#adrien our sunshine is safe again

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 29. Jumping to Convictions

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Description below the cut

A swarm of magical ladybugs sweeps over Carapace’s body and unpetrifies him

A close-up of Carapace’s hands as he falls to the ground and lets out a ‘gasp!’

A close-up of Carapace’s eyes, dripping with tears.

Carapace: Adrien...?

Cut to a frazzled Rena Furtive, gripping her flute as her mind races.  Carapace lands on the roof behind her.

Rena Furtive: Is there any other plausible explanation for... that?  Was I just seeing things?  Could there have been some sort of doppelganger...?  Maybe Chat's been in hiding at Adrien's and borrowed the ring...?  Can I let myself believe he actually pulled off that insane plan to replace himself without anyone knowing...?

Carapace: Rena?

Rena jerks as she turns to see Carapace approach her with hand outstretched.

Rena Furtive: Carapace!  What—

Carapace: Did anyone come near me after I got hit by the akuma?

Rena Furtive: I don't know?  Not for sure.  After you fell to the ground, I couldn't really see you, and then the last few minutes of the battle were... distracting.

Carapace covers his mouth, eyes widening in horrified comprehension.

Rena Furtive: So the only one I saw remotely near you was Catwalker.  I think he stayed there a couple minutes before going after the akuma?

Carapace: Then that means...

Carapace pleads with clenched fists in front of him.

Carapace: I think we've been entirely wrong about Catwalker.  Rena, I heard... I don't think I'm even allowed to say what.  And maybe it was a trick, or a side effect of the akuma, or whatever, but...  I believe Catwalker is completely on our side.  I really do.

Carapace, with sad puppy dog eyes, gives a ‘nod’.  Rena looks down at her flute as it lets out a loud ‘BEEP!’

Rena Furtive: You really think we can fully trust him?  Then— Sorry, I'm getting a call from Ladybug.  I need to take this.

A holographic screen pops up from Rena’s flute, on which Cosmobug’s angry face appears.

Rena Furtive: Hey, La—

Cosmobug (over phone): I AM GOING TO MURDER CATWALKER IN HIS SLEEP!

Rena Furtive: Back up.  What happened?

Cosmobug (over phone): The Lucky Charm worked! It led me to Adrien!

Rena Furtive: Isn't that good news?

Cosmobug (over phone): It was until I turned my back for one minute and he vanished all over again!

Rena Furtive bewilderedly watches the screen as Cosmobug goes on a tirade.  Behind her, Carapace trembles as he puts everything into forcing down the immense urge to open his big mouth.

Cosmobug (over phone): And immediately afterward, I see that Catwalker used a space power up to follow me here!  I just know he hid Adrien away somewhere to keep me from helping him!

Cosmobug fumes and clenches her yo-yo hard enough that if it wasn’t magical, it would have broken into tiny pieces.

Cosmobug: This has to be the final straw!  Catwalker is officially the most malignant person I've ever met!  (Besides Shadowmoth!)  (And Gabriel Agreste!)  (And Mayu—!)

Rena Furtive (over phone): Ladybug!  Listen...

Rena holds out her hand and glances behind her shoulder.

Rena Furtive: I was just talking to our informant.  They now believe that Catwalker is actually safe for us to trust.

Cosmobug (over phone): You can't be serious.

Rena Furtive: Completely serious.

Carapace silently looks away, his hood hiding the expression on his face.

Cosmobug (over phone): This is still the same person who couldn't stand Catwalker, right?  What could have possibly changed their mind?

Rena Furtive: I'm not sure.  They didn't think they could tell me their reasons.

Cosmobug (over phone): If they're telling you that, then they were probably blackmailed into claiming Catwalker's all sunshine and roses, so we can't trust—

Rena Furtive: I saw something too.

Rena looks out towards the city from atop the roof.

Rena Furtive: I don't think it was the same thing my informant heard.  And maybe I can't quite rule out the possibility that Catwalker tried to bamboozle us both while we believed he didn't know we were observing him.  But if even part of what we witnessed was real?  Catwalker is a far better person than any of us have given him credit for.

Rena holds up a finger thoughtfully.  In the background, Carapace looks on in bewildered ‘???’, an expression that reads ‘What on earth do you know about my best friend that I don’t???’

Cosmobug (over phone): Is this about his secret identity?  Did you recognize his face after seeing him detransform?

Rena Furtive: No, nothing like that.  I don't have a clue what his real name is.  But... I think I know a... pseudonym he used in the Ladyblog community at one point?

Cosmobug pokes toward her yo-yo screen, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

Cosmobug: Just because he acts one way online, that doesn't mean it's who he really is.

Rena Furtive (over phone): You trust Chat Noir despite knowing nothing about the life he lives outside of the mask.

Cosmobug: That's different.

Rena Furtive (over phone): It's close enough.

Rena Furtive (over phone): Close enough that I think you should give him another chance.

Cosmobug looks away, biting her thumb nervously.

Cosmobug: I don't know... there are so many unknowns... I don't think I can work with Catwalker if I have any lingering doubts about him.  It's not that I don't trust you, it's just hard to trust at all.  This all was so much easier when it was just me and Chat, and I never had to question him on anything.  I just knew.

Rena Furtive (over phone): Then talk to him.

Rena looks at her screen with optimism and encouragement.

Cosmobug (over phone): What???  I can't just 'talk to' Chat Noir!

Rena Furtive: Sure you can!  You could meet up with Chat Noir in secret!  You always do better when you have his support, so why not let him support you?  He might even have answers!

Cosmobug (over phone): But I don't have a clue where he is or how to contact him!

Rena Furtive: Didn't Catwalker tell you that he could bring Chat Noir back safely?

Cosmobug (over phone): That doesn't mean I believed him!

Rena Furtive: If anything, we've proven that Catwalker can do things without anyone noticing.

Cosmobug (over phone): Mayura noticing isn't the problem—it's Catwalker.  What he'll do to Chat Noir without anyone knowing...

Rena smiles and waves away any doubts.

Rena Furtive: I'm not saying you have to trust Catwalker without taking any precautions.  I'll stake it all out and make sure everything's safe and that no one intervenes!  All you'd need to do is make sure that the Chat Noir who shows up isn't his evil twin or something!

Cosmobug looks away in thought.

Rena Furtive (over phone): I know it seems risky, but it's worth the risk, Ladybug.  You need to see the boy who used to be your partner again.  And I'd bet anything that Chat needs to talk to you too.

Cut to Cosmobug flying towards the Eiffel Tower, from the top of a long, thin, silver rod protrudes out to the side.  At the end the rod is a black, gray, and green blob.

Catwalker is lies on the end of his baton, his belt tying his body to the rod with his arms bound behind his back.  Cosmobug hovers a few feet away from him.

Catwalker: You didn't find Adrien, I take it?

Cosmobug: No.

Catwalker: I'm sorry.  Can we talk?

Cosmobug: No.

Catwalker looks up towards her uneasily.

Catwalker: Have you decided what you're going to do with me?

Cosmobug: Send Chat Noir back.

Cosmobug, eyes shrouded, makes her demand.

Cosmobug: Midnight tonight, on the rooftop where I first told him I had feelings for another boy.  I need to talk to him in private before I decide your fate.  He'll come alone.  Tell him to not be seen.

Catwalker’s eyes shine as he tries to contain his excitement.

Catwalker: Of course.  He'll be there.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

[starwarsmum]

My last installment of Sibling! Cassinette for this year's Maribat BioFamily September is for Day 25: Afraid of Heights @maribat-calendar-events

Jason hadn't expected to arrive in Paris to a parade, but that's exactly what happened. When they got out of the car, fresh off the plane, people were dancing and screaming with joy in the streets. There were quite a few people openly weeping as well, an unnerving sight although most people just cheered when they passed these groups. 

He was even more surprised to spot Robin lurking atop a building, apparently watching the procession. Ladybug was swooping in from the other side of the street and the cheers reached a near deafening level. Ladybug waved enthusiastically before motioning for everyone to quiet down.

