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unmaskedagain · 5 years

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Truth is Subjective

This post is based off a prompt by #galahadwilder. I give all credit to them for the idea.

This did not turn out the way I wanted it to. AT ALL. I completely missing the mark; or in this case prompt. I couldn’t figure out how to make it work like I had envisioned when I first read the prompt. And now I’m just like ugh. L

When Ladybug saw Alya frantically waving her down from where she was on top of her apartment roof. It was, nearly after midnight. She just finished off an Akuma. However, emotions had been running high among the students in her class so Ladybug didn’t hesitate to see what was wrong. Alya made not have been her best friend, or any type of friend, anymore but Ladybug was still a hero.

A hero who was not happy to see Lila Rossi standing next to her.

The Italian girl looked pleasant at first glance but anger was clear in her eyes. Alya had her phone out. It took all of two seconds for Marinette to figure out what was going on. Alya wanted an interview with Ladybug and her supposed best friend. Lila was sure Ladybug would reveal the truth like she did last time.

Marinette fought to keep the grin off her face. She had idea. A rather wicked idea. She had taken to spending a lot of time with Jagged and Penny and Audrey Bourgeois, watching how they manipulated the news to better suit their individual brands. She now know that even if she told Alya what a liar Lila was, Lila could and would easily spin it to say that “Ladybug said that to protect me”. And Alya would just believe it.

Not this time, Marinette vowed.

“Ladybug!” Alya beamed and immediately jumped into the interview, “I’ve been trying to catch you for months.”

“I know,” Ladybug said coolly.

Marinette had decided that if Alya couldn’t check her facts, then Ladybug couldn’t work with her. She had been reporting too much false information and more or less become a site dedicated to shipping Ladybug with Chat Noir and promoting Lila’s B.S.

Alya didn’t seem to notice the frost in the air. “We’re live streaming for the Ladyblog,” She said. “Ladybug and Lila Rossi; best friends forever.” She said waving her phone between the two. “Ladybug, Lila what’s it look being friends. Lila said she helped you rescue a bunch of people when you still lived in Italy. Before you became Ladybug!”

Lila looked sick, “Now, it was so long ago. She probably doesn’t remember.”

“I’m sorry, Alya, but this interview is over,” Ladybug responded and before reporter could protest, she added. “I refuse to give an interview with my stalker.”

It was like the wind was punched out of Alya, “Sta- Stalker?”

Lila just stared with her mouth opened.

Ladybug nodded gravely, while inwardly Marinette cheered, “Stalker. What else would you call someone who constantly follows you around? Interfere with my rescues. Fantasize scenarios where we’re close personal friends and tells people about it. Try to convince everyone that those tales are real. Maybe it’s a coincidence that she transferred into only class in the entire school, out of all the public schools in France that has had the most akumas thus students I see regularly. Despite her mother being an important diplomat? Who knows?” Ladybug pitched her nose. “For god’s sake, Alya, she even got close to you, the only journalist I deal with on a continuity. You keeping spinning out her stories; feeding her delusions. Why do think I started avoiding you? I saw you were friends with her. I can’t be around her. I won’t.”

It went silent. Alya’s mouth had dropped opened. She looked shocked and slightly ill. Lila looked like she was considering murder. Marinette was five seconds away from doing her happy dance.

“Alya,” Ladybug said seriously. “Be honest, Lila’s said so many stories about so many celebrities but there’s no real evidence backing it up. Her grand adventures with Jagged Stone, Prince Ali, Clara Nightingale; it’s all in her head. At least point, I’m started to think they may have been her past obsessions. She claimed I healed her so many of different diseases, I thought someone was going to try to give me saint hood. Do you really think Jagged Stone would write a song about an underage girl without her parents knowing? Or that Clara Nightingale stole her dance moves. Do you know how bad that looks? Not to mention that model kid Adrien Agreste. From what I heard, what she’s doing to him is borderline sexual harassment. I think they’re victims,” She stressed the word. “Like me. If I wasn’t concerned about my secret identity, I’d have gone to the police by now.”

“Police!” Lila squeaked.

Ladybug shook her head, “I know people. Maybe I can just do a cease and desist order on the Ladyblog. But this has to stop,” She told Alya. “It’s the middle of the night, which is dangerous enough as it is. But there was an akuma as well. You called me, again in the middle of the night, to meet with my stalker. Do you know how scary that is? How that makes me feel?” She asked.

“I’m sorry!” Alya said with tears in hers, her phone still streaming. “I didn’t know.”

Ladybug threw up her hands, “You didn’t even bother to ask! At any time in the last year, you could’ve checked with me that you were reporting the truth.”

Alya sobbed. Lila just glared. She was too busy thinking of ways she could spend this.

Ladybug looked around, with suspicious, “Do your parents even know where you are?”

“Well, I, I mean,” The glasses wearing girl stuttered.

Marinette raised her hands in surrender, “No. I’m done. You’ve gone too far. You put yourself in danger. And you put me in danger. All for an interview. No more. You obviously don’t take this seriously; being a journalist, your blog, your life, anything. I’m done. I won’t work with you again. I can’t risk it.”

And with that Ladybug, yo’yo’d away. When she transformed back to normal and safely got to her house, Marinette fell to the floor laughing. Tikki joined her. Revenge was sweet.

The bluenette plopped down her bed. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. For months and months she had been accused of bullying Lila, of being jealous, by tomorrow all of France would know what happened on the rooftop.

Lila wasn’t outed as liar like she thought she would be. No, Marinette, Rossi got a much worse fate.

When Marinette woke up the next morning, it was like the world had caught on fire. Nadja was having field day. Celebrities Lila had said she knew vocally denounced every knowing the girl. The world cried, “Poor Ladybug.”

Marinette blinked at the sheer quiet of her class. She had expected chaos. Maybe they didn’t know. Maybe Lila was able to spin it around for the class.

No that wasn’t right. Nino was comforting Alya, who had red eyes and messy hair.

“What’s going on,” She asked Adrien, one of the few people who were still friendly with her in class. She may not have had a crush on him anymore but she still thought he was a decent friend.

“You don’t know?” Alix asked, with shock on her face. “How could you not know? All of Paris is talking about Ladybug’s stalker.”

Marinette scratched the back on her head, a look of faux-confusion on her face, “I got up late again, I didn’t have time to look anything up,” Looks of understanding came from the students. “Wait! Stalker?!” She took a dramatic pause. “…You know?”

Alya stood up angrily, “You knew!”

Marinette took a hasty step back, “Of course I knew. Don’t you remember I got you your first interview with Ladybug? I know her.” Alya looked somewhat placated but still angry. She told me all about it. She was really freaked out. But I promised I wouldn’t say anything,” She defended. “I don’t break my promise. Yet I tried to warn you as best I could. I tried to warn everyone.” Marinette shrugged. “And look what happened. Most of us aren’t even friends anymore.”

Her words were a slap to the face. Most of her former friends had the grace to look ashamed.

Marinette just shrugged again and went her seat.

“I’m ruined,” Alya cried into Nino’s shoulder. “My fans hate me. Half of them think I was lying to them. The other half hate me because I hurt Ladybug. How was I supposed to know Lila was a nutjob?”

“You could’ve fact checked,” Marinette told her. “Listen to me even one of the hundred times I told you she was lying. Asked Ladybug. Asked Chat Noir. Read the twenty percent of the Ladyblog’s comments that she said was lying. You could’ve done a lot to find out the truth.” She stared hard at her former friend. “You chose not to.”

Alya cried harder.

“Harsh, dudette,” Nino glared at her.

Coldness went down Marinette’s back. She stood up, “Harsh!” Marinette yelled, everyone flinched back. “Yeah maybe it’s a bit harsh. But you know what was worse? Losing all my friends. Being called a liar. A jealous psycho. Being bullied by people who I’ve known forever. Getting mean, nasty texts that could have the sender charged with harassment.”

The bluenette glared around the room; at the paling, stunned faces of the other students.

“Harsh,” She hissed at Nino. “Well I’m sorry if the truth is a little harsh. But I think after falling for so many lies, maybe Alya deserves the truth for once. You all do.”

Alya pulled away from Nino, and nodded. “She’s right,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry, Marinette. I’m so sorry.”

Marinette looked at Alya, her former bestie. Nino the boy she thought always had her back until he stabbed her in it. Kim, her friend since they were in diapers, who had no problem accusing Marinette of awful things. Alix and Mylene, who led the charge against her. Nathanial who had sat and done nothing when they spilled and destroy her designs.

“Sorry’s not always enough,” Marinette admitted, hurt filling her. “There’s another truth for you.”

“My dad’s furious,” Adrien said, gaining everyone attention. “Everyone knows he insisted Lila do the photoshoots with me. An insider even revealed that I made it clear I was bother by Lila. They think he doesn’t take sexual harassment at work seriously. Brand’s taking a hit.”

“Ladybug must be so scared,” Sabrina put in. “My dad told me about some crazy stalker cases he’s seen. They got really obsessive. One guy even kidnapped a kid because he though it looked like his and this woman’s future child. Said the child was theirs. Dad wants me to stay away from Lila. He doesn’t want me getting her attention. Who knows what she’d do?”

Sabrina words sent shivers through the students. A few who watched true crime stories looked particularly green.

“We should’ve caught on,” Alix frowned. “None of her stories even made sense. Saved a cat from being hit by a plane? Really? Are we morons?”

“Something must be seriously wrong with her,” Rose offered. “Maybe she just needs help.”

“She needs a nice white jacket,” Kim growled. “And a padded cell.”

“Where is Lila?” Marinette asked.

Surprising it was Juleka who answered, “Hiding in her house. Reporters everywhere want a one on one with Ladybug’s Stalker. Her face is all over the news. She’s trending on Twitter. So’s the Ladyblog.”

Alya groaned. Her blog, her life’s work was finally getting the attention she always wanted but in the worst possible way.

Nino hugged his girlfriend, “At least no one will ever be fool again,” He offered.

“Undoubtable,” Max agreed. “I foresee that Lila is well on way to be the most famous stalker in recent history. They’ll use her as a textbook example one day, if this carries on. People will base their doctorates on her mental health.”

Marinette smirked.

Lila was going to get the all attention she’d ever want.

#ml salt #marinette dupen chang #Marinette deserves better #class salt #lila salt #galahadwilder

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dramatic-squirrel · 4 years

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Damianette December Day 4- Flowers

Mishaps and surprise circumstances might keep the two of them apart for a while, but they’ll always find each other in the end. That’s it, the entire synopsis for the story. I saved you the time of actually reading it right there.

@daminette-december2019-2020

Marinette could barely contain her excitement. Finally she was joining to see Damian again. Sometimes, their relationship was too difficult. He had his duties as Robin in Gotham and she had her duties in Paris as Ladybug. But, it was moments like these that made it worth it. She wasn’t sure that absence made the heart grow fonder but she was sure that any chance to spend time with her boyfriend was worth the wait.

Except there was still something stopping them from meeting. The news reached her while she was making her way to the exit. A t.v. screen with a news channel was playing.

“Breaking new. Poison Ivy and Harley are robbing the Gotham United Bank. They appear to have let the women and children go but are keeping all other individuals as hostages.” It wasn’t too long after when Damian called her.

“I’m so sorry Angel, I need to help with the situation. We’re already short on back up since Cass is in China, Gordon is with Grayson on their vacation and Duke is handling another case with Fox. Where all too busy dealing with this sudden new problem that I don’t think anyone can pick you up from the airport.” She understood, it was a matter of circumstances. So, she wasn’t disappointed, just a bit sad she wouldn’t see him yet. Then a thought occurred to her.

“Do you need any help? I heard Ladybug’s in town.” It would be like killing two birds with one stone, until he brought up a very good point that she had forgotten.

“I would love to have you help us, but we both agreed that Ladybug shouldn’t appear anywhere but in Paris for the time being. Since, if your not in Paris, Hawkmoth might attack while Chat Noir is by himself. I know you said it’s not a problem because you have the horse miraculous but, if you can’t get away while we’re fighting Poison Ivy and Harley then Chat will be all on his own.”

“Yeah…” she couldn’t hold in her sigh of exasperation. “You’re right, I just wish you weren’t.”

“I’ll meet you later at your hotel for dinner. We should be done by then. Alright Angel.”

“Alright, I’ll just grab a taxi. Remember to stay safe Dami.”

“You too Angel.” They hung up and she left to airport into the unusually bright Gotham day. Thankfully she managed to track down a cab in under ten minutes, her ladybug luck always helping her in convenient ways.

While the taxi took her to her hotel, she decided to look up the news on her phone. She knew he’d be alright, he was amazing at what he did still, she worried. 30 minutes later the taxi pulled up by a curb and stopped. “We’re here miss.”

And it was partly her fault, she should have looked more closely to where she was before she paid and got out of the cab but, Marinette had no idea where she had been dropped off. All she knew was that it wasn’t her hotel. Before she could turn around to get back into the taxi, the driver already drove off breaking the speed limit several times over.

It seemed like it was going to be one of those days. One mishap after another. She took out her phone so she could check to see where she was and how to get to her hotel. Marinette managed to get the general direction she needed to walk in before the next mishap happened and her battery died. A long plane ride and obsessively checking your phone was bound to make the battery run out.

Thankfully she knew where to go at least, and she should have plenty of time before she actually met Damian. “Well, Tikki, it looks like we’re going on an unplanned adventure.”

“That’s right Marinette!” the kwami’s positive attitude was always infectious. “There’s always a bright side to things. Maybe you’ll find treasure on your way.” It was hopeful, practically naïve thinking, but sometimes you just needed that kind of thinking in life.

Her energy restored, she set off. For the next twenty minutes things went fairly well. She had travelled light since she was only staying in Gotham for about a week and a half, so there was no heavy suitcase to haul around. The driver had at least dropped her off on the safer side of town, so she didn’t encounter any muggers. And the weather held so there wasn’t any sudden rain storms.

As she passed by a food stand she decided to grab a bit to eat for her an Tikki. Just a simple bagel and nothing up to par to what her papa could make but delicious none the less. It wasn’t until she made it all the way to a desert park that she realized she was lost again. She couldn’t remember the route that she had seen on her phone but she knows she would have remembered a park showing up because it would have been a nice place to take a rest stop for her and Tikki.

In the end, the conclusion was that she was lost, in Gotham, without a phone. If she had the precise coordinates to teleport to she would use Kaalki but only Max would remember obscure details like the geographical coordinates of his hotel.

“I guess my luck is starting to run out finally Tikki.”

“It’s not that bad Marinette. Let’s take a rest first and then ask someone for directions. I’m sure they’ll be willing to help.”

“Maybe, but let’s be a bit picky about who we chose so we have to end up fighting some random kidnapper.” Marinette made her way to a park bench and placed her carry on next to her. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone here Tikki, why don’t you come out of the purse for a but.”

It wasn’t hard to see why the park was empty. Most of the foliage was dead still, winter was still on it’s way out especially in a town like Gotham where it was naturally cooler than other cities. As Tikki enjoyed exploring whatever she could find in the desolate park, Marinette let her mind wander from thought to thought. Physically she was fine but mentally she was exhausted.

So she thought about a lot of things. The newest pastry her parents had made for the bakery, what Alya was probably doing right now, how she was going to solve the tricky part of the next design for Jagged’s outfit that he commissioned.

She became too invested in her thought that she didn’t notice the person coming up from behind her until it was already to late.

“Marinette?”

“Gah!” she fell forwards and subsequently off the bench. Her surprise last only a moment as she soon recognized the voice. “Damian? What’re you doing here? I thought you’d still be dealing with Poison Ivy and Harley?”

He had a sheepish expression on his face. “Turns out they were robbing the bank because the owner was counterfeit money. These situations usually end pretty quickly since they hand themselves in or escape as soon as my father finds the evidence they left out for him. Unfortunately we don’t always know when they’ll do their own brand of vigilant work and when they’re just committing a crime. How did you end up all the way here though? You’re hotel is about 40 minutes from here.”

It was her turn to appear embarrassed. “I must have gone the wrong way at some point while walking to my hotel. You see, my phone died and the taxi dropped me off at the wrong spot and so, I was resting for a few minutes before setting off again. It’s crazy that you managed to find me here of all places those.”

“Crazy or luck? If you aren’t too tired, would you care to join me for a walk through the park?” She was about to suggest they go somewhere with a better view if they were going to go walking when she noticed that they park had changed around her at some point.

Before where it was mostly barren, it had magically grown around her. She could see tulips and daffodils, snowdrops and lily of the valleys, primroses and peonies all throughout the park. “What the- how did the park end up like this all of a sudden?”

“I may have managed to convince Harley to convince Ivy to help me out. It was actually lucky that we managed to find you on the way to your hotel. Apparently this park is between where the robbery took place and where yout hotel is, so when I set off to find you with Harley and Ivy helping me under a “favor for Robin” we didn’t expect to see you so soon. This is just an apology for having to stand you up at the airport.”

She almost started crying. “You don’t need to apologize for that I understood the situation.”

“Then think of it as a thank you for coming all the way here to see me?”

She pulled him forward and before he knew it she kissed him. It was quick and almost too short but sweet nonetheless. “Deal, as long as next time you come to Paris I get to give you something as amazing as this.”

