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babywitchofthesouth-responds · 6 months ago

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The Ultimate Miraculous Ladybug Fic Rec List

Ft. 97 of the best Miraculous Ladybug fics (imo) >>>

A Miraculous Square Dance by ChatNoirLuvr

Marinette intends to finally confess her feelings to Adrien, but an Akuma forces it early— while she’s still Ladybug! As exciting as it is to become Adrien’s new celebrity girlfriend, the secrets required of a Ladrian romance make it too unsustainable. Until the heartbreak paves way for a right-old square dance (MariChat!) where they find each other again. At the exact right time.

Tell Me Why You Love Me by linnieluna

Now 22 and working full-time, Marinette and Adrien seem to be getting busier and busier, which means fewer opportunities to keep track of akumas and show up on time. With the idea of using a messaging app to communicate with each other without revealing their identities, their lives immediately grew to be easier... until it wasn't.

Can I Date You(r Character) by midnightstarlightwrites *

When Adrien's character falls in love with Marinette's, they decided to date in-game. What could go wrong?

[Note: this one seems discontinued but I loved it so much]

As Soon As I Belong by crazykotyara

Marinette likes Adrien. Adrien would prefer if she liked Chat Noir. That leads to an absolute mess of a relationship, which includes a weird game of Truth or Dare, identity shenanigans, and Adrien, figuring out some really important stuff.

Knock Knock by DorothyGale123

After an akuma targets Marinette, a certain cat jumps to her rescue! Unfortunately, he fails to knock before jumping into his classmate's room. Chaos ensues. What follows is an awkward apology, way too many coincidences, and some realizations on both sides that the person they used to think of as a friend might be more than meets the eye. Will these dorks finally realize what's been in front of them the entire time? Will they ever stop being so oblivious? And what happens when you throw a scheming Hawk Moth into the mix?

A dozen roses by IlioneThe3rd

When Marinette finds a pink rose on her desk, she suspects that her secret admirer is Chat Noir. After all, who else would leave a rose just inside a 5th floor window? But why would Chat Noir give roses to a girl he barely knows when he’s supposed to be in love with Ladybug?

As the dust settles by Pengirl91

After Ladybug lost everything and yet her partner stood by her, she realized what she had been trying to lie to herself about for months. She is undoubtedly in love with him. The only problem is that she's terrified of what that could lead to and there's a monumental task ahead of them before it might be safe to act on her feelings for him... more than she already has.

lovers who hesitate by momochai

Marinette is Adrien's Secret Santa and she's got this in the bag. Really!

Perfectly Platonic (Unless...) by frostedpuffs

After accidentally revealing their identities in less than ideal circumstances, Adrien and Marinette must navigate their newfound relationship as both partners and friends. Becoming best friends was a quick process, but when romantic feelings begin to bleed into what's supposed to be a platonic connection, their friendship starts to change in more ways than one. Surely it can't be that hard to hide their feelings from their best friend?

once more, with feeling by zimtlein

When an unfortunate incident causes both her and her sworn enemy to detransform in front of each other, Marinette knows she is screwed. Because even though Chat Noir turns out to be her former polite classmate, it doesn’t mean that he stops being an asshole to her. So it’s no wonder he starts toying with her like the manipulative bastard he is. The only solution? Take his Miraculous and be done with him forever. And never forget that he’s no more than her enemy. Never.

[Note: this one was FANTASTIC]

The Closest Thing to Love by jennagrins

When Gabriel tells Adrien it’s time for him to learn about the brand internationally, Adrien knows he can’t leave Paris - or Marinette. The two concoct a plan to allow Adrien to stay and finally achieve his independence from his father. They’ll just get married. The only problem is...they’re not actually dating. But that won’t cause any issues. After all, they’re just friends, right? What could possibly go wrong?

Unraveling by InkyCoffee

She felt the desire to prattle all but tear at her throat, and clamped her mouth and then her eyes shut tight, willing the babble back, waiting for the blow. A love confession gets rejected, leading to a reveal - and for a while there it feels like everything starts unraveling.

seven is my lucky number by MiaBrown

post-reveal pre-relationship roommates. but is it really pre-relationship if they are fake-dating?

Five Times The Love-Square Watched ‘Solitude’ (And One Time They Didn’t) by MiaBrown

According to Adrien, ‘Solitude’ was a very rare and special movie. Marinette wasn’t so sure about the first, but she was indeed certain about the second. This film was extraordinary, life-changingly so.

don't ask questions you don't wanna know by MiaBrown

Chat Noir’s plan of asking out his classmate, only so the girl could turn him down and offer to be ‘just friends’ instead was ridiculous. Too bad there wasn’t a sensible girl who would have rejected him. Ladybug was so sure of this, she dared to bet on it. And when the next day Adrien Agreste asked the same question from Marinette… Well, she wasn’t trying to prove herself wrong.

Ladybee by SailorChibi

Chloé didn't know what to do when Chat Noir and Marinette showed up on her doorstep. Marinette made Chat the guardian so she's forgotten everything; the Miracle Box is locked and no one knows the combination; and Chat is barely holding it together with the revelation that Marinette is both Ladybug and his soulmate. Time for a Bee to do what she does best: hold the hive together.

lonely girl (you are my world) by etherealme

Marinette is fine with her life. She’s fine with not knowing anything about Chat Noir, and she is completely okay with not doing anything about the growing feelings she has for him. But, when they’re sent on a road trip across continents, it gets harder and harder to avoid the lingering question: are Chat Noir’s feelings as unrequited as she’s led him to believe?

you give me thoughts of a prince and palace by Yilena

As the reclusive princess of her kingdom, Marinette's face isn't known to the public. Posing as a commoner, she runs away with her friend to another country for a holiday and accidentally seduces the prince. AU.

[Note: this one had me hooked on royalty AUs]

The Red Thread by Jheqia

When Marinette kisses Cat Noir during an akuma attack, it creates a connection between them that leads to some interesting... problems.

Soulmate Tropes by ggomo_springtime

An akuma makes soulmate tropes a reality.

Careful Stitches by Ashes555

Marinette still didn't know what happened, but whatever it was turned the moment that should have been her greatest victory into something that might haunt her for the rest of her life. Instead of helping her partner defeat Shadow Moth, she got a note. And then he was gone. Marinette thought that life would be perfect, but it never could be when Chat Noir was missing.

Revelations by Mindell

Dreaming of the day when he would finally discover Ladybug's identity had long been one of Adrien's favourite activities. Would she tell him her secret during a conversation? Would she transform in front of him? Would she reveal her identity once her mission was accomplished, when they would give their miraculous back? But never, never had he dreamed of a shy "I am Ladybug" confessed by one of his classmates, in the middle of their classroom and in front of all the other students.

L'Instant Présent by Yilena

A Marinette with no knowledge of being Ladybug manages to be useless fighting crime for her first time, and carelessly reveals her identity to her oblivious partner when they're alone. AU.

Sewing Sentiments by frostedpuffs

Fed up with her miserable job at a fabric store, Marinette decides it's finally time to quit and move on...until she's tasked with training a new employee whose golden hair and gorgeous green eyes have her feeling a certain way. Torn between leaving her job and staying for Adrien's sake, Marinette decides to stick by his side, enjoying her new co-worker's company far more than she had ever expected.But there's something about him she can't quite place—a certain sadness in his eyes that, despite only knowing him for a short time, has Marinette wondering about his past and what exactly he's running from.

One Thing After Another by SKayLanphear

Marinette notices that, sometimes, Adrien acts a little out of the ordinary--like the time he stood in a cardboard box for no reason, or when he actually hissed at Nino. It's only when she starts to notice the similarities between Adrien and a certain feline that she begins to get suspicious. Basically, Adrien acts like a cat when he probably shouldn't.

[Note: this author write some fantastic stuff and this is one of them]

tell me something i don't know by carpisuns

The odds of having a soulmate are about negative one billion (or something like that). But somehow, like they always have, Marinette and Chat Noir find themselves together. They’re ready to finally tell each other everything, but it turns out that even soulmates have to keep secrets, and they can only be together if they vow never to touch.

Pick-Up and Chase by SKayLanphear

After she accidentally trips into Adrien and apologizes about "falling for him," Marinette learns that he's no match for cheesy pick-up lines--whether they were unintended or not. And while she finds it flattering that he turns into a flustered mess with only a few words, Marinette comes to regret making him uncomfortable. That is, until she learns he's Chat Noir. At which point the phrase "just deserts" becomes a permanent fixture in her everyday plans. A story in which Adrien is flustered, Marinette is smooth as glass at dropping lines, and Chat Noir gets the romance he was always asking for--even if he doesn't quite know how to handle it.

Tents and Cuddly Cats by SKayLanphear

[Note: this one isn't showing up anymore for some reason]

Serendipitous Fate by SKayLanphear

Adrien is excited to reveal his true identity, while Marinette is terrified. But Master Fu says they can't afford to be distant any longer. Chat Noir and Ladybug are meant to work in tandem both in and out of uniform, their strength stemming from the bond created between them. Yet, teenagers are sometimes better at dancing blind than running with wide open eyes, even with the steps laid out before them. Steps in the path of an expanding world. Apart, they'll flounder. But together, they might just stand a chance.

Wish Upon a Star-crossed Love by Aepyceros

Wherein a series of encounters lead to gradual realizations and revelations.

Gabriel gets used to... (Adrien having a Girlfriend) by Mystic_Raven20

Gabriel Agreste�� The man; the myth, the legend; the grumpy old man who wouldn’t know love if it kicked him hard and straight up the hiney. Gabriel had a number of issues in his life, but the worst one goes by the name Marinette Dupain-Cheng; his son's girlfriend and the younger Agreste’s self claimed ‘love of his life’. In Gabriel’s eyes Marinette has a mission, and that mission is to take everything the Agreste’s have worked hard for. One thing was for certain, he wasn’t going down without a fight; and if his ship did finally sink he was dragging Marinette down with him.

come sleep with me by treasuredgem

Where Ladybug and Chat Noir try taking as many naps as possible because Hawkmoth doesn't sleep either.

Between a Rock and A Hard Place by P_Artsypants

During a class field trip to a natural cavern, Marinette and Adrien get trapped in an elevator…trapped in a cave. Such close proximity means that secrets don’t stay secrets for long… Can the two escape their iron prison, much less their glass cage of emotions? Or will teenage hormones be their undoing?

Where There's Smoke There's... A Smoker by Talik_Sanis

Marinette is smoking! It's a filthy, dangerous habit that could do terrible things to her, leading to truancy and missed homework assignments, and- and who knows what other horrible fates (certainly not Adrien, as he's too sheltered to even guess) for the dear sweet girl too pure for this world! Adrien Agreste has to save his very good friend from her smoking addiction! Basically, Marinette lies about smoking to cover for her detransformation in an alley. Things go south from there. All the things.

Cobblestone Streets by girlsivebeen

Adrien Agreste just wants to go skateboarding in Paris. All he needs is a disguise right?Marinette Dupain-Cheng can likely spot her partner anywhere, whether he's in a banana suit on a scooter, or attempting to successfully skate over the cobblestone streets of Paris with a motorcycle helmet on his head.

See You See Me by SomberSecrets

Chat Noir had found his new favourite past time-- staring at the pictures of Adrien Agreste on Marinette’s wall… walls. There were a lot of them.

To Know by mildswearingat4am

Cat is a little more observant when he talks to a certain plucky classmate in Evillustrator and sees something he was never supposed to see. Friendship, puns, anxiety, romance, and an even more convoluted love square ensue.

basically, I wish that you loved me by sagansjagger

Adrien and Ladybug have made a mistake. They've been caught by Alya making out and now the rest of the world thinks they're dating, despite their objections on social media. Alya, thinking that Chat and Marinette are devastated by their crushes' apparent relationship, tries to set them up with each other. Marinette and Chat, being the savvy duo that they are, mutually decide that they'll fake date in order to get Alya off their collective backs. This, naturally, blows up in their faces...

Following A New Fel(ix)low In Class by DevoTea

Felix starts going to Francois-Dupont. Marinette is not about to let him back into their school without some explanation though. He is a very suspicious individual, maybe she should follow him around some more. You know, just to make sure that he's not up to making someone akumatised or something.

Felinette Soulmate AU by San_fics

Now it made sense why she behaved so protective of Adrien that day, given the fact that his soulmate had a crush on the model. For some reason Felix didn’t like this idea at all. Shouldn’t there be some rule, forbidding your soulmate to fall for a wrong guy, even if he looked just like you?..

Inky Blue by soarbytheocean

Félix had always gone on a pre-determined path, precise and detailed. A person who had always maintained a stolidly calm surface, the waters of his ocean were never turbulent. So, when he collided with the serene forests of Marinette, the havoc that his ocean went through was hard to describe.

Rhythms and Rainstorms by SultannaMajor

They didn't need to speak to communicate. And that's a fact that she always found amazing. They understood each other in a way that no one else can. They danced around her kitchen like they were born to do it. MariCha

Birthday Surprises by brbcommittingason

Adrien has been seeking solace with Marinette, using her as a way to escape from his daily life. Or at least, that's how it started. As the months continued onwards, he didn't just go there for a source of comfort, but also just to be her friend. He was head over heels, he knew that, and maybe that's why it was so easy for Plagg to convince him to wear a hoodie (a generic one that could have been passed off as a regular black one) that she made him. Chat Noir, him. And Plagg might just be the reason his life is a million times better.

My Sweetest Princess by LadyKae

When the unthinkable happens, we're often left picking up the pieces and trying to move on. No one has learned that lesson harder than Marinette, and Adrien wants to be there with her for every step of the way. When his feelings for Marinette grow stronger, Adrien finds himself holding back for her sake. Join our favorite heroes as they navigate the paths of healing and finding love at the end of a long road.

moonlight epiphany by ohlittlebarchie

Sometimes, you are blinded by sunlight so bright that you’re left stumbling in the dark. And then you miss that the best thing you could ever have was right in front of you all along - come nightfall, you forget that the moon reflects the light of the sun. Maybe Adrien Agreste is the sun. And maybe Chat Noir, suddenly, unexpectedly, crept into her heart like a sliver of moonlight.