“Thank you, everyone! I'm sure you are all every bit as relieved as I am that the threat of Hawkmoth is gone,” she said, her voice brimming with emotions. “I made a promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe, and I meant it. Even now, with Hawkmoth defeated, I intend to keep that promise to you. You may not see me patrolling as regularly, you may think I have gone quietly into the night, but I will be here whenever you need me.”

The crowd cheered again, several people screaming their love for the spotted heroine and she beamed out at them. Jason was impressed at the way she handled the crowd, watching as she launched herself away towards the Eiffel Tower. He watched her all the way out of sight but most people just returned to partying in the streets.

“Come on, we should go get the debrief with Dick and the others,” Steph said, grabbing the back of Barbara's wheelchair for something to do. Jason nodded, dumbfounded, and followed after the pair. Cass was due to arrive the following morning, so the three of them were planning on interrogating Damian about Hawkmoth's defeat.

Back at the suite the three had been staying in for the past month, Tim and Dick seemed just as nonplussed by the abrupt end to their investigation. They stood arguing about whether the other had done something given that no public arrest had been made.

After several minutes, Damian arrived with his new little friend and the arguments cut mid sentence. The girl was beaming and giggling with the little Demon, and Jason was unnerved to see him smiling back at her.

“Bonjour!” Marinette trilled, her eyes bright. “It's a beautiful day, non? Ah, it's so nice not to worry about feeling angry that I couldn't if I tried! It's a pleasure to meet you, by the way. I'm Marinette.”

“Jesus, you're a veritable ray of sunshine,” Jason said, awe obvious in his voice. “How in the hell did Demon Spawn get you to agree to spend time with him, let alone date him? Especially since it seems like you have the option to date a model?”

“God, Jaybird, take it easy,” Dick said, appalled. Tim muttered something that probably agreed with Jason, but didn't press it. Dick turned apologetically to a blushing Marinette. “Sorry about Jason, he has a condition that means his brain doesn't connect to his mouth.”

“Oh, um, it's fine,” Marinette squeaked, the sound muffled by the fingers across her face. “I'm just not used to people talking about us dating yet. You'd think I'd be used to it with all of my classmates giving me a hard time over it but no.”

“They don't approve of Damian?” Steph said, raising her eyebrows. Jason agreed; even though Damian was a little brat he was still a Wayne and most people tended to see that first and his personality second. 

“Oh, no, they think he's way out of my league,” Marinette said, waving her hands. “Which I can't argue with, but that's not the point. What with the two different articles, it's been a hot piece of gossip at school. Plus, I did have a crush on Adrien, a lot of them hadn't realised I was over it a while ago.”

“Tt, he was unworthy at any rate. If he was incompetent enough that he did not notice or return your feelings then you are better off without him. And your friends have it entirely backwards, you are the one out of my league. But I shall do my utmost to be worthy of your affections.”

“Holy shit, since when is Demon Spawn smooth?” Jason demanded, glaring at Dick. The older man looked like Christmas had come early, a happy fluttering happening in the region of his hands. “You've been training him, haven't you,” Jason accused.

“No, there were no puns involved so it can't have been Dick,” Barbara said, amused. Marinette let out a groan, now burying her head in her hands. “Oh, not a fan of puns? Wow, Dames, she's literally perfect. How did you trick her into dating you?”

“There was no trickery,” Damian growled, and Marinette looked over at him, still blushing. The others watched as she took hold of his hand and his glare lessened. “Tt, regardless, we came in here to discuss whether you would like to join us for a celebration at the funfair?”

“You, Mr allergic-to-fun, want to go and spend time at a funfair?” Jason said, nonplussed. Really, he had known that something fundamental had changed with the brat, but this was beyond what he could have imagined.

“Tt, it is not as though I am afraid of heights, it could be quite thrilling to face the likes of rollercoasters,” Damian retorted, rolling his eyes for Marinette's benefit. “Besides which, I am lead to believe that it is more about who you spend your time with, as opposed to what you spend your time doing.”

Marinette gave a bright laugh and pulled Damian out of the suite, calling back for the others to follow if they chose. They all trooped down to the lobby, Marinette walking hand in hand with Damian. They were pulled up short when someone shouted across the lobby.

“Dupain-Cheng, who gave you permission to bring your poor baker girl butt into my hotel?” A blonde girl with a sneer flounced over to Marinette. She seemed to expect her to cower, or apologise but Marinette merely raised an eyebrow. 

“I don't know, Chloé, who gave you permission to look and act like a total troll?” She said sweetly, and Jason choked back a laugh. Tim, being the sleep deprived gremlin he was, gave a giggle. Chloé shot both of them poisonous looks before turning back to Marinette.

“You think you're so smart, just because you managed to get your name in a couple of half rate rags? Please, you're only famous this week and by next week you'll be back in the gutter where you belong.”

“I'd ask if you hit your head, but I'm pretty sure you're lacking the necessary organs to get brain damage,” Marinette shot back, sounding bored. This time even Dick was suppressing laughter, and Steph was shaking with silent giggles. “Listen, Chloé, as…fun…as this is, I have plans. So maybe go sort out your hair - which looks ridiculous by the way, utterly ridiculous - and change into something other than yellow and see if it improves your mood. God knows that I feel better when I don't look like shit.”

“You- how dare you, you insignificant little twerp! And you,” she screeched, rounding on Damian's family with an evil glare. “Do you know who I am?”

“Don't tell me you forgot that too,” Marinette said in mock horror, an exaggerated look of concern on her face. It morphed into a look of smug defiance a moment later. “Seriously, Chloé, go crawl back under whatever rock you were hiding under before. I've said it before but I'll say it again for the dimwitted among us: I am done with your nonsense. Now beat it.”

The blonde girl stomped her foot in frustration before storming off. The Batfamily eventually managed to control their giggles and turned back to Marinette. Jason decided he would be the one to break the silence.

“Okay, I see it now. Welcome to the family, Marinette!”

[joydone07]

Among the Ways of the World - Pt. 2

Collab with @astrynyx

Pt. 1

After hearing the announcement, there was a beat of silence before the students began shouting questions and statements at the teacher, all wondering why anyone would think it was okay to send children to the literal crime capital of the world.

It went like that for a few minutes, with the volume that the questions were giving wasn’t allowing Madame Bustier any room to answer. Once the conversation did finally die down, Marinette very calmly raised her hand, assuming position as Class President to begin respectfully asking the questions.

“Yes, Marinette,” Madame Bustier called, acknowledging the raised hand with a soft smile.

“I would like to know why we’re going to Gotham of all places. While I know here in Paris itself there are villains, but nothing is taken to the extent that Gothams’ seem to take joy in. Another point to be made is that if- and if being a really strong assumption- the parents allowed any of us to go then something is wrong.”

There were a few chuckles following that statement, before Madame Bustier cleared her throat, causing the class to go silent.

“Thank you for pointing all of that out, Marinette. That wasn’t the actual announcement, I just needed everyone’s attention, and that was the best thing I could say that was still related to the matter.”

“So we aren’t going to Gotham?” Kim shouted from the back, earning a pinch and a whispered “That's what she just said,” from Max.

“No,” Madame Bustier started up again, “We are not going to Gotham. Instead, with a collaborative effort between our very own Principal Damocles, and Gotham’s principal, we have decided to take the classes of the highest average in our year on a trip to Metropolis, and while it isn’t too far for them, it is for us, which is why it’s so far out. Getting your parents permission shouldn’t be too hard, as the city is relatively safe, and should be a good break from all of Paris. If any issues arrive, don’t hesitate in contacting me. Now that that’s over, Marinette, do you mind helping me hand out these forms?”

Hopping up from her seat, Marinette braced herself for the reactions, having forgotten about what she had put on that morning. With her eyes closed, she walked towards the teacher’s desk, hearing the not too subtle gasps of what she hoped was awe, finally opening them back up, only to see the teacher glaring at them, silently conveying the words say something. Marinette couldn’t have been more grateful for her teachers' recently revealed backbone.