#damianette december 2020 #damianette #maribat

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giuliafc · 3 years

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The Matchmakers chapter 1

The Matchmakers

by: JuliaFC

Read on: Ao3 || FFN

Paris, 1909. Marinette and Adrien are two 16 year old who live the double life of superheroes as Ladybug and Chat Noir. One morning, they discover that their friend Rose is in in love with Juleka, the sister of her current fiancé, Luka Couffaine. Wanting only the best for their friends, the two heroes decide to play matchmakers. What they discover in the process ends up getting them closer than ever. Will they achieve the impossible and get not one, not two, but three happily ever after?

Betas: KhanOfAllOrcs, Agrestebug, Etoile-Lead-Sama, Rosehealer02, Malauu-Ladynoir, Genxha. Thank you all so much!

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by (c) Thomas Astruc, TS1 Bouygues, Disney Channel, Zagtoon, Toei Animation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

This story participates in the AU April fic exchange of the Miraculous Fanworks Server. This is for LadyEnna_50 who asked for:

"Something set in a historic context. Adventure maybe a little comedy. Secret identities being revealed." In the tags, she asked for Lovesquare and JuleRose, so there you go, LadyEnna, hope you like it! Crazy, crazy idea you gave me ^-^

oOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 1 — Of Balconies and… surprises

"Let's see who's the first to the Iron Lady!" Chat Noir started racing around the City with his baton and gave Ladybug a massive smirk.

"You're on!" said Ladybug. The yoyo zipping around and of the baton crashing against the ground regularly were the only sounds echoing in the sleepiness of the city in the first hours of the morning. Although it was mid August, the air was still fresh because the rays of the rising sun hadn't yet managed to warm the dusky atmosphere. A horse from the cart of a junk dealer raised its head as the crystalline laughter of the girl in red polka-dotted costume resounded in the silence when she landed first on the metal structure. "Told you, you haven't got a chance, Chaton!"

"Would never dream to take the victory from a Lady!" Chat Noir landed next to her just seconds later and presented the girl next to him with a yellow rose. "I'm a gentle-cat, after all!"

Ladybug's smirk softened. "So you stopped on the way to pick this up? Oh, Chaton, you're incorrigible. How many times do I need to tell you that I'm in love with someone else?"

"Why, M'lady, this is a yellow rose, not red. It's a symbol of friendship!" He pouted.

She gave him a sly look as she picked the flower from his hand and gave it a good sniff. "Smells lovely, Chat Noir. Thank you." Then she elbowed him in the ribs. "But don't think you can fool me. It's a yellow rose with red tips. It's a symbol of falling in love from friendship." The sheepish glance back she got told the girl that the feline was very well aware of that.

"Uh, well, a young bachelor can hope!"

Ladybug smiled and looked at the view in front of her for a while, but never dropped or gave the boy back his rose. Eventually, she picked up her yoyo, opened the top part up and placed the rose inside.

She observed with vigilant eyes the cart of the junk dealer trotting away from the Champs de Mars just underneath them, and the silhouette of the lamplighter slowly turning off all the lampposts around.

"You know you don't need these tricks, Chat Noir. You're my best friend and I really do love you. Just… not in a romantic way." She patted the metal structure they were sitting on fondly. "I will miss this when it's taken down. When are they starting the works, Chaton?"

He gave her a smile. "You don't know the latest news, Ladybug? They actually decided to keep it."

She turned to him and looked at him with surprise. "You're joking?"

"Nah. They decided to place the radiotelegraph station permanently on the third floor. Not that people stopped complaining." He huffed. "Artists really hate it. Guy de Maupassant will be turning in his grave at the news, God bless his soul. He kept going on and on about how it outshines the classic elegance of the city. Have you heard that he had his meals in the café at the bottom of the tower because it was the only place where he couldn't see it 'ruining his view'?"

"Pffffft, really?" The girl snorted in her laughter. She patted the metal structure fondly. "Well, I like it. Sod the artists!"

The rising sun was tinting the darkness of the sky in shades of indigo and gold as the lights of the lampposts were slowly being switched off everywhere and the sky lit up. Chat Noir sighed, his gaze getting lost in the skyline, the fresh breeze blowing on top of the tower gently messing his hair. "I like it too. And they would also like it if they saw this view. But I'm glad nobody else can see this. It's only for us; and for the birds."

Ladybug turned to look at his partner, his blond mane shining almost like a halo in the backlight. "Yes, our own private view of inspiration."

Chat Noir smirked, invading her personal space to wiggle his eyebrows in her face. "I wonder why M'lady is not reading the newspapers, though…"

She 'hmph'ed. "I'm a busy girl in my civilian life, Chaton. I don't have the time to read silly gossip."

"Especially when people criticise your choice of costume, right?" He poked her and she faked-glared at him.

"That Lila Rossi. Just because she started modeling for the Agreste fashion brand, she thinks she's an expert in fashion now. How dare she insult my outfit? I saved Paris from her akumatised self twice already, and her outfits as an akuma victim were... atrocious!" She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, her eyebrows furrowing in an irritated frown. "What's wrong with my outfit, anyway? I need to be comfortable when I'm fighting akumas, I can't go around wearing bustiers and wide gowns!"

She looked down at the costume that wrapped around her body. Her top was like a second skin on her bosom starting from her neck, covering her up to her hands, but then flew into a long sleeved flap collar knee-length dress, all red with black polka dots and black accents. She wore a belt at her waist and covered her legs with a pair of red and polka dotted bloomers with black accents and skin-tight boots to cover her calves and feet. It was practical, it was comfortable, and it was decent. That Lila compared it to a bathing suit. How dare she!

Chat Noir sniggered. "Someone doesn't sound very happy about her comments, huh?" He gave her an amused grin when she shot him a second glare. "But you shouldn't be bothered by her opinion, Buginette. You know that, in my eyes, your outfit is the best in the whole world, because you are in it."

She smiled softly at him and rested her head on his shoulder. He gasped, but didn't move. In fact, soon his arm circled her shoulder and moved her a little closer as his cheek rested gingerly on the top of her head. She smelled of baked goods and wildflowers. He breathed in such an intoxicating scent and sighed happily.

It was only after a while that Ladybug shook herself out of her self induced réverie and moved to look at him. "Shall we do a last round of patrol before heading home?"

"You're on!" He smiled and as the girl started zipping her yoyo around, he gladly followed her.

They flew around different streets and neighbourhoods of Paris and everything seemed to be in order. The only excitement they had was helping a ginger cat come down a tree. So they were nearly going to end their round of patrol, when they passed in front of a big villa in the neighbourhood right behind the tower, a little out of the way from the Seine. Chat Noir saw Ladybug look at one of the balconies and freeze on the spot, her body stiffening as she lost control of her yoyo. He gave a push to his baton and dove down, managing to reach her and grab her in his arms before she could hurt herself and landed in an alley nearby.

"Wowow, M'lady, be careful, you nearly slammed your beautiful face against that chimney!" He took a deep breath to calm down and let the adrenaline rush wash off his body. "What did you see, is there an akuma?" He finally let go of her and she used her yoyo to pull herself up to a rooftop. She hid behind a chimney there and beckoned to him to do the same. He did as he was told and peeked curiously to understand what had caused such a reaction on his Lady.

"What am I looking at?" he said scratching his cheek.

Ladybug sighed. "That's the Lavillant villa. Since you said you read the news, you should know that they've been in every newspaper lately."

"Yes, I know," he said thoughtfully. "Because of the engagement. Why are we snooping at their residence?"

"Look!" She pointed at a balcony on the second floor of the mansion. Chat Noir squirmed his eyes to really pay attention to what she was pointing at and when he saw it, he gasped. "There, now you see it!" exclaimed Ladybug.

"Is that Rose Lavillant?" whispered the feline.

Ladybug nodded. "Yep, that's Rose. And the other girl is—"

"Juleka Couffaine!" He paused significantly. "Uh, it doesn't feel normal to see two girls kissing that way, especially when one is engaged," he mused, "and the other one is the sister of her fiancé…"

"I can't believe it. I knew that Rose didn't look happy, but I didn't expect her to… be…"

"In love with her future sister-in-law, you mean?" Chat Noir's voice still sounded stunned.

"Aha." Ladybug sighed and turned around, her cheeks dusting in pink because the two girls were getting more steamy with their kissing, and she was starting to feel bad about snooping. She saw that Chat Noir was STILL looking, so she grabbed him by his belt and moved him out of the view.

"Uh, you're such a killjoy, M'lady…"

She glared at him. "Chaton!"

"Okay, okay, sorry, I shouldn't have kept looking." He put a hand on his nape. "But you must admit that two girls kissing each other are the cat's meow… and they are doing it right in the open and, you know, a gentlecat's dream is—'' He stopped because Ladybug gave him a firm elbow in the ribs.

"A gentleman should be looking away! And may I remind you that it's not even five in the morning? They don't expect to have an audience!"

He sighed. "Okay, okay, I won't keep looking."

"You better!" She slid down and sat on the rooftop, resting her back against the chimney behind her. "So what are we going to do about it? I fear that the whole situation could become a real akuma magnet."

"Yeah… I'm sorry for Luka," mumbled Chat Noir under his breath. "I know he doesn't love her, but still… having competition in your own home isn't fun."

Ladybug looked at him in surprise. "You know Luka Couffaine?"

Worry filled his eyes, but he sighed and slouched his shoulders. "You could say I do, yeah. I don't think it would compromise my identity if I say that I'm in his circle of friends."

"Oh wow." She looked a bit startled. "I must have come across your civilian self sometimes, then, because I'm in Rose's circle of friends."

He looked at her funny. "She only knows and invites to her parties half of Paris… I'm so not surprised that you know her. Between her and Chloé Bourgeois, I think they know the whole city."

She looked down thoughtfully and pulled her legs close to her chest, hugging her knees. "I had noticed lately that her smiles weren't reaching her eyes and that she didn't laugh as genuinely as she always did anymore, but I would never have expected her situation to be so messed up." She sighed. "I'm really sorry for her. It must not be easy to have the one you love in front of your very eyes every day and have to pretend that instead, you love her brother."

Chat Noir's gaze locked into hers as she said that and the sadness and empathy she read in his green cat-like orbs caught her unprepared and made her heart skip a beat. "Yeah, it's terrible." He let out a big sigh. "I mean, not the arranged marriage; that's normal unfortunately." He broke eye contact and mirrored her pose, pulling up his legs and hugging his knees, his gaze getting lost in the endless view of the rooftops of the city of Light. "I did tell you that my father promised me in marriage, didn't I? I don't love her; I love you, M'lady. But I must pretend in public that I do. It's not that hard once you get used to it."

"I'm so sorry, Chat Noir." She put a gloved hand on his shoulder and placed a kiss on the top of his forehead. The intensity in his eyes when their gazes met made her feel weak in her knees.

"Rose is a nice girl, though," he said eventually. "I like her; she always has a kind word for everyone. I am sorry that she's not happy, don't get me wrong."

"Then we need to do something about it." Ladybug's frown was very determined as she slammed one of her fists on the palm of the other hand.

Chat Noir sat legs crossed and looked up at her. "Okay! So… what's your plan?"

"Still not sure, but I'll find a way. You're with me, partner?" She showed him her fist to bump.

His smile brightened. "To the moon and back, as always, M'lady. Operation ‘matchmakers’?" And then he fist bumped with her.

"Good idea! Pound it?" she said, a determined gleam to her eyes as she smirked at him.

"Pound it!" Then he looked at the position of the sun and his smile faded. "Now it's better if I head home, or someone may notice my absence and I could get in trouble. See you next Wednesday, same rooftop?"

"Unless there's an akuma attack!" she retorted.

"Purrfect! See you then, LB!" And that said, he extended his baton and jumped high in the sky with a little pirouette.

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Author's Note:

Hi everyone!

This, as you may have read in the introduction note, is my effort for the AU April exchange of the Fanworks server. I hope that LadyEnna_50 likes it, because the good stuff is yet to come.

This story took me an awful amount of research to get ready. I actually started writing it last night, but I had the idea for it right after I got my assignment, at the beginning of the month. But I had been asked to put historical references and… well, that needs research. And Moi because it's Moi… LOVES doing research, but is also VERY anal about her research. I think I've become an expert of the first decade of the 20th century by now.

As always, please drop me a line and review. The more reviews I see the more the story goes high on my updating list, because I feel I'd let down more people if I wait. Worry not: I love all my stories so I will update them all eventually. But surely the ones with more reviews take priority for me. So… you know the drill. You review. I update! ^-^

I hope to update as soon as possible anyway, but I want to focus on "Caught in the Loop" and "When Magic Fails" after this, and of course "Stuck in a Cabin"!. I will come back here very soon! Please subscribe to know when the next chapter will be out.

If you read this and you’re not part of our wonderful Discord server already, but you enjoy reading, writing and talking about Miraculous, please join our Discord server, Miraculous Fanworks (for people on FFN, discord dot gg slash mlfanworks). See you there soon.

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caffeinetheory · 5 years

Text

Everything Stays

Big thanks to @theatreandcomicfreak for helping me work out my idea!! Can’t thank you enough <3<3<3

This is a Jasonette song fic to Everything Stays from Adventure Time, had this idea like a week ago and I’ve been working on it for almost 2 days now. It is the longest thing I’ve written so i hope you enjoy, and I didn’t check over it to much so sorry if there are many errors, but otherwise I hope y’all enjoy :>

///

Here she stood, it made it all to real. ‘Here lies Jason Todd, may he finally have peace’ A sob wrecked her small frame, Marinette no longer had an excuse to accept the inevitable. Years had past yet she still didn’t want to believe he was gone, it still feels like yesterday when she first met the boy with attachment issues.

It was a busy day in the bakery, the family was preparing for the massive gala they were catering. Marinette was now 12 so her parents let her help with preparations, they would need all hands on deck, this wasn’t any gala it was the Wayne Gala. Bruce Wayne himself had come in with the request a few months prior, it was to celebrate some achievement the Paris branch had achieved, it was something had gone completely over Marinette’s head at the time, she was just happy to help her stressed parents. The gala was tomorrow and they were finishing the decoration on the treats, everything from cupcakes and small pastries to thousands of macaroons still needed the finishing touches. To say it was hectic would be an understatement but the family had done it, 2 am everything was ready for transport to the venue.

Mari had dressed in a simple but elegant baby pink gown for the gala, her parents had dressed in formal attire with pink accents to match their branding. After the family with the help of the buildings staff set up Sabine and Tom decided to let Mari enjoy the gala, all the dresses of the high class event was sure to be an inspiration to the little fashion designer. As the doors opened to the massive ballroom a little girl was sitting off to the side to absorbed in drawing designs out of the Gothic architecture to notice. The gentle music was calming and helped inspire her more, once she had filled many pages she looked up and it was then the man himself made his grand entrance.

Bruce Wayne made an extravagant entrance after finally getting his new ward to put on his clothes presentably. Jason was hiding behind him, he had been living with Bruce for a few months now but that didn’t mean he was used to the attention, let alone positive attention. The large crowds combined with Dick not being there, Jason clung to his pseudo-brother like a lifeline, was getting to the young boy. Blue eyes surveyed the room, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to hide or sneak out, currently no luck came his way as he clung to Bruce’s leg, the older gentleman lightly petting his head, noting the kid’s distress.

Bruce quickly looked over the room, remembering that a little girl around Jason’s age was here with her parents who were catering. The parents seemed kind enough so when he spotted their child he subtly pointed Jason her way right as she was getting up. Jason nodded and while reluctant to leave the one person he knew, made a beeline to the wall where the small girl was. She had just finished smoothing out her dress when Jason reached her. Hand on the wall, slightly out of breath, he looked at her. A kind smile graced her lip, her hand already out, “Hi, I’m Marinette.”

That was the start of a beautiful friendship, while it lasted at least, the two were attached at the hip for the rest of his stay in Paris. She made him feel at ease and Mari was more than happy to make a new friend her age. The pair spent hours getting to know each other and became inseparable. It was a pleasant surprise for both sets of guardians, but not an unwelcome one. The call Dick got the night of the gala was not the one he expected, but one of Jason telling him all about the kind girl who told him stories about her life. Dick was happy Jason was able to find someone to be with while he wasn’t able to make it due to classes starting up again. When the Wayne’s had to go back to Gotham tears were shed, but promises to talk everyday and tight hugs were shared.

It wasn’t until almost two and a half years later that Marinette’s heart broke. She had been trying to contact him for a few weeks with no response, not totally unusual but still worrying, that she finally got a response that broke her. The news was playing in the background, but she couldn't hear it anymore, “Jason Todd, son of Bruce Wayne has died today as a result of fatal injuries” that was all she needed to hear to break down. She couldn't look at the screen when they showed his face, she didn’t read the letters she got from the Waynes, or acknowledge the invitation to his funeral. The pile was growing on her desk, the dust forming a noticeable layer, she couldn’t, it she did it would be all to real. For over a month she didn’t leave her room, her sobs could be heard from the living room. It took her almost two months before she would return to school, two weeks more before she said a real sentence to anyone besides her parents. Everyone who knew the sunshine that was Marinette was worried about her but didn’t want to make it worse so they just gave silent hugs and support where they could. Three and a half months after the funeral she was more or less back to her former self, though anyone who knew her before knew what things to avoid.