Breaking Free (Isn't free) by RachelLyseBrook

Papillon has discovered Chat Noir's secret identity. By sheer luck, Adrien manages to escape the mansion and akumatization, Plagg providing him an out while snatching up something precious to Gabriel Agreste. Adrien crashes onto a familiar balcony and begs Marinette for help, almost revealing his identity in the process. Distraught over her partner's predicament, Marinette swears that Chat won't be alone in this. That she will move heaven and earth to keep him safe. But neither of them realize just how difficult Papillon was going to make this for them.

When Bunnyx Brings a Baby by Druwho

Marinette thought she was up to any challenge. She was Ladybug after all! But when Bunnyx arrives with a baby in her arms asking her to babysit, Marinette quickly learns that Akuma battles are easy compared to taking care of a baby. A baby that seems to know her and for some strange reason... Adrien?

The Five Minute Adventures of Snake Noir by Kasienda

After Ladybug admits to Chat Noir that she told someone her identity, she insists that he do the same. He wants it to be her. She insists it has to be anyone else. He suggests they use the snake. She finds this to be a reasonable compromise. After many heartfelt five minute conversations that Ladybug doesn't remember, she decides he should keep the snake. That way he can always confide in her if he needs to. He also realizes it means he can talk to anyone… for five minutes... on repeat.

You, Me & A Little Bit of the Future by joonapeach

Marinette expects some disaster on her first outing alone with Adrien. She just doesn't expect that disaster to be her future self passing off a baby for her to take care of with Adrien.

Infinite Us by Leda (Represent)

Ladybug has five minutes left with Chat Noir, and she isn't ready to give them up.

A Major Test of Strength by nemali

There is only one thing in Paris hated as much as the akumas: Ladybug herself. In an effort to help the Savior of Paris, Adrien winds up on the wrong end of an akuma attack — only to find himself stuck reliving the same day. With enough time, anyone can be a hero, and as he continues dying over and over, he is forced to confront the idea that these loops may be just as much of a blessing as they are a curse.

Breaking Free by UpTooLateArt

Marinette has failed as the Guardian. Shadow Moth stole the miraculous, and now it's down to her and Cat Noir to recover them, before it's too late. Just one problem - Cat Noir's father is their sworn enemy...and he's decided it's high time for some father-son bonding. As Adrien is drawn into his father's world, secrets will finally surface - and our beloved heroes will be faced with the biggest decision of their lives.

A Hundred Thursdays by Midnight Musume (Peas)

Marinette is stuck repeating the same day over and over. Her friends (and especially Chat Noir) help her cope.

Spots and Shades by DearLittleRobin

While trying to prevent a bad future, Marinette walks straight into another one. Adrien can't handle any more secrets, but realizes knowing things comes with a price. Time travel is as weird as everyone thought it would be

Revealed in Time by WhitleyMiranda

Marinette is sent 8 years in the future by an akuma. While there she discovers a grown up Chat Noir and more about her future than she could have ever imagined.

Maintaining a Professional Distance by buggachat

Ladybug and Chat Noir receive a hotel room from the city, which they most certainly will not use. After all, that wouldn't be very professional, would it?

Chasing the C/h/atwalk. by Inkkerfuffle

Paris. The city of lights, love and fashion. Follow the progress of Marinette Dupain Cheng as she enters the extremely competitive world of Reality television for a chance to be the winner of Project Runway: France.

Radio Silence by Eevee

When an inexplicable change between Marinette and Adrien brings the two closer than ever, Alya is left on the outside of a secret too confounding to be about cheesemaking or puppy love.

do you think i have forgotten about you by augustrose77

Memory Loss. Told in alternating time lines, one leading up to and one dealing with the aftermath of Marinette relinquishing the Miracle Box and the guardianship. Marinette struggles with her life after losing her memory, though there is a persistent voice that calls to her that always seems just out of reach in her memory.

Chat Noir's White French Man Hit List for Feminist Purposes by peachcitt

adrien agreste who is also chat noir absolutely chugs his respect women juice

Not a Monster at All by book_sandwich

Adrien Agreste overhears a conversation he shouldn't, and a revelation sends him falling onto the terrace of the only person he can trust: his good friend (?) Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

How Marinette Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Ball by TheChatatonicOne

Hidden from the crowds thronging around the busy fairy portal in Paris's town square, a fae gate sits at the edge of the forest, locked, rusty, and full of ancient magic. Marinette thinks that this abandoned gate must not work anymore... but one day, a fairy disguised as a black cat steps through it.

Dearly Despised, (I love you) by snacc_noir

Marinette could go on about why she hated Adrien Agreste—from his unfunny pranks to his ineffable attractiveness—ever since he had the audacity that day with the umbrella. And yet, here she was fake-dating him while in love with a superhero.

Disrespectfully Yours, Marinette Dupain-Cheng by fettuccine (LFA)

Marinette Dupain-Cheng is top of the class. Straight A's, perfect attendance, and editor-in-chief of her university's premiere fashion magazine. Or... she would be top of the class, if it weren't for her academic rival Adrien Agreste. They've been competing for everything since their freshman year of college. If Marinette gets a 99, he gets a 100. If she gets an internship, he gets a better one. Now in their senior year of college, they're ready to fight it out one more time to win student journalist of the year — and the scholarship that comes with it. But when a semester-long project forces them to team up, everything changes. If they want to remain in consideration for the award, they'll have to figure out how to work together. Because in the cutthroat world of academia — and journalism — failure is not an option.

Lightning and Thunder by The_Rabbit42

While out for an evening run, Chat Noir gets caught in a thunderstorm and struck by lightning. He's fine! He ends up recovering/hanging out with Marinette. What ensues is a night full of conversation and commiseration, arguing and affection.

daydream by a_miiraculer

In which Adrien finds out Ladybug is Marinette, and beats the 'this is fine' dog at his own game.

the wonderful part of the mess that we made by heresie_irisee

They knew. They knew, and there would be no magical reset button for the memories they'd made today. She'd have to see him at school every day, and she'd see the Chat in him, as surely as he'd see the Ladybug in her.

Bakery "Enemies" [COMIC] by buggachat

After the defeat of Gabriel Agreste and the disappearance of the mysterious peacock miraculous user, Marinette is left to try her best as Guardian and pick up the pieces. With the kwamis left in hibernation, no leads on the missing peacock miraculous, and no way to contact her beloved partner, she's left to her wit's end on where to proceed. That is, until the prime suspect of the peacock wielder coincidentally takes up an apprenticeship at her parents' bakery. Adrien Agreste, son of Hawkmoth, has seemingly planted his roots in her home while Marinette was away for an apprenticeship. This could either be a disaster in the making, or the perfect opportunity to retrieve the missing miraculous... either way, it's war. At least, it would be, if the gosh darn villain weren't so sweet!

metamorphosis by peachcitt

Three years after hawkmoth's defeat, marinette is still trying to figure out her version of normal. there's also sleepovers.

[Note: brought me to tears. unrelated but Landing Feet First by Bayside is my unofficial anthem for this fic]

A Royal Thief by meeble

Marinette couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a bad day. Running late and accidentally dropping her father’s freshly baked bread was one thing, but telling off the prince of the kingdom and subsequently being kidnapped by said prince was something else entirely.

Love Doth Ran Smooth by Dpanda_17

When Nino had told Adrien he’d find love, Adrien didn’t expect to find his true love the next day. And for her to greet him the pleasant way she did.

Trolling Alya by SailorChibi

It was just one of those things that didn't have a simple explanation. As surely as the sun rose in the east, Marinette Dupain-Cheng was going to marry Adrien Agreste. That was a fact that Ladybug knew in her heart, and she knew that Chat knew it too. The unspoken acknowledgement surrounded the two of them like a warm, cozy blanket. There was really no need to rush to dating because that next step was always going to be there; they had all the time in the world. And in the meantime, torturing Alya was really fun.

electrify me, i’m dying to burn by Anonymous

Adrien and Marinette are best friends and partners—they can talk about anything. Even the hypothetical situation in which they’re dating.

cause our hearts are locked forever by SailorChibi

Ladybug and Chat Noir are not okay. Years of fighting akumas have taken a serious toll. The only comfort they have is in each other, and, when the pain of separation becomes too much, Marinette figures out a way to circumvent her promise to not tell Chat who she is.

1 step forward, 3 steps back. by agnes_writes

In which Adrien switches targets to Marinette, and everything goes wrong before it goes right.

Seven Seconds by alvares715

Adrien finds a lost video on his phone.

œuf ouch owie by miraculousunflower (ominousunflower)

Chat Noir enlists Rena Rouge's help to create an Aspik illusion. Absolutely nothing goes wrong.

Stray Chat by Pozolegirl

Adrien wants to be friends with Marinette but...it's hard to be friends with Marinette Dupain-Cheng and not have both parties become a little tongue tied around each other. So Chat Noir attempts to make friends with Marinette with the aid of his mask instead. Following problems at home however, Chat Noir suddenly becomes Marinette's roommate! Now they're both keeping secrets...

Always Welcome Here by gay_english_nerd

Adrien is forced on an extremely repressive diet and it makes heroing much harder. Marinette has lots of food and a very kind heart. What will happen when the meetups become regular? Maybe some... Marichat?

heartstrings by taylortot

one of marinette’s rare unlucky days turns into something treacherous. thanks to a certain cat, the real danger passes, but there are other things to be more afraid of. her heart, for example, might be one of them.

The New Guardian Is... Multimouse? by The_Rabbit42

During the events of Miracle Queen, Master Fu passes on the role of guardian to a surprising successor... Multimouse! Marinette is frustrated, Alya is confused, and Chat Noir is oddly pleased. How will this affect Marinette's friendships and partnership on both sides of her identity? How will this affect Adrien's view of the girls in his life? And how long will they keep it together?

keep me in your thoughts by LilaacStars

Love is messy enough by itself, but it's worse when you don't know if you love your classmate, your superhero partner or the boy that has been talking and dreaming inside your mind since the moment you were born.

Sommeil by Bronte

She'd noticed the bags beneath his eyes even with the mask over his skin and had asked occasionally how he was feeling and it was always the same response. ‘I'm fine,’ he'd say, ‘I just didn't sleep much,’ he'd say, ‘I'm just such a party animal,’ he’d say. She'd always let it slide in the past because she's his partner and friend, not his mother, but it’s kind of getting to the point where something has to be done. He yawns too often to be sleeping properly. He smiles too much to be happy.

Worthy Opponent by Soap_Lady

Felix Graham de Vanily is back! Not to cause trouble, at least not if no one crosses him. After discovering the last script his father ever wrote, he decides to honor his father (and make his directorial debut) by producing the movie. It has everything he likes; adventure, well-rounded teenaged characters, complex villains and witty dialog. The only problem is that it's set in Paris and there's only so much CGI can do. So he, his mother, and his group of friends who call themselves the Quantic Kids head to Paris to cast the rest of the characters. Marinette Dupain-Cheng has just finished her first year of lycee and though Lila is still around, her influence over Marinette's friends has waned, partly because they're on different academic tracks and have drifted a bit. She's not worried about that, she's decided to spend her summer as an intern in Graham Film's Wardrobe Department. It'll be valuable experience and with luck, she'll never even see Felix. Too bad she makes a wrong turn on her first day.

Passionfruit by SailorChibi

Marinette and Adrien are soulmates, and have known that since before they got their miraculous. They can’t not know who the other is. The solution? Keep on hiding the fact that they’re soulmates from even Tikki and Plagg, of course!

when you're near by buggachat

When Ladybug and Chat Noir were together, dancing across rooftops and kissing under the moonlit sky, Ladybug loved her boyfriend. But when the masks fell and all that was left was Marinette, she hated her boyfriend. She hated the lonesome afternoons, the third wheeling, the way his name wasn't in her contacts... She knows their identities are secret for a reason, and she tells herself she'd do anything to protect that— but when Marinette hears Chat Noir's voice coming from the boy sitting behind her in a coffee shop, she can't help but wonder if it's really worth not having him in her life.

Don't Let Me Let You Go by SailorChibi

When Marinette's parents find out and forbid her from continuing as Ladybug, Plagg comes up with what he considers to be the obvious answer.

Fireflies by sevendeadlyseas

When Ladybug and Chat Noir face their deadliest akuma, they both lose more than ever could have expected, and nearly fall apart trying to keep it together. Hawkmoth's identity is revealed and everyone's personal lives go to shit.

Slowly but Surely by San_fics

There was something Freudian in this, but Felix had a weak spot for women like his mother — outwardly soft and gentle, but strong and hard on the inside. And it was exactly the impression Ladybug left him with. Felix was smart enough to put two and two together. Maybe he still needed some proves, that would confirm his suspicions for 100%. Like the proves he needed to make sure Gabriel was Shadow Moth. But Felix used to trust his intuition and logic, so at this moment he was almost sure: the Marinette-girl was Ladybug.

a cat, confronted with the unknown, will respond not with fear, but with curiosity by LordKaladin

Chat Noir finally meets the mysterious Guardian his new teammates all talk about.

48 Hours To Make You Love Me by Mystic_Raven20

When two heroes miss the minibus for their winter get away with the gang they have no other choice but to make their way to the resort by themselves. After avoiding their feelings for years, a freak snow storm makes them reconsider more than just whether to carry on driving. Luckily, they find a quaint little bed and breakfast where suddenly they’re thrown into a situation where their feelings can no longer be held back; but, is it too late? The interference of an elderly couple after an eavesdropping accident helps both Adrien and Marinette come to terms with their feelings and their actions. Through movies, hot chocolates and snuggling to keep warm, Marinette wonders if it’s possible to make Adrien love her again, and more so can she do it by the time they need to leave their little sanctuary?

The Ladybugs and The Bees by BullySquadess

AKA the early-fandom Ladynoir puberty fic that spiraled waaaaay out of proportion.

Remember That Time When... by mostlovedgirl

Twenty-two-year-old Marinette Agreste was looking forward to the anniversary trip she would be taking with her husband Adrien that weekend. Those plans are derailed when she wakes up in her old bedroom... and she’s seventeen again.