With a quick and quiet thanks, she took the forms, handing them out to each of her classmates. Returning to her seat, Madame Bustier asked, “Now, as Adrien won’t be in today, do we have any volunteers to bring it to him? I know that he could just grab it tomorrow, but I would much rather have him get it today and have his father look at it as soon as possible.”

There was silence. Nobody really wanted to have to deal with either the staff or Gabriel Agreste himself. It just left them with an uncomfortable feeling while they were in their presence, and thankful for their lives afterwards. While everyone loved Adrien, being the sunshine boy that he was, they weren’t up for it.

As everyone looked around at each other, silently urging the other on, Marinette finally raised her hand, volunteering herself for the task.

“Thank you again, Marinette,” the teacher said, “I’ll give it to you as you leave class today. Now, everyone please turn to page 127 in your work books so we can get started.”

Alya sent another inquiring look at Marinette, really wondering what was up with the girl.

——

“Alright, you’ve got to tell me what’s up. It’s not everyday that you dress so bold, or even show any skin, so you’ve gotta tell me what is up with you girl. I can’t call myself your bestie if I didn’t at least try to figure out what was going on.”

With an exasperated sigh, Marinette tried her best to answer her friends' questions without giving too much. Stumbling between the thin line of vague and just enough information.

“It’s just that I decided to dress differently for a change, you know? It’s nothing about today specifically, it’s just- the mood of the day. I don’t have an explanation, and I hope that being the good friend you are, you won’t push for one.”

Marinette could tell that Alya still wanted to ask questions, but conceded to her wishes, going ahead and moving onto the next topic of her thoughts.

“Ok, but what about Gabriel Agreste, hm? You don’t just volunteer to go to his house. You already know how everyone there be acting. I still don’t know how Adrien is the product of that environment.”

Marinette couldn’t help but silently agree, but summed it up to be the actions of Adrien’s mother being enough before her disappearance. From all of the stories she had heard about Emilie Agreste, she believed that the woman was a good thing that Adrien had had in his life.

Taken out of her muses by an expectant look written on Alya’s face. It took all of her strength to not roll her eyes at the girl, always wanting some kind of explanation, but that was something Marinette herself had come to admire. Alya wasn’t one to be left out of the loop, otherwise it would just make things much harder for you.

“It’s because I owe him. Adrien may not know it, but he’s done a lot of good in the class, and whether he realizes it or not, he’s a nice person to have around. Whenever someone needs something, trivial or not, he tries to provide. It’s like he’s the real everyday Ladybug.”

“Alright girl, I’ll believe you, and it’s good that not all of Adrien’s friends are cowards when it comes to talking to Agrest senior.”

They both let out a little laugh at that, and soon parted ways. Marinette by her lonesome, and then Alya with Nino, after he finally caught up to them.

“Bye, Dudette, see you tomorrow, and good luck!”

“Thanks, Nino, see you tomorrow,” she called back, and then under her breath, “why the hell am I the one doing this?”

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[adrinoir]

Marinette’s relationship with her parents

I saw a couple posts today about how just because Marinette has good parents doesn’t make her a bad protagonist, and doesn’t make her life sunshine and rainbows.

Yes to all of that 100%

I’ve been meaning to write a post about this because again, it’s not something that’s mentioned much.

It’s a surprisingly common thing in animated shows and comics that the protagonist has (a) deceased parent(s). And, it’s usually something that ties into the plot and affects the main character’s personality and/or actions.

However, in Miraculous, our lovely deuteragonist Adrien Agreste follows this trope, which is a nice change of pace. It gives balance by having two very different family dynamics. You don’t always see both involved in one show, let alone the deuteragonist being the one with family trauma.

I wrote a post about how we shouldn’t be debating if Marinette or Adrien “has it worse,” and that concept certainly applies here. Just because Marinette has a better home life than Adrien does not make the issues she deals with any less valid.

View it as Adrien’s issues stemming from his abusive parents and Marinette’s issues stemming from her guardianship. Two very different causes. They really can’t be compared and should never be in the first place.

But also consider, Marinette can’t even have the ideal relationship with her parents that she wants because she has to keep her identity as Ladybug away from them.

Notice how much further she was from her dad in this past season because she was so busy trying to figure out the Grimmoire with Alya. Notice how much she struggled just trying to have a day out with her mom.

I can vouch, it’s so difficult and causes distance in the relationship with your parents when you don’t feel comfortable or safe telling them about things happening in your personal life. I know in my latest post about Wishmaker I mentioned I can relate to having controlling parents. That still stands. But they’re also similar to Marinette’s in how they’re still together, they care about me a lot, and that I have that distance from them from discomfort in talking about my issues.

One could argue she could tell them since she told Alya. But, keep in mind, she was breaking down when she decided to tell Alya (not a planned thing) and she was still very worried about confiding in her about such a big thing.

Additionally, parental and platonic relationships can be so different from one another. There’s a solid chance Alya reacted very differently than how her parents would have if she had told them, instead.

And not even considering Marinette’s own issues affecting the relationship, we don’t see her parents checking in with her a whole lot. They typically let her have her privacy and her own social life without asking a billion questions as to where she’s going and what she’s doing. That’s not bad parenting, but it most likely plays a part in Marinette feeling less inclined to tell them.

Speaking of feeling less inclined to tell them, there’s that obvious reason of them being put at a bigger risk if she tells them her secret. It was obviously already dangerous putting her best friend in that position, but it’d be even more dangerous telling her family - the people who live with her.

Marinette obviously loves them deeply. So of course she’s going to continue hiding her second life from them. And, her parents obviously love her and worry about her, too. But there’s that rift, and it’s definitely shown that it’s difficult for Marinette to hide this from them, and that she really doesn’t want to in the first place.

We can also totally put some of the blame on Master Fu for making Marinette isolate herself more than ever from her family, friends, and day-one partner.

[san-fics]

The secret I know

Ladynoir, Adrianette, Ladrien, Marichat

Part 1

“I love Chat Noir.”

She didn’t even mean to say it out loud. It was just a natural conclusion of the stream of thoughts and feelings, that haunted Marinette in the last weeks. Maybe months.

She didn’t know when and how exactly it happened. Probably it was inevitable. When that strong and kind person stays close to you as long as Chat did. When his warm and protective nature is so obvious. When his brave and fearless habits are so irresistible. When he declares his love to you and calls you the lady of his dreams...

“I knew there was something different in the way you were with Adrien last time.” Alya nodded with an understanding smile. “Like really. From the moment I’ve got to know your identity, I was expecting one of my ships to sail any moment!”

“I mean. It feels so natural. I can’t even remember the moment when it wasn’t there.” Marinette sighed. “With him I feel safe, even fighting for my life. He knows all my weaknesses and is still there for me. And he loves me.” She looked at her friend with eyes full of tears. “And I didn’t believe he could love me without knowing who I am, but his mask didn’t stop me either.”

“Hey-hey.” Alya patted her on the shoulder. “This is good news, girl. You both deserve it, you know?”

“We can’t be together though.” Marinette was looking through the window with unseeing gaze now. “I can’t even tell him, because of how dangerous it would be...”

“Why would it be dangerous?” Alya turned Marinette’s head to face her again. “He loves you and it only helps him to fight for you better. Why do you think it should be different for you?”

“That’s exactly the point, Alya.” Marinette sighed again. “He fights for me. I fight for the city.” She shook her head. “The moment I let my feelings take a hold of me during a fight, I’ll forget about people. I’ll only think about his safety. And Shadow Moth will win.”

“I don’t think it’s all so one-sided.” Alya offered. “He is a part of the city. Of the people.” She hugged her friend tight. “Just give yourself some time to process it. You just realized your feelings, right? I’m sure it can’t be a bad thing. It’ll only make you stronger, once you’re ready to fully accept them.”

