be so nice as to pay for me.” She said, smiling sweetly at Kim from across the table.

Kim scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“We’ll see.” Alix said with a wink, then she put on a more serious expression. “You two should keep an eye on my new protégé, she’s going places.” She said, looking between Max and Kim.

“What’s her name?” Max asked.

Alix wagged a finger and smiled mysteriously. “I can’t tell.”

“Oh, so she’s the other anonymous fighter.” Kim said. “Does she have a cat costume too?”

Alix crinkled her nose. “Ew no. Wait, does the other one wear a cat costume?” She asked, leaning back in her chair. “That’s hilarious.” She swiped Max’s glass and took a sip of water. Kim watched as Max rolled his eyes and smiled. “Her costume is’nt exactly my style, but it suits her. You’ll just have to wait and see for yourself.”

“How about tomorrow? We got to sit in on part of Chat Noir’s practice, can we see some of yours?” Max asked, looking at Alix with wide, pleading eyes.

Alix looked at her friend for a moment, and Kim didn’t think she’d give in, but then she slumped her shoulders and smiled. “I can’t say no to you. It’s like the equivalent of kicking a puppy.”

Max pumped his fist in triumph. “You’re the best.”

“I know.” Alix said. Kim could see the warmth in her eyes. “Tomorrow. 9am. Don’t be late or else.” She said, looking between Kim and Max.

Max nodded his head and Kim gave her a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

“So this, Chat Noir,” Alix asked slowly, taking another sip from Max’s glass. “Who’s his trainer anyway.”

Max rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, uh –” He began, dragging out his words.

“It’s Chloe, isn’t it?” Alix said flatly, looking at her friend. Max’s expression was all the confirmation she needed. Kim watched as she slumped further in her seat, a dramatic groan escaping her lips as she traveled further and further down. Soon he could only see her pink hair sticking out from above the table.

“It can’t be too bad, right?” Max said, trying to console his friend. Alix only groaned in response. After a moment she straightened back up in her seat and put her arms on the table in despair. And Kim thought that he could be dramatic.

“Okay. So this is how it’s going to be.” Alix finally said, looking at Max. “If I say the word ‘orange’, that means I need you to hold me back because I’m about to murder her.” She explained simply.

“I don’t think I’m strong enough for that.” Max answered honestly. Alix turned to look at Kim.

“If I say the word ‘orange’ –”

“Yeah I got it.” Kim said, rolling his eyes and trying to suppress his smirk.

“I think you need a better code word.” Max said seriously, adjusting his glasses. “I’m quite partial to using ‘Lazyto-”

Suddenly Alix had Max in a headlock, and Kim would’ve intervened if Max wasn’t dying with laughter.

“I told you not to use that word poindexter!” Alix said, grinning as she kept her grip on Max.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry!” Max said, still laughing.

Kim didn’t really understand what was going on, but he smiled as he watched them. He liked hanging out with these two. It was in that moment that he realized that he made a good decision when he chose to have a partner. He’d been running the track of life alone for so long, it was time to have some teammates. It was time to have some friends.

“Are you three ready to order?” The waiter asked, standing in front of them. He glanced down to see Alix and Max play fighting, and Alix straightened up and put on her best smile.

“Yes we are, Monsieur.”

In the end, Kim ended up paying for dinner.

[secretfestivalwitch-blog]

Amazing residential districts in West London

The sub-region of West London covers the parts of the capital which are situated west of the City of London. It is the location of a total of seven boroughs which are home to some of the best residential areas in the capital.

 South Kensington

 The area of South Kensington lies in the boundary that separates the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington from the City of Westminster. It is credited to be a piece of Paris in the heart of London as the district has a strong French connection and is the location of the French Embassy and the Lyceé Français Charles de Gaulle which was founded in 1915 and is an independent secondary school which presently provides high quality education to almost 4.000 boys and girls from the ages of 3 to 18. South Kensington is also home to a number of internationally known landmarks such as:

 §  Natural History Museum

§  Science Museum

��  Victoria and Albert Museum

§  Baden-Powell House

§  St. Stephen’s Church

§  The Queen’s Tower

§  Imperial College

 The area is one of the most opulent in the city which is why local properties can be extremely expensive. South Kensington is linked to the other parts of the city by two tube stations: Gloucester Road and South Kensington. Of the two the latter is busier as it provides transportation services to over 30 million people annually.