Build You Up by CoffeeBanana

After the events of Risk and Strike Back, showing up to school and acting like nothing had changed feels wrong. Adrien doesn't want to be there, listening to the fears and criticisms of his classmates. Worrying about Ladybug. Trying not to let his doubts consume him. But it turns out there's someone else who might want to be there even less than him. And maybe the answer to his problems has been sitting behind him in class all along.

Can't Fool Me by CoffeeBanana

Marinette and Adrien both have the same plan: to impersonate their superhero partner for April Fools' Day. But when they both get a little too into character, well...what could possibly go wrong?

You and Me by 11JJ11

Marinette tries to find ways to let Adrien knows how much she cares, even if their relationship must stay a secret.

Forget me not (because I will) by Bluestpaw

Being a guardian is hard. Forgetting to be one is even harder.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous lb #miraculous #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #miraculous ladybug fic recs #miraculous ladybug fic rec #fic rec #fic recs #fanfiction #fanfic recommendation #adrien agreste #chat noir #miraculous ladybug fanfic

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likethelastwoman · 9 months ago

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I think more fic writers should copy ideas from other writers. Specifically, ideas from OTHER fandoms.

For example, it's a big thing in the Miraculous Ladybug fandom that someone from the future comes and drops Adrien and Marinette's baby on them. I WANT 19YR OLD ZORO AND SANJI TAKING CARE OF THEIR FUTURE DAUGHTER(s).

I want Adrien getting hit by an akuma that turns him 12-13 years old, right after he's lost his mom, and Marinette has to take care of him and in the process he learns about all his trauma. (Sanji age regression AU)

I want Sanji cracking puns like Chat Noir!!!!! I want Zoro flirting with Sanji unabashedly and Sandji thinking its a bit!!!

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mcheang · 1 year ago

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Reality

As Nino lays out his plan for targeting Gabriel, Alya points out one thing. “Sure I know Ladybug can fix the mess an akuma causes. But Gabriel will still be mad. He already doesn’t like you, Nino. Don’t push it. For all we know, Gabriel might threaten to transfer Adrien to a different school. Remember, he totally lost it when Adrien lost his book?”

Nino: oh…right. I didn’t think of that. Then, who do we target?

Marinette grins sneakily. “I know someone who can get upset very easily.”

Adrien: really, who?

Marinette: i don’t want to spoil the surprise.

Later, as the parent-teacher meeting commenced, Marinette bursts in, “Oh, I’m so sorry to barge in like this. But I forgot I needed Mrs Rossi’s signature for Lila’s trip to Achu.”

Caline: Marinette, can’t this wait?

Mrs Rossi: what trip to Achu?

Caline and Marinette look at her. “You know, the trip she’s taking to join Prince Ali in teaching children for free. It’s such a shame that she won’t be able to attend the school’s weeklong camping trip but it’s for a good cause.

Mrs Rossi stands up. “My daughter is doing what?”

Caline: why are you so surprised, Mrs Rossi? Lila went to Achu for months less than a week after she joined Dupont.

Mrs Rossi: she told me the school was shut down from akuma attacks!

Marinette pretended to look faint. “Oh no, was it because of her special lying disease?”

Mr Cesaire looked skeptical. “A lying disease…? Do you mean compulsive lying?”

Gabriel almost regretted not being able to akumatize Mrs Rossi, if only to make up for losing Lila Rossi as a spy since clearly Alliance can no longer use her. Oh well, there’s always the fallout when her sheep find out.

Alya and Nino were recording this with open mouths. Adrien wasn’t so bothered by this after seeing more of Lila’s hateful personality.

Needless to say, the parent-teacher conference was delayed as Sabine then angrily wanted justice for her daughter if she was indeed framed by a liar. Gabriel had to admit the teaching faculty here was lousy to fall for Lila’s reception, but that’s what makes this place so prime for his akumas! Why did he send Adrien here again? Oh right, it’s the most prestigious school and he’ll never hear the end of it from Andre because Chloe would never accept his perfect son being in another school away from her.

Later, after Marinette received an apology from Mrs Rossi, she agreed to bring Lila up. Alya and Nino looked apologetic. “We’re so sorry we didn’t believe you.”

Marinette looked behind her. “It’s ok. Keep recording. If Mrs Rossi isn’t angry enough to attract an akuma, her daughter will be. Nothing akumatizes Lila like being caught.”

Lila was immediately suspicious when Marinette of all people came to get her, however it was subdued by Marinette’s poorly hidden dislike and the fact that it was Gabriel who asked her to come.

Certain that Mr Agreste wanted her help against a stupid boy’s resistance team, she agreed.

Boy was Lila surprised to see Sabine and her mother standing in front of the classroom instead of Mr Agreste, who looked disappointed in her.

Uh oh. Now Lila could see Marinette’s triumphant face and could see what had happened. Her one consolation was that the team’s plan to anger a parent into akumatization had failed. Though she was also irked she couldn’t get akumatized and make that loser suffer for exposing her like this. This is worse than Ladybug’s exposing her in front of Adrien!

As Lila was dragged by her mother to the principal’s office, Caline tried to resume the parent-teacher conference though it was clear all now felt disheartened by her incompetence.

The resistance was confused. Angry Rossis and disappointed parents were around. Where was the akuma?

Eventually they had to give up. What a waste of free period.

Not entirely a waste though since Lila was now exposed. Alya sent the recording to the whole class as the parents left.

Outraged gasps were heard everywhere.

Nino: why didn’t you wait till class was about to start? Then we could prepare to record the akumatization.

Adrien: if Monarch didn’t come out for Mrs Rossi and Lila, I doubt he’ll come for-

Reverser promptly swooped by, ready to turn Lila nice and honest.

Adrien: never mind.

Marc was deakumatized and the class apologized to Marinette for not believing her.

Lila returned to class, sulky in her forced apology, not really bothered by their angry reactions now that she was expelled. Only Marinette’s smug attitude infuriated her. Having been forced honest by Reverser, she had confessed to having duped two other women into being her mothers and had initially planned on running away to join one of them. Her mother now has their numbers. It was a nightmare.

Alya: who else can we akumatize for the greater good? Mayor Bourgeois?

Marinette: I don’t think our plan works if we our expected target isn’t even akumatized. We’ll have to think of something else.

Monarch is disappointed he won’t get to akumatize the akuma class again for a while. Ah well, it can be a favor to Adrien.

#miraculous ladybug fanfic #miraculous ladybug fic #ml fanfic #ml fanfiction #ml fic #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #Lila is exposed #Lila gets exposed #ml salt fic #bustier salt #Lila salt #nino’s plan to target Gabriel was ridiculous because the end result is so obvious

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echo-has-queries · 5 months ago

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I started doodling the Cat Noirs from my weird AUs because I realized that together they wear one (1) outfit XD

But then of course I had to draw the Ladybugs too. Where Steampunk Ladybug got away with ALL the clothes!

And obviously I also put each pair together, what do you think I am, a monster?!

CH Ladybug and Cat Noir do also wear cloaks I guess. So I suppose put together they each have one (1) very elaborate outfit.

Corresponding fanfics under the cut :)

#miraculous ladybug #fanart #art #my art #ml #cosmic horror AU #steampunk AU #fanfic #my fanfic #ao3 #ao3 link #ao3 fanfic #fanfiction #miraculous ladybug fanfic #echo art

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pearl-star · 10 months ago

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It's Not My Job

I had written and had this story finished back in August of last year, but just never got around to posting it. I revisited it again yesterday and decided to just go ahead and post it. It's crossed posted to my AO3 if if you would prefer reading it there, here's the link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54107548. (Also, fair warning, this fic is 10K words long. I didn't feel like dividing it up into different chapters so here it is in its entirely.

Summary: After becoming too stressed out from her class rep duties, Marinette talks to the other class reps about the work she’s been doing, hoping for some help. In a few moments, she discovers that none of the work she’s been assigned to do is what she should be doing as class rep. And when she goes to Miss Bustier only for her teacher to threaten her, her friends and family finally decide that enough is enough and take the issue to the higher ups.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marinette was on her last legs. The swell of akumas over the past month was bad enough, but the extra work that came with it just made her life so much harder. On top of her regular school work and make-up work from missed classes, she had to handle her class rep duties as well. She had to be an example, help her classmates when Chloe acted up, check essays and homework, and do her other general class rep tasks.

Not only that, but she had to hatch out a whole plan for the class trip. Not just a general idea but the specifics of where they would stay, the exact activities they would do, how they would get there and travel around, and so on. She also had to plan out the fundraising activities, and had to do enough of them otherwise she would have to put in the rest of the money herself. Chloe had no issues with that in the past, but she was also rich. Marinette couldn’t exactly use her parent’s credit card to get it all situated.

Alya, by her sense of duty as both her friend and class deputy, tried helping her out but for some reason wasn’t allowed. She could help instruct people once the plans were made, but she couldn’t be a part of the planning process. Otherwise, according to Miss Bustier, the plans would have to be redone completely. The blogger had suggested working on it together secretly, but Marinette was hesitant. She didn’t want to risk Miss Bustier finding out and for her to demand that the plans had to be redone. So for now, the bluenette was working on her own.

Everyone in class had noticed the toll the extra work was doing on her. She barely made it to class on time and was always the last to leave. Her bookbag was stuffed with papers with notes and plans. She always had her shoulders slumped, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, and her eye bags were barely being covered by her makeup. She never smiled unless Miss Bustier told her to be a better example, in which case she would stitch on a mechanical smile similar to that of Adrien’s model smile.

The model, for his part, was freaking out over the fact that the sweetest and most happy girl in class (besides Rose, who is just a sparkling ball of pink, glittery sunshine) was struggling. He went so far as to get her coffee order from Alya and made sure to bring one in daily, as well as leave a thermos of heavily sugared black tea on her desk after lunch. The fact that Marinette wasn’t reacting to Adrien’s actions with anything more than a thank you, with no stuttering or blush in sight, proved how tired she really was.

Marinette’s sole goal was to catch up with all of this work as fast as she could, otherwise she would get behind again and be stuck in this loop forever. So when she was asked to attend a lunch out with the other class reps, she hesitated. She didn’t really have time to do much of anything. Even patrols had been cut down, something her partner had insisted on when she almost fell off a building when she zoned out mid jump. Still, maybe they could help her.

Miss Bustier had said that planning the class trip and all that was only the job of the class rep, so her getting advice from the other class reps shouldn’t be against the rules. So Marinette found herself that Friday walking to the cafe where Aurora said to meet. Once she got there, the weather girl waved her over to an open chair next to her.

As she walked over, she looked at the group. Marinette knew who most of the class reps were, but never got the chance to talk to any of them. Some were in the art club with her, but they tended not to discuss class rep duties there.

“Sorry I’m late.” The bluenette apologized, sliding into the empty chair. “I had to show Miss Bustier my progress for the class trip.”

There was silence, and then.

“What do you mean?”

“You know, my plans for the class trip. I’ve narrowed it down to a place and found a hotel that we could stay at, but I still need to figure out travel plans and the exact activities.” Marinette looked at the confused faces around her. Then a thought came to mind. “Am I late on this too?! Miss Bustier only brought it up to me at the end of last month, so I thought that I had plenty of time still but-”

“No it’s not that.” Kimberly said, cutting Marinette off from her panic. “It’s just that… class reps don’t plan out their class trips.”

Marinette blinked at the news. She had been class rep for the past two years. The first year, she didn’t have to be as in depth with the class trip. She proposed a general trip idea, fundraising ideas, and helped coordinate the fundraisers, but this year Miss Bustier said that class reps had to be more hands-on with the trip. The teacher had even given her a packet on the new rules.

“What do you mean? Yes they do. It’s in the newest handbook.”

“What handbook?”

Marinette dug in her book bag before pulling out the packet and handing it to Claude. He flipped through the pages, scanning them while a few other class reps looked over his shoulders. As he read, his frown deepened.

“This isn’t right. The handbook has been updated last year, but not in this way. It actually had deputies taking on more of the load to help lessen the stress of class reps, as well as a newly added duty to help plan out relaxation days throughout the year to try and lessen the chance of akumas during testing weeks. Where did you get this from?”

“Miss Bustier gave it to me and explained it all. She did say how class reps were now responsible for helping to lower the class’s stress.”

All of the class reps looked at each other, before Aurora finally spoke up.

“Marinette… I don’t know why Miss Bustier gave this to you, but it isn’t right. I don’t have the handbook on me right now but there is one in Ms. Meedeveli’s classroom that I can show you once we get back to the school.”

Marinette paused, before nodding and thanking the weather girl. Slowly the conservation changed to something else, but the bluenette’s mind couldn’t stop from drifting. Why would Miss Bustier give her the wrong packet? Maybe the school had made this version and then changed it, but didn’t inform the teacher of the change. Marinette did become class rep for the first time last year, so it is possible that Miss Bustier went and asked for the newest handbook early so that she could have it at the start of her role.

The pigtailed girl was finally able to relax. That had to be it. Miss Bustier thought that this was the correct version and just didn’t know. Once she gets the new copy, they can figure out how planning for the school trip should really go.

After lunch she walked back to school with all of the reps, and then split off from the group as she followed Aurora to Ms. Meedeveli’s room. The science teacher was already in the room, working on writing something on the board for the lesson later on.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Meedeveli. Do you have a copy of the class rep handbook?”

“Good afternoon to you too, and yes I do. It’s over on the wall next to the classroom rules.”

“Do you think Marinette can borrow it for the afternoon? There was a bit of a mix-up with the handbook in her homeroom.”

The teacher stiffened at that, and Marinette was worried that she would say no. Instead, once the woman realized the bluenette’s eyes on her, she shook her head.

“Go ahead. And feel free to keep it in your homeroom, Marinette. I can pick up another copy later. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

Once Aurora handed her a packet, a by far smaller one than the previous one, Marinette nodded.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Meedeveli. I’ll see you later in class.”

She gave her thanks to the blonde as well before walking out of the room, looking over the packet. She was in such a rush that she didn’t notice the usually strict teacher give her a look of pity.

As Marinette read through the packet, she felt less and less stressed already. It was definitely much different than the one she was given, and would absolutely help her catch up on all her other activities. Without having to plan the class trip, she would have so much more freetime. All she would have to do is tell Miss Bustier of the mix up and then she’ll be good.