“I don’t know, Alya. I don’t feel like lying to myself about my feelings, but Chat... He doesn’t know about the bad things that may happen... And then there’s Adrien. I feel more like a friend to him right now, but I’d prefer to be completely over him before even thinking of starting something with the most important person in my life...”

“As much as I love our Sunshine-boy and all, let’s be real: Chat is much better fit for you. Adrien is too nice, too soft to handle you.”

“I don’t know. I still think Adrien is perfect. But now I can see Chat is perfect too...” Marinette’s eyes lit up with adoration. “His sense of humor, his courage, he is able to give me a hope in the darkest moments. He never stops believing. In me. And in us too... I think, at some point I just believed in it as well...”

“You guys are so sweet.” Alya rolled dreamy eyes. “I mean, like Adrinette is nice and all, but Ladynoir... it’s deep, it’s hot, it’s powerful. I can feel the energy of your bond so vivid, like you two are just meant to be.”

Marinette sighed for a hundred time that day.

“Let’s go back to school.” She called. “The lunch is nearly over.”

*

Adrien was upset.

Instead of being transformed and getting ready for the fight within the first sounds of the akuma alarm, he was following his classmate in his civilian form.

Marinette, smart and caring, the class president, of all people, should have known to stay far from the danger, instead of getting closer to where an akumatised villain was tearing the walls apart.

Maybe Alya convinced her to get some footage for the Ladyblog? But where was the crazy journalist herself then? And no, Marinette was first to trying and convince her friend to abandoned the dangerous path...

Adrien’s train of thought was suddenly cut off when he turned the corner after following Marinette and instead saw Ladybug (LADYBUG!!) zipping up the building at the end of the ally.

Adrien stopped.

For the first few moments his brain refused functioning.

He stared blandly at the end of the alley, from which his fighting partner had just zipped to the roof.

Exact sciences have always been close to Adrien. And yet, the task his brain was trying to solve at the moment did not give in to him.

Task conditions: One cute classmate, let’s call her M, enters the alley with a dead end, and one superhero, let’s call her L, leaves the ally after a few seconds after that.

Question: what is the likelihood of character M and character L to be the same character?

Note: cute? Since when did he think Marinette was cute?

Answer:

The loud sound of crashing walls brought Adrien from his thoughts, or rather, the absence of them.

“Akuma!” He exclaimed, in attempt to wake himself up from what ever state the last few minutes brought him. “Plagg, claws out!”

*

“Chat!” Her yoyo were already rubbed around his body, and Ladybug pulled her partner fast from the akuma’s attack. “What is wrong with you today?!” She cried at him, when she caught him and put at his feet.

But there were no usual anger in her voice. All Chat Noir could hear was concern and care. Was she always soft and deep like this? Or does he feel it only now that he knows it’s the sweet Marinette who wears the mask?

“I uh...” Chat Noir felt his cheeks warming. “I was distracted... Sorry, LB.” He swallowed, preparing to hear the lecture about being concentrated while on duty.

But it didn’t follow.

Instead, Ladybug’s face softened even more. She placed her palm on his shoulder in support and nodded.

“It’s ok, Chat.” She gave him a short encouraging smile. “We all have our moments. Just stay behind me until you’re able to collect yourself.”

And Ladybug zipped away toward the akuma, leaving Chat Noir even more confused and blushed under his mask.

[Part 2]

[more MLB fanfic]

[miraculouscontent]

Anonymous asked:

People don't like Marinette for having a crush (which is a bit over-the-top, but it's pretty harmless and what I expect from a teenager with their first love), but they praise chat noir for, what, trying to murder Scarabella for using hiS LaDy's miraculous without even bothering to listen to her explaining? Everyone, say goodbye to common sense, and hello to human stupidity and hypocrisy, with a bucketload of Double Standards!

But anon!!

He’s sAD! He only behaves that way because he loves hIs lAdY sOOOOO mUcH!

Anonymous asked:

If Marinette started confessing to adrien  over and over again, setting up dates for them, and trying to kiss him without his consent, all while he rejects her, you know the adrien stans would rage and bash on her. But when adrien does it in canon, they get all "awww, how romantic" and "our sunshine boy needs more love, Ladybug's so rude". Okay, then I guess you won't mind if I make him stay in the corner for the rest of the show then. This way, it'll keep him safe from Ladybug's 'wretched' grasp and makes sure I never see his face again.

lol that’s my mood any time the fandom talks about how “““horrible”““ Ladybug is and how “““Chat deserves so much better than her.”““

Oh noooo, I guess we’ll just have to make sure she never has to deal with him again.

[writer-panda]

The Hit on the Groom and What Became of It - Chapter 4/I’ll never let you down (in an open casket)

Chapter 1  -|-  Previous -|- Next

The Hit on the Groom and What Became of It - Chapter 4/I’ll never let you down (in an open casket)

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As she hanged up, Marinette rushed to the doors and let her mother in. The previous night she spent mostly on working with Kwamis to prepare. Most were in agreement that she needed to act and not leave her kitty’s fate to chance. Tikki protested for a bit, but in the end, she saw that there was no changing Marinette’s mind and joined in on scheming. Except she had no way of tracking Adrien. Not… until she received the call!

Except now her mother entered. Sabine greeted her daughter by giving her a bone-crushing hug. 

“I was so worried! When the police called I couldn’t just sit there and wait!”

“Maman. It’s alright. I’m okay. See?” The girl did break away from the hug and smiled.

“I know. But I couldn’t help but worry.”

“Maman… Adrien’s been kidnapped.”

“I know.” Her mother’s expression didn’t reveal any emotions now.

“I… he’s been miserable ever since that wedding mess, and now this.”

“I know.” Again, nothing. 

“He’s my friend.”

“Not the love of your life?” Sabine questioned with a bit of amusement in her voice.

“No. He doesn’t need another fangirl. He needs a friend. Someone who can support him. I… I wasn’t a good friend before this…” She didn’t reveal that she wasn’t a great partner either. Chat hid things well, but from time to time his shell cracked. She should’ve seen the signs. She could’ve done something. Or at least do something with Lila. She had connections and Lila deserved a lawsuit or five. 

“Oh, sweety. You were a great friend. You are a great friend. I’m happy to see you’re not about to chase after some misguided love, but after friendship.”

“I know I’m only… wait, what?” Marinette.exe stopped working. If the problem keeps repeating itself, please contact customer service or the nearest Kwami. 

“When I was fifteen, I dropped out of… school to explore the world on my own. It wasn’t until a few years later that I met your father.” Sabine said in a bit dreamy voice like she was reminiscing. “We had several adventures across Europe before finally settling down in Paris.”

“But… Papa’s a baker.” Marinette protested. “I thought he was always a baker, like his father.”

In response, her mother chuckled. “No. Your father had much more in common with your Nona than with his father. I met him when he was fighting in an underground cage-fighting club.”

“Whoa…” Marinette’s eyes widened. That was a story she never heard before. “So how did you two got together?”

“I will tell you some other time. The point is, I know that even if I took you to Paris with me, you would’ve run away to look for your friend.”

“Maman!” For a moment, the girl wanted to protest. But then she decided that there was no point. “Yes… you’re right. But I can’t just let it happen! If the police find him, he will end up back with his father!”

“I know. And what’ll you do about it?” Her mother had this mysterious smirk on her face.

“I guess… I need to be the one to find him. I will get him situated somewhere safe. Maybe stay with him for a bit. He’s smart. And a quick learner.” He mastered being a superhero faster than I did.

“Good. Then you have my blessing.” 

“I can’t just abandon-” Marinette.exe stopped working again. Contacting the customer service might be in order. Technically, Sabine kept hinting about it. Practically, Marinette would miss a clue even if she was holding a gun to its head. “I have your what now?”

“You can go. Save him. Find yourself. And maybe kick some asses while you’re at it.”

“Most parents would be worried sick about their not-yet-adult children running off to an adventure.”