Six months later, she had caught up on all the work she missed and the new school year was starting Mari saved the life of an old man by the bakery on her way to class. It was later that day Ladybug and Chat Noir made their first appearance, almost 16 and she was tasked with saving the city she loved from a maniac who controlled people with butterflies and bad emotions. It was a good thing she learned how to keep her emotions in check before she was given this mantle. Chat and Ladybug decided to break to rule of not knowing each other's identities after it was clear they would need more help and had to call on other heroes. Fu wasn't happy about it but trusted their decision, it was about this time he started to teach Marinette how to become the next Guardian.

Six months after becoming heros the duo knew each other’s identities, a year after there was a team of full time heros. It was after they had been fighting for over a year and a half that the team agreed they needed more than themselves, they called the Justice League. At first they were ignored but through persistence they got the back up they needed. Two and a half years after becoming Ladybug Hawk Moth was tracked down and in cuffs before he could transform. The Watch Tower had been monitoring the Akumas and traced his location down to the Agreste manor, Nathile had put up no fight, and gave herself willingly to the authorities.

Three years had passed since she had been given earrings that changed her life when a note appeared on her balcony inviting her to the Watch Tower. At 19 years old Marinette was apart of the Justice League, the rest of her team had moved on. They had lives to live, and while they didn’t regret being heroes they had other obligations. Adrien fell off the map with some help, he didn’t want or need the spotlight any more he was done, Luka was Touring with Jagged Stone, Kagami had become a world class fencer and had to carry on her family name, Alya was becoming the next Nadja so she was the face of the Tv network, Nino was well on his way to being a famous DJ, Alix had extreme sports to compete in and street art to make, Cholé had began to take over the hotel business and working to make it international, Kim was an Olympic swimmer and Max was on his way to being a head engineer at one of the leading technology companies in the world. Marinette was the Guardian and while they all said they would continue to help she couldn’t ask them to do that.

For the next 2 years she spent most of her time at the Tower, slowly building money from commissions to buy a house of her own. MDC was known around the world and was commission only, you had to know someone who knew someone to even get a chance to get a design. Close to her 22nd birthday she finally started to look for a place of her own, she needed a proper place for the Kawmi after all. After many long nights Marientte decided to move to the last place she knew he was. It hurt but she had put it off long enough, and to Gotham she went.

When she told Batman where she planned to move he was surprised initially but helped her find a place to call home. She ended up settling on a home in the outskirts of the city, isolated enough for privacy but plenty of room and ways to get to the city. When Bruce got a call from the girl about 2 weeks after her 22nd birthday asking if he could tell her where Jason was he was shocked to say the least. ‘Does she know’ was the first thing going through his head, granted it had been almost 4 years since Jason had come back from the dead but as far as he knew, no one outside of the BatFam inner circles and the Outlaws knew that. The fact that she hadn’t gone to the funeral and never mentioned him until now perplexed him as well, what had suddenly changed. Sure both had learned the other’s identity when she joined the League but that was a while ago, why now. The choked sobs brought him back to reality and the young women on the other side of the line, he gave her directions to the former grave. They left it there because they couldn’t bring it in them to remove it, it was a reminder.

Let’s go in the garden

Today was the day Marinette told herself. It had been years, she could do it, no matter how hard it was. She picked some marigolds, lilies and roses before leaving her home. If she was going to do this she might as well bring something to leave there. Marigolds, why did she ever plant those, must have been because subconsciously it was something he always called her. A single tear fell down her cheek before she wiped it away and tried to smile.

You’ll find something waiting

Right there where you left it lying upside down

Marinette’s small bag didn’t hold much; just her keys, phone, some tissues and the letters finally opened. She had finally opened them the day she asked Bruce where she could see him again, but couldn’t make herself read them until the night before. She cried reading about it again, condolences and an open invitation to stay with the Waynes for a while if she needed to. She felt 15 again, crying alone in her room. Only this time she wasn’t alone, she had the Kwamis and they helped her sleep. The tear stains still noticeable on the one she couldn’t bear to open from Jason himself. It was to be given to her if he ever died, she still wasn’t ready to full accept he was gone. She may be older but it still felt like there was a hoel in her heart that she couldn’t fill.

When you finally find it, you’ll see how it’s faded

The underside is lighter when you turn it around

Marinette finally did it, the tall gates towered over her. She hesitated as she reached to open the last barrier keeping her from the inevitable. A hand absentmindedly went to the earrings. She had thought about it once, using the wish, but she knew better. The cost could have been anything and while she missed him she wasn’t that selfish. How was she to know that is even what he wanted, it wasn’t right so she only had the thought once on the anniversary of his death after she found out about the wish.

Everything stays right where you left it

The metal was cold when her hand finally made contact, this was happening. Almost 6 years after and she was finally going to have to admit it to herself. But it was okay, that is what he would want, wasn’t it? Shaking her head before she went down that rabbit hole again she followed the cobblestone path to the Wayne plot of the cemetery. No backing out now. The whole area was varying states of care, you could tell who had family that loved them and who was the last of the line. Many headstones had vines covering them, clearly older than the pristine graves with fresh flowers and candles still burning. How the candle stays lit in a place where rain seemed more common than the sun she wouldn't know.

Everything stays

The sizable plot had a small black fence around it. There were five distinctive burials. The tomb of Martha and Thomas Wayne was white and while simple it was elegant. Not a single crack and a single dying rose laid beneath the inscription ‘May Martha and Thomas Wayne rest in peace, hand in hand forever’, it was sweet. Truly loving parents taken from this world to soon. Next to the tomb was a far more simple Romanian burial, the grass still growing a healthy green. Mary and John buried how they would have been back in their home land, Bruce insisted they rest in the same place his family did. It was the day it was clear how much Bruce really valued family.

But it still changes

Mari finally brought herself to look at the last grave. ‘Here lies Jason Todd, may he finally have peace,’ seeing the words made her break down. It was all to real, the dirt was even looking recently moved. Her sobs must have been heard from the other side of Gotham, her legs gave out. Lightly tracing his name she finally let out everything she had been holding on to for years. Her broken heart was allowed to properly feel the hurt it had locked away so long ago. The flowers forgotten by her side, she stayed kneeling on the fresh dirt crying her eyes out for what must have been hours before she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Ever so slightly, daily and nightly

In little ways, when everything stays

Dick Grayson was doing his monthly flower change at the graves when he heard broken sobbing. His slow pace suddenly was a light jog, someone sounded broken, he had to help. Turning the corner he saw the unmistakable midnight hair and crumpled figure of the one person he never thought he’d see again in civilian life, let alone here. The one place he swore she’d never be, on his brother’s grave. He did the one thing he could think of and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, brushing her hair from her tear stained face and pulled her into a comforting hug. “It’s good to see you again Mari,” she held him like he was the only thing keeping her tethered to this realm.

Let’s go in the garden

“You want to come back to the manor with me, I’m sure Bruce would love to see you again. Alfred too,” her small head nod and last sniffles was enough of a confirmation to him. Helping her up, Dick took Mari’s hand and lead her to his car. During the ride he brought her up to speed about the new members, (Tim, Damian, Stephine, Cass), about how many pets they had, about really anything in their lives. Throughout she was slowly perking up again, laughing at his anecdotes about his siblings, completely avoiding bringing up Jason. Dick had already warned those at the Manor she was coming with him, and not to mention Jason. By the time they had arrived everyone was filled in and Mari had a smile on her face and a soft laugh as she heard about Damian bringing a cow home.

You’ll find something waiting

The movement the dark wooden doors opened Mari was engulfed with the smell of fresh cookies and a welcoming embrace of none other than Alfred. “Long time no see,” she patted his back and she returned the hug, the slight guilt in her tone immediately washed away when he held her tighter.

The family led her to the living room, she meets the other members of the house she was told about in her way there. Everyone was kind in their own ways, though those who had not heard of her before that day were wary of the newcomer. She livened up the room, it seemed that comfort and warmth followed her wherever she went. Alfred had brought tea and cookies for everyone and they talked about where life had taken them since they had last talked, then the topic came up.

Right there where you left it lying upside down

Damian didn’t mean to make the slip août Jason being a prick, he really hadn’t but the second Mari quieted he knew he said something he shouldn’t have. ‘How you you know’ was all that went through her mind, but quickly brushed the thought off, this could help. Everyone in the room held their breath as they waited to see how she would act, Dick had warned them and they didn’t understand until now. To say they were surprised when she had a small smile on her face after whipping a single tear would be an understatement.

When you finally find it, you’ll see how it’s faded

Marinette started to tell stories of her and Jason, about their close friendship. Everyone who knew the edgy man in question were in awe that he was once a ‘normal’ kid without problems expressing his feelings. She told them about the late night calls, the constant letters and gifts they would send each other. She spoke so roundly of him they couldn’t figure out why she had never come up until Dick had found her at his grave, what fallout must have happened caused her name to never be said, why were Alfred and Dick so happy to see her, so many questions went through the newer members’ heads.

The underside is lighter when you turn it around

Throughout her stories she had started to mess with the chain around her neck, it was going to need to be replaced soon, the daily wear was getting to it. When Marinette finally took it out to show, Dick’s eyes widened, he knew pendant. Mari gave it a sad smile before exhaling it was the last thing she had of him, it was the thing she valued most. It was the last gift he had sent her, a silver pendant with a warn robin resting on a blossom branch. Dick had helped Jason pick that out so many years ago. She told the group how she never took it off, only to fix the chain or replace it. Eventually she admitted, both to herself and the people in the room, her still existing feeling, “I think that’s why I couldn’t let it be real, let him go… I always wanted to be by his side, with him through thick and thin.”

Everything stays right where you left it

Everyone in the room heard the helmet thump when it hit the hardwood floors. Standing in the doorway was one Red Hood, domino mask still on with his mouth hanging open wide. Marinette was quickly out of her seat ready to strike should he pose a threat, but Dick’s gentle hand on her shoulder made her relax slightly, still not taking her eyes off of the new comer. “Jay-bird…” Dick wasn’t able to finish what he was saying or stop her when Mari launched herself at Jason, crying openingly again as she held onto him for dear life.

Everything stays

After the initial shock of finally seeing her again he returned the hold, just as strong petting her hair lightly, “I’m here, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere,” the pair didn’t care to notice when the rest of the Waynes left the room to give them privacy, nor did they care. They were finally in each other’s arms after so long, the dam broke all over again for Mari but this time her tears were joyous, her Jay was back in her arms. It didn’t matter how what mattered was he was there and he was real, actually here not some joke or illusion but the real thing, nothing would take him from her again if she had a say about it.

But it still changes

Finally pulling back to look at each other they took in the small changes. Marinette’s hair was longer and to her mid back hanging in a low ponytail, her freckles seemed more prominent. She stood tall and confident, it was clear she was built and while the years had been tough she had come out stronger because of it. Her eyes were still the most beautiful blue Jason had ever seen. Jason had become tall and puberty did him many favors. His muscles would show in pretty much any shirt he wore. And while those were big changes the most noticeable to Mari was the unnatural white streak in the inky mess of hair he had and the supernatural green that seemed to move in his eyes. It was still him though, nothing could change the fact he was still the Jason Mari had fallen for and couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Ever so slightly, daily and nightly

Mari took his hand, leading him to the couch so they could properly catch up. The helmet forgotten and domino mask on the coffee table. If anyone had walked in they didn’t stay. They talked for hours and hours, the sun was rising by the time Mari had yawned for the first time, it had been a long day. “I could take you home if you’d like,” reluctant to see her leave. “Why would I go anywhere, you’re right here,” she made herself at home on his chest snuggling ever slightly closer. The light breathing lulled Jason to sleep not long after.

In little ways, when everything stays

Tim was the one who found the pair sleeping, in what looked like the first time in a while, peacefully. Sneakily taking a picture to send to the family chat he left the room to get more coffee, they deserved to sleep.

Marinette woke up to slight nudging and warmth, “Come on Mari, we should eat.” Startled she jumped up, almost hitting the table, forgetting where she was for a second she panicked but seeing his face brought back memories from the night before. “Oh thank god it’s you,” and with that she pulled them both in the direction of what smelled like food. Alfred had left out some food for the two before going out for the day. Marinette left after eating leaving her phone number with him and in return she got a small business card from him.

Do down to the ocean

Two days later and Marinette sat kicking her legs of the dock in the warehouse district. The card just told her to wait on this dock today and to be there by 6 in something casual but flexible. Is here she sat, waiting with light blue jeans, black vans and a dark red hoodie, music played in her ear as she waited. Being early she had nothing to worry about, she trusted he’d show up and it’s not like if something did happen she couldn’t protect herself.

They crystal tide is rising

The cargo ship in the dock next to the one she was sitting on was almost finished unloading its crates. A horn behind her brought her out of her thoughts, a motorcycle was waiting for her expectantly.

The waters’ gotten higher as the shore washes out

Grabbing the extra black helmet Mari held on tight to the person already on the bike. Once she was secure they sped off down the docks and to the amusement park all the while she was having the time of her life. Speed was something she loved and he gave it to her, taking the scenic route so they admire the view of the ocean and enjoy the ride.

Keep your eyes wide open, even when the sun is blazin’

The moon controls the tide, it can cause you to drown

Skitting to a stop in front of the waterfront amusement park Jason took off his helmet, a sly smirk as he watched Mari jump up and down in excitement. “That was the most fun I've had in years!!!” she handed him the helmet taking in the lights of the park, they were like stars on the dark night sky, shining in a rainbow of colors. “Well Cream Puff, we are just beginning, I got a lot of missed dates to make up to you,” Jason slung an arm around her shoulders and lead her into the park. They stayed up all night playing the carnival style games, winning each other prizes until they couldn't hold any more. As the sun rose they ended up back at Mari’s home collapsing on her bed in a fit of giggles, it was just like old times. Their prizes surrounding them as the two as they looked in each others eyes, they felt like they were 14 again. Maybe they could make this work, not maybe they would.

Everything stays, right where you’ve left it

Everything stays, but it still changes

Ever so slightly, daily and nightly

In little ways

When everything stays

#maribat #jasonette #my writing #song fic #everything stays #long post #he died but still there #not letting go #fluff #angst too #im really bad at tags #cant you tell

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inkwardspots · 4 years

Text

For Day 8 of @adrinetteapril -- Hair Down

Here on AO3

The first time Adrien saw Marinette with her hair down was on the day that Ladybug was forced to become guardian. When they escaped the hotel, with Kagami in tow, Adrien caught the whiff of passion fruit shampoo.

The next day, he was surprisingly disappointed to find her back in pigtails. And thus began his new favourite habit:

Stealing Marinette’s hair bands.

It wasn't intentional at first. The first incident happened when it started to rain. With all of them getting wet, and Marinette’s hair soaking up all the water, she had to take them out. At first, it stuck to her face and caused her to silently curse, and then she asked Adrien to squeeze the water out.

That’s where it went down hill. You see, Adrien had no problem effectively taking the water out, but… Well, it was just that Mainette’s hair was so soft! Whilst he had met plenty of people with soft hair, Marinette’s hair was a particular brand of soft. It was silk and velvet wrapped into one and the ravenette didn’t even seem to know it. She only brushed it back with a spare hairbrush from Alya and grumbled about her hair bands becoming wet before thanking Adrien and leaving her hair out to let it dry.

Throughout the day, Adrien held back his sudden desire to constantly look at Marinette. As a model, he’s seen countless people’s hair out but Marinette brushed off the compliments about her hair and seemed oblivious to jealous waves Lila seemed to be letting out.

So then began his mission in stealing every single hair band Mainette owned.

It was casual at first. Slip by her and casually chat her up, whilst Plagg slipped them off with the promise of 5 wheels of Camembert. Or maybe get Nino to distract her and he slipped them off, because Nathalie seemed to be getting a bit too suspicious with the amount of cheese he was consuming. And then maybe some midnight adventures as Chat Noir to sneak in and steal her box of hairbands.

There was nothing that he wouldn’t do to ensure that Marinette would wear her hair loose.

******

But then she started wearing ribbons,

Red ribbons.

And if that didn’t add fuel to his theory that Marinette was Ladybug, he didn’t know what would. At first she used the ribbons to tie her hair up in pigtails, but Adrien always managed to steal them or, if he didn’t have a hand in it, they got lost on their own because of that silky, velvety hair making them slip down until Marinette had lost them.

But then, when all was well and good in his mission, Alya caught him.

And truthfully he thought she would tell Mari or be creeped out from his embarrassing (“Stalker.” “Shut up, Plagg!”) habit. But she only grinned, patted his shoulder and said, “I’ve got your back, Sunshine. Plus, Marinette’s done worse.”

“Wait,what!?” he exclaimed in surprise, but he never did get an answer to that question.

******

Marinette once again came in with her hair out and Alya asked the inevitable question, “What’s wrong, ‘Nette?”

Marinette plopped down in her set and munched on her croissant in an adorably grumpy way, swallowing, she spoke, “I’m sure someone’s been stealing my hair bands and ribbons.” Alya cast a look at Adrien's way as he sunk down in his seat. “Even I know that I don’t lose them so frequently! My hair bands are gone and now someone keeps stealing my ribbons! I can’t even buy anymore because I know that they’ll inevitably be stolen again and I could be using that allowance to buy more fabric! I’m sure someone’s up to something and I’m going to find out who it is!”