She decided to wait until after school though, since class was about to start and she didn’t want to be the reason they had more makeup work. However, once class was over and she talked to Miss Bustier, she got a rude surprise.

“What do you mean this packet is wrong? I got this from Ms. Meedeveli’s room. All the other class reps said that the handbook you gave me was the wrong one.”

“Yes, the other class reps have a different handbook, but you need to follow the one I gave you. You’re my star student, Marinette. You can handle more work.”

“I can’t though.” Marinette nearly cried, before composing herself. “I’m really struggling with just homework with all the akumas interrupting class time. And the handbook you gave me said that Alya can’t even help me with all of these extra duties. I’m gonna fall behind at this rate.”

“Now Marinette, that would be your own fault. You need to manage your time better. Also you do need to help prevent akumas. That thing in the other handbook we can include in ours. I want you to plan a destressing activity for the class to do by the end of next week. We can do a different one every week to keep things different.”

Upon hearing that more work was being put onto her, she opened her mouth to refuse before being silenced.

“I really wouldn’t want to have a talk with your parents about you becoming a problem to our classroom, so make sure to keep up your good job as class rep okay?”

Miss Bustier was… threatening her? The bluenette was so shocked that she could only nod, numbly leaving the classroom. As soon as she turned the corner, she bumped into Alya.

“Oh. Hi, Alya.”

“Marinette… did Miss Bustier really say that?”

It was then that Marinette realized how shaken up her friend was.

“What do you mean?”

“She really-” Alya started, before looking at the direction to the classroom door in contemplation. It seemed like she made a decision, as she pulled Marinette away.

“We’re telling your parents. I can’t believe she said that to you.”

The bluenette got a sense of dread with Alya’s suggestion, realizing that Alya had heard some if not all of the conversation she just had. The reminder of Miss Bustier’s earlier threat rang in her mind.

“No. Miss Bustier-”

“She’s forcing you to do more work. Quite frankly, I was about to ‘accidentally’ hide some of the work I’ve been doing for the class trip in with your notes so that you’d actually be able to get some sleep. But now? I can’t just sit by and let this happen to my best friend.”

“But my parents won’t believe me.”

“Don’t you have both packets? Show that to your parents. Besides, it's the entire class’s words against Miss Bustier. Your parents will believe us.”

Marinette still didn’t like the sound of it. She’d never gone against her teacher before. But Alya was hard to stop once she got an idea in her head, so the bluenette was dragged to the bakery.

Her mom was handling the counter, and was finishing up checking out a customer. Once they left, she finally noticed them.

“Good afternoon girls. Feel free to take a pastry on your way up.”

“Actually Mlle. Cheng, we need to speak to you about something.”

“What is it?”

Alya nudged Marinette forward, but when it was clear that she wasn’t going to talk, Alya took charge. She grabbed the two different class rep handbooks, walking forward and giving them to the women.

“Miss Bustier has been forcing Marinette to take on more work as class rep. When Marinette asked her about it, she threatened to call you two up and tell you that she’s causing issues.”

Sabine blinked at Alya’s words, before her confusion was swapped for a blank stare. Her eyes shifted from the packets in her hands to her daughter.

“Marinette, is this true?”

“We-Well I mean, I’m sure Miss Bustier didn’t really mean-”

“Marinette. Please tell me the truth.”

Yep. Her mom was definitely mad at her. She sighed and decided to just take the bullet.

“It’s true, but I-”

“What has she been making you do?”

Marinette flinched at the anger sounding clearly in her mother’s tone. She looked down at her hands. Alya kept a hand on her shoulder to try and calm her. When it was clear that the bluenette had no intention of speaking, the blogger took over.

“She’s been forced to plan the whole class trip by herself. Where we’re going, the hotel we’re staying in, activities we’re doing, the exact travel plans, fundraising, all of that. I wasn’t even allowed to do any of the planning process with her.”

“Anything else?”

“I had to help with grading some things.” Marinette finally added, sighing in defeat. “I also had to help when Chloe acted up.” She leaned back into Alya’s touch, causing the redhead to wrap her arm around her and give her a tight squeeze.

Sabine looked between the two girls and then back at the packets in her hands. She frowned in thought at the clear size difference between the two.

“I’d take it that this is the real one?” She asked, holding up the smaller packet.

“That��s the one that the other class reps use. I got it from Ms. Meedevelei this afternoon.”

“I’m gonna look these over during my break. That will be in… thirty minutes. For now I think you two should grab a treat and relax upstairs. Would you two be okay staying here in case I need to ask you something else?”

The two girls nodded, grabbing a pastry and heading back and up to the apartment. Marinette fiddled with the hem of her jacket, thinking about what had just happened. Alya sighed and pulled her towards the chaise.

“Don’t worry, let your parents handle this.”

“But what if I get in trouble in school? Miss Bustier could do to Principal Damcoles and say that I’m not cooperating and-”

“And then everyone will tell him off if he tries to punish you. Miss Bustier threatened you. That’s a whole other thing to consider, above her dumping a bunch of work onto you and making you do it by yourself.” Alya scowled. “I don’t understand that part. Why did she not want me to help with anything?”

Marinette didn’t have an answer to that. If Miss Bustier truly wanted her to do all of these things, then having Alya help her would have made life so much easier. Why not let someone else who was willing to help take some work off her shoulders do it? The redhead shrugged and reached in her bookbag.

“I guess it doesn’t matter right now. I know your mom said to relax, but I also know you can’t do physics for the life of you so let me help you out while I can.”

The bluenette felt tears prick up at the offer of receiving help, but she quickly wiped those away before her friend could notice. They were so distracted with the work that they didn’t hear the muffled shouts from below.

“That woman did what?!”

“She threatened our daughter. All because Marinette asked her why the manual she was given as class rep was different from every other class reps’ handbook.”

The two adults were hard to anger. Their life was full of simple joys, being able to live peaceful lives despite running a business and being in a time when a magical terrorist was in their city. But let it not be said that they could never get angry. Because right now, the only other thought in their minds besides concern for their daughter was the anger towards the girl’s teacher.

“I want to talk to Miss Bustier today. I know that Alya can be dramatic sometimes, but Marinette would never lie. Especially with something like this.”

“We can close the bakery. I want to be there as well.”

Sabine thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.

“No. I’m just gonna do a phone call for now. Besides, we can’t just close the bakery today. I’ll update you once I’m done talking to her.”

She thought that it would be a fifteen minute phone call max. Just her asking to confirm things and then asking for them to be changed to how they should be. She didn’t expect Miss Bustier to try and defend herself. Yes, Marinette was a bright kid and an excellent student, but that didn’t mean that she should be doing the work of her teacher. The more she tried to defend her daughter, the more the teacher defended her own actions. Sabine ended the call more frustrated than before, and she decided to instead talk to Mr. Damocles. Because surely he would be able to correct the teacher? After all, what Ms. Bustier was doing was an abuse of her power.

Alas, Sabine ended her night early. Both adults saw it best to just close the bakery early. Heaven forbid if that principal or teacher decided to pay them a visit. The cup of chamomile tea was not helping her to calm down in the slightest, and her husband paced around as he ranted. The woman herself, while not outwardly expressing her thoughts, did silently stew on the issue.

How dare those people do this to her child. It wasn’t a big deal? It absolutely was. Neither parent had missed the way Marinette was getting more sluggish and tired. It was part of the reason why they had stopped making her work in the bakery as of late. All that extra work was affecting her studies and normal life, and neither of those adults cared? It was an outrage! But who else could she turn to?

It was then that an idea struck her. Sabine grinned, leaving her half finished tea on the table and walking off.

“Calling them back is not going to do anything. I think we need to go in person and demand that they stop this.”

“Oh, I’m not calling them. I have a better idea.”

If those two wouldn’t listen to her, then she would have to get someone who would make them see the error of their ways. Sabine sat down at the computer, typing out a very detailed email before sending it off. She continued to check her inbox throughout the weekend, waiting for a response, but there wasn’t one. Not until Sunday afternoon.

Dear Madame Cheng,

We have reviewed your complaints regarding Madame Bustier and Mister Damocles, and have officially filed for an investigation to take place. We will begin the investigation starting tomorrow, Monday XX/XXXX, and will inform you of any updates as well as the results. If you are worried about any misaction towards your daughter by Madame Bustier because of this investigation, please let us know. We will be happy to make arrangements for her to be situated in a different homeroom both during and after the course of this investigation.

We ask that you and your husband be available during some point this week for a meeting to discuss the problem more in depth. We will try our best to be courteous and inform you ahead of time when we will be paying you a visit. If you have anything urgent to report before our meeting, please do not hesitate to reach out either through email or using the phone number listed below. We promise you that your concerns will be taken seriously, and the investigation will not end until a solution is made.

Jon Garnier, Dupont School Board Member

Sabine smiled at the email once she finished reading it. It was done. With the school board involved, Miss Bustier would be forced to take off the workload from her daughter. She sent a response email to him, thanking him and informing him that he could come to the bakery at any time and she would be sure to be available to talk to him.

There were some other things, some very concerning things, that Alya had filled her and Tom in on Friday before the girl went home, but Sabine didn’t add those in. As awful as they were, they could wait to be discussed once she was face to face with someone.

Marinette was told that things were being handled, but the girl still seemed worried. She was given a choice to switch homerooms temporarily or even just stay home for a day or two, but she rejected both. Not only was Marinette behind on classwork, but she still needed to continue her class rep duties, even if her parents didn’t seem happy when she said that. Reluctantly, her parents sent her off to school on Monday.

Alya made sure to pick her up, trying to offer her support and then try to distract her with little success. It was very clear to anyone that Marinette had not gotten any rest, despite the reassurance from her parents and Alya. She was told not to do any of the class rep work and instead just relax and focus on her other school work, but she wasn’t able to feel calm. Her anxiety at what would happen now that her parents had talked to Miss Bustier and Mr. Damcoles kept her from sleeping. So she worked on not just all the extra class work, but also her guardian work. Tikki was not happy with her, but there was only so much that the kwami could do to stop her.

The two girls slowed down a bit as they approached their friends by the steps. Both boys eyed the bluenette with great concern with one of them being… a bit more dramatic about it.

“Marientte! What happened? Why do you look more tired now?”

The blond fretted, handing the cup of coffee he had to Nino to hold as he examined the girl, holding onto her face with one hand as he lightly touched the bags until her eyes with his finger.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Couldn’t sleep? You look more tired than I do when I have a night and morning shoot back to back. Maybe you should go home and rest for the day?”

“I can’t. I’m already behind on all my work. Besides, as class president it’s my duty to show up.”

The pigtailed girl couldn’t say it with as much conviction as she once might have, due to how much energy that would have taken. Even talking was just wearing her out. How she would be able to handle Chole’s inevitable fits, she didn’t know, or really care about right now. None of the trio were happy to hear that, and even the students who fluttered around looked at the girl with a mix of concern and pity.

Adrien had always wanted to be able to have a straight conversation with the budding designer. One where she wouldn’t be so flustered that she would have to run off. But if she would have to be like this for him to get that? He would have never wished for it. For now he turned and took the coffee cup back from Nino to hand it to the girl.

“Here you go. If you refuse to go home then at least have this.”

The small smile she gave him was genuine, and Adrien only wished that it had come at a time when she wasn’t so tired.

“Thank you. I need to get some things done before class starts.” Before anyone could stop her, Marinette started her walk up the stairs. Alya was immediately on her trail.

“She’s wearing herself out. I want to be able to help her more but…” The blond murmured, wishing that he knew what was happening to her. He knew that she was stressed out, but surely there had to be something else he could do besides keeping her caffeinated. Nino patted his shoulder, still looking at where the girls disappeared off to.

“You’re doing what you can. Besides, Alya’s figured things out.”

“Figured what out? Marinette is still… like that.”

“She didn’t tell you? With the way Alya went off in the group chat and then to me, I thought for sure you would have known.”

Alya did what? Adrien had been on his phone, and he hadn’t noticed any messages coming in at all. Checking his texts, the last message from the class chat had been someone commenting on Marinette’s behavior, but it was just a message of concern from Rose. Nothing from Alya. Nino looked over his shoulder and let out an oh.

“You must not have been added to the chat. Here, let me do that real quick.”

In a few seconds, a request to join a group chat came in. Clicking accept, he quickly scrolled to the top of the conversation before pausing. He blinked once, twice, then screamed.

“She did WHAT to Marinette?!”

“Yeah, it happened on Friday. Alya overheard it and went to Marinette’s parents. They-” Nino went on, but Adrien drowned him out.

He couldn’t believe it. He knew that Marinette was stressed out about her class rep position and he saw how Miss Bustier treated Marinette sometimes, but this? That woman just decided to threaten her? A growl sounded out, and it barely registered in his mind that it came from him.

“That’s it. I don’t care what I have to do, I’m-”

“Adrien.” Nino said, grabbing onto his shoulders and snapping him out of his thoughts. “You need to calm down. Trust me, everyone is upset about this, but you can’t get akumatized.”

He tried to calm himself, but it was hard. This whole time this was happening without him knowing. He was a failure to his princess, his everyday Ladybug. Did his partner have something like this happening in her life and he was failing her too? He knew that she was more tired lately, due to having more work in her civilian life on top of guardian work but she didn’t give specifics. He had tried offering to do some of the guardian work too, but she had declined citing how it would be too dangerous to do it in the open and they had nowhere private to go. Maybe he should have pushed more?

“Dude, calm down.” He instructed again, once again jostling him from his thoughts. “Alya already told Marinette’s parents. They have things covered.”

The question of “how” popped into his mind, but before he could voice it he spotted two adults walking up the steps. Adults who he did not recognize, but felt like they held an air of authority to them.

“Trust me,” Nino said, and it was then that the blonde noticed his friend’s knowing look. “They have things covered.”

Adrien knew that there was something else to Nino’s words, but decided against asking exactly what. For now he would simply keep a closer eye on both Marinette and Miss Bustier. No one would be allowed to hurt his princess on his watch.