“You wanted to know how I met your father. The answer is I was the first to beat him in that cage.” Sabine’s smirk was replaced with a serious expression. “Of course I will worry, sweety. I’m your mother. But holding you back now will not help you. You’re a strong young woman and to be fair, I’m not sure how we could hold you down. You have steady access to the rooftop and two years of parkour training.”

“What now?”

“Did you honestly think we wouldn’t notice you sneaking off through the balcony?”

“And you didn’t even tell me?” 

“It would be hypocritical of us.” Sabine defended. “And if the worse came to happen, I had several… souvenirs from our travel around the world.”

“Thank you, Maman. I promise I will come back; And call you often. Well, maybe not too often.” Marinette already dashed to start packing. 

“Of course you will. And don’t get into too much trouble. I would hate to have to go and find you.” Sabine threatened with a bright smile on her face. 

“I’ll try, Maman.” The girl was only half-listening now. She couldn’t waste any more time. She learned how to trace the call about one-and-a-half years ago when she was still a bit ‘stalker-ish’. 

Sabine watched her daughter with amusement. So many memories returned to her now. Youth mostly well-spent if someone asked her. The ‘mostly’ part came to bite her just that moment as her phone pinged. She quickly checked the message and frowned. 

“I’m sorry, my little cupcake, but I need to go check it. An old friend turns out to be in town.” 

“I’ll call you later!” Marinette called from where she was furiously working on her laptop. 

When Sabine left, the kwamis swarmed her immediately.

“Your mom is so cool!” one of them cooed.

“And she’s one bad-”

“Roaar!” Tikki scolded the tiger kwami. 

“What’s the plan, pigtails?”

“Adrien’s call was made from within Gotham City. He’s still here for now. I also managed to track him to Burnley.”

“Didn’t that mercenary you called mention some Lawton?” Trixx offered.

“Yeah. I did try to search him up, but the only one with that name that I managed to find is Zoe Lawton. Wait. There is more!” She beamed up. “An old article in some Mexican newspaper.” She clicked on the link and read it aloud for her co-conspirators “Floyd Lawton, also known as Deadshot, was recently arrested after an assassination of a small group of smugglers. It is yet unknown if it was a hit or was it personal.” The article went on, but there was nothing more of interest.

“So the guy’s a mercenary too? That’s good. He’ll bring Adrien to you.”

“Not so fast. I remember hearing about him. Deadshot is one of the few mercenaries who try to keep some resemblance of a code. He’s also noted to be soft around children.”

“Isn’t Adrien almost an adult though?” Kaalki asked rather uncaring.

“Have you met the guy? He’s a literal ray of sunshine!” Plagg protested.

“So… he won’t deliver him and won’t return him.” Seeing that some Kwamis didn’t understand her logic, she clarified, “I don’t think that if he learns how Gabe treated his son he will be in any hurry to return him.”

“That makes sense.” The little being all nodded in agreement.

“So what’s the alternative?”

“He could adopt him,” Ziggy suggested.

“Please.” Marinette dismissed the idea. “He’s not Bruce Wayne.”

“He could smuggle him out of the country.”

“No. Everyone’s looking for him.” Roaar countered. “He would try to lay low somewhere.”

“Burley is large and full of potential safe houses.” Marinette started to think. “But there is also a large concentration of organized crime. Alone, we would have a hard time, but if we got them to help…”

“Is it wise to involve more criminals into your schemes Marinette?” Tikki asked skeptically.

“Don’t worry, sugarcube. To catch a bird you need wings. To catch a criminal you need crime.”

“I’m not sure that’s how it works.”

“What’s the worse that could happen? I will go there as Seamstress. I won’t even appear in person. Right, Trixx?”

“You can count on it.” The fox kwami grinned.

“But… but…” Tikki wanted to scream her head off. Why did the previous guardian choose a juvenile criminal for her holder. Marinette used to be such a sweet girl. Where did Tikki go wrong?

---------

It was dark when an eerie mist filled one of the less-than-legal clubs in Burnley. From among the smoke, a figure entered. She was wearing a godet-type black dress with a side-cut that reached to her belt. The dress was overlayed with a very visible deep-blue corset that pronounced her blue eyes. It had some intricate laces on it. She also wore a puffy-sleeved blazer (also black, but with a dark blue finish) with large and very pronounced cuffs. Around her neck was a white double jabot fixed to a choker with a large black gem surrounded by diamonds. Her long deep-blue hair was let loose and hung over her shoulder. A simple black-and-white domino mask hid her features.

As she marched, one of her legs shifted the fabric to reveal she was wearing dark-blue socks reaching above her knee and black leather boots. A knife was strapped to the right one and several leather strips around her thigh and knee suggested she had more weapons on her. 

One of the men whistled.

“Looks like the entertainment arrived, boys!” Several cheered at that shout. At least until the man who dared to say it ended pinned to a wall with a rather large needle holding his jacket in place. It was also uncomfortably close to his jugular. 

“I’m not entertainment.” The Seamstress hissed. 

“Then you’re not invited.” Several men got up, many were holding now-empty bottled which they turned into impromptu weapons. 

“You will help me find what was taken from me.” She demanded.

“Yeah? Or?” One of the men laughed before charging at her. 

What followed next was perhaps the strangest carnage Gotham City has seen in years. The Seamstress danced between the attacks with almost unnatural grace and agility while stabbing the attackers in various places with large needles. None of the hits were life-threatening and most would heal within hours. The wounds were meant to incapacitate with minimal long-term damage.

By the time she reached the far end of the bar, almost every man was laid out on the ground groaning in pain or scrambling in fear.

“I am not asking. You will be rewarded for your obedience.” She then disappeared into the back alley. One brave/foolish enough who still had some fight left rushed after her, only to find the place completely empty. 

On the rooftop, Marinette let out her breath. She didn’t use any miraculous for that one, but she kept Plagg’s ring on. Chat Noir wasn’t seen in some time, so it would’ve been easier to explain that the ring was stolen by a criminal. She would really need to thank her mother for all the training she forced on her ever since the Akumas started to appear, as well as the lessons during her childhood. Those were all only the most basic grunts tonight, but she got their attention. One of them would run to their boss. There, she could actually do what she planned. 

--------

Just like she predicted, some of the less injured guys left the bar in hurry and drove their bikes to another part of the district. They disappeared into a three-story building. The windows were boarded, but some light seeped through on the top floor, so that is where she climbed. Indeed, by hanging on the edge of the window sill, she was able to hear the panicked screams inside.

“...and then she just disappeared! It was like that damn Bat, only much more terrifying. She was so small, and yet there was this… this… aura of power.”

Thank you Chloe for being queen B. Marinette stifled a laugh. Mimicking Chloe was the right choice. 

“Probably another one of his useless brats.” The boss dismissed them. Marinette decided that it would make the best impression if she contradicted him right now.

She wondered for a moment how to enter the armored building. She could rip the boards away and enter that way, but she was aiming for ethereal, not brute. In the end, she pulled a pair of glasses and put them over her mask. 

“Kaalki. Would you please help me break into headquarters of a criminal organization to scare them into serving me?”

“How many sugar cubes is it worth?”

“Ten. No more, no less.” Marinette had a small window of opportunity. 

“You’ve got a deal.” 

“Kaalki! Full gallop!” The light enveloped Marinette. When it died down, she was still in her outfit, only now the blue accents were brown instead. The gem on her neck held the symbol of a horse miraculous. “I love magical clothes. So easy to maintain the image.” Marinette muttered before a blue portal opened before her and she entered.

Inside, the five men (two who came to report, the boss, and his two guards) watched as the blue portal opened before them. The mist started to pour through it as well as through the boarded window. A figure calmly stepped inside.

“I didn’t expect the Gotham criminal organizations to be so… cliche.” She commented. Two needles sailed through the air and pinned the guards to the wall. Her horseshoe weapon waited patiently on her back should she need to use it.

“Who… who’re you?”

“Me? Oh. I’m The Seamstress. I had business in Gotham, but a fool dared to double-cross me. I need to find him.”