Adrien butt in as he tried to divert the situation, “I’m sure no one would be that… cruel, right Marinette?” Marinette only huffed as Alya continued.

Alya grinned and leaned closer with a shark’s grin, “Who knows? It could be because they have an… infatuation with you.” Adrien choked as he prayed for Marinette to not ask any further. “Why would someone steal my stuff when they could just ask me out instead?” She asked, leaning on the table with her chin in her palm. “Well, I know one person that’s done that before.” Alya replied, ignoring Marinette and Adrien’s red, embarassed faces.

Marinette brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she took out her notebook for class, "Well," she muttered, still loud enough for Adrien to hear, "Whoever keeps stealing my hair bands has a funny way of showing their love."

Adrien had never felt so embarrassed in his life.

Time Skip

After several years of denial, obliviousness and rom-com style longing, Ladybug and Chat Noir finally revealed themselves to each other. Imagine their surprise when they both find out that the people that they had been choosing between to give their heart to were the same person!

And after the initial surprise, Marinette couldn't have hoped for anyone else to be her best friend, Chat Noir. The awkward time in between being friends and lovers seemed to ebb away with a drunk confession from the both of them and in a few months they were practically inseparable. Couple goals, if you ask Alya.

6 months into dating and Adrien asked Marinette to move in with him (He waited 6 years for the identity reveal, before that they were practically an unofficial couple, Marinette could forgive him for not wanting to wait another year or two to ask her to move in with him).

And here she was, into her second year of university majoring in fashion design at ESMOD Paris, one of the best fashion schools in France, and now being able to move in with her Chaton? Pshh, like she wouldn't take the chance to spend more time cuddling him without the interruption of either one of them being able to get home.

Ready to move some of the boxes full of her fabrics into Adrien's apartment attic, she couldn't help but notice a small box in the corner of the room. It was covered in a thin layer of dust and was tucked away behind some bigger boxes. Setting her fabrics down, she made her way over to the box in the corner.

Wiping away some of the dust, she found a latch on the box and opened it, covering her hand from the flying dust. Her mouth opened as she called out to Adrien who was moving her stuff into his bedroom, "Hey, Adrien?"

She heard a loud bang that was, probably, Adrien banging the boxes against something. Heavy footsteps rushed up the stairs, "Yes, Mari--" his breath failed him as he spotted what was in his hands.

Well I'm dead, was his only thought before Marinette turned towards him with an unimpressed eyebrow raise, "Why do you have my hair bands and ribbons from collège in this box?"

Adrien seemed to involuntarily back away as Plagg and Tikki popped in through the trapdoor as Adrien supplied his answer, "I may have… stolen your hair bands and ribbons in collège to admire you with your hair out? But I swear I took good care of them!"

As Marinette seemed to combust on the spot, Plagg added some much-needed commentary to Tikki, "Oooh, the kid is dead." Tikki only hit him on the head as Marinette finally managed to get the words out, "You mean… that for a total of 4 months you just conveniently stole any and every hair tie and ribbons I owned? Please don't tell me you used Chat Noir to help."

"...No?" Adrien squeaked as he felt the ominous gaze of his girlfriend turn on him as he ran down the stairs with a demonic Marinette trailing behind.

As Adrien tried to evade near-death by the hands of his girlfriend, Plagg turned to a slack-jawed Tikki, "I told you she would kill him. Also, where's my 50 Euros worth of Camembert for our bet on how many things they could steal from each other? I'm waiting, y'know." Plagg finished, a lazy grin spreading over his face.

It was safe to say that Adrien was not the only one that escaped near-death that day.

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tired-college-student-writing · 4 years

Text

Beautiful Versions of Brokenness pt. 2

Summary: Marinette is different. There was no denying it, but none would have guessed that the true reason was soul deep

Continuation of Prompt: If you're into Black Butler, maybe something with that and Miraculous ladybug? Or Black Butler with Demon Bim? I just think you'd do a good job with the Black Butler characters.

Part 1

____________________________________________

Chat Noir reluctantly left so that Ladybug and Sebastian, shortly after, promised to meet up on the next patrol night so that they could properly discuss their unlikely reunion.

Instead of going home, Marinette leads them to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Parisians are used to seeing their heroine and a black figure at the top of the tower, no one would think twice if she arrived there. Sebastian follows as he always did.

“This isn’t my first life after Ciel then,” She hummed, once she arrived, deciding to deal with the first question on her mind.

“No,” Sebastian agreed, as her timer slowly beeped towards its end, “This is my 37th time meeting you since your contract was created. The 21st time you’ve awoken your Phantomhive memories.”

Her eyebrows rose, “it’s only been 130 years since Ciel died, how have I been reborn 37 times?”

The demon all but scoffed, “Really mistress? All these years with beings of heaven and hell toying with your life and you still believe we are playing by earthly rules?”

Marinette just glared, “You’re telling me Hell lacks linear time then? When I die, my soul just flies to any time period it pleases and becomes whichever child it can find?”

“Precisely,” Sebastian smirks, “There have only been a few rules your soul seems to follow, your eyes remain virtually unchanged, still the strikingly blue and purple hues they have been since our contract was sealed, your hair an inky black and your memories return within a year of the age you took your earldom, thirteen, or not at all. Other than that this is the eighteenth time you’ve taken a female form, fifth where you’ve been of mixed races, tenth of being Asian descent, you’ve been of African descent six times, middle eastern eight, Native American three times. You’ve been of peasantry or slavery six times, on three different continents. Though being enslaved has triggered your memories flawlessly every time and allowed for you to rise in the ranks of society with grace. Sixteen times you’ve been of noble birth in multiple different royal families across the globe. It’s been an adventure each time

“What about Lizzie?” She finally asked,” She never sold her soul, and yet Chat Noir is clearly my fiancé.”

Sebastian frowned, “To be quite honest, she’s never appeared before, or at the very least never awoken. Human souls are not supposed to be reincarnated so quickly, even by heaven’s terms we should not have run into Miss Elizabeth before the 30th century and I’ve never heard of the average reincarnation remembering their memories as vividly as Chat Noir did.”

“Who would know?”

The grimace was fleeting on the demon’s face but Marinette knew what he was getting at.

“The Grim Reapers,” She groaned, “Grell hanging around anywhere?”

“What makes you so certain that pest is still working off their debt?” Sebastian countered

Marinette glared, “Because I’ve seen a shockingly familiar red figure watching the Akuma battles before, but only the ones that might have high casualty counts if we had lost. Plus you’re always aggravated whenever I came back from those types of battles and she was the only one that I know that gets under your skin that badly. If she wasn’t so… open about her desires I would have loved to see her around more.”

The demon sighed, “Observant as always my lady. Grell Sutcliff, William T. Spears, and Ronald Knox have all been given special assignments to follow your reincarnated soul around as they are used to our unique brand of chaos. They are given time off when your soul is inactive, and this works counts as double time for their repayment… containing the destruction left in your wake.”

Marinette hummed, as her time finally wore out a Tikki appeared next to her.

“Sebastian,” Tikki greeted, cooly, drawing a wicked grin on the young girl’s face.

“Miss. Tikki,” He offered with his polite butler smile, the one Marinette knew meant he wasn’t happy, “A pleasure as always.”

“Oh, you’ve met then?” Marinette laughed with twisted glee “I haven’t seen you look so constipated since we had to do those Phoenix poses!”

She could practically hear the teeth grinding behind his forced smile, “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about Mistress, I think the reincarnation process has scrambled your mind.”

She hummed, cheeky grin not falling as she passed Tikki her emergency cookie, “Either way, we need to plan. Obviously, we can’t play the butler and Earl roles as we once did so we must figure out new roles that we can play, and create a fake hero identity for you if you plan on continuing to help out during Akuma battles.”

The smirk he gave showed off far too many teeth, but instead of unnerving her, it filled her with a sense of comfort, “Allow me to handle everything, mistress. What kind of demon would I be if I couldn’t manage a simple cover story and superhero outfit.”

________________________________________

Marinette awoke the next day to find it starting off horribly. Not only had she overslept without the ever-present tapping on her balcony door Sebastian normally did whenever she slept through her alarm, but as she was rushing she tore her blue contact, only to find it was the last one she had in stock, her new order not set to arrive until later in the week. She decided to give the demon a pass just this once since he most likely was still coming up with proper identification and dwellings for him to stay at now that she required him to be more than just a bird.

Looking in her closet she paused at her normal outfits, plink blossoms, pink jeans, and ballet flats. It just… felt wrong with her new memories of the Earl rattling around her head. She wasn’t unhappy being a woman in this life, still feeling as comfortable as ever in her own skin, but the overly modern and feminine dress just didn’t sit right with Ciel’s memories so fresh in her mind.

Instead, she pulled out a peter pan collared button-down shirt with the collar and large buttons navy against the cream of the rest of the shirt, a forest green western tie clasped in the front. She also pulled on a pair of straight-legged green pants and a navy blazer adding a tan pair of thick heeled ankle boots. For her final touch, she deep parted her hair, pinning it over her right eye and pulling it back into a bun securing a cream ribbon in a bow around the base of the bun once she was finished. Satisfied she grabbed her bag and took off at a run, bidding her parents goodbye as she attempted to make it class before the bell rang.

She arrived seconds late and found the room reorganized, seats had been moved and the open seat on her normal side of the room was right up next to Adrien. Well, she had to admit her previous actions around him had been overboard in retrospect, and while he was still cute but with Lizzie back in the picture it seemed almost like cheating on her old fianceé.

“Good morning, Adrian,” She greeted, choosing to stand in front of the desk instead of sitting down yet.

The blonde turned to her and perked up, “Marinette! I’m loving the new look, very Victorian esque”

“Thank you!” She laughed, “I felt like a change, You look great too!”

She could feel the eyebrows around the room go up as she smiled gently at the boy, but it was a good change of pace for him, his usual sneakers, jeans, and T-shirt had been swapped out for shiny dark brown dress shoes, a fitted pair of emerald green pants, with a crisp dark blue shirt tucked in. When he turned she could see a silver lace embroidery cutting a wavy path from his left shoulder to his right hip shimmer. He even wore a simple silver ear cuff to finish off the look.

“I picked it myself,” He preened under the positive attention, “Father usually is so strict about what I wear in public but he said I did well with this one!”

“Well, I have to agree,” She hummed, “You should experiment more often, I’d love to give you critiques now that we’re desk partners.”

“Girl what?” Alya finally interrupted, “That’s not your seat, you’re sitting in the back now.”

She could stop her smile from falling into a stony blank look as she turned around, “Excuse me? Who made that call?”

“Well,” Nino piped up with a slight weariness at her look, “She’s got hearing issues so we had to put her upfront, to make it work Ivan sat next to Mylène, Nate sat next to Alix, and she came up with the idea of moving me up here, so I could spend more time with my girlfriend.”

Marinette raised a brow making the majority of the room fidget, “Who exactly is she?”

Before any of them could answer Ms. Bustier opened the door and started her normal classroom announcements, “Good morning, students. I'm sure you've all heard by now, but Lila's home from her trip to Achu and she's back in school with us again.”

The Italian girl all, but bounced into the room to greet everyone, receiving a warm answer back as Marinette’s mouth thinned.

The fox paid her little mind as she pretended to gasp in surprise at the empty seat next to Adrian and started gushing, “Oh, a seat in the front row! You all remembered my hearing issue! You're such sweethearts, all of you!”

Marinette tilted her head, “I didn’t realize you had a hearing issue, Lila.”

Green eyes flashed towards her as she painted on a self-conscious smile, “Oh Yes, I suffer from tinnitus, a constant ringing in my left ear. I've had it ever since the sound of an airplane engine burst my eardrum on the runaway when I was saving Jagged Stone's lost kitten,”

“Really?” Marinette questioned with a raised brow, “Well I am sorry to hear that, but I would like to know why your disability is ranking above my own.”

Lila froze as Bustier paled eyes widening with realization. The room grew silent before Kim slapped the desk, “Oh my god, we forgot Marinette can’t see!”

She laughed, shaking her head, “I’m not blind Kim,”

He waved her off, “You know what I mean.”

Nino groaned, slinking down, “You aren’t even wearing your contacts today!”

“I ripped one this morning,” She sighed in explanation, “My replacements aren’t coming until Wednesday. So I really can’t sit in the back of the room even if I wanted to.”

Alya’s face scrunched, “I’m missing something,”

Marinette stared up at her unblinkingly, “I have a severe vision problem that causes me issues with depth perception and distance, especially if I’m not wearing my contacts. As noted by my doctor I need to be sitting within the first two rows of the classroom, and to have a seat partner is willing to give me notes that I may have missed if my vision acts up. It has been on file since I was six years old.”

“Ivan and I can move to the back,” Mylene offered quickly, “I’m sorry for forgetting Marinette!”

She offered a soft smile, “It really is no issue, as long as it gets sorted. While I must admit I believe the origin of Lila’s disability is fabricated, I am sympathetic to her for having said disability, but I refuse to not have my accommodations met just for someone else’s to be met.”

“Fabricated!” Lila gasped tears welling in her eyes, “How mean! You don’t like me, do you! You’re trying to make me look bad and have a hard time due to my disability!”

The ice that entered Marinette’s eye before she turned to the Italian girl sent a shiver down the class's spine, causing Chloe to shrink back and Adrian to sit up stick straight. Marinette felt an odd calm fall over her as the Phantomhive came out to play.

“You claim that you received hearing damage from being too close to an airplane because you ran onto an active runway to save Jagged Stone’s kitten from a jet preparing to take off,” Marinette repeated slowly, “ Not only does Jagged Stone despise cats, but he’s despised them since he was a child after one attacked and killed his parakeet, Juniper. This is an easy fact to look up as he’s mentioned it several times in multiple interviews. The pet he currently owns and has owned for almost twenty years now, is Fang, a freshwater crocodile that Jagged hatched himself. No one is stupid enough to forget the animal they heroically saved from a vehicle that’s accelerating an average of 32 meters per second squared, wasn’t even a mammal when I know that Fang weighs almost 200kg.”

Lila tried to break in but Marinette just straightened her back, and crossed her leg at the knee before continuing, “Furthermore, no airport in this day and age would allow for a teenage girl to make it to the runways where a plane was taking off without being tackled by security, nor do I believe that your mother, a diplomat, would be moronic enough to allow you to be placed in that much danger. If it did happen there would no doubt be multiple stories run by the media about it, internationally so since Jagged Stone is such a big name and you are the daughter of a diplomat, this would not be the first we would be hearing it.”

Marinette grimaced as she moved onto the next point, not even paying mind to the sputtering Lila was doing, “Based on these facts I’m going to assume the claims that he wrote a personal song for you that have been bouncing around are also false as if they’re not it does not paint a good picture that a famous man in his forties is writing and dedicating songs for you, a young teen fan. If these accusations were true, I'd be forced to believe that Jagged Stone is a hebephile or at the very least grooming you.”

Marinette simply crossed her arms as the room grew deathly silent, “Lastly, nothing suggests that sitting closer to the front of the room helps tinnitus, as the persistent ringing would not change and make little difference in a room this small. Most students with tinnitus require the student being given the option to move to a quieter location if the condition is triggered during class, groups the student is working with being given the option to move to a different area in case group work gets too loud during group activities and being placed near a low-level sound, such a small fan, computer, a heating element, or an open window, as complete silence can irritate the issue. I did enough research when helping Aurora fight for proper accommodations made in her own classroom on the subject to know that much. Or as by the way you are dressed and the fact you claim to have spent the last few months traveling the world, your family clearly has money so buying one of the many options of hearing aid out that that has been developed to assist and almost eliminate tinnitus would be overly easy. They sell them for around 270€, fairly cheap for accommodation products, and if your family truly took you on trips across the globe then you can’t convince me they don’t love you enough to shell out a few hundred euros to make your life easier. So tell me again why I’m making a big deal about making sure my own disability is taken care of?”

Lila sputtered, before bursting into tears, “I was too embarrassed to tell you the real reason! I didn’t want you guys to think less of me for taking a break with Prince Ali to go see a concert, I didn’t mean to get so close to the amps but… the hearing loss is so new I’m still adjusting”

Marinette glared at her, “Save the tears. Lies are pathetic tools to use and earn you no lasting loyalty, and to accuse someone of being ableist for questioning the origin of your disability, not even the disability itself is vile. Not a single person in this room would have been upset at you if you told the truth instead of tried to force the issue of fake heroics.”

She sniffled, “I’m sorry Marinette, I didn’t mean to make accusations about you or your character. I’m still on edge from the whole situation…”

Marinette let her glare drop and gave a cool, “It’s forgiven this time, now can we please figure out the seating situation?”

“Well,” the teacher stepped in, “Since Adrian agreed to be Lila’s tutor to help her catch up-”

“Actually, Miss Bustier,” Adrian raised his hand sheepishly, “I was going to bring it up with you later in private, but I really don’t think I’d be a good option to tutor Lila given how full and sporadic my schedule is already, I really would hate for her to fall enough further behind.”

“Oh crap,” Alix swore, “We didn’t even think of that when Lila suggested you!”

Adrian just gave a slight shrug, eyes not looking up from his desk, “It’s okay, I do want to help out the class as much as possible, I feel bad never being able to help out with anything after school.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Kim brushed off, “We get your dad is really on you about everything, we’ll just have to find stuff you can do in class instead!”