Inside the school, whispers had already begun. There had already been some talk about the bluenette before. With her being one of the only two people in the akuma class who hasn’t gotten akumatized yet, they figured that the noticeable stress she was under would due her in.

But now the whispers were revolving around the reason for the two adults who entered the building. A man and a woman, both dressed in business attire and wearing the same stern expression. They came in to get answers, and they would get just that.

Walking straight to Mr. Damocles' office, they gave a sharp knock before letting themselves in. The man, for his part, seemed confused by someone bursting into his office. His confusion quickly turned to concern as he recognized the people standing before him.

“We’re here from the school board. There’s been a recent complaint filed and we will be investigating it.” The woman’s tone left no room for an argument. “I’ll be discussing this issue with you while Mr. Garnier does an observation in one of your classrooms. Depending on what happens, we may have to pull some students out of class to ask them a few questions.”

Mr. Damocles only had enough time to realize what the recent complaint was before the man walked out. The woman sat down in the chair across his desk, setting a file in front of him.

“So, tell me about your response to the mistreatment of one Miss Marinette Dupain Cheng?”

There would be no use lying. As required with all staff members, their school issued phones recorded every phone call that took place on them. It was meant to protect them if a parent tries to deny something that they said over the call, but in this case it would be used against him. He cleared his throat, trying to figure out a way to save himself. He remembered that last time these people came in they said that then was his final warning, but surely he would be fine. He was an excellent principal, and this issue wasn’t big enough for him to be fired, surely. So he began his defense.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Gariner walked through the hallway, trusting that Mrs. Monet would be able to handle things. She was slightly biased in this case, as she had a soft spot for the victims in cases like this, but she was a professional above all else so she should be able to prove well into finding out exactly what Mr. Damocles’ thoughts were.

Truthfully, they should have done an investigation at this school sooner. They had seen the news reports about the students in this class, but since Hawkmoth was a new thing they had waited. He took his victims by using their emotions against them, and since uncontrolled emotions tended to run higher among adolescents they didn’t push investigating directly as their top priority.

They had simply decided to send an email and request that something was done within the classrooms to allow for some form of relaxation or meditation to be done. That had gotten accepted without any issues, and they foolishly had allowed their attention to relax from the school. But now they noticed the repeated pattern of akumas forming from one specific class, and something had to be done.

Even without Madame Cheng’s email, they would have been investigating Miss Bustier and her class anyways. Of course, what was said in that email worried them. From what it sounded like, it seemed like Miss Bustier was fostering her work onto a student. That would be bad enough, but threatening said student to continue doing the work was an extra layer that they would have to address.

For now he tried to clear his thoughts, knocking once on the classroom door before walking in. The students were all whispering to themselves, but stopped once they saw his presence. He simply ignored them, turning to the confused teacher.

“My apologies for interrupting your classroom, Madame. The school board sent me to do your regular classroom observation.” It wasn’t true, but it would at least help to make her not mask her true behavior as much. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be showing off her real behavior though. She seemed a bit flustered, but nodded nonetheless. “I’ll just be sitting in the back. Please just go on with your lessons as you normally would.”

Without another word, he walked up the stairs and took a seat in the very back. The woman eyed him wearily, but called the class to attention anyways. Throughout the morning, he noticed all the students at some point or another looking back at him.

The one that caught his attention though was one blonde student in the front. Not because he was looking at him, but because he was turning around to look at another student. Marinette Dupain Cheng, he had to presume. He did see her photo when looking into her file, but even without that he could tell that she was the student whose parents had made the complaint. The amount of papers that were on her desk, as well as how the other students occasionally looked over to her in concern was enough of an indicator.

There were no major issues that had popped up, but there were a few times when he noticed Miss Bustier looking at Marinette. The first came when another student (Chloe Bourgeois, he remembered her from numerous reports before) made an insult to the girl. Instead of calling the student out, Miss Bustier looked over to Marinette and waited. When nothing happened, she opened her mouth before looking back at him and closing it again. Whatever she was going to say was instead replaced with her continuing the lesson as if nothing had happened.

There were a few other times, when she mentioned the graded homework and a quiz and she looked over to the girl, only to quickly say that she would be passing them back tomorrow. He caught her looking back at him then too. It happened several other times, one notable one being when she mentioned the class’s end of the year trip. The way Marinette’s body stiffened when the teacher commented that all plans would be finished and presented on Friday was noticeable to everyone but the teacher.

Another thing he noticed was the same blonde boy from before making to stand up, only for his desk mate to pull him back down and shake his head. It was easy enough to tell why he did that when they both looked back at him. He didn’t know if it was out of fear that they would be punished or if they were hoping he would do something.

He was going to do something, of course, Mr. Gariner would never allow for this kind of treatment to continue past today, but he was required to wait until the students left before talking to Miss Bustier directly about these issues. Of course, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t doing anything right now.

A few quick emails and texts got sent out and exchanged. Another member of the school board would be coming to help with asking the students and other teachers some questions regarding both Miss Bustier and Mr. Damocles. The principal had been warned not even a few months ago that he needed to have better control on his students and staff members.

Those issues had all stemmed from one Miss Bourgeois who had caused issues and hurt students all while never facing any consequences. He was warned to not let a student get out of trouble by threatening to call her father. He was even told that if the mayor tried to actually follow through on the threats his daughter made, that he would be abusing his power and would be kicked out of his position.

They hadn’t received any complaints since then, but it was a wonder if students had been making them and they never got received. That thought was also troubling. Not all people would consider turning to the school board for issues, not at first anyways. Contacting the teacher or principal was what families were encouraged to do. The issue needed to first be, or at least, attempted to be, dealt with at the school level before going up to the school board after all.

It was meant to stop unneeded cases from clogging up and stopping them from being able to work on more pressing issues, but it could be possible that people didn’t bother trying to contact them. It could be that they were promised that everything would be settled, or even that the school board wouldn’t be able to help out anyways. Another thought was that they could have been threatened as well. If Miss Bustier made a threat to her one student without a second thought, was it possible that other students were coerced into keeping quiet?

Once the bell rang for lunch, all the students were packing up and Miss Bustier said one final thing.

“Marinette, please stay behind for a few minutes.”

Those words caused everyone in the class to stop what they were doing and look between the two. The tension was noticeable, and Mr. Gariner decided to settle things. Walking down the steps and towards the front, he addressed the teacher, not even having to raise his voice to be heard by the rest of the students in the pressing silence.

“Actually, Miss Bustier, I need to discuss some things with you.” When she opened her mouth to refute, he pressed on. “You can discuss whatever it is with your student later on.”

Seeing how he wasn’t going to budge, Miss Bustier nodded. Marinette quickly walked out, the rest of the students following right behind her. Closing the door after the last student walked out he waited a few moments just to make sure that no one else was going to come in before turning to address the teacher.

“Please take a seat. This will be a long discussion.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Marinette was freaking out. Not only did she not get the chance to hand Miss Bustier the homework and quizzes she helped to grade and would be getting in trouble for that, but she also would need to finalize everything for the class trip before Friday. Even with all the work she did over the weekend, she still wasn’t close to done.

She hadn’t been able to book anything since she wasn’t an adult, and even if she could bug her parents to help she wouldn’t be able to since they wouldn’t be going on the trip and whoever booked things had to be in attendance.

That left the only choice being Miss Bustier. She debated sending her an email, but Tikki had actually been able to stop her from doing that, unplugging the computer and causing enough commotion that her parents came up and brought her downstairs to get away from the work laid out on her desk. Her hope was to ask the teacher before class but then she didn’t come into class until the start time. And she wasn’t able to meet with Miss Bustier during lunch since then the man from the school board needed to talk to her, so she would have to put it off until after school.

Right now Alya was dragging her off outside the school and towards her house. She didn’t register the conversation that Nino and Adrien were having behind them. It was when she almost stumbled and felt arms wrapping around her body to keep her upright, while she could see Alya bending down to pick up her dropped items, that she realized they were outside the bakery’s doors.

“Okay. You’re eating lunch and then you’re gonna relax. Maybe you should take a nap too.”

“Adrien?” She tried to turn to look at him, but his arms pulling her back to be flushed with his chest prevented her from being able to do more than glance at him from the corner of her vision.

“You need to let her go dude. Unless you want to carry her inside.”

There was a pause, and it seemed for a second like he was actually going to do it. As he was adjusting his arms, Alya stopped him.

“Let’s just let Marinette walk. We’re here anyway.”

Adrien did let her go enough for her to walk forward, but kept his hand ghosting her back. The four walked in and headed up into the main part of the house. Marinette was sat down on the couch, held down by Adrien when she tried to grab the papers Alya was still holding.

“I need to work on the rest of the arrangements for the class trip.”

“Nope. That’s not your job.” Alya said, leaving no room for argument. Before Marinette could try though, the blogger walked out of the room with Nino in tow.

“Everything will be okay.” She turned and blinked at Adrien, who was still holding her. “I won’t let Miss Bustier hurt you again. I promise.”

“What do you-”

“I heard about Miss Bustier threatening you. I don’t care how I do it, I promise you I won’t let her get away with that.”

Marinette turned to better face him. Half of her brain was trying to mentally arrange things for the class trip while the other half was too tired to fully comprehend what all was happening. It still hadn’t even processed the fact that Adrien was going to carry her earlier. Before she could even attempt to understand what he was telling her now and how he knew, Alya and Nino walked back in with a bunch of food.

“You’re going to eat then you’re gonna take a nap until lunch is over.”

“But I need to get back to school before lunch is over.” If she was lucky, Miss Bustier would be done talking to the man from the school board. Then she could try and get things figured out in time for Friday.

“Eat. Then sleep.”

Alya pushed the plate of food onto her lap. Deciding that she could just sneak out after she got done eating, Marinette began to eat the sandwich Alya had made. During the whole time they ate, their eyes kept drifting back to Marinette. As soon as she was done eating and made to stand, they acted.

Marinette’s brain was able to conjure up the question of if all her friends were physic or if they had discussed this plan in front of her and she just didn’t realize it, because they all acted in sync. Nino grabbed her plate and cup from her hands, moving out of the way while Adrien pulled her down to lay on the couch. Alya threw a blanket over her body and adjusted it as a pillow got placed under her head.

“Nap time.”

“But-”

“You will be stuck here until the end of lunch either way. You might as well just sleep.”

Marinette let out a huff, making to move only for a hand to press her down. She looked up at Adrien’s face as he loomed over her.

“I will lay on you if you try to resist Marinette.”

That reminded her of Chat Noir. Even though he had canceled group patrols, and he took over her solo ones, she had decided to go out for one last weekend. She couldn’t help herself. She was anxious and just wanted to go out for a little bit. Still, once he realized she was out and hadn’t slept at all, he ran off before returning with a pillow and blankets. Somehow she ended up wrapped up in what she could only refer to as a blanket burrito with a pillow under her head and Chat Noir laying on top of her. She had fallen asleep to the sound of his purring.

Of course there was no way that Adrien would do that. But he did. As soon as she tried to sit up again, he laid his chest on top of her’s. He was still kneeling on the ground, so it wasn’t all of his body on top of her, but it was enough weight that it kept her from moving.

“Sleep.” He said, turning his head to look at her. His breathing began to slow, and her body mimicked it without thinking. Soon she was out like a light. He didn’t want to move, but slowly lifted himself off her.

“How did you do that?” Nino asked, his voice in a whisper to keep the girl asleep.

“I read that if you are with someone you both subconsciously match your breathing to theirs.”

He didn’t say it, but he had specifically looked it up on the off chance that he would have to help Ladybug fall asleep without being transformed. His purring only happened in suit, after all. Before anything else could be said, Madame Cheng walked into the room. Adrien quickly leaned back, hoping that she didn’t notice him laying on top of her daughter. She opened her mouth to speak, but the three teens shushed her and waved her off. The woman smiled to see her daughter asleep, but the expression slowly dropped.

“You three are wanted downstairs.”

“For what?”

Adrien resisted the urge to lay back down on top of Marinette and hold onto her. She was finally sleeping, and he wasn’t about to let her have any chance of waking up from her nap too soon.

“There’s someone from the school board who is interviewing the students in your class. She was interviewing me and Tom, but when I mentioned the four of you being here she said she wanted to interview you all now.”

“At the same time?”

“No. Tom and I went separately, so I imagine it would be the same for you three.”

“You two go down. I’ll wait here until one of you gets done.”

Even if Adrien wasn’t the one to watch over Marinette the whole time, he could at least make sure she stayed asleep while Alya and Nino got interviewed. They nodded, and soon Adrien was left alone. He waited a few seconds before laying his head back onto the girl’s chest, smiling as he closed his eyes.

“Oh Plagg, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Marinette is just a very good friend.”

Adrien let out a huff before looking up and glaring at his kwami. He really didn’t want to argue today, so he tried to close his eyes and ignore the god.

“If you think that will stop me, kid, you’re wrong. I-” Whatever Plagg was about to say was cut off. Adrien opened his eyes and looked up, to see him sporting a look of worry. Slowly lifting his head off Marinette’s chest and turned to look off where the kwami was starring. Nothing was there.

“Is something wrong?” He asked, turning back around. What Adrien did not realize was that Tikki was floating right behind him, giving Plagg her signature death glare.

My bug has had no rest at all. Her eyes said. If you stop her from being able to sleep because you’re too busy teasing your kitten and wake her up then I won’t hesitate to end you.

“Nothing.” Plagg said out loud, not wanting to unleash Tikki’s wrath. He was concerned for her bug too, which was why he was trying to get his oblivious holder to realize his feelings so that she would be cared for on both sides of the mask. Of course, he could do that later when he wasn’t at risk of being destroyed.

Confused, but deciding not to question it, Adrien laid his head back down and shut his eyes, falling asleep to the sounds of her gentle breaths.

~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing that Marinette noticed when she woke up, was the voices drifting into the room. She sat up and looked around, confused as to what she was doing in her living room. She turned around and looked over the couch in time to see her papa coming into the room with another woman.

“I guess she woke up.” Her papa said, before addressing her. “Marinette, this is Mrs. Blanchet. She’s from the school board and is here to ask you some questions.”