“Why… W-why shou-should w-we help… help you?” One of the guys from the bar asked.

“Oh. I’m not asking. I’m telling you that you’ll help me.” She informed. “I’m about to make you an offer you shouldn’t refuse.” 

The boss was now shaking. Damn city with its damn overpowered supervillains. They think they can simply run things as they want. First Red Hood took out most of the top brass of the underworld and then this? Working on his father’s farm was sounding more and more appealing. Then there was the shouldn’t. The reference to the classic movie was not lost, but she said shouldn’t. Not can’t. Once more he remembered how Red Hood took over. Submit, or die. This was the same. She clearly wouldn’t hesitate. He liked to think he could see those things. 

“I’m waiting.” The lady growled. “I’m not used to waiting.” Channeling Chloe is actually fun here. 

“Fine. You can have my seat. I’m going back to dad’s farm. Just let me go and you can have them.” The boss stood from his seat and motioned for her.

Marinette.exe is not responding. Do you want to execute the process? Not yet. 

She managed to keep enough cool to smile and take the seat, although she didn’t even register what was that. 

She would panic later. For now, tracking Adrien. “I need to find where Floyd Lawton, also called Deadshot, is hiding with my… asset.”

“It… I will see to it, Boss… lady.” One of the guys from the bar nodded very fast before rushing out of the room.

“I… will bring you the list of current assets.” One of the guards informed and walked somewhere. They were used to aggressive takeovers. This was their third. Boss change, guards remain. This was honestly the first time the previous boss managed to escape with his life. 

Meanwhile, Marinette finally realized what just happened. She really wanted to hit her head on the desk, but she was too afraid to show any signs of weakness. Why did she end up in this mess again?

----------

Sabine Cheng was waiting for her plane back when an airport guard approached her.

“Lady Cheng?” Sabine’s blood froze for a moment, but she refused to show any outward reaction at her past codename. “There is a man who wishes to discuss some… past debts.”

Damn it. And here she thought that bald bastard would forget about her. He had several more suitable people. He knew the risks of angering her.

Then again, she knew not to anger him either.

“Lead the way.” Her face was stone cold as she stood up. 

Inside a comfortable private lodge sat a blad man in a suit more expensive than the yearly revenue of her bakery. 

“Ah… Lady Cheng. I’m so happy you could’ve joined us.”

Sabine looked around and noticed that there was another man there, standing slightly in the shadows. A man she came to despise just as much as Luthor. Standing there was Gabriel Agreste.

“I can’t return the pleasure, Luthor.” She snarled, not letting her gaze drop from Agreste.

“Figured you’d say that.” The billionaire laughed. “But it doesn’t change that you came.”

“Be quick. I’ve got a plane to catch.”

“About that.” Lex smiled. “I’m afraid you won’t be on that plane. I need you to do something for me.”

“Sadly, my calendar is full for the foreseeable future.” She retorted coldly.

“Then you will clean it. Unless that is, you want me to tell my good friend the president about your little assignment for me twenty years ago. If I recall, your pardon didn’t cover that particular crime.” The man chuckled.

The only upside of this whole situation to Sabine was that Agreste finally realized exactly who she was. Or at least how dangerous she was. The deal she made ensured that Lady Cheng disappeared from everywhere but some people’s memory. To her dismay, Lex didn’t forget. And he still had that damning evidence.

She also knew exactly what was the job.

“I don’t do jobs involving kids, Luthor.” She seethed through gritted teeth. It wouldn’t matter, but she hoped it would at least give him a pause.

“Adrien Agreste was about to be married. I think that can calm your conscience. He was all but adult.” That despicable man dismissed her concern, as she predicted.

“I’m a little rusty. Don’t you have someone younger? Someone who would actually want to do this?” Sabine deadpanned. She kept true to the deal she made for her and her husband’s pardon and didn’t do any… extracurricular work.

“Alas, the fact you’re unwilling is why I need you. You see, the client, whoever they are, picked Agreste Jr. as a target in a… battle royale of sorts. It quickly stopped being about the ludicrous money reward. It’s now about proving who’s the best. And they won’t stop until they deliver him to that mysterious Seamstress.”

“So what do you want? I’m sure you could’ve bought some of them to drop the glory part.” She really didn’t want to do this.

“I offered to pay five times the price, but most of the competent ones want a shot at whatever that job is. A mysterious benefactor with no history, nonexistent in any database in the world, paying a small fortune for a simple job and offering further work? Doesn’t it sound familiar?” Lex reclined in his chair and smiled.

“One job only. I want everything you have on me. And ten times the bounty.” She noted his discomfort. “Don’t give me that look, Luthor. You can afford it. My daughter’s about to start a university.” Sabine turned to Gabriel. “I must thank you for the idea. Homeschooling really helps when one is gifted.”

“I’m sure we can come to an agreement,” Lex grumbled. If he didn’t know the quality of her works, he would’ve laughed at the price. Except he foolishly revealed that he was desperate.

“Oh, I’m sure we can.” Sabine smiled. She was like a cat that just caught a mouse.

[consumeconstantly]

Speak My Name In Tongues

1| 2(you are here) | 3 | 4  

Summary: Bruce Wayne is determined to get his daughter to safety and aid (read: take over for) the Parisian heroes in capturing their supervillains of over six years. Unfortunately, these two goals are in direct conflict. (all of biodad bruce things can be read as stand alones but I do post in chronological order)

________________________________________________

Let it be said that Bruce Wayne is a persistent man. 

When he wants something, he does not stop on the first or second failed attempt. It doesn’t matter if the world believes something to be impossible. It doesn’t matter if he fails spectacularly to achieve his goal multiple times, in fashions that would likely result in any man of lesser wealth becoming the laughing stock of the global community for months. In order for him to cease his pursuit, he must come to the realization that whatever he’s pursuing is not worth the effort. This is a very rare occasion. Most times when Bruce comes to this conclusion, his decision can be traced back to the trauma of his parents death and the subsequent consequences of his vigilante life style (read: not pursuing Jason’s death, letting Barbara get shot.)

Thus, when Marinette turns down his offer of a safer life, he will not take her rejection at face value. A lesser man might. But Bruce is not any such thing.

Anything that Marinette is involved in-- and he finds that she does a lot-- all oh-so-coincidentally happen to be things that Wayne Enterprises invests in as well. He marks down each and every charity event and gala that she is scheduled to attend and makes an appearance there as well. When he finds that she supports all of her collége friends in their pursuits, he attends too.

Somehow, she manages to skillfully evade being drawn into any long conversation with him and always ensures that there’s a third person involved when he even says hello. If Bruce weren’t trying so hard to have a talk with her, he’d say that her ability to do so was really quite impressive and spoke to the reach of her network. But again, Bruce is trying to convince his daughter that he’s not safe in Paris by herself when the League most likely has a bounty on her head. If Talia finds out that he had a daughter not borne by her-- she’s certainly changed in recent years, becoming more volatile and much less like the woman he fell in love with all those years ago.

He half believes that with Marinette’s wit, intellect, and escape abilities, she may even be able to hold her own against the League. Unfortunate that the League has weapons training and she does not.

“Marinette,” Bruce approaches her at a Bourgeois evening party. She has friends in high places, that’s for certain. Chloe Bourgeois works at her company in the public relations department as does Adrien Agreste, which definitely turned a lot of heads in the fashion industry as nobody expected the boy to work for anybody but his father, nor did they expect him to stop his modelling career in the prime of his life. For modelling works, she turns to Juleka Couffaine and occasionally Olympic hopefuls Kagami Tsurugi, Alix Kubdel, Ondine and Kim Le Chien.  Thanks to her connections to Rose Lavillant, she’s produced an entire line of scents that go with MDC’s evening wear. MDC is extensively covered by Aurore Boreale, one of the youngest talk show hosts in the industry, Alya Cesaire, a young journalist who’s won international acclaim with her writing, and Nadja Chamack, a Senior Executive producer of TVi. Though Bruce is rather impartial to the music industry, she’s well known for working with international singers Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, and Luka Couffaine as well as an up and coming EDM artist named Nino Lahiffe. In the film sector, she works closely with Tom Astruc and Graham Industries, with Adrien’s cousin, Felix. 