“Maybe,” Mylene squirmed a little in her seat as everyone turned to face her, “I mean just a suggestion… but maybe Adrian could be Marinette’s seat partner and help her take notes. You rarely miss actual class time for your activities and this way you’re helping out without committing to any extra time that your dad might not let you come for.”

Bustier clapped, a blinding smile on her face, completely missing how Lila’s face had twisted into an angry mask, “Excellent idea! Let’s all find new seats again, Marinette and Adrian stick together in the first two rows, Lila why don’t you sit on the left side of the classroom by the windows to see if that helps your tinnitus for now. I’ll call your mother in for a proper evaluation over the next few days and we’ll find a proper course to deal with your disability. If someone would like to volunteer to be Lila’s primary tutor please take the seat next to her. Everyone else please fill in!”

Slowly the room began shifting once again. Adrien and Marinette simply switched seats to allow her to better see the room as Alya, Nino, Chloe, Sabrina, Rose, Juleka, and Nathaniel stayed in their same seats. Ivan and Mylene did move to the back row together as Max broke away from Kim to sit in the second row next to where Lila ended up and Alix slid across the aisle to take his old spot.

Alya was still looking at Marinette as if she had three heads, “Girl, what on earth was that? You’re like sunshine personified, but you just tore Lila apart like she was tissue paper.”

Nino huffed a slight laugh, “Keep forgetting you’ve only been in the class for a year, babe. You’ve never seen a Marinette takedown before.”

Marinette smiled, “Do not lie and do not do anything that might have permanent consequences. If they can not follow those two simple objectives in my presence then I will gladly set them straight. Lila not only lied but accused me of being a bigot, I will not tolerate slander.”

“Well I think it was badass,” Adrian commented, causing her to smirk wickedly.

“Thank you. It’s always nice to know my skills are appreciated.”

“Oh do you need any notes from the last few days,” Adrian asked suddenly, sliding his notebook between them as the lesson started.

She gazed down idly, “Not that I can think of but thank-”

Marinette had to keep her eyes from bulging as her words faded off, because in the middle of the page, squished between two facts about the Roman empire stood a simple sentence in perfect English.

I didn’t think I would see you until tonight, Ciel.

“How on earth were we this blind,” Marinette mumbled in English, earning a laugh from his once betrothed.

“Excuse me?”

The pairs heads snap towards the door as a worryingly familiar voice sounds through the room.

There in the doorway was a tall teen with shaggy raven hair as he sheepishly held out a paper towards the teacher, “Are you, Miss. Bustier? There seemed to be a mix up with my transfer papers. Mr. Damocles told me just to head down and you should have all of my forms by tomorrow, but he didn’t want to prevent me from starting today as planned.”

“Oh I hadn’t realized I was getting a new student today,” She apologized, taking the paper and skimming it briefly before turning to the room, “Class it looks like we’re getting another new face today! I want you all to welcome him with open arms! This is-”

He was shorter, a little lankier and with a rounder face then they typically saw him, looking every bit the fourteen year old he was in no doubt playing, but there was no doubt who it was.

“Sebastian,” The demon introduced, mirth dancing in those burgundy depths as he grinned up at the reincarnated duo, “Sebastian Michaelis. I look forward to joining your class.”

___________________________________

Tag List: @lividdreams9

#miraculous ladybug #black butler #kuroshitsuji #marinette dupain cheng #sebastian michaelis #Adrian agreste #miraculous class #lila rossi is the worst #lila rossi #lila rossi takedown #reincarnated au

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ao3feed-ladynoir · 4 years

Text

The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir

The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir by Mikauzoran

Adrien notices that Marinette has seemed really stressed lately, so, like a good friend, he takes her out on a not-date for coffee. They talk about all manner of things silly and serious, and secret identities do not emerge intact. Confessions and kisses ensue.

Words: 8933, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Kagami Tsurugi (mentioned), Luka Couffaine (Mentioned), Lila Rossi (mentioned), Plagg (mentioned), Tikki (mentioned)

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Additional Tags: adrienette - Freeform, Adrinette, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Reveal, Identity Reveal, accidental reveal, Spending Time Together, Talking, Not-Date Date, Romance, Emotional Support, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Flirting, Happy Ending, Pining, Mutual Pining, Dorks in Love, Protective Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Supportive Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Supporting Marinette, Adrien Stops Being in Denial

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25210636

#AO3 Feed #FanFiction #AO3 Adrienette #💖#💚#Adrienette #Miraculous Ladybug #♥#R:T #A:Mikauzoran

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ladysunamireads · 4 years

Text

The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir

The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir by Mikauzoran

Words: 8933, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Kagami Tsurugi (mentioned), Luka Couffaine (Mentioned), Lila Rossi (mentioned), Plagg (mentioned), Tikki (mentioned)

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25210636

#AO3 Feed #FanFiction #AO3 Adrienette #♥#Adrienette #MLB #🐞🐱#R:T #Reveal Fic #Hurt Comfort #A:Mikauzoran

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mikauzoran · 4 years

Note

3 and 4 for the writer questions 👀

Thank you so much for the ask! ^o^

3. Do you write fics from start or finish, or jump around?

This depends on what kind of story I’m writing, honestly. For some stories like I Would Give You Some Violets or Études: Fifty Lukadrien Kisses the chapters are not written in chronological order, and I jump all around the timeline. I did, however, write the chapters in order. I wrote Chapter One before Chapter Two, and then I wrote Chapter Three, so the order in which the chapters appear is the order in which I wrote them, even though the chapters themselves jump back and forth in time.

So, I guess I do write stories from start to finish, even if the chapters aren’t in chronological order. Nachtmusik is kind of the exception because it has extra scenes and outtakes from all over the Springtime Universe. But ninety-nine percent of the time, I don’t, say, go work on a scene in Chapter Four before I finish writing Chapter Three. I have ideas for things that I want to write later, but I don’t actually write them until I get to that point. The reason being that by the time that I get to that point, things invariably have changed, so the way I was going to write it no longer meshes with the flow of the story up to that point. I think this links well with the next question.

4. Do you outline before you start writing? If so, how far do you stray from that outline?

I usually do have some kind of outline for what I’m doing, but that “outline” can be very different from one story to the next. In some cases, I do sit down and write a fairly detailed plan of what I want to do. Sometimes I just jot down little bits of dialogue I want to use or the general idea of what I want to happen or things I want the characters to discuss. Sometimes the outline is just a vague idea of the general direction of the story that I keep in my head while writing.

It really depends on the piece. For Rejects, I printed out a calendar page and wrote down what events I want to happen on the days that they happen. I have a separate piece of paper where I have little blurbs about the individual events.

Sometimes I scribble down my notes on post-its. Like, wanna see some behind the scenes nonsense? Here are two of my sticky-notes for future Rejects chapters:

As you can see, this is utter chicken scratch that I jotted down as fast as possible. (The two Japanese characters in the second note are the symbols for “Friday” and “Monday” respectively. There are some words like that that I just use Japanese shorthand for, so the note reads, “the Louvre is open late on Friday” and “Adrien confronts Marinette on Monday”.) These just serve to refresh my memory about what I wanted to do and in what order. When I go back to Rejects, I’ll probably end up scrapping some of the ideas I had when I was working on it last year, but at least they’re preserved for me to work with when I get around to it.

As for a different kind of outline where I go in-depth, please see below. I was in the shower two weeks ago Thursday when I had this whole idea for an Adrienette one-shot called The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir. Later that night, I sat down and typed out a six hundred and seventy-eight word outline of what I wanted to do with the story. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning:

Adrien skips fencing and invites Marinette to a café because she’s seemed stressed and upset and self-isolating recently.

Asks about Luka.

Marinette talks about boy she’s hung up on.

Chat Noir?

No! …Yes. Sort of. Developing feelings. How know?

Guess because of Papa Garou.

How know Papa Garou? Not even Alya knows about Papa Garou.

…Uh…heard from Chat Noir? He felt really bad about turning you down because you’re so amazing. We talked

Explain how Papa Garou mistake. Transfer feelings. Brokenhearted over other boy and Glaciator was romantic and felt connected talking to him. Feelings weren’t real, not like now.

…How are things with Kagami?

Oh…uh…not…good. Hung up on other girl. Whenever Kagami tries to kiss, gut instinct is to pull back. Don’t want to lead her on. Do have feelings, but…not like for other girl. …And crush on other friend too, so always feel like cheating. Just waiting to get her akumatized a third time.

This is my most in-depth level of outlining. See how I include descriptions of what I want to happen along with some proto-dialogue? I’m slowly working on fleshing this out into the actual story.

Funny story, though. You see that first line about Adrien asking Marinette to dinner? I’m two thousand five hundred words into this story, and I’m still on the first sentence of the outline. T^T Adrien hasn’t asked her how things are going with Luka yet. They’re just talking and being goofs. This is going to be longer than anticipated. ^.^;

As for how much my stories change from outline to posting, that also depends. I guess, on average, I’d have to say “a lot” for my longer stories. The one-shots sometimes go in unexpected directions with added dialogue, but they generally stay pretty close to the Major Events I had planned for that story.

Phantasmagoria went completely AWOL with Luka and Adrien just talking and talking and talking, so that story really grew. Even though it checked off all of the Major Events, there was a lot of extra content that naturally grew out of the story once I started writing.

That’s the most common thing that happens. I start writing, and things start growing organically. Once I get into the story, it takes little twists that I couldn’t have anticipated when I was just looking at it and planning from the outside. My stories tend to be true to the spirit of my outline, but they don’t always follow the letter of the outline. Once I get in there and start writing, things usually change for the better, and I’ve just learned to accept that and roll with it.

So, yeah. That’s a little bit about my process. Thank you again for the ask! <3 I’m so pleased that you were curious. ^o^ I hope all my rambling was interesting? ^.^;

#Ask Mikau #Ask Game #Mikau's Writing Process #Outlines #Behind the Scenes #Sneak Peek #The Rejects Club #I Would Give You Some Violets #Études: Fifty Lukadrien Kisses #The Adventures of Off-Brand Ladybug and Chat Noir #Phantasmagoria #A Little Night Music (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik)#ML #Miraculous Ladybug #Marichat #Adrienette #Adrinette #Lukadrien

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noddytheornithopod · 5 years

Text

Went to Oz Comic Con

It was a lot. Just a lot of stuff. My puny brain couldn’t take it all in. I did take some photos, which I put on my Instagram. Anyway, highlights:

So first off, I did get to meet Sam Witwer like I hoped. The conversation was brief but really enjoyable. He autographed my copy of Battlefront 2... and apparently I’m the first guy to let him know about the June update with the Droidekas. :P He also expressed enthusiasm for playing the game (and actually admitted he didn’t mind Anakin’s OP-ness), and when I mentioned I was excited for the Siege of Mandalore you could really tell he was too.

Besides meeting Sam, the highlight was clearly seeing all of the cosplay, many examples I got in my Instagram.

Danganronpa cosplays I spotted:

THREE Junkos. Guess she really IS the most cosplayed character after all. I bet there were even more. :P

Two people in Monokuma getup, the older of the two actually had fangs and contact lenses.

Two kids as Nagito and Chiaki.

I think I saw a Mukuro? Not entirely sure though.

I thought I saw a Kyoko but I was mistaken. me and my wishful thinking lol It was still a really cool cosplay though!

I think I also spotted someone as the anthropologist guy from V3. *looks up name because I’m still new to this* Yeah, Korekiyo.

Steven Universe cosplays I spotted:

A really well done Sapphire and Padparadscha.

A Rose Quartz.

I think I spotted a Steven.

I’m pretty sure I spotted a Lapis but I lost track of them before I could confirm it.

Star Wars cosplays I can still remember because obviously there was a fuckton:

I saw some specific stormtroopers. I know I saw a shoretrooper from Rogue One, and I think one of the tank driver troopers from that movie too? Also might’ve seen a Mimban stormtrooper (not the mudtrooper, specifically the stormtrooper) from Solo.

Kylo Ren was around, I know I saw him at least twice.

A 501st clone trooper.

Queen Amidala.

A lot of the younger girls seem to like Leia and Rey.

Obi-Wan in his first The Clone Wars outfit (with the armour).

Darth Maul, though he only had a single blade.

I noticed this one Jedi but I’m not sure who it was, part of me thought maybe Quinlan Vos but the tattoos looked too intricate.

I saw the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion and Mandalorian Mercs with their own stand, which was cool. There were two life sized remote controlled R2-D2s with them too.

At least one Darth Vader in the con, and there was also one outside playing electric guitar.

Miscellaneous:

An Eclipsa with Star, as in Star vs the Forces of Evil.

Two people in full on Optimus Prime and Bumblebee costume... with music speakers.

Mettaton from Undertale.

A Homestuck troll, IDK who though.

Duffman from the Simpsons.

One or two Ladybugs (as in Miraculous Ladybug), and a Chat Noir.

Marceline from Adventure Time.

I recognised a cosplay from Avatar, I think it might’ve been the Earth one before Aang and his predecessor? I know fuck all about the specifics so yeah. :v

A purple Dalek. I think I saw someone as the 10th Doctor too?

A Spyro.

One Mabel and one Dipper from Gravity Falls. I may or may not have seen a Grunkle Stan, the outfit looked close but I wasn’t sure.

Lots and lots of Marvel and DC characters as you’d expect. I think there was a woman as Thanos, and at least one guy as Thanos. There was even someone as fat Thor from Endgame and a kid as Jared Leto Joker.

Didn’t get any merch, just some sweets because why not. The actual food there was pretty light though, which I guess makes sense but still, you introduce me to pizza pies and only give out tiny slices of them??? Unless they’re meant to be small amounts so you go find the brand in stores and buy the pizza pies... well fuck.

But yeah, even if it was overwhelming at times it still had its moments, and it was definitely worth going there.

#oz comic con

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hallythelantern-blog · 6 years

Text

The Blue Rose (Adrien Appreciation Week): Chapter 4

Theme: Fashion

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3

Fanfiction AO3

Hi everyone!

A quick announcement: I decided to crop out the last parts of Chapter 3. So that it ended with the receptionist smiled. It just ended awkwardly and I wanted to prevent that for people who would be reading that in the future.

For people who already did, sorry! I wish I had been less impulsive when I updated Chapter 3. Also, I had wanted to reach my 10k word count XD.

Chapter 4: Change

He couldn't believe it.

He had thought he knew. That he was prepared for this.

But seeing it was different from just pure speculation, however it be with incriminating evidence.

Now, he had no doubts as to who she really was.

- A day ago -

Adrien walked Marinette home and then walked back home. His steps were rigid and heavy, requiring extra energy to bend at his knees due to the plenty of exercise they had gotten, running from fangirls and all. It was as if he had one long stick stuck inside his legs. If he bent it a little, it would break.

Of course, he wasn't complaining. In fact, he couldn't stop smiling like a bumbling idiot. Today had been one of the best days in his life. With Marinette by his side, he had experienced something that would have made a great story. There had been adventure, suspense, and most importantly, romance! They had been chased, they had had fun, and they had had even their first kiss together!

Granted, it was on the cheeks. But it was the first time that she had reciprocated his feelings. He could just feel her warmth again in his cheeks. He blushed. They had spent so much time holding hands, which had jolted him and sent him into an oblivion of happiness every single time. He had the chance to view those blue eyes for the entire day, and they had always been looking back at him. Not ignoring him or telling him that they were busy doing something else.

It felt like a dream. Now, the only thing left was to push them together like he did with his Ladybug and Chat Noir action figures.

The euphoria didn't last long, however. When Adrien saw his father waiting for him on the front doorstep, he knew that a hurricane was going to hit.

Adrien didn't say anything. He looked at his father's cold eyes with hope and desperation.

"Where were you out today?" his father asked. The monotone voice, devoid of any emotion, grinded his ears. Adrien flinched. He knew that this was not going to be good. His father probably already knew where he had gone, and was just rehashing it for some reason.

"Um…" he chuckled, trying to look for any distraction that might calm his beating heart. Unluckily, his house was always barren and devoid. Nothing to change a conversation.

Besides, it wasn't like his efforts would change anything. His father was a direct and confrontational man. Even if Adrien did manage to change the subject, Gabriel would never lose sight of what he had set out to say. Gabriel's cold and calculated words were always a juggernaut and a dagger at Adrien's heart, speaking the truth without any regard for others but him.

Sometimes, Adrien wished he wasn't so sensitive. He should have been numb to Gabriel's straightforward prose by now. It wasn't his father's fault that he was like this; it was just part of his personality. But his father's words always ate at his heart and his brain, always making Adrien second guess and doubt himself. Always making Adrien turn over from fear of what had happened on the day of their confrontations. Sometimes, Adrien wondered if his loving father had been replaced by a robot.

"I…" he began.

"Perhaps you can explain this?" Gabriel said, holding out his phone. On the screen flashed a picture of him and Marinette at the mall. The very same picture where he had been guarding Marinette from the flash.

"I…" he began, looking anywhere but the screen and his father. His shoulders slouched. "I went to the mall," he sighed, finally deciding below.

"Why did you go?"

"I wanted to buy something to wear for the fashion show."

Gabriel's brow rose in suspicion. "Why did you go?"

Adrien sighed. There was no use trying to hide anything from him. The man could practically read Adrien's mind.