Marinette was immediately confused and also worried. She noticed the woman’s professional attire and immediately went to smooth out her messy hair. Mrs. Blanchet didn’t seem to care though, as she walked over and took a seat on the chair across from the couch, not once giving any judgemental looks.

“Sorry about my appearance.” Marinette muttered.

“It’s quite alright. I’ve heard from your friends that you haven’t been able to rest, so it’s good that you got some sleep at least.”

She had spoken to her friends? The questions continued to build up. She knew that there was a man from the school board who was speaking to Miss Bustier, but that didn’t explain why there was this woman here and why she would speak to her friends. The answer finally snapped into place with the next thing she said.

“So, Ms. Dupain Cheng, please tell me about your experience with Mlle. Bustier. And please, be honest.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Is she okay?”

“Relax, dude, her parents are with her.”

“But she should have been done by now.”

The trio had long finished their interviews with Mrs. Blanchet and were sent back to school. Miss Bustier wasn’t in class, but a sub was brought in to cover for her. Mr. Fournier was allowing them to work quietly together on the assignment, or really was just letting them have some time to discuss what was going on.

He knew that there would be whispering and notes being passed anyways, so it was better to simply let them go ahead with it so they could not feel so anxious about things. Besides, a few students were still out doing their interviews. It wouldn’t be fair to teach with several students missing due to the investigation.

“Should we call her?”

“Adrien, she is fine. We asked her parents to call us if something bad happens, remember?”

It was the only way they were able to get Adrien to leave the bakery. Even telling him that his father would be upset to find him skipping out on class didn’t get him moving. The two bespeckled teens tried to keep Adrien distracted with the worksheet they were giving, but his eyes kept snapping to the door each time it opened.

More students returned, none of them being Marinette, and Adrien was at the point of considering if he could run out of the room and to the bakery without being pulled back by Nino. So far the only three students out of the room were the bluenette, Chloe, and Sabrina.

But then Sabrina came back, and quietly explained to Mr. Fournier that Chloe wouldn’t be returning to class today. Adrien assumed that it was because Chloe didn’t want to bother returning to class, but if he was paying attention he might have noticed Sabrina’s wide eyes and flustered tone. As if she was just exposed to some harsh truth and still trying to comprehend it.

By the time the door came open again, Adrien was standing up to run to the bakery. As soon as he spotted the familiar pigtails, he got in front of the girl and hugged her as quickly as he could.

“Is everything okay? Are you feeling a bit better now?”

Marinette, for her part, did get enough rest to comprehend some things. Not enough for her to be flustered around Adrien yet, but enough to realize how he got to her so quickly.

“Did you just… jump over your desk?”

“Dude.” Nino muttered, head in his hands.

“Um… no?” It was more of a question, because Adrien truly didn’t know if he did that or not.

“Please sit down. I need to make an announcement to the class.”

It was then that Adrien realized that Marinette wasn’t walking in alone. Behind her was another woman, one who he hadn’t seen before. It also registered in his mind that if he really did jump over a desk, not only did this woman see it but the rest of the class also did. He quietly went back to his seat, but not before making sure Marinette got seated in hers.

“My name is Mrs. Monet and I am a member of the school board. As you know, we have been asking you questions regarding your teacher and your time here at Francoise Dupont. The school board doesn’t like to make rushed decisions, but we feel like this decision will be best for the students and other members of this school’s safety.” She took a pause before continuing. “Miss Bustier will no longer be your teacher.”

Before, if someone were to say that to the class, they would all be devastated and demand answers. However they had seen how she’s been to Marinette over the past couple weeks. Not just that, but once they heard about her threatening Marinette a lot of the love and respect they felt towards the teacher was burned out. Mrs. Monet had been expecting them not to be upset, and continued on with her speech.

“I am sure you might be confused as to what is happening, but I assure you that the school board makes all of its decisions with the school’s wellbeing in mind. We will be ensuring that this choice doesn’t harmfully impact your education. Mr. Fournier will be taking over as your sub for the rest of the school year. I do ask you to please be patient with getting answers to the questions that I’m sure all of you have.

“We cannot give out full details of an investigation without permission from several people, and that only can happen after the investigation is fully finished. Of course, if you do have questions you need answered you may contact me and any of the other two school board members who you’ve seen today with the emails we’ve provided you. We will be happy to answer your questions if we are able to.

“It is also decided that since the decision to remove Miss Bustier as a teacher here is affecting multiple classes, that tomorrow will be an optional school day. Students may come in to work on school work or just hang out. However you will be required to come within the first hour of school and stay the whole day if you do wish to come here. It is to ensure all of your safety. Your parents have already been notified and told that they will receive a call just to confirm that you aren’t coming to school. If you have any more questions regarding that, you can ask Mr. Fournier for more details.

“Another change that is taking place is that your principal is also being removed.” This caused whispers of confusion to sprout up, but they quickly died down when the woman raised her hand. “We unfortunately cannot say much about this other than he was breaking some rules and had to be terminated. An official announcement regarding that will be made once the investigation is finished. I wish you all a good rest of your day, and if you have anything else you need to ask or have to tell us please reach out to any of the members you have seen today.”

With that, Mrs. Monet walked out and allowed the class to finally speak what was on everyone’s mind.

“This is my fault.”

Well, clearly one student didn’t share the same thoughts as everyone else. All eyes immediately turned towards Marinette, who looked very upset at the current news. Which didn’t make sense given what had happened to her just last week.

“Marinette, no it’s not.”

“But, Miss Bustier-”

“Did you ask to have all that work dumped on you? To be threatened?” Adrien said, eye flashing with rage. A pat from within his pocket, unknown to anyone else in class, reminded him to take a deep breath and calm down.

“But what about the class trip? I still needed to get things booked.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Dupain Cheng. As your current homeroom teacher, I’ll be handling things. Everything will be fine. As for you, I think that it would be a good idea for you to take a break being class representative so that you can focus on your school work and your other activities. Your class deputy can take over for a few weeks, and can appoint someone to help her temporarily as well.”

In the back of her mind, Marinette knew that what the man was saying was supposed to lift a burden off her shoulders. After all, she had been wanting a break for weeks now. But right now it felt like all the work she had done up to this point was all for nothing.

“But, what about the plans I’ve already made? All that was left was to book things and get them approved?”

Mr. Fournier paused in consideration. It would be wrong to use work that a child was forced to do, but it was clear that it could cause the bluenette more distress if all of her work was for not.

“See me on Wednesday. I’ll have to reach out to the school board to ensure that it is okay, but if you wish we can take your plans and implement them without you having to do all of the work. For now you all can just finish up on the worksheet I gave you and then have quiet conversations. If you need anything feel free to ask.”

Alya handed Marinetted a worksheet but less for the reason of working on it and more just so she wouldn’t forget about grabbing one later. Right now she wanted to check in on her.

“Miss Bustier had this coming to her.” Alya didn’t let Marinette try and defend that woman. “She was the one who purposely dumped her work onto you. Not just that, but she refused to let anyone else help you out. Then she decided to threaten you whenever you were politely trying to figure out the truth. Whatever happens to her is on her.”