As the saying goes, Who you know is everything.

Marinette smiles, teeth bared. Even the way she stands is sharp. 

It’s difficult reconciling the girl in front of him with the pictures he saw while doing background checks on her, or even the girl he saw at the bar just three nights ago. At least, it’s difficult for Bruce to reconcile her when she’s around him; Marinette seems to be very much the same girl around her friends, which is almost just as frightening. When she’s with Adrien or Alya of Kagami, it’s as if her parent’s death didn’t even happen. All smiles and sunshine and good will. She still attends all of the charity events she signed up for, has increased the amount of hours she spends volunteering at homeless shelters and akuma shelters-- and Bruce has no clue in hell how Paris’ supervillain situation has gone unchecked for so long, but he already has several agents tracking down Hawkmoth and the Miraculous team to no avail-- and goes to work on a normal schedule. Since Tom and Sabine’s death, she’s taken no time off. 

In the presence of Bruce Wayne, however, there’s a great shift in her demeanor. There is nothing warm about her, and despite the fact that Marinette is his daughter and that she’s more than a full foot shorter than him, he finds himself wary of her. That says something, considering the types of people he faces down as Batman near daily.

For the first time, she allows him to approach without dodging him. 

“M. Wayne.” Marinette begins to meander to a less public place, all while maintaining a pretty media smile and waving to acquaintances as she passes them. The moment the door closes behind him, a flip is switched. 

“Leave me alone,” she growls. “I don’t want or need your protection.”

“Your parents were murdered.”

“You don’t think I know that? I was the one who found their corpses.”

“They’ll come after you, next.” The League of Assassins never leaves their jobs half done. Marinette is more of an achilles heel than Tom and Sabine were-- despite not being in her life, he cares for her. He can’t deny that if she were murdered, he’d probably get caught up in a fit of rage. The Lazarus Pits have not been good for his mental state over the years.

Marinette crosses her arms, sleeves fluttering around her. “You think you know who did it.”

“I don’t think I know; I’m sure who did it.”

“No,” Marinette says in a strangely detached tone. “You think you know who did it. You don’t actually know, do you, Dark Knight?”

Bruce’s stomach fills with dread. Something about her statement makes him feel nauseous. Queasy, even. “I do. The League of Assassins--”

“You think everything revolves around you, don’t you? Bruce Wayne and Batman are not the only ones with enemies.”

“You’re suggesting that you have enemies who would be willing to kill your parents?” Bruce isn’t sure how to take this. Marinette does have a fairly large following, runs in the most powerful and influential Parisian circles, and has money to spare. But as far as his research told him, she didn’t do anything to egregiously offend anybody, besides maybe one Lila Rossi and Chloe Bourgeois, though the latter of the two rectified their relationship eventually. 

“I don’t,” Marinette denies. “But Ladybug does.”

“The superhero.” Is his age finally catching up to him?

“The superhero,” Marinette agrees, looking at Bruce contemplatively. 

“Ladybug and I-- we’re close,” Marinette settles on. “Close enough for our bakery to become a safe house of sorts for the Miraculous team. Hawkmoth--no, Pavona. She either acted out of anger for her past with me or just wanted to strike a blow at the Miraculous team.”

Bruce feels a migraine coming on. It’s on days like this when he wishes he were a drinking sort of man. “Why would Pavona be upset with you?”

Marinette laughs, humorlessly. “World’s greatest detective, huh? Maybe you’ll figure it out eventually.”

He gets the feeling that their conversation is quickly coming to a close, and figures that whatever issue Marinette and Pavona have is something he can decipher later, “It doesn’t seem like Pavona has done much with this information. The Miraculous Team seems to be in high spirits, and there haven’t been any akumatizations in the past two weeks.”

Another dry laugh. “Wrong move at the wrong time. And besides Ladybug and you, nobody else knows.”

Marinette pushes past him, back to the door, back to the party. She pauses at the door. “I’ll put the two of you in contact. Until then, keep a lid on you and your operative’s emotions. I’m sure trained agents like yourselves can restrain yourself from feeling anger or sorrow for a while.”

Bruce is left with two horrifying realizations: Marinette is in a situation where she’s in over her head, and Sabine and Tom’s deaths have not been publicized.

#

Batman and Bruce have never liked magic or metas, and Ladybug seems to be both. It doesn’t help that she’s so high strung and seems to be inexplicably angry at him from the moment that he steps foot at their prearranged meetup.

“I sent you the ground rules if you want to operate in Paris. Forward it to your operatives. Follow the rules or leave.”

“I’m here to take down Hawkmoth,” Batman says with a bone-weary tiredness. 

Ladybug crosses her arms in a fashion that’s achingly familiar. “I know that. That’s why I’m giving you and your people the ground rules and a chance. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be allowed here.”

“Ladybug, you and your team have failed to catch Hawkmoth for six years now.”

“You and your team have been fighting the same set of villains for over thirty years. I wonder which one of us is really worse off.”

Batman grimaces. 

The heroine looks out at the night sky and sighs. “Look, this is a very stressful situation. Pavona acted out in one of the worst ways possible, and even though she and Hawkmoth seem to be MIA, it’s still not ideal.”

He remembers that Marinette said Ladybug and her parents were close. Batman stumbles over his words. He’s never been the best at comforting people, and healthy coping mechanisms simply don’t run in the family. There’s definitely a reason why he and all of his children take to vigilantism so well. “Tom and Sabine-- they were great people.”

Ladybug stills. 

Batman doesn’t know how old she is, or how old any of the Miraculous team is, besides from Chloe Bourgeois, who used to be Queen Bee. Something in the way her shoulders hunch, how her jaw trembles, and eyes water makes Batman feel like she’s just a child. But she can’t be. Not if she’s been protecting a city for six years. If he had to guess her age, he’d put her in her mid to late twenties, maybe even early thirties. 

“They were the most loving people I’ve ever known,” Ladybug says. “It was a privilege to know them.”

He’s not sure who made the decision to not release Tom and Sabine’s death to the public, but Batman recognizes it as a tactical decision. It only took a short amount of time to hack into security cameras near Marinette’s residence and filter through the sighting of the Miraculous Team at Tom & Sabine’s Boulangerie, stopping to chat with Marinette or one of her parents, sometimes eating there, sometimes staying the night, using their living room as a gathering point. From there, it’s not difficult to realize that Marinette or Ladybug is keeping this information from the rest of their team in order to ensure that their civilian or superhero identities don’t get compromised by an akuma or a sentimonster.

In comparison to the Scarecrow, who makes his victims fight their worst fears, Batman can’t help but think that turning people into their insecurities and angers is worse. At least with Scarecrow, there’s a chance that people can win against whatever they’re fighting. Once a Parisian is turned into an akuma or sentimonster, they just have to hope that somebody else will come in and save the day. Victimhood with the cruelest twist, similar to when the Joker tried to make Dick into the Joker Jr.

“Pavona. What’s her deal with Marinette?” 

Ladybug’s laugh is hollow and familiar. “Didn’t Marinette tell you to figure it out on your own?”

“I need to know,” Batman insists. “I want to protect her. I don’t want her to get hurt like that again.”

“You have noble intentions, Batman,” Ladybug says quietly. “A kind heart. But you are mistaken in thinking that Pavona can hurt Marinette anymore. Even if Pavona tries to, she won’t be able to. Tom and Sabine-- they were the weak link. Everyone else she loves is safe.”

Ladybug pauses, looks sideways at Batman, then stares out at the Parisian skyline again. “Everyone except for you. You’re not safe, here in Paris. You know that, don’t you?”

“She--” his mouth dries. There’s a lot of information to process, but he focuses on one thing. “She loves me?”