Adrien wished he could say the same for Gabriel.

"I… I wanted to spend time with Marinette," Adrien said.

"You mean the girl in the picture?" Gabriel said, holding the photo even closer to Adrien. Adrien could now hear his breath touching the phone screen.

"Yes."

Gabriel scowled.

This was not going to be good. At all.

"So, to spend time with a girl you liked, you ditched everything on your schedule today?" he asked, voice rising.

Flinching and eyes widening with fear, Adrien thought about the responses he could give right now. He could give a no, but Gabriel would see right through that. He could say yes, but he would be in trouble. It was a lose-lose situation.

Adrien was too familiar with it by now.

"Yes," he said, barely a whisper. His shoulders lowered even more. The ground was pulling him; he had to fight every ounce of his existence to not be sucked in.

His head was now a black mess of nothingness.

Gabriel frowned. His voice grew louder. "Even if you had no suit to wear, you should have contacted me so that I could supply you with one. There would have been too many sponsors who'd have been perfectly content loaning you one."

"But, father, I-" he began.

"No buts. You could have been caught by the paparazzi who would have been more than willing to catch you in an unflattering light. Moreover, you could have been kidnapped." Gabriel said. His voice began to rise. "I will not have my son risk his life just so that he could…could…spend time with some girl," he said the word as if Marinette was a frivolous distraction. Adrien clenched his fists.

"But, father, I-" he began again. Adrien sighed. It was useless.

I just wanted to go shopping like all the other kids.

After a momentary silence, Gabriel began. "You will be with your bodyguard at all times, and you will not go anywhere near a mall. Is that clear?"

Adrien's shoulders hunched even more.

He closed his eyes at what was coming next. His father was going to ban him from seeing Marinette because she was a distraction. Also, most likely because him having a girlfriend would damage the brand. He prepared himself for the future, where he would only see Marinette in school as Adrien and Chat Noir every other time. Goodbye world, he said as Adrien.

It would be a hassle. Especially when Marinette liked Adrien and not Chat Noir. And then would probably reject him again for him, except from her civilian side.

Or did Marinette like Chat Noir? In the way she did Adrien?

He shook his head. While going off into fantasy land would be great, the consequences of that would not be.

Adrien focused on his father once again.

"This also means that the girl-" Gabriel began to say. Adrien backed away unconsciously. He was not ready for this. "would be under your bodyguard's care whenever you two are together."

Adrien was right. He was not ready for this. Or the exuberant warmth that surrounded him as the words began to register in Adrien's mind.

He could jump for joy right now.

"Oh, thank you, father!" Adrien said, smiling. "Thank you so much!"

Was that a…smirk he found on Gabriel?

Adrien didn't care. He was too busy celebrating.

"She is going as your plus one, isn't she?" Gabriel asked.

"Yes," Adrien said happily.

"I expect nothing but the very best dresses from that girl," Gabriel said.

Adrien could fly right now. "Of course! She made her own dress and she's super talented."

"I am aware. She made the feather hat for the competition. A very talented young designer indeed," Gabriel said.

So he knew her! And regarded her highly!

Maybe it was Adrien's birthday today. No, that wasn't right. His birthday never was happy. At least, after his mom had disappeared. It wasn't Christmas, because he never got any presents or ate with his father after his mom had disappeared. It wasn't his father's birthday because Gabriel was strict and grumpy no matter what. It wasn't his mother's birthday or day of disappearance because they were the one and same.

His father must have been replaced by an affectionate robot. Or had come back to when his mother had been around. Adrien didn't know what to think of it. He smiled, hoping that this would last.

"Next."

Marinette and Adrien walked up to the receptionist.

"Name?"

"Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Adrien said. Marinette smiled.

The receptionist did not look up. "Your clothes are inside the lobby," she said, pointing inside. "Here is the tag for your dress, so that you can find it easily," she said, handing the pair two slips of paper.

"Thank you," they both said to the receptionist. The receptionist did not look up.

"Next."

The lobby was divided into the left side, which were for the men, and the right side, which were for the women. The middle was left empty for the red carpet.

Marinette couldn't count the sheer number of rackets with clothes, just on the women's side. "10…30…50…100…" she muttered, eyes wide with shock.

While the left side were mostly black suits or tuxedos with an eye-catching color like red here-or-there, the right side had all the colors of the rainbow, plus pink, white, black, grey, and any other colors Marinette could think of.

She was amazed at the stunning difference. One would think, because the attendees were those who were most tuned into fashion, that the men's would have more variety in their colors. But they didn't.

"I'm going to, uh," Adrien pointed to the left side. "Get mine," he said.

Marinette smiled. "Okay. I'll go find my dress too," pointing in the opposite direction. And with those words, they separated.

Marinette looked at the paper. "T13," she mumbled, taking a deep breath.

This was it. This was her entry into the fashion industry. By the side of the famous model Adrien Agreste.

She sighed happily. This was everything she could have hoped for and more. She was going to make sure to give Adrien her thanks for bringing her here. She didn't know how to repay him, but maybe she could feed him for an entire year for free. Maybe that would do.

She began looking for where T started.

"T…T…T…" Marinette said, fingering the signs that were on top of the rackets. Since A was at the front of the gates, she had to go down considerably.

She couldn't find it!

She was sure this was where T was. Every clothing had a tag that started with T.

Then she had started looking for the tags where the double digits had started. Just three more down, and then she would find it.

But it wasn't there!

The tags went from T12 to T14.

And her dress was nowhere in sight.

What was she going to do? She couldn't attend the fashion show without having a dress. And she wasn't dressed in anything fancy right now; she was only dressed in her signature black blazer and pink jeans. She was going to stand out too much because she wasn't dressed up enough.

It was the worst way to stand out.

When designers would see her, they would think of her as unprofessional because she wasn't dressed up! They would put her on their list of people that they would never hire, just because of today. She would never make it into the industry. Never. Just because she couldn't find her stupid dress!

She would be ruining her life and career!

She let her fingers run through underneath her eyes. This couldn't be happening right now. She had to have a dress to wear, but she didn't know what to do. What was she to do? Her head started aching.

"I don't know what dress I'm going to wear, John. I'm going to wear the one that I feel like wearing." Marinette heard a mumble and turned around to face the source of the noise. Something about that voice was irritatingly familiar.

And it was. It was Chloe. With her butler, who had a…yellow teddy bear with him?

"Forgive me, Ms. Bourgeois, but it's not John, it's-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Chloe brushed it aside.

Ugh. Not this again. Not today. Things were already going terrible for her as it was.

Marinette sighed. They met eyes.

Chloe scoffed. "What are you doing, Marinette Dupain-Cheng?"

"Obviously, I'm here to pick up my dress?" Marinette said. She didn't want to tell Chloe about the fact that her dress was nowhere to be seen.

"Well, I hope you find it quickly and get out of my sight," Chloe said, shooing her.

Marinette wished that she could be as infinitely patient as Tikki was. Because she didn't think it would take much for her to boil today.

Five minutes passed, and Chloe was still trying to pick out her clothes.

"I like this," Chloe said, holding out a blue dress, "and this," holding out the polka dotted one. "What do you think I should wear?" she asked her butler.

The butler's face lit up and Marinette smiled sympathetically. "Well, Ms. Bourgeois, if I may. I believe that the blue dress brings out the color of your eyes and will look stunning on you."

"What do you mean?" Chloe flipped her hair. "I'm always stunning."

"Of course, Ms. Bourgeois. I did not mean it that way." The butler balanced tightly on the rope of his thoughts. "I just mean that-"

"I know what you mean, okay?" Chloe said. "But I like the Ladybug dress a lot too, and everyone knows that I would make a great Ladybug." Chloe flipped her hair once again.

Marinette took a moment to gag.

Chloe frowned. "Why are you still even here? Go on, now, shoo shoo," Chloe flicked her wrists and looked to the side, as if Marinette wasn't even worth it.

Marinette clenched her fists. "Well, I would happily," she began, "if my dress hadn't suddenly gone missing." She crossed her arms and looked away from Chloe.

Chloe was surprised. "I thought that you had your dress with Adrikins yesterday," she said, the name said in a more saccharine way than usual. Everything else was said with less sweetness and more bitterness. Especially the you part.

But…for once in a while, Chloe hadn't tried to sabotage her?

Marinette let out an exasperated sigh. "Look Chloe, I don't want to deal with you today. I had pulled an all-nighter to make my dress perfect and get it done on time, but it seems that it has suddenly gone missing. My luck is in shambles right now, and I don't need you to go and further ruin it," Marinette said the words slowly.

Chloe scoffed and clenched her fists. "What do you mean," she began to raise her voice, until something calmed her down, making her breathe in and out to relax. Marinette looked in the direction Chloe was looking.

The butler had…squeezed a yellow teddy bear?

Chloe put on a fake smile. "Well, that wasn't nice at all," Chloe said, making Marinette scoff. "Especially since I could help you out," she said.

Marinette's eyes widened in panic. Chloe? Help?

Chloe scoffed. "Your face tells me that you don't think that I can help anyone."

Well, when you had been in the same class as her for four consecutive years…

"You may not believe it, but I am," Chloe said, pointing her fingers at herself. "a very generous person when I feel like it." Which was never, Marinette thought. "And since I have been feeling very generous today," Chloe began, "I will lend you my polka-dotted dress for the show," she said, giving Marinette the polka dotted dress.

Marinette couldn't believe it. Chloe Bourgeois was giving her, Marinette, Chloe's most hated enemy, her clothes?

And it wasn't even ugly.

It was beautiful. The polka dotted dress was covered from head to toe in glitter, with the black spots each having a black gem inside. It reached to the ankles with a halter neckline, and an open back all the way from the shoulders to where the stomach ended. Marinette also saw that there were red and black jewelry that switched colors as it went down. So that they were red earrings, black necklace, and red and black bangles, one on each arm. Even the shoes were red.

It was unbelievable.

This could not be true. Maybe this was a dream.

Nah, even she wasn't that crazy to have a dream like this.

It was real.

It was unbelievably real.

Chloe is being very nice today… Now that was something that Marinette never expected to say about her classmate.

Marinette hoped this didn't come with strings attached.

"What are you staring at me like that for?" Chloe asked. "Don't you want it?"

Marinette smiled with delight. So Chloe was not doing this to sabotage her! She was actually trying to help her! Inside that cold and unfeeling exterior that had a complete disregard for other humans, Chloe had a heart that was capable of being kind. It warmed Marinette's heart to think of this.

"Just take it off my hands," Chloe said, turning to the side and crinkling her nose as if the dress smelled disgusting to her. "I don't want it anyways."

Marinette smiled again. This was Chloe's way of being nice, and she was happy that the girl was making progress.

Marinette would have gladly taken it, if it hadn't been so Ladybug-like.

Marinette hunched her shoulders and smiled, trying to hide her grimace. "I'm very thankful for the gesture, Chloe," she said bittersweetly. "But could you loan me a different dress?" Marinette said, looking at the other dresses that were now piled on the floor. "I have a feeling that this dress," she pointed at the Ladybug dress, "wouldn't fit me."

"Of course it does," Chloe said. "You and I are the same size," she said.

Marinette's eyes widened at the fact that Chloe knew they were the same size. That she knew anything about her, period.

"Oh, no," Marinette chuckled nervously. "I don't mean that. I just mean that I wouldn't feel, uh… confident in that dress?" her voice rose from the word. She smiled nervously. She hoped she hadn't upset Chloe.

She had.

Chloe clenched her fists and dropped both of her dresses. "See Jacques?" Chloe turned to the butler, who was trying to correct her his name. "See what happens when I try to be…nice to people?" She said the word as if it were a disease. "Look at what happened here! I tried to loan my enemy my favorite dress of all time but she turns it down without an ounce of gratitude! She should be thanking me!" Chloe said, fuming.

"But I am grateful-" Marinette began.

"No you aren't!" Chloe stomped her foot. "If you were grateful, you would have accepted the dress in a heartbeat!" She yelled. "Well, it's fine anyways," she began. "you can have the dress, whether you want it or not," Chloe said, turning her head away from Marinette. Chloe was still fuming.

She walked away, stomping. "Since you hate it so much, it will be even more satisfying for me when you do wear it!" Chloe said, as she picked up the rest of her dresses but the polka dotted one and stormed off.

Marinette tried to reach her. "I-"

But it was too late. Chloe had already stomped to where she wouldn't be able to hear Marinette's voice.

Looking at the polka dotted dress, Marinette sighed. She picked it up and went to the changing rooms.

"I guess there's no other choice?"

Adrien sighed with relief but also with disappointment. His father hadn't showed up.

Now that he knew that his father wasn't there, he knew that he could relax a little bit more than if he had been around. Although he was still expected to be on his best behavior, and so he was still bound.

But he also was sad that his father didn't come. He had said of "important matters," but what was more important than this fashion show? This was the ultimate opportunity to network with other companies, collect inspiration, and catch up on the latest gossip in the industry. Adrien knew that Gabriel wasn't a very…talkative man, and couldn't imagine him partaking in the gossip, but he knew that his father did engage in conversations whenever they served a purpose. Also, as much as the man was hard to be around and Adrien did avoid him, he was warmer and more cordial whenever they were in events like this.

Adrien knew, deep down, that the cordiality was mostly for show, but he still wanted the occasional taps on the shoulder and smirks of content on his father's face. To know that he had caused that smirk, because his father was proud of him.

He exited the changing rooms and heaved a huge sigh. He wished he could see something like that often. It was getting harder and harder now to see his father out of the room.

"Adrien?" A voice asked across from him.

He looked up. And was blinded.

He rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren't lying to him.

He had thought he knew. That he was prepared for this.

But seeing it was different from just pure speculation.

Now, he had no doubts as to who she really was.

Marinette really was Ladybug.

He couldn't believe it. He couldn't unsee it.

Marinette was wearing a Ladybug-themed dress. A Ladybug-themed dress! With the blue rose accessory that he had given her, her maze-like eyes were brought into center stage. The clash of red, blue, and black said a bold statement about Marinette, who was now blushing.

He had seen the striking resemblance between Ladybug and Marinette before, but now, this was too much. If he could die, this would have been the moment.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

But… "This isn't the red dress that you designed…?" he asked.

Marinette blushed. "Yeah. I couldn't find mine, so I had to borrow one of Chloe's," she looked to the sides.

His eyes widened. "Chloe?" he asked with disbelief.

"Yeah. I was surprised too," she smiled. Her smile was infectious. "Crazy, huh?"

"Well," Adrien chuckled. "I guess we'll have to thank Chloe later."

Marinette looked at her with a sheepish grin, which suddenly melted into a frown.

"How did you know that this wasn't the dress that I had in mind?" After all, this dress was red as well.

"Er...Just, a guess?" Adrien shrugged.

Marinette smirked.

What did that mean?

Looking desperately for a change, he checked the clock. Lucky for him, it was almost time. "Come on," he said, grinning and putting his right hand on her back. "The show's about to start."

Luckily, no one seemed to figure out that Marinette was Ladybug.

These people actually were all blind. That was the only answer. Even those who were most sensitive to the smallest nuances in clothing texture couldn't figure it out. She was baffled and grateful at the same time.

No one had commented how Ladybug she had looked or whispered anything about the superheroine other than compliments on the Ladybug-themed dress. At least, not that she could hear of.

She walked, letting Adrien guide her to where her dreams would unfold.

Adrien led Marinette to their seats at the front row and they both sat down. The lights on the seats dimmed and the focus was now solely on the catwalk.

Gabriel's brand was up first. One by one, the models flaunted their attires, ranging from summer swimsuits to formal attire. It was all boring and the same old same old to Adrien.

But after seeing the joy on Marinette's face as each model strut their stuff, Adrien smiled. And also wished silently that he was the one up there, giving Marinette the joy and sheer enthusiasm that made his heart flutter. Although Adrien was the face of the brand, he was not participating because Gabriel wasn't present. He was expected to be the substitute for Gabriel, which was a hard task in itself.

He watched all of the clothes, one by one, as they came and faded into memory.

Except for one.

The formal attire was covered in a deep shade of purple. In fact, everything on the formal wear that was clothing was purple. There was a giant black butterfly-shaped lapel that reminded him of…someone. The model also wore black gloves and a…grey mask that was shaped like a butterfly. Where his tie should be was a brooch.

Adrien thought it odd. Although the Agreste logo was a butterfly, the lapel was not shaped like the logo. It looked far more pointed and angular than the logo, to the point that he could see that the attire had been inspired by butterflies. Lots and lots of butterflies.

Which were not untypical. Although Parisians began to regard butterflies in a bad light due to Hawkmoth, the Agreste logo had always been a butterfly. At least, Adrien remembered it that way. But this was the first time that he had seen his father directly and blatantly be inspired by something.

And…Hawkmoth…Hawkmoth…Hawkmoth!

He gaped in horror.

It looked just like what Hawkmoth had worn when Volpina had cast her illusion.

Was this a coincidence? Or was it not?

Hello!

A quick announcement.

I have been getting behind on the challenges. So, I'm afraid that I'll have to finish the challenge a little bit late. Hopefully it will only be one day late.

Hope that doesn't stop anyone from reading this though!