Fulham

 Fulham is one of the greenest areas in London. It lies in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham at about four miles from the junction of Charing Cross. Many Londoners, consider the district to be the city’s finest residential area as the properties are magnificent while their prices are quite affordable in comparison with other local neighbourhoods such as the adjacent district of Chelsea. The Fulham Palace is beyond any doubt the most notable structure in the area. Built during the 9th century, it was the official country home of the Bishop of London for over eleven centuries. Today it serves the purpose of a museums and its surrounding gardens are among the city’s most acclaimed green spaces. The district has a number of top tier schools and is home to two of London’s most emblematic football clubs: Fulham F.C and Chelsea F.C. It is served by its own tube and railway stations as well as several bus routes.

West Kensington

 The district of West Kensington isn’t as glamorous as the previous two entries. It is located in the same borough as Fulham and is best known for being the site of the Olympia exhibition centre which is one of the city’s most prominent event spaces and conference halls. It was opened in 1886 and in 2013 was the subject of a major renovation project. Before the modernisation the centre was expanded on two different occasions in 1987 and 2011. It has a capacity which ranges from 4.000 to 10.000 people in dependence of the event. It is also the location of Queen’s Club, privately owned sporting club which hosts some of the most notable tennis tournaments in the world. West Kensington is known for its Victorian architecture and home to a number of listed edifices. Newcomers can easily relocated to the area by using professional man and van services in West London.

Chiswick

 During the years a large number of notable people such as William Hogarth, Charles Holland, Francis Ronalds, Camille Pissaro, Anthony Burgess, Alice Arnold, Edward Morgan Forster, Peter Brook and more have lived in Chiswick. Today, the area has a population of over 30.000 people and is one of the finest residential district in the Borough of Hounslow and West London. It is the location of numerous well-known religious edifices and the Chiswick House which is arguably the area’s focal landmark. Constructed during the first half of the 18th century, the building is one of the best examples of Palladian architecture in Britain and attracts both local and foreign visitors by the number. Chiswick is also home to a number of popular entertainment venues including the Tabard Theatre which has a maximum capacity of 96 spectators. The district is mainly inhabited by young professionals and is served by its own tube stations.

Notting Hill

 Notting Hill is one of London’s most famous areas as it is the location of the internationally known Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Road Market. It lies at about three miles from Charing Cross in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is credited to be a fashionable and cosmopolitan district with a unique culture and vibrant lifestyle. Notting Hill is also one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the city and according to the latest studies, rents in the area are about 89% higher than the average for London. It is linked to the other parts of the English capital by its own tube station.

Shepherd’s Bush

 Situated at about five miles from Charing Cross and with a population of almost 40.000 people, Shepherd’s Bush is among the best residential areas of West London. It is as beautiful as its neighbouring district of Notting Hill but much cheaper which is why it is mostly inhabited by young professionals. It is also one of the greenest areas in the capital as it is the location of Shepherd’s Bush Green, an 8-acre green space which is encompassed by some of the district’s most popular shopping roads. Just like, Fulham, the area is heavily associated with football as it is home to the Queens Park Rangers Football Club which presently play in the second echelon of professional English football.

Ealing

 Ealing is a major suburban district which is part of the eponymous Borough of Ealing. It has a population of over 110.000 people which makes it one of the most populous areas in West London. Despite its large number of residents, it is described as a calm and quiet district as unlike the other areas from our list it isn’t the location of any major landmarks and entertainment venues. The Ealing Broadway Station is the suburb’s main transportation hub and it is used by over 20 million people yearly.