He doesn’t think he’s heard those words come out of any of his kid’s mouths. He knows that all of them do love each other in their own messed up ways and knows that his sons and daughters are more likely to show their affection in actions instead of words, but Marinette is a biological child that he’s never interacted with before this month. How can she love him when all he’s done is push her away?

“She loves you.” Ladybug closes her eyes. “But that makes her a fool. She’s clung to the hope that she’d get to know you for years. Look where that’s gotten her. She gets to meet you at the price of her parents' lives. So please, don’t mess this up. The best way to protect her is by making sure that you’re safe. Really, I’d want you to leave Paris and forget about her. She’ll be okay. We’ll keep her safe.”

Batman says nothing for a time. Ladybug is right in thinking that Marinette shouldn’t love him, but she’s not right in her belief that she can protect her. After all, Tom and Sabine are still dead. “But I can make sure no one hurts her. I may not be someone she interacts with normally, but I can’t see her die.”

Ladybug makes a keening sound in the back of her throat. “I know, Batman. We’re not as trained as you and your team. I know you want to keep her safe. That’s why I’m letting you and your team help us. Because we’re just not enough.”

“You’ve done a lot to keep this city safe.” He wants to be mad at her for involving a civilian family, but he can’t find it in him. She seems so young. Does she have parents? Do her parents know that she’s Ladybug?

“But not enough.” She wanders to the edge of the building, yoyo in hand. “When this is all over-- maybe the two of you can spend some time getting to know each other.”

Batman stares at the spotted heroine. “Maybe someday.”

“That’s not very convincing.” Ladybug turns so that he can’t see her face. “Be kind to her. She’s alone.”

“She has you. She has your team.” Neither Bruce nor Batman has been very good at comfort during a time of loss. 

Ladybug fiddles with the chain around her neck. Two rings as a pendant. She clenches her fist around them and goes still for a moment. “We’re too similar to comfort each other. And we both agreed that telling the team… it would be disastrous. Tom and Sabine were parents to all of us. Pavona is scheduled to come back soon. If we tell them now, it might end in another mass akumatization. That’s something we have to avoid.”

Pavona is coming back? How did Ladybug even know that she left? How— 

Batman stills. The muggy Parisian warmth is only alleviated by a brief breeze that makes Ladybug’s hair ties fly in the wind. Anger wells up in the back of his throat, and he feels the Lazarus in him spike, knows that behind the white film of his cowl, his eyes are turning green. “You know who Pavona is. Why hasn’t she been brought in yet? Why—”

Ladybug could have prevented Tom and Sabine’s death. She could have saved Marinette the loss of her parents. 

Marinette could have retained her innocence. Been kept out of the world of superheroes and supervillains, been kept safely on the sidelines if only Ladybug weren’t so selfish, wasn’t so foolish to bring in a civilian family with no training and no background.

“Marinette and I have known for a long time,” Ladybug cuts him off, and he’s ready to put his hands to her throat, but no. Justice, not vengeance. He will make sure that Ladybug’s wrongdoings are brought to light. He will right her wrongs.  “For four years, it was Hawkmoth and Mayura. Once Pavona showed up, we thought-- we thought that between her and Hawkmoth that she’d be the lesser of the two evils. We had no clue who Hawkmoth was, but we knew that they were working together. Pavona was left free to roam in hope that she’d lead us to Hawkmoth. That we could finally end the fight.”

 Ladybug’s back straightens. She turns, and her eyes are all blue steel and pain. It’s then that Batman realizes that Ladybug truly did love Tom and Sabine with her whole heart.

“I see that I was wrong. Hawkmoth kills indiscriminately. But Pavona-- her grudges run deep. Mayura was the kindest of the three. The reason Pavona killed Tom and Sabine was petty.” Ladybug’s voice crumples, as do her legs. She hunches in on herself, hugging her knees. Batman watches on from a distance. 

What was it she said? That she and Marinette were too similar to comfort each other? One day, Batman may find himself furious at Ladybug for making the decisions she did. But right now, all he sees is a child. 

“I’m sure you’ve looked into Marinette’s past,” Ladybug starts. 

Batman makes a noise of affirmation, but she clearly wasn’t looking for permission to go on. She was trying to collect herself in order to tell a story.

“There was a transfer all the way back in collège. She was very popular amongst her classmates. Beautiful, well connected, charismatic. There was no way people wouldn’t love her.” 

Ladybug glances back at him. “Come, sit, Monsieur. I do not know you well, but I don’t bite.”

Bruce— Bruce does not want to sit with her. But Batman says that he has to hear her out. To give her a chance, at least. Batman has made mistakes over the course of his career as well, his actions and inactions affecting too many for him to keep track of. He would be a hypocrite if he didn’t let Ladybug speak, even if Sabine and Marinette are two people he never would have dreamed of involving. Still, he keeps one hand firmly on a batarang. The videos shows that not much damage can be done to the superheroes when they’re suited up, save for attacks with magic, but nothing is absolute. There’s always a way to bring an opponent down. “Is it that shocking of a story?”

“No. Not at all. If anything, it’s a typical story of teenage drama, except perhaps a bit more than that. But I need the reassurance that you won’t run off once I finish.” She lets the two rings go, gentle thud of the two rings pressing against each other and her collar bone. The rings seem familiar. 

Batman sits, albeit warily and at least five feet away from his companion. Ladybug hasn’t proven untrustworthy so far, but she is still part meta and a magic user, from what he’s gathered. He wouldn’t put it past her or one of her team, particularly the one who creates illusions, to do something. He just doesn’t know what.

“This beautiful, charming classmate easily swayed Marinette’s class to her side.” Ladybug peeks at Batman through her bangs. “Understand that the classmates are children. Children in a class where power means that trouble and responsibility never stick. They learned that taking action meant you would be blamed.”

Batman wonders how Marinette and Ladybug met. Maybe it was through this very class she’s talking about now. If that’s true, it does not bode well for his perception of her.

“Marinette recognized this classmate for what she was. A liar. She promised all sorts of beautiful things-- things that played to their classmate’s biggest dreams. Working with their favorite artist. Meeting olympic athletes and musicians. Trips to impossible places. Perhaps if Marinette wans’t who she was, she would have believed her, too. But this classmate lied about two things Marinette knew were false. She lied about being a hero. She lied about me.”

“How do you and Marinette know each other?” It was incredibly difficult to find the video evidence of the Miraculous team going to Tom & Sabine’s Boulangerie. Batman had to call in a favor from Zatara and avoiding her questions as to why— he’d much preferred it if he were able to go through any normal channel instead. 

“We’ve known each other since the beginning.” Ladybug fiddles with her yoyo, refusing to look him in the eyes. “Marinette tried to get her friends to realize the truth. But everybody wanted what she was saying to be real. It’s hard to say otherwise when everything they ever wanted could be found in a single person. And Marinette didn’t pick the smartest ways to try to reveal her lies. 

“That beautiful, charming classmate didn’t like Marinette trying to debunk her entire persona. She grew to be very cunning. She hurt Marinette in so many ways. I lost track over how many times Marinette got suspended or temporarily expelled, only for her to be brought back at the behest of the one other person in her class who knew the truth. Her designs were stolen. The boy she loved grew into a shell in order to protect himself. Her friends drifted away-- not that they were cruel or anything,  they were taught inaction above all else, to not say a word about whatever happened in class ever since ecole-- but Marinette was really lonely. 

“It was sort of a blessing in disguise. During this time, a lot of the Miraculous Team went on a break of sorts, and it was only Chat Noir and I. We had to get stronger and smarter and Marinette and her family provided relief and moral support. If her friends were close to her during that time, things may have ended really badly. Hawkmoth may have caught on to more secret identities than he already knew.”

“Does Marinette know who you and Chat Noir are underneath the mask?” To put the weight of their alter egos on a civilian is cruel. It’s why his own was so closely guarded. He’s not a fan of Marinette knowing his existence as Bruce, let alone Ladybug. 

“The more people who know our identities, the greater a chance Hawkmoth has at taking our Miraculous