Thank you so much for the support :D

#Miraculous Ladybug #Adrien Appreciation Week #We Are Miraculous #Fanfiction

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whitebear-ofthe-watertribe · 7 years

Text

That Which Holds Us - Chapter 1

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug (Sequel to A Brand New Dawn)

Pairing(s): Adrien / Marinette, Nino / Alya

Summary: It’s been several months since Ladybug and Chat Noir discovered their true identities. Now that they aren’t trapped by secrets, they can finally be their full selves around each other and have never been closer. Marinette is going into her final year at university, Adrien is exploring new classes and passions, and their friends Alya and Nino seem to be moving towards a happy future together. It all feels like things couldn’t be better.

But of course, nothing in life is quite so perfect.

When Adrien starts having vivid nightmares and visions about his mother, old questions begin to resurface. Will he be able to find the answers, or will these ghosts from the past tear apart the heroes of Paris for good?

Reminder, you can also read / follow this fic at AO3 here, and FF.net here.

Word Count: 6,817

Enjoy!!!

The late August sun beat down upon Paris from a brilliant, cloudless sky. The city was full of bustling noise as its inhabitants tried to take advantage of the last days of Summer. Cars drove with the windows rolled down, blasting upbeat music as they passed. Hordes of people explored the many kiosks, strolled along the river banks, and flew kites in the refreshing breeze that blew through the parks and along the busy streets.

Alya sat perched at a small round patio table of an open-front bistro just off campus. The computer before her displayed the latest article she’d been commissioned to write, and her overflowing notebook and third coffee of the day rested beside it. She tapped her pen on the paper impatiently, trying and failing to find the right words to fill her introduction. Letting out a sigh, she set the pen down and reached up to nudge her glasses onto her forehead. Pressing her fingers against her eyelids, she enjoyed the cool wind that played across the back of her neck, momentarily dispelling the day’s heat.

As she sat there, Alya began taking in some of the chatter of the people surrounding her. A couple of women walking along the sidewalk were gabbing about a dinner party they were planning. A little girl was asking her uncle questions at a neighboring table as he patiently tried to teach her the rules of chess; Alya smiled at the girl’s names for each of the pieces, including “Princess Pony” and calling the pawns “prunes.”

An irritated voice caught Alya’s attention. She curiously peeked through her fingers to see a man around her own age standing in line for the bistro’s counter, clearly in a heated phone discussion.

“No, Mother… Mother I’m fine… No, I’m not moving back home. School’s starting and… Yes, I understand you’re worried, but as I told you last week, I like my job. I mean I’m honestly used to the Akumas at this point! Everyone is!”

‘Ah,’ thought Alya, suddenly realizing what was going on.

It was a familiar discussion that she’d heard a dozen times in recent months. A number of people she went to school with had already left the city in favor of transferring to places where the threat of supervillain attack was a bit less common.

For the people of Paris who’d lived with it for nearly a decade, the Akuma attacks had sort of become standard news. Sure, there were still plenty of people who experienced a thrill of fear every time they heard some bangs and explosions in the distance. However, most folks planned the risk of attack into their daily schedule, much like leaving their house early to account for rush hour traffic. And when friends or family called to check in, it was not unusual for them to insist their loved ones move out of the city at once. Or, at the very least, ask for updates about the escapades of their favorite superheroes and villains.

Alya had always considered herself pretty good at keeping a cool head during attacks; after all, she’d been directly involved in enough of them. She’d had a deep love for superheroes ever since she was little, and the excitement she got from running straight into the heart of battles always overshadowed any fears she might’ve had.

It wasn’t really until Puppet Master’s attack in January – when Marinette had been so badly injured – that she finally started to see these attacks as truly dangerous. And it seemed as though the rest of the city was of the same mind.

Ever since that incident, Paris had been rallying behind their heroes with a new intensity she’d never seen before. To learn that their beloved heroes were not perfectly infallible – that they couldn’t always set everything back to normal after every attack – made them all realize that there was actual risk involved.

There had even been a lot of anger towards the city’s law enforcement and politicians for not doing more to bring this villain to justice. A new chief of police had been appointed, replacing the father of Alya’s old schoolmate, Sabrina Raincomprix. From what she could tell, this new guy – Chief Thomas Benoit – had actually been extremely helpful to Ladybug and Chat Noir. Multiple times, he’d done an amazing job of getting civilians to safety so that the heroes could focus on the Akumas. He’d even contacted Alya about her old Ladyblog, asking her for permission to use it as a civilian hotline and resource in tracking down Hawkmoth himself. The Ladyblog was more popular than it had been in years as people tried to take matters into their own hands and bring the villain to justice.

A soft ding from her computer’s speakers brought Alya out of her contemplation.

Pulling her hands away from her face and repositioning her glasses, she grimaced as she shifted to unstick her thighs from the wooden seat. As much as she loved Summer, she was really ready for some cool Autumn weather. The notification in the corner of her screen told her that Adrien had just sent her a large folder. Clicking on it, her mouth drew into a smile when she saw the page full of picture thumbnails from last week’s camping trip.

Adrien had spent a week and a half earlier that Summer in the American Rocky Mountains, participating in a photo campaign for the prAna company. He’d joined a small team that climbed a handful of the 14ers closest to the city of Denver. When he returned home, he’d brought a huge assortment of backpacking gear for himself and Marinette, and enthusiastically insisted that the four of them go out for a camping weekend before school started up.

Nino and Alya were no strangers to hiking adventures. They both enjoyed traveling regularly for their jobs, and there was no better way to see a new place than to walk it.

By the end of that weekend, though, it was clear that Marinette was a city girl through and through. While she kept a good face about sleeping in tents, carrying heavy loads, and doing business in the woods, all of them could see how relieved she was to be back in urban civilization.

As Alya clicked through the pictures, her smile grew.

Adrien had done amazing work photographing their trip, capturing stunning shots of the wilderness and wildlife they’d encountered, sprinkled with plenty of excellent shots of the four of them. Of course, no small number of pictures featured Marinette as their focus.

Alya snorted affectionately as she clicked through several in a row of Marinette blushing furiously and laughing as she tried to snatch Adrien’s camera away from him.

Her two friends had become next to inseparable in the past months. Alya had the sneaking suspicion that the near-death incident, as horrible as it was, had caused Marinette to finally break out of her comfort zone and take the next step in her relationship with Adrien.

‘Well, at least one good thing came of that horrible time,’ Alya thought.

She and Nino were beyond thrilled about this turn of events; it had been something they’d all be waiting for ever since their years in middle school.

“And speaking of waiting…” Alya muttered under her breath as her eyes flicked down to the clock on her computer screen.

Her friends should have joined her at the restaurant for lunch a while ago, and now they were all officially late.

Frowning slightly, Alya reached under her chair to grab the phone from her purse, preparing to message Nino. She was halfway done with her text when a flash of movement outside the patio gate caught her eye.

Alya looked up to find Nino and Adrien hurrying up the path between tables, looking gently frazzled.

“It’s about time!” Alya called, waving them over. “What’s going on with you two? You look like you’ve just seen –”

“An Akuma?” Nino offered, coming over to her as Adrien scanned the patio. “Well, you’re not wrong.”

“Really?” Alya raised her eyebrows, quickly closing her computer and feeling more awake now than she had from any of her three coffees.

“An attack just started a couple blocks down,” Adrien confirmed. “Where’s Marinette?”

“She hasn’t shown up yet,” Alya replied, shoving her stuff into her bag and leaving payment for her coffee on the table.

Adrien craned his neck to peer up and down the street when they got to the sidewalk.

Alya could hear distant screams and what sounded like a man shouting. She couldn’t quite make his words out.

“I should go look for her,” Adrien said, turning to face Alya and Nino.

Nino smirked at him, nodding in agreement.

“Give us a call when you find her, kay?”

Alya quickly pulled out her phone, opening up her camera and turning on the spot to try and see where exactly the battle was taking place. The commotion sounded like it was getting closer.

“We’ll meet up here when all of this is over, kay?” Adrien called, starting to head off down the street in the opposite direction of the noise.

Nino nodded. “See you in a –”

“LOOK OUT!”

There was a loud humming noise and a flash of bright red.

Suddenly, Alya’s breath was knocked out of her. A sharp pain in her shoulder told her that she’d just been knocked against the restaurant’s stone siding.

Nino had his arms wrapped protectively around her.

Looking over his shoulder, Alya saw Adrien was nowhere to be found. She caught a glimpse of Ladybug swinging around the corner at the end of the block. It looked like she was carrying someone, but before Alya could get a better look, she heard a strained grunt come from Nino. Quickly she pushed him off her and placed her hands on his cheeks to see where he was injured.

“Babe! Are you ok–”

The words died on her tongue as she took a better look at him. It was as if time had been set on fast-forward; where one moment Nino stood there looking perfectly ordinary, the next his hair had turned grey, and he’d grown a bushy beard to match. Wrinkles framed his amber eyes as he looked back at her, worry streaking across his face when he saw her surprise.

“What? What’s happened?!” he exclaimed, his voice coming out a little deeper and hoarser than before.

“Well, I guess this means we know what the Akuma’s powers are.”

Alya ran her fingers through his silver hair, and Nino frowned at her.

“What are you talking – ” Nino stopped dead, staring at his reflection in the window beside her. He let out a yelp as his hands flew to his face. “WHAT THE HELL?!”

“Hun, calm down. You look fine!”

Alya fought hard against the laugh that threatened to burst out, pressing a hand to her lips as she watched her boyfriend closely inspect his new, sagely features.

“I look like my grandfather.”

“Yes,” Alya snorted, unlocking her phone and opening the camera once again as she hurried down the street towards the sounds of the battle. “Well, haven’t you always said that you wanted to grow up to be as suave as him?”

“I mean, I expected it to happen over the course of decades, not seconds!” replied Nino irritably as he finally turned away from his reflection to hurry after her.

“Don’t worry babe, you still rock a beard better than anyone!” Alya shot over her shoulder. “Oh, by the way…”

She spun on her heel and raised her phone up to him. When the sounds of the camera shutter went off, Nino scowled.

“Why?” he grumbled.

“For the Ladyblog!” Alya said brightly, turning around to continue running. “And for your Mom. You know she’s gonna get a huge kick out of this!”

*******

Adrien felt a great lurching in his stomach, and opened his eyes to find himself soaring through the air. Looking around, he discovered that he’d been flung over Ladybug’s shoulder, and she had an arm wrapped securely around his waist. She used her yo-yo to swing around a building’s corner and up onto the rooftops of a block of department stores.

He smiled affectionately at the back of her head, realizing that she’d just saved him from an Akuma’s attack so that he could be sure to fight by her side.

“Sorry to snatch you up like that!” Ladybug called to him. “But we’ve got a monster to stop!”

Coming to a halt, Ladybug made to set him down, but Adrien grinned devilishly and wrapped his arms around her neck so that she had no choice but to hold him up, one hand under his knees, the other supporting his shoulders.

He beamed up at her, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Adrien, what are you –”

“Wooow, Ladybug!” Adrien gushed, fluttering his eyes at her. “You saved me! You’re so cool and strong…”

“Oh for the love of –” Ladybug rolled her eyes and let her arms drop down.

With a whoomph, Adrien sprawled at her feet, flinching to keep his exposed skin from touching the roof’s hot tiles. He let out a bark of laughter as he gazed up at her.

“Wait, nooo!” He reached out to her playfully. “You’re my hero, Ladybug! You’re so pretty and brave and awesome and –”

“And ready to smack you if you keep this up,” Ladybug cut him off, but he could hear the amusement in her voice as she stepped over him and out of his reach. Her cheeks had taken on a shade of red that had nothing to do with the sunburn she’d gotten while camping. “Just transform, you idiot cat.”

“As M’lady commands,” Adrien said, smirking as Plagg emerged from his pocket to hover between the two of them.

“Do you two have to be stupid and lovey-dovey every single time?” he wined.

“Excuse me?” Ladybug scoffed, looking over her shoulder and putting her hands on her hips as Adrien sat up and rested his arms on his knees. “I’m the one trying to act like a professional over here!”

“Seriously?” Plagg drawled. “You’re the one who didn’t have to save the idiot cat’s ass in the first place.”

Adrien nodded stoically.

“He’s got a point. I mean it’s almost like…” He let out a theatrical gasp, his hands flying to his cheeks. “Does the beloved heroine of Paris like me?!”

Ladybug rolled her eyes again and turned back to fully face him. She opened her mouth to retort, but her words were drowned out by a shout of alarm from below.

Forcibly reminded of why they were on the rooftop in the first place, Adrien leapt to his feet and cried, “Plagg, transforme moi!”

Plagg’s final muttering of, “Idiots” faded with the burst of green light that momentarily surged around them, and suddenly Chat Noir stood beside his Lady, flashing her his usual Cheshire grin.

“So, Bugaboo, what exactly are we dealing with?”

“Well…” Ladybug peered over the building’s ledge, and Chat followed her gaze to see a tall, elderly man in a tweed patterned suit and homburg hat walking purposefully along the street.

He held a polished wooden cane in his hand, and Chat’s ears picked up the sharp crack it made with his every step. For all the world, this man could have simply been enjoying an afternoon stroll in the sunshine, except for the fact that his skin was as pale white as parchment paper, and nearly as translucent.

Before either of them could move, the Akuma caught sight of a couple young men hurrying away from him.

There was a loud hum and Chat felt a sort of static pulse shoot through the air as the Akuma spun his cane and brought it against the ground.

CRACK.

Chat Noir gasped as he saw that the two young men suddenly weren’t so young anymore.

“This’ll teach you!” the Akuma cried. “This’ll teach ALL of you! You can’t just throw the Sage away because of old age! Not when everyone else is old, too!”

“From what I can tell, this guy didn’t get a promotion or something because he’s a bit older,” Ladybug said beside him, and Chat looked down at her as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. “If I were to guess, I’d say the Akuma is inside the cane. Thoughts?”

“Makes sense to me,” Chat nodded as she glanced up at him. “That does look like where his power seems to be coming from. Do you have a plan yet?”

“You go low, I go high?” Ladybug suggested.

“Come from behind? I’ll keep his attention,” he offered, shooting her a wink before they both dove in opposite directions.

Chat lithely made his way down the side of the building to land on all fours in the middle of the street, several yards from the Sage. He noticed a few civilians peeking out from behind the shop windows on either side of the street.

“Aren’t you a little old to be acting so childish?” Chat called, standing up and rolling his shoulders. “I mean, I know they say, ‘act the age you feel,’ but this seems a little counter intuitive, dontchya think?”

The Sage turned to face him fully.

“I am really, really tired of children telling me what to do,” he growled, the grip on his cane tightening.

“Um, rude!” Chat scoffed dramatically, catching a glimpse of his Lady making her way along the roof behind the Akuma.

She was holding what seemed to be a large, elaborate kite. He assumed that must be her Lucky Charm.

“I mean, I think I should get a little more credit,” he continued, “for the fact that I know how to file my own taxes, thank you very much.”

Before the Akuma could retort, Ladybug flew off the roof. Holding the kite above her head, she brought it down with a cry of “Take that!” and effectively trapped his arms between the fabric and string.

The Sage, however, twirled the cane between his fingers and caught her ankle in its hook.

Ladybug let out a yelp of surprise and tumbled to the ground.

Chat hurried towards her.

“You ok?”

“The Akuma!” she cried, glancing up.

He spun to see the Akuma throwing the kite trap to the side.

The Sage began to swing his cane over his head, and a hum filled the air again.

Chat let out a battle cry and launched himself forward.

Trying to direct his attack, the Sage turned to follow him, but in a fluid motion, Chat flipped into the air, soaring right over the top of the Sage’s head and snatching the cane out of his hands.

In another swift motion, he snatched up the kite and thrust it firmly back over the Akuma’s head, this time wrapping his arms together with the kite’s string.

“A gift for you, M’lady,” Chat said, moving towards her and offering her a hand, helping her to her feet.

“Aw!” Ladybug gushed, taking the cane with a dazzling smile. “You shouldn’t have, Kitty! It’s not even my birthday.”

“Anything for you, my dear,” Chat swept into a low bow.

Ladybug raised the cane high and brought it down onto her knee, splitting it in half with a loud snap.

As she caught up the dark butterfly and quickly restored the world to its former normalcy, Chat turned and made his way over to the old man sitting on the ground where the Akuma had just stood. The man was gazing around in confusion until he spotted them. A look of understanding flashed across his face.

“I didn’t mean to get so upset,” the man said sadly as Chat helped him stand up. “I was just… angry. The company I helped build said they wanted to replace me with someone younger, and I guess I just…”

“I’m so sorry,” Chat said gently. “It’s not right that they were prepared to just get rid of you like that after all the work you’ve done to get your company where it is today. Is there any way you could still participate in how things are run?”

The man looked at him thoughtfully before shrugging.

“Eh, we’ll see what happens. I’m sure my husband would be thrilled to have me finally considering retirement.”

“I hope you can find a way to transition on good terms,” Chat offered kindly. “Don’t let them bully you into anything, yeah?”

Chuckling, the old man offered Chat a hand and he shook it. “You know, young sir, you’re alright . Thank you for helping me out of that vile darkness.”

“My pleasure, Monsieur. Good luck.”

Ladybug appeared by his shoulder and offered the man his un-Akumatized walking cane, which he took gratefully before turning to go.

“Everything ok?” she asked, looking between the two of them.