Adrien and Nino nodded, and the rest of the class would have agreed but were pretending that they weren’t eavesdropping to try and give her some privacy. Marinette didn’t seem so sure, and the rest of the class all came to the silent collective decision that they would make sure Marinette wasn’t hurt from this.

~~~~~~~~~~

Before the end of the week they found out that Chloe got expelled. Turns out all the threats she gave to both staff and students alike was enough to seal her fate. Her father tried to fight it, but there wasn’t a lot that could be done with all the evidence. In fact, he was too busy trying to save himself from being exposed of him abusing his power at the school to worry about abusing it even more.

Another two weeks passed before they found out why Mr. Damocles was fired. Besides just ignoring Chloe’s behavior and Miss Bustier’s abuse, he had also been stealing the school’s money. Turns out the pay of being a principal alone couldn’t afford him all the comic books and fancy gadgets he wanted to become The Owl.

It took a few weeks for Marinette to feel okay about things. Tikki adamantly went through, relaying out what responsibility meant for her to ensure that Marinette would take care of herself. Adrien, Alya, and Nino all distracted her when she got doubt that it was her fault more than Miss Bustier’s, and all made sure that she got plenty of rest.

With all the rest she was getting she was finally able to go on patrols again with Chat’s approval. That still didn’t mean that he didn’t wrap her up in a blanket and make her take a nap instead of patrolling some days, but Marinette found that falling asleep to his purrs made her feel more relaxed so she was okay with it.

It was two months after the whole debacle, when Marinette was made to nap before a study session with her three friends only to wake up to the purring coming from a different blonde boy, that she realized something else. A quick freak out, the two hiding in the bathroom whilst Alya and Nino looked at each other confused from their spots in the living room, and Adrien decided that he really wasn’t going to let Marinette go. Like, literally.

“Adrien.”

“No.”

Marinette sighed, deciding to just lean back into him. He immediately burrowed his face into the crook of her neck, and it was only due to her slowly slipping out her exhausted mindstate and being able to be calm around him during that time that she wasn’t a completely flustered mess. Oh, she was still blushing hardcore, but at least she wasn’t squealing like a kettle.

Alya and Nino could only stare at the two, who had emerged from the bathroom with Adrien carrying Marinette before the blond sat her down between his legs. After a few moments, Alya was able to speak.

“So… are you two dating now or?”

“Engaged, actually.”

“I don’t remember you proposing.”

“I would say married, but just because we act like a married couple doesn’t mean that we are legally married yet.”

“We’re fourteen.”

“... I can wait.”

#miraculous fanfiction #miraculous ladybug fanfic #mlb marinette #marinette dupain cheng #Ms. Bustier Salt #mlb salt #Alya sugar #protective adrien agreste

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wetchickenbreast · 4 months ago

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Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir & Gabriel Agreste Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Gabriel Agreste, Original Male Character(s), Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Plagg (Miraculous Ladybug) Additional Tags: Crack Treated Seriously, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir-centric, Homophobic Language, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir Has Mental Health Issues, Queerbaiting, Light Angst, Homophobia Summary:

After being canceled on twitter, Gabriel Agreste asks Adrien for a favor: go on a date with a British actor named Julien. The only problem? Adrien isn't gay.

#qb!au #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #miraculous ladybug fanfic #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #gabriel agreste

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aidanchaser · 3 months ago

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Read Chapter Four on Ao3

Marinette left early for the Lucky Lady, not because she was eager to see her friends or get to work, but merely because she was anxious to get away from her parents.

“Was that Adrien Agreste who went rushing out of here?” her mother had asked, and had kept asking even when Marinette denied it.

After hearing her mother ask about Adrien, her father had said, “Adrien’s back from London? You know, you’ve never invited him over for dinner.”

And Marinette tried and failed to explain to her parents that she and Adrien had only been friends for one summer over five years ago, and there was nothing between them. She didn’t dare tell them how he’d broken her heart nor how he had become involved with his father. Just because she hated him didn’t mean her parents had to.

But instead of accepting Marinette’s excuses, her mother had asked, “Then why did you lock him in the water closet?”

So Marinette left the bakery early for once. The winter sky was still pink like the camellias when she slid through the back door of the Lucky Lady and plopped down at the girls’ dressing table. She had tried to do her makeup at home first, but she couldn’t stand at the sink without her hands trembling. Even now, she didn’t feel much like looking at her reflection.

When Marinette put on her makeup before donning Ladybug’s mask, she often felt like she was stepping into the armor of a more beautiful, braver woman. But tonight as she powdered her cheeks, smeared pale blue smoke across her eyelids, and thumbed open her tin of mascara, her stomach churned in protest.

Marinette did not think of herself as a cruel person, but her words to Adrien that afternoon had been sharper than she would have liked. They felt like words that belonged to Ladybug, and she was beginning to grow less and less sure that she wanted to be Ladybug.

Because the truth was, if she dared to admit it to herself, that she missed Adrien—her breath stuttered in her lungs as she remembered the way he had stuttered over a breathless I missed you.—and she wanted nothing more than to just hold his hand again, sit together on the banks of the river, press her head into his chest, feel his hands on her shoulders—

Their singular summer had been years ago, but it felt fresh, as near as he had been, pressed up against the sink. His touch on her elbow and his breath on her neck lingered like a phantom clinging to her. She could be hurt and bitter all that she wanted, but as soon as Adrien had learned that Marinette had not chosen to leave him, he had been ready to try again.

But it was Ladybug, the woman forged for war, who couldn’t forgive. It was Ladybug who was losing her partner because of Gabriel Agreste, and how could she have Adrien again when he was tied so tightly to his father?

Was being Ladybug worth losing Adrien?

But was having Adrien worth losing Chat Noir?

Her eyes burned with tears, but she shoved her heartbreak aside and snatched her mask off of its place on the rack. The only masks missing were Alix’s and Alya’s. There was still time before patrons arrived. It would be the perfect opportunity to compare notes from their reconnaissance last night. There was work for Ladybug to do, and Marinette couldn’t afford to falter now. If this arrangement between Mayor Bourgeois and Gabriel Agreste really was everything that Adrien had promised, then she’d see if he was still standing after she toppled his father’s throne.

She did not put her mask on, nor did she bother with some of the more cumbersome Ladybug accessories. Instead, she tucked her gloves into the strap of her dress and fastened her mask to her belt in the place she might have fastened her yo-yo for a different sort of mission.

Marinette always found the empty bar and the restaurant floor eerie in the early parts of the afternoon. The evening mess cleaned up, tables set and waiting for guests to fill them, a stage with flat lighting and abandoned instruments, and nothing but silence in a large empty hall all made her feel far more alone than she liked, far more aware of her own internal voids. She hurried past the rounds and up to Max’s office. If Alya and Alix weren’t discussing their reconnaissance mission over the bartop, they must be upstairs.

Their voices, low and a little urgent, filtered down the stairs like smoke curling beneath a doorway. Marinette knocked on the door twice, quick and sharp, and their conversation stopped abruptly.

“It’s just me,” she said, and pushed the door open.

The tension on Alix and Alya’s faces and in their shoulders visibly unwound.

Alya was dressed in the orange and black gown she waited tables in, but her mask rested up on her high ponytail of reddish curls. Alix was still wearing her usual street clothes, a man’s button-up and trousers, as she perched on Max’s desk. Marinette’s notepad from last night rested between them, along with another set of notes scribbled in Alix’s hand, illuminated by a desk lamp shaded with bottle-green glass.

“You’re early.” Alix’s eyes widened with genuine surprise. “You’re never early.”

“Did you find anything on your reconnaissance last night?” Marinette hoped her eagerness to further the investigation was excuse enough for her unusually early arrival.

Alya’s pursed lips suggested that her excuse did not work as she had hoped, but at least Alya did not press her.

Alix handed her the notes she had scribbled out. “Notice anything interesting?”

It took Marinette a bit to parse the chicken-scratch that passed for Alix’s hasty handwriting, but nothing in particular stood out to her. “These items are the same ones I saw in Gabriel’s warehouse list, aren’t they?” she asked. “So Gabriel and the mayor have the same inventory on their shipping manifests. That’s not exactly the smoking gun we’re looking for.”

“It’s not exactly the same.” Alya handed Marinette the pad of paper that Marinette had given to Nino.

Side-by-side, the answer was obvious. The items were the same, but the quantity was not. The manifest Gabriel Agreste had written out for his trucks had almost twice the number of items that the mayor’s did.

“So it’s a smuggling operation.” Marinette returned both sets of papers to the desk. “Any idea what he’s smuggling?”

“We were hoping you could tell us,” Alix said. “You were in his warehouse last night. Did you see anything?”

“They had just unloaded a shipment, but I didn’t get a look at what was inside.” Marinette, once more, cursed her poor timing as she had grabbed the shipping manifest for the delivery.

“We could go back tonight,” Alix suggested, “see what we can see.”

Marinette wrinkled her nose.

Alya immediately groaned. “Were you made?”

“I don’t think they recognized me as Ladybug…” Marinette fidgeted with her red and black mask. She’d been in all black last night, no signature spots save for her yo-yo. Chat Noir had recognized her, but surely Gabriel’s goons weren’t quite so aware.

“Marinette, if you were spotted—Don’t.” Alya groaned as Alix repeated “spotted” under her breath and elbowed Alya with a crooked grin.

Alya swatted Alix’s hand aside. “Why didn’t Nino tell me—Did you even tell Nino you were seen?”

“I was busy trying to record the shipping manifest before I forgot it.”

Alya pinched the bridge of her nose. “Gabriel could have his men show up here tonight looking for you. We need to tell Max.”

“They didn’t know it was me. None of them called me Ladybug or Little Bug or Beetle—none of the old nicknames. I wasn’t wearing my spots, and Chat wasn’t wearing his ears—” Marinette belatedly bit down on her tongue.

“Chat Noir’s back?” Alix asked and tipped her head expectantly, like Marinette might have more to elaborate on.

Marinette did not.

Alya’s fingers pressed into her temple like she was trying to dig her patience out from the inner trenches of her mind. “Chat Noir showed up. You were seen. Gabriel was getting a delivery of some unknown goods. Is there anything else you neglected to tell Nino and by extension myself and Alix and Max?”

Marinette thought of the near miss of both the gunfire and the kiss. She thought of the note from Adrien, tucked into the pocket of her dress. She thought of his promise that he was trying to take down his father, the promise he had made both Ladybug and Marinette.

“No, I think that’s it.”

“If Gabriel comes for the Lucky Lady, we—”

Alix was cut short by a loud thud on the ceiling. All three girls instinctively turned their gaze to the white ceiling tiles overhead. The square tiles were bordered by plaster vines, twisting together and, at the corners, converging on a stallion’s head, where the mane curled into the leaves until the distinction between the two was impossible to find. But the three girls focused only on the tile in the left corner. It was not distinct from the others in any visible way, but each of the crew had used it at one time or another to sneak in and out of the Lucky Lady without being noticed.

Alix reached for the metal baton that Max kept under his desk.

“No one but the crew knows about that entrance,” Marinette said, though she dropped her voice to a whisper.

Alya pulled her mask down from her hair and over her face. Her dark red lips disappeared behind the fox’s snout. “No one in the crew’s used it in two months.”

Marinette hastily fumbled for the cord of her own mask. Her stomach curled with a familiar anxiety, the anxiety of being caught, of being discovered, of preparing to fight—It was the same thrill she had felt in the warehouse, the same thrill she felt leaping across rooftops with Chat Noir.

It occurred to her that perhaps this was what Chat Noir had meant when he had said that Ladybug was uninterested in peace.

She swallowed that thought down and instinctively reached for her waist where her yo-yo ought to be, but her hip was now empty. Her weapon was tucked away in the drawer of the dressing table downstairs. It wasn’t exactly an accessory she needed for waiting on guests. So instead, she unfastened her beaded belt. It wouldn’t have the same reach as her yo-yo, but it could function as a garrot in an emergency.

Alix had neither mask nor hood, but she twisted the baton in her hand with the ease of a gymnast. There was even a bit of excitement in her eyes, too, as she rolled her shoulder, fully prepared to swing at whoever dropped through the ceiling.

The corner tile shifted, and fine plaster dust fell to the floor. A set of bare fingers appeared around the edge of the tile and lifted it out of the way, just far enough for a thin body to slip through. Next followed a pair of shiny black shoes, like the sort made for carpeted office floors, not the slick roofs of Paris, then the rest of a figure dressed in all black, who fell into the room like a man taking a dive and stayed crumpled on the floor.

Alix lifted her baton almost hopefully, but even she couldn’t quite bring herself to strike someone who seemed to be having trouble getting to his feet. Marinette’s heart raced as she tried to determine the shape of his shoulders, currently curled inwards, or the color of his hair beneath his black cap, or if he would just lift his head, she could see his eyes—

But as he managed to push himself up with one hand, his head stayed low and limp, like his neck had forgotten how to do its job. He kept one hand pressed into his side and, as his black cap slid from his head to reveal his tousled blond hair, red crept out from between his fingers.

Alix’s baton hit the rug with a dull thud as all three girls rushed into action. Marinette took his shoulders and Alya grabbed his feet. Alix disappeared downstairs for supplies.

For the first time, the familiarity that swept over Marinette suddenly became unwelcome. She’d enjoyed sneaking through Gabriel’s warehouse, running across rooftops with Chat Noir, and the thrill of secret plans. But readily laying Chat Noir out on Max’s desk, brushing his sweat-plastered bangs back from his forehead, watching the tight stretch of his jaw clenched against pain—the familiarity of seeing people she loved wounded made her skin crawl.

Alix returned, and Alya readily snatched a bottle of vodka out of her hands.

“Ready?” Alya asked, but did not wait for anyone to confirm as she poured the alcohol over the wound.

Chat Noir winced as the alcohol collided with his stomach. His body twisted, but Marinette pressed his shoulders flat against the desk with one arm and pulled his hands away from his wound with her other hand; Alix was quick to throw her weight onto his legs.

Alya peeled back his shirt and examined the wound. They had all seen worse. Not only worse bullet wounds, but gas and shrapnel and fractures. The through-and-through tear in the side of his stomach bled into Max’s desk and stained Marinette’s notepad, tucked beneath Chat Noir, but there did not appear to be any bullet to extract nor even, Marinette hoped, any internal reconstruction to be done.

Alya soaked a napkin in alcohol and pressed it against his wound.

This time, Chat Noir’s sharp intake of breath was more controlled, but he still twitched against the weight of Marinette and Alix. His hands, slippery with his own blood, clung to Marinette’s.

“Is it bad?” Marinette dared to ask.

“Clean tear. I think it’s just a bad graze. We ought to get him to a hospital, though, to be sure—”

“No,” Chat Noir protested through gritted teeth. “I can’t—”

“I’m not stitching you up!” Alya snapped. “We’re not equipped for surgery, and I’m not having you die of shock in Max’s office.”

“I just need it bandaged,” he said, “please. I can’t go to a hospital, I can’t—”

Marinette shushed him softly and let his shoulders go so her hand was free to stroke his hair flat in an attempt to keep him calm. She’d seen enough soldiers hurt themselves further in a panic or worse, slip into a cold shock and never recover.

“You’re going to be fine.”

“Please, Ladybug, he’ll find me if—”

A loud, heavy banging echoed through the floor of the restaurant below.

“Maybe Kim forgot his keys,” Alix said nervously.

“I’m sorry,” Chat Noir said. “I didn’t think I was followed—”

“Is it Gabriel?” Marinette asked.

The banging came again and Chat Noir flinched, but he nodded.

Marinette brushed her thumb along the line where his leather mask met the edge of his cheek bone.

“I’ll take care of it,” she said.

“Wait—” Alya protested, but Marinette shook her head.

“I’m the face of the Lucky Lady so that you can do your work better. Besides, Alix is out of costume.”

“I’m still going to help,” Alix said, and picked up the metal baton.

Alya’s expression was impossible to interpret behind her fox mask, but her shoulders dropped with resignation.

Marinette untwined her fingers from Chat Noir’s as Alya took Chat Noir’s hand and guided him to put pressure on his own wound so she could begin cutting napkins into bandages, an old practice they hadn’t had to put into use for months.

Gabriel—or more likely his men—banged on the front door of the Lucky Lady a third time as Alix and Marinette hurried downstairs.

Alix kept herself pressed against the wall, out of sight of the door but ready to swing should anyone try to enter, while Marinette put her hands on the handle of the door. She looked down and saw Chat Noir’s blood still smeared across her palms.

“Break it down, then!” a cold voice barked, and a chill went down Marinette’s spine.

She shoved her hands into her gloves and yanked the door open, coming face to face with none other than Adrien Agreste’s bodyguard. His broad shoulders blocked her view of most of the street, but she could just see the tall, slim figure of Gabriel Agreste behind him, wearing a long white coat and white scarf. His matching hat sat low on his brow, hiding most of his face, but she could still make out the angular cheekbones behind his square glasses.

Marinette had only seen Gabriel Agreste twice in her life. Once, from across the street, as she and Adrien had ducked into a nearby flower shop and hidden behind a bouquet of day lilies while he passed by. The second time, Adrien had snuck her into his family home. He’d been insistent on showing her the statue of his mother. While it had been everything that Adrien had promised—his mother truly had been a beautiful woman—Marinette had never thought it worth the risk. Gabriel had found them, and had her swiftly removed from the premises. By then, war had already begun, and within a week, Adrien was gone without a word. Paris became the edge of a warzone days later.

Marinette called on all the bravery and anger she had held in her chest when war had arrived to her city. If Gabriel wanted to bring out old weapons and wounds, she’d bring what she had learned during four years of vigilante spywork on the frontlines of a war.

“My apologies,” she said, careful to keep her voice low and calm. None of them could see how hard Marinette’s heart was racing, and she could trust her mask to hide the flush in her face. Ladybug’s persona was made for confrontations like this. “We don’t open for a while yet. You’re welcome to come back in an hour or two.”

“Where is he?” Gabriel snarled, stepping forward and nudging his bodyguard aside.

He loomed over Marinette, just as Adrien had done yesterday. The setting sun behind him cast his shadow over her and kept his face in darkness, but she kept her steady gaze on the frame of his glasses.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

“Where is my son?”

She was unable to keep her mouth from dropping open in surprise. “P-pardon?”

“My son!” Gabriel snarled. “Adrien disappeared hours ago. I know you people have him.”

Marinette struggled to craft a Ladybug-like answer. Her mind was preoccupied with her own final image of Adrien’s shoulders being swallowed by his car, by his pointed if you still loved me, and she had to fight past that memory and her own fears about what might have happened to Adrien in order to recall the last time that Ladybug had seen Adrien.

“Adrien Agreste was here last night with Chloé Bourgeois.” She tried not to think of it as a lie. It wasn’t, not really, but her heart pounded in her chest regardless. “I’m afraid, Monsieur,” she tried very hard to keep the distaste out of her voice and she was not entirely sure that she succeeded, “that we cannot help you.”

Gabriel reached into his coat and withdrew a gun.

Marinette stepped back instinctively, and Alix lifted the baton in her hands—but Gabriel did not point the barrel at her. He held it up, like he might fire a warning shot, or like he was merely putting it on display. Her breath caught in her throat as the deep orange sunset glinted off of a familiar pearled handle.

“Your cat left Adrien’s gun behind, after using a rather unique set of keys to break into my office. I have a set,” Gabriel patted his pocket, “and Adrien has the other. So if you haven’t seen Adrien, tell me where Chat Noir is.”

Marinette swallowed. Surely her panic must be telegraphing as guilt, but she could not help it. Had Chat Noir really done something to Adrien? The idea that her final words to Adrien might have been so terribly unkind choked the breath from her lungs.

“Chat Noir does not have anything to do with this place,” she managed to say. She kept her eyes on the gun in Gabriel’s hand, trying to communicate that her fear was about the gun itself rather than his question about Chat Noir. “Our patrons will tell you, no one has seen Chat Noir since the war.”

“Some of my men claim to have seen him last night. With a friend. A young lady about your height and build, I believe.”

“Then perhaps you should ask her where he is.”

The sound of a door opening and closing behind her nearly made Marinette turn, but she did not dare take her eyes off of Gabriel and his gun. She could see Alix shifting in her periphery, first tensing and raising the bat, then lowering it and waving to get someone’s attention.

Marinette should have guessed who it was by the lanky yet muscular arm that reached out to grab the edge of the door frame, but it was the gentle, sing-song, “What seems to be the problem here?” that told Marinette that Luka had arrived.

Most of the boys at the Lucky Lady wore plain black or white domino masks, but Luka, much like Alya, had stylized his. It hid both his eyes and his nose with the snout of a snake, and a pair of golden fangs on the end of the snout framed his chin.

He wasn’t much in his build, nothing like Gabriel’s bodyguard, but he appeared no less deadly.

“He’s looking for Adrien Agreste,” Marinette replied, before Gabriel could try to reclaim control of the exchange, “and Chat Noir.”

“We saw Adrien last night.” Luka hummed softly and tipped his head. “Been a while since we’ve seen Chat Noir. The Armistice, was it? I’m afraid we can’t help you anymore than that.”

“I did mention,” Marinette added, “that Adrien was with Chloé last night. She’s about my size, isn’t she?”

“About.”

“Perhaps you might ask her if she’s seen Chat Noir.”

Gabriel’s upper lip curled as he surveyed Marinette and Luka. It would not be hard, she thought, for him to simply shoot the two of them and barge into the restaurant. But Gabriel had relied on a good reputation for years, and the Lucky Lady had a reputation of her own. He would need an ironclad reason to come after them directly if he wanted to maintain his public face.

He returned the gun to his coat, but he took a step closer. Marinette could smell hot smoke on his breath, poorly concealed behind a thin layer of cool mint. “If I find out you’ve had anything to do with Adrien’s disappearance, I will see this place burned to the ground.”

Neither Marinette nor Luka said a word. They remained in the doorway until Gabriel’s bodyguard opened the door of the car, and the two of them drove away. Once the car was out of sight, Marinette pushed the door closed and fell against it. As the adrenaline slipped out of her body, nausea settled in. This, too, brought a familiarity that she did not care for.

Luka pulled off his mask and placed a delicate hand on her shoulder. “You did great Marinette. Next time, wait until one of us is here to back you up.”

“I had it,” Alix said, as Marinette sighed, “They were going to break down the door.”

“Better that they break the door than hurt you.”

Marinette scrubbed her hand over her face, slipping her gloves beneath her mask so she could try to rub the exhaustion from her eyes. She only managed to smear her makeup. “But we do have Chat Noir. He’s upstairs.”

Luka’s hand on her shoulder tightened. “He came back?”

“He’s been shot.”

Luka did not wait for any further explanation. He took the stairs to Max’s office two at a time, long legs carrying him faster than even Alix, who was notorious for out-sprinting them all, could follow.

Marinette trudged along after them. She was eager to get back to Chat Noir, but her legs were not stable enough to run. If anything, she wanted to sit down at the bar and pour herself a glass of brandy. It wasn’t Gabriel himself that had rattled her, though the idea that he had directly threatened the Lucky Lady was unsettling.

Her chief concert at the moment was for Adrien Agreste. She couldn’t let that moment in the water closet be the last thing either of them remembered of each other. That wasn’t fair to her, and it certainly wasn’t fair to him.

It took the steady support of the wall to haul herself upstairs, but when Marinette arrived at Max’s office, she found the door wide open. Chat Noir was sitting up, wearing only a blood-stained white undershirt and black slacks. The bulge of the make-shift bandage around his stomach peeked out from beneath the torn shirt. He had one hand on his wound and the other pressed against Luka’s chest, like he was keeping Luka at arm’s length.

“Not even a note to say you were alive?” Luka tried to push Chat Noir’s arm aside, but Chat Noir refused to let him get any closer. “Where have you even been staying?”

Chat Noir did not answer. He kept his head turned away from Luka, though his eyes flicked to Ladybug in the doorway.

“He’s not offering any explanations,” Alya said. “Best we can get out of him is that it was probably Gabriel who shot him. Won’t go to a hospital, won’t let me call a doctor, won’t take off that ridiculous mask—”

“You’re wearing a mask,” Chat Noir snapped.

Alya lifted her fox mask back up onto her head. “You’re behaving like a child. I’m going to call a doctor.”

“Wait a minute, Alya,” Luka protested. “Gabriel already thinks we’re harboring him. How do you think he’s going to react if we call a doctor here when he knows Chat Noir’s been shot?”

“Fine.” Alya threw her hands up in the air. “If he bleeds out, it’s someone else’s problem.”

Alix rolled her eyes. “He’s not going to bleed out. He is, however, going to tell us what he was doing to end up shot by Gabriel. Maybe he can even tell us what Gabriel’s smuggling.”

“He’s also going to tell us where the hell he’s been staying for two months,” Luka snapped. “A night or two without coming back is one thing, but two months is just rude.”

Chat Noir still said nothing.

Marinette licked her lips, but her whole mouth felt like a desert. Her voice cracked like dry ground as she broke the silence. “Chat—What did you do to Adrien?”

He looked up at her, and the distance between the desk and the door suddenly felt at once like miles stretched out between them and yet like no distance at all. She could take one step forward and be in his arms. She could take one step forward and plummet into nothingness. It all hinged on his answer.

And when he did speak, it wasn’t an answer at all.

“I’ve been staying with family,” he confessed.

Luka hissed a sharp intake of breath between tight teeth. “And you got out with only a bullet wound?”

“I wouldn’t say I got out. I—” He finally pulled his hand away from Luka’s chest and ran it through his hair.

There was something about the way the golden strands slid through his bared and bloodied hands. Marinette realized she had never seen so much of Chat Noir before. He was always fully cloaked in black, from boots to gloves to cap. His hands and arms, fully bare, and his chest cloaked in only a thin layer of white cotton appeared incredibly vulnerable.

“I didn’t hurt Adrien Agreste,” he finally said. “Whatever Gabriel thinks I did, he’s wrong.”

The anxiety in Marinette’s chest, however, stayed wound up tight like the bandage around Chat Noir’s stomach.

“Then where is Adrien?”

“I don’t know—I—” He bit down on his tongue. “I only broke into Gabriel’s office to see if I could find out what he was smuggling.”

“And?” Alix asked impatiently.

His throat, strangely bare of collar or tie shifted as he swallowed. He spoke, but the single syllable got caught in his throat and came out as little more than a choked gasp.

“I beg your pardon?” Alya raised an eyebrow.

Luka reached over him for the bottle of vodka that Alya had abandoned on the desk. Adrien gratefully took a small sip and, with an oiled palate, carefully annunciated, “Guns.”

“For a… buyer in Germany?” Alix asked.

Chat Noir nodded.

Marinette placed one hand on the doorframe to steady herself. It was no wonder Adrien had promised that this was the thing that could bring down Gabriel Agreste. This would ruin him not just financially, but publicly as well.

“That’s out of our depth,” Luka said. “Black market rations is one thing, but a weapons shipment to Germany is the sort of thing we involve the police in.”

“Raincomprix is on Gabriel’s payroll,” Chat Noir said. “If he doesn’t already know what’s happening, he doesn’t want to know what’s happening.”

“The mayor is also being paid rather handsomely for this deal, isn’t he?” Alya mused. “It’ll have to be us, but we’ll need the whole crew.” She glanced at the wall clock and frowned. “Max should be here any minute. We can draw up a plan.”

“It’ll have to be tonight.” Chat Noir got to his feet and winced from the movement. He kept one hand on the desk behind him for support. “Gabriel will do everything he can to cover his tracks now that he knows I’m onto him.”

“He can’t cover his tracks and hunt for Adrien at the same time,” Luka said. “That may give us a window of opportunity.”

“He’ll choose covering his tracks,” Chat Noir replied.

“How do you know?” Marinette asked.

“Because I know how people like him think.” Chat Noir reached for the black button-up shirt he had arrived in, but Alya snatched it out of his reach.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “You stay up here and rest while we make a plan. You’re not going back out in the field.”

“But I—”

“Don’t. Or I will make you work as a cigarette girl again like I did when you twisted your ankle.”

Chat Noir wrinkled his nose. He had never worked as consistent staff at the Lucky Lady during the war. Like Alya, he preferred to be behind the scenes, and liked keeping his face out of patrons’ eyes. If he worked, he bussed tables or did dishes. But the two weeks he’d been forbidden from putting weight on a sprained ankle, she’d stuck him at a booth with a lighter and a box of cigarettes and told him to smile nice at pretty girls. He’d been a success, and plenty of girls and their boyfriends had accidentally spilled information to him, but he’d gone a little stir crazy in that booth by the end of the two weeks.

“Fine,” he said, “I’ll stay here.” But Marinette saw the way his eyes flicked to Max’s office window, like he was already evaluating his escape route.

Luka squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll bring you some water. It’s good to have you back.”

The wry smile Chat Noir gave Luka made Marinette’s heart stutter. It reminded her not only of their conversation last night in the catacombs, but of Adrien Agreste, exhaling a lungful of cigarette smoke into the evening air. It was a measure of disbelief and self-deprecation that made Marinette’s chest ache.

Luka slipped past her, and Alya and Alix hurried by to replace the ruined napkins before guests arrived. Marinette knew she ought to help them, but she lingered on the threshold.

“You shouldn’t have gone in alone,” she finally said, like it made a difference, like he was still her teammate.

“You went in alone last night.”

“I had Nino.”

He tilted his head then laughed. “Carapace?”

Her cheeks burned as she recalled the petty way she had lashed out at his rejection. “I just—I only meant—”

“It’s fine, I—I know what it is to say things that are maybe a bit harsh when you’ve been hurt.” His eyes drifted to something past her shoulder, and she wondered what words he had turned on someone else. “I am sorry, Ladybug. I know we sort of—I’m just—” He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his face. “Nevermind,” he murmured into his palm. “It doesn’t matter. Just—thank you for helping tonight. And standing up to Gabriel. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”

“You still won’t tell me what he has on you?”

He hesitated, which was not a refusal.

Cautiously, Marinette closed the door and stepped closer. “Just me,” she said. “We’re partners, right? You can tell me anything.”

“I—I can’t tell you this.”

She placed one hand over the one that guarded his wound and pulled his other hand from his face. “You can trust me.”

“Not with this.”

“Chaton, what do you think I’m going to do?”

His voice was small and he leaned away from her, but there was nowhere else to go except farther into the desk. “You’ll hate me.”

She swallowed. “I could never hate you.”

“I think… I think it’s all right if you do. You wouldn’t be the first.”

“Does Luka already know what it is?”

His brow furrowed beneath his mask. “Luka?”

“The way you two spoke tonight—I don’t think I knew you were close—”

“Oh, no. He just… listens well. Always kept a spot on the floor for me. I stayed with him and—and another friend a lot during the war, but—” Chat Noir let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not going to make you promise not to hate me, but I am going to ask—Ladybug, please, whatever you end up thinking of me, just don’t—don’t tell anyone else. Not yet.”

“I promise,” she said readily, uncertain how else she could demonstrate he was right to trust her. Whatever he was so afraid of, she would make right. She would never hate him, not for anything—

He lifted his hand from his wound and slid his fingers under the black fabric that buried his cheekbones. He pushed the mask up, into his messy hair.

Marinette stared at him, not quite understanding at first. She’d imagined Chat Noir’s face a hundred times before, and the shape of it settled comfortably into her mind. It felt familiar, a familiarity that she enjoyed—briefly.

And then her stomach twisted and she stumbled backwards.

His face was too many other faces. It was Adrien Agreste as she had known him four summers ago. It was Adrien Agreste who had strutted into her family bakery with a gun on his hip, who had cornered Ladybug in an alley to ask for help, who had pressed himself up against her in her water closet and breathed down her neck—

He was all of those things and yet he was none of those things.

He was Adrien, leaning against the desk, in nothing but a thin cotton T-shirt with a bullet wound in his gut and his own blood smeared on his hands. He was, if he was anyone, the boy who had thought that she might still love him. The boy she had rather pointedly rejected.

Why had Chat Noir gone after Gabriel alone tonight?

Because Marinette had told Adrien that he wasn’t doing enough.

After all her agonizing over which boy she could save, she had burned Adrien and damned Chat Noir in one breath.

“I’m sorry,” she said, words tripping over the tears that clogged her throat.

“Yeah, me too.”

“I—I didn’t mean—”

A gentle knock on the door cut off whatever apology Marinette was going to offer. She didn’t know herself what was going to come out of her mouth, but whatever it was going to be died on the vine as Adrien hastily pulled his mask back on over his face and Luka came in with a pitcher of water in one hand, a glass in another, and a pillow tucked under his arm. Marinette had no idea where he’d gotten the pillow.

“Thought you might like something comfortable to rest on,” Luka offered as he set the pitcher and glass down on the desk. He glanced between Marinette and Adrien, as if evaluating the distance between them. Closer than when he had left, but not quite close enough to be called close.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Marinette said, though her voice said otherwise. But not only had she promised to keep Adrien’s secret, she didn’t know how to tell the crew that the very boy who had left her two months ago was the same boy she’d been lamenting for four years. “I’m only—I should get to work.”

She fled down the stairs, past the empty bar, and back to the girls’ dressing room, where she collapsed into the chair at the table that that they all shared. Her eyes brimmed with tears and threatened to further ruin her already smudged makeup. But when she looked at her reflection, she saw none of her heartbreak. Ladybug stared back at her, red lips, mask, and unflappable nerves.

She ripped off her mask, suddenly anxious to get out of Ladybug’s skin. Adrien was terrified of Ladybug, and rightfully so. She was hell-bent on destroying his father. She wasn’t just made for war; she was made to ruin him.

She peeled off her gloves and found Adrien’s dried blood on her hands. It was all she could do not to be sick. No wonder he had rejected her and chosen Marinette, only for her to still turn on him so viciously and completely that he had nothing left but to go directly after his father.

Marinette rubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes, pressing back the tears and smearing mascara across her face. She could not help but laugh at her reflection, a fractured laugh coupled with tears spilling over her cheeks. She was no hero of Paris, no champion of the downtrodden. She was a wreck.

She didn’t deserve either side of him, Chat Noir nor Adrien.

She felt stupid for not seeing it sooner, but how could she have? Adrien was supposed to be in London during the war, not running around Paris’s alleys and rooftops. All the differences in Adrien when he returned, the height, the square shoulders, the set jaw—she’d watched those changes come into place on Chat Noir. She’d watched the boy she loved grow into a man and she hadn’t even noticed.

And he’d seen her change, too. He’d watched the kind, naive bakery delivery girl turn into a vengeful vigilante, made to navigate conflict and tear down the powerful. He must hate her.

But she remembered the way Chat Noir had graced her balcony, time and again, and the dozen bouquets of camellias, the way Adrien touched her elbow, that afternoon—

He didn’t hate her, or at least he didn’t hate Marinette.

But she hated Ladybug, and she was going to be damned if she ever let Adrien find out that Marinette and Ladybug were the same person.

#ml #ml fic #1920s ml fic #miraculous ladybug 1920s au #miraculous ladybug fanfic #miraculous ladybug #gunsmoke and mirrors

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