“Yeah,” Chat said. “I just… I wish we could help more, sometimes.”

“I know what you mean,” Ladybug said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “But we can’t solve everyone’s problems.”

Just as he heard her earrings give off their tell-tale beep, a small flood of news reporters appeared and quickly approached them, cameras and notepads in hand. A jumble of questions reached Chat Noir’s ears.

Before he could open his mouth to respond, Ladybug had stepped forward to address them.

“Sorry to be rude,” she said kindly but firmly. “But we really must be going!”

The two of them hurried off, launching into the air and soaring over the crowd until they found a secluded corner a couple blocks away.

Detransforming, Adrien looked around to see Marinette catching Tikki out of midair. The angry lines of her camping trip sunburn were made even more apparent under her navy sundress. Where her spotted suit had hidden the worst of it, these thin straps did not.

“Well, at least that was easy,” he said fanning himself in the heat, and she shrugged.

“Too easy,” she muttered, pulling her phone out of her pocket to check the time. “Crap, we totally missed our lunch window. Have you seen Nino and Alya yet?”

“Yeah, they were going to try and get some footage of the fight last I knew.”

Plagg was staring at Adrien pointedly, so he began rummaging in his pockets for cheese.

“Did they say where to meet up?” Tikki asked over the bit of pastry Marinette had just fished out for her. “There’s still a few minutes before you guys have to head back to work.”

“They should be back at the restaurant,” Adrien nodded.

Taking Marinette’s hand, they hurried out onto the street which was once more filled with people going about their business. They wove their way down the block, and rounding the last corner, they heard a familiar voice calling their names. Looking around, he saw Alya waving them over to where she and Nino stood waiting.

“Are you guys ok?” Nino asked, giving them a sweeping look, searching for injuries.

“We’re fine,” Marinette smiled. “I just had to save Adrien’s butt from getting blasted by the Akuma, but other than that…”

“Oh please, you’re the one who fell over.” Adrien exchanged an amused glance with her before turning back to their friends. “Did you get any good footage for the Ladyblog?”

“Ohoho, I did better than that.”

Alya pulled her phone out and Nino let out a huff beside her as she flipped through it to a particular image, holding it out proudly for Adrien and Marinette to see.

“Wait… is that…?!” Marinette gasped and Adrien burst out laughing.

“Man! You got blasted?”

“Ha ha ha,” Nino rolled his eyes, crossing his arms indignantly.

Adrien could tell he was fighting to hide a smile.

“Alya, please send that to me,” he demanded, grinning as he pulled out his own phone. “This is absolutely going to be your new caller ID picture.”

“Done!”

“Dude!?” Nino exclaimed.

“Don’t fight it, babe,” Alya patted Nino gently on the arm. “Do you guys still have any time left to grab a bite?”

“No, I’m sorry,” Marinette wrapped her arms around Alya’s neck apologetically. “I really need to get back to the bakery. The afternoon rush is probably just starting.”

“Shall we raincheck, then?” Nino suggested. “We can figure something out for tomorrow?”

“Sounds good to me,” Marinette smiled, quickly giving both Alya and Nino a peck on the cheek before taking Adrien’s hand. “We’ll have more time to catch up then, anyways.”

They waved goodbye, and Adrien gave her hand an affectionate squeeze as they headed off in the direction of the Dupain-Cheng bakery.

“How long do you work tonight?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“I’m closing.”

“Didn’t you open this morning?” Adrien raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “And I closed last night too.”

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

Marinette shrugged again. “That’s what my parents said too. I’m just trying to get in as many hours as I can before school starts, you know?”

“I guess,” Adrien looked at her sideways. “But you look kinda tired. Are you sure you’re not pushing it too hard? I’m pretty sure they expect you to go back to school rested.”

“It’s fine,” Marinette grinned up at him. “Although I think I’m going to skip patrol tonight, if that’s ok?”

“That’s fine, Bugaboo. Are we still going to Master Fu’s tomorrow?”

“Yeah of course,” she nodded. “I have a new shirt for him.”

“Tropical?”

“Always.”

They paused at the top of a set of stairs leading down to the underground subway system.

Adrien leaned down to give her a quick kiss.

“Be sure to get some good sleep tonight, kay?”

“I’ll text you later,” Marinette said, giving his hand a squeeze goodbye as she turned to go.

Adrien watched her walk away, admiring how the sun reflecting off her dark hair made it look exceptionally blue for a moment. He smiled to himself before heading down the stairs to find the train that would take him back to his office.

The remainder of Adrien’s afternoon was filled with video calls and meetings. By the end of the day, he was thoroughly tired of work. He’d barely gotten to see his friends that afternoon, and he’d been counting on spending a little more time with Marinette than just taking down yet another villain.

He stayed late into the evening, though, enjoying how quiet the building got when the day lights had been turned down and most of the people had left. He cherished times like this when he could actually finish things up without interruption.

The moment he left his office, his feet made his mind up for him. He climbed up a few flights of stairs until he emerged onto the roof.

The night sky was lit up with the orangey glow of the city. A warm breeze ruffled his hair as he breathed in the delicious smell coming from a nearby restaurant.

Plagg flew out from Adrien’s shirt pocket and perched on his shoulder.

“So, we’re going to the girls’ place, huh?” he inquired, and Adrien grinned down at him.

“I think the city can survive without a patrol for one night.”

Plagg gave a little whoop of enthusiasm, spiraling off Adrien’s shoulder to loop happily through the air.

“Beautiful cheese, here I come!”

Adrien laughed, amused at how much his catty Kwami had grown to love Marinette. As much as Plagg had tried to hide it, justifying his enthusiasm with the excuse of loving the cheese she always had, Adrien could tell how deep his affection for Marinette ran.

He rolled his shoulders before taking a running leap off the roof’s ledge. In a burst of light, he landed as Chat Noir on a neighboring building and sprinted off in the direction of Marinette and Alya’s apartment, his tail fluttering out behind him.

It only took him several minutes to make his way over the busy roadways and loud street corners where people enjoyed the pleasant evening. Even though the air was cooling off with the absence of the afternoon’s blazing sun, by the time he flipped onto the building across from their apartment, he was feeling uncomfortably hot.

Pausing for a moment, he carefully observed his destination through the living room windows.

Alya was pacing in the kitchen, her phone held between her cheek and shoulder while her hands were occupied with a spoon and a pint of ice cream. She let out a laugh, and from what Chat’s sharp ears could pick up, she was talking to Nino.

He smiled as his eyes slid over to Marinette’s window, which sat open to let in the night air.

She was standing in front of her mirror wearing only some sleep shorts and a sports bra, twisting her arms around uncomfortably to try and reach her back.

Chat tilted his head in confusion until he noticed the bottle of Aloe Vera laying atop the bureau beside her, and suddenly understood what she was trying to do.

Springing across the street, he soared easily through her window. As his boots hit her wooden floor, Marinette let out a yelp and jumped back in surprise.

“What the– ?!” she exclaimed loudly, stumbling into her bureau with a loud crash.

Chat was before her in a swift, fluid movement, one hand catching her around her waist to stop her fall, the other pressed over her mouth.

“Shh!” he hissed, grinning. “Alya is still in the kitchen!”

“Mar?” came Alya’s voice through the door. “Is everything ok?”

Chat widened his eyes imploringly.

“Is everything ok, Princess?” he whispered.

Marinette reached up to pull his hand away from her face with a huff, though he was pleased to note that she held onto it, weaving her fingers between his almost unthinkingly.

“I’m good!” Marinette called out. “Just tripped. No worries!”

“Ok, goodnight Ms. Clumsy!”

Chat noticed the kitchen light shining through the crack under in Marinette’s turn off.

“Goodnight!” Marinette said distractedly over her shoulder, before turning back to him. “What are you doing here?” she asked softly, raising her eyebrows.

“I missed you,” he shrugged.

Marinette let out a dramatic gasp. “Does this mean the beloved hero of Paris likes me?!” she said, making fun of his words from earlier.

Chat was only half successful in stifling his laughter as he dropped his transformation.

Plagg appeared to hover in the air beside them, looking rather expectantly at Marinette.

“Hello Plagg,” Marinette smirked, glancing sideways at him. “Let me guess...”

Stepping away from Adrien, she reached for the insulated lunchbox that held a permanent place on her bookshelf.

“Hello!” came another familiar voice, and Adrien turned around to see Tikki perched on one of Marinette’s bedposts, happily munching on a cookie that was easily twice her size and already halfway gone.

“How’s it going, Tikki?”

Adrien reached over to give her an affectionate pet on the top of her head with his thumb.

“Great,” she chirped. “Marinette was just talking about how she wished she could’ve seen you more today, too.”

“Was she, now?”

He grinned, feeling thoroughly pleased at his decision to come over.

Marinette turned towards him away from Plagg, who was already filling his cheeks with a rather odiferous cheese.

“Yeah, yeah, so I missed you too.”

She returned his smile, though.

He reached out to cup her cheek again, this time leaning in to brush his mouth against hers. He felt her hum happily against him, but as he trailed his hands gently over her shoulders, she broke away and hissed in pain.

“I’m so sorry!” Adrien threw his hands up in alarm. “I totally forgot!”

“No, no!” Marinette gave him an apologetic look, grabbing his hands and holding them tightly. “You’re totally fine!”

“I guess this means minimal cuddling still, huh?”

“Correct,” Marinette said, moving gingerly back in front of the mirror and grabbing the Aloe bottle again. “I’m just glad these burns are finally starting to get better.”

Adrien thought her use of the term “better” must be very loose in this situation. The lines where her normally pale skin met the deep red of sunburn still stood out in high contrast. Now it looked almost worse than before, as the damaged areas were beginning to blister and peel. He really, truly felt sorry for her.

Despite their best efforts to be responsible with the sunblock during their camping trip, they had spent their last afternoon playing in a river, which must’ve washed a lot of it off. But where his, Alya’s, and Nino’s sunburns had already faded into healthy tans, Marinette it seemed would only every transition between the tones of “porcelain ghost” and “cooked lobster,” as Nino had put it. None of their burns even hurt anymore, really. It was only poor Marinette who was stuck with the worst of it.

“I just can’t – reach – this – one – spot!”

Marinette tried and failed once again to reach an elusive point on her back with her fingers covered in the soothing gel.

Adrien chuckled, reaching out to push her arms down.

“Don’t worry, I got your back.”

Marinette gave him a grateful smile and moved away from her mirror over to her desk.

As Adrien quickly stripped out of his work clothes down to a t-shirt and briefs, she switched on a small fan near her window. It slowly started to rotate, pulling the cooler air from outside into the warm room. Adrien sighed in relief, enjoying how the temperature was already beginning to drop.

Tikki and Plagg bid them goodnight (mostly Tikki, as Plagg was still stuffing his mouth with cheese) and flew up to the top of Marinette’s tall bookcase. She had set up a sort of mini pillow fort in the space between the bookcase and the ceiling; it was their Kwami’s favorite place to hide away and get some privacy.

Marinette climbed onto her bed and slumped face down on the mattress, letting out a tired sigh.

“Busy day, huh?” Adrien asked, moving to sit cross-legged beside her and putting a dollop of Aloe on his hands.

“Yep,” Marinette grunted her voice muffled through the pillow before she turned her head to look at him. “I’ve been helping Mom and Dad train the new kid.”

She yawned hugely, and Adrien could tell that she was fading fast now that she’d lain down.

“Edmund, right?” Adrien gently traced the skin of her back with the lotion, feeling how much heat the burn areas were giving off and trying his best to be delicate. “How’s that going?”

“Mmm,” she sighed, reaching out for his free hand and gently tracing the cat tattoo on his forearm, her eyes closing lazily. “It’s going fine. He’s a fast learner and seems to do really well with the customers.”

“Do your parents like him?” he asked, smiling as her warm fingers left tingles on his skin.

“Yeah. I think my Dad is a little disappointed that I won’t be around to help with the decorations as much,” Marinette sighed, “but I’m sure they’ll train him up for all that in no time.”

Adrien reached out to put the lotion bottle on the desk and turned off her lamp light. Stretching out his legs, he laid down on his side, facing her.

“I have a hunch that he’s more disappointed that you’re going to be so wrapped up in your final year that you won’t have as much time with them.”

“Hmm,” Marinette mumbled. “How ‘bout you? How was your day?”

“Eh, fine I guess. The usual. I got all the pictures from our trip edited.”

“I saw those. I wanna hang some of them up.”

“I’ll get you some prints this week.”

“Mmm. Good.”

Her breathing was already slowing to a soft rhythm.

After a moment, Adrien realized she was already asleep. He grinned as he watched her in the soft street light that came in through her curtains, moving his fingers to deftly pull a soft strand of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.

“I love you,” he whispered, and closing his eyes, he too let himself drift gently out of consciousness.

He was in some sort of room. He could barely make out the walls in the darkness. There was no hint of a door or windows. Just endless walls and corners, trapping him in a box. He trailed his hands frantically along the paneling, turning this way and that.

There had to be a way out.

There had to be an escape.

And he only knew, with absolute certainty, that he had to escape.

In desperation, he threw his shoulder against one of the walls. He’d rip apart a hole with his bare hands if that’s what it took. Again and again and again, he beat at the dark material. Yes, there! The sound of splintering wood met his ears. It was working!

“Adrien, my love.”

Adrien froze, his heart jumping into his throat. He knew that voice. He hadn’t heard it in nearly a decade, but there was no way he could ever forget. Slowly, hardly daring to believe it, he turned around. There, standing in the middle of the room, illuminated by a strange blue light, was his Mother.

“Mom?”

“Adrien, you can hear me?” Her eyes softened as she smiled and raised her arms, welcoming him in. “Oh honey, I’ve missed you so much.”

Adrien ran towards her, stretching his hand out in front of him, trying desperately to reach her. But she never moved closer. As hard as he tried, his feet were not carrying him across the room. He sprinted with all his might, but she only seemed to be moving further away.

“Mom!” he cried, his voice feeling raw in his throat. “Mom wait!”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Mom please don’t go! Don’t leave me!"

Adrien’s foot landed on nothingness and he lurched forward. There was no floor. He was falling, down, down, down into the endless darkness.

“I love you, my son.”

Adrien woke up with a gasp, his eyes blowing wide to take in Marinette’s dark room. The fan that sat on her desk slowly turned to blow a soft breeze in his direction.

Beside him, Marinette slept on, her breathing steady, and her lips puckered as she squashed her cheek into her pillow.

Carefully, so as not to wake her, Adrien pushed off the mattress and came to a sitting position, running his hand through his hair. He realized he was trembling. His heart was still pounding from the dream he’d been having moments before. He frowned trying to recall more clearly what had been weaving through his mind.

“It happened again, didn’t it?”

Adrien looked up, just barely making out Plagg peering over the top of the bookshelf, his slitted eyes reflecting the soft golden glow from the lights beyond the window.

Ever since their battle with the Puppet Master, Adrien and Plagg had shared the residual effects of absorbing the Akuma’s dark energy. Things had gotten much better over time, especially when they both spent more time with Marinette and Tikki. But it was not unusual for them to get a violent nightmare every now and then. And when that happened, linked as he and Plagg were, they would always feel the same darkness. It was a burden they shared, but because they were in it together, they could at least offer each other understanding and solidarity.

Adrien frowned. The dream he’d had was far from the normal night terrors. Usually they had something to do with Hawkmoth or some monstrous Akuma. But this dream had been no Akuma, so why…?

‘It’s the anniversary,’ he thought suddenly.

They were approaching the anniversary of when his Mother disappeared from his life nearly a decade ago. He’d had dreams about her before, whenever this time of year came around. He supposed it was just another one like those before, but he still didn’t understand why Plagg would have sensed anything when it was simply a dream about his Mother.

“What time is it?” Adrien whispered, looking around for Marinette’s clock.

“A couple hours till dawn.”

“Is Tikki asleep?” Adrien whispered.

“Yeah.”

Plagg floated down from the shelf to hover beside him.

“Good. Let’s let them rest. I need to run for a bit. Transforme moi.”

Welcome to the official sequel of 'A Brand New Dawn'!!! You guys, I've been planning this story for about a year now, and let me tell you I am SO FREAKIN EXCITED to finally begin sharing it with you!

Now, if it's not quite clear, TWHU takes place between Chapters 12 and 13 of ABND. I really wanted to have fun exploring our dorks' relationship while it was still a bit new during that missing year, plus there's a lot I wanted to address regarding... *ahem* other things in the Miraculous universe ;}

As far as this fic goes, I currently have a whopping 16 pages of this story outlined chapter-by-chapter, with several different conclusions I have yet to decide on (but as with ABND, I'm pretty sure the right ending will present itself as I work through the story) so we'll see how that goes. I will try and update fairly regularly, but there's this pesky thing called a "day job" that I am pouring most of my energy into, as well as commissions and other aspects of a busy life, so please forgive any hiatus-type moments in advance! Just know that I'm fully committed to sharing this whole story, and with some much appreciated patience from you all, TWHU will get done eventually!!!

Thank you everyone who supported ABND and took the time to send in comments! Without you guys, I never would've gotten this far! This one is for you <3

#a brand new dawn fic #miraculous ladybug #ml fic #chat noir #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #ladynoir #marichat #ladrien #adrinette #adrienette #djwifi #carapce #rena rouge #abnd #twhu #college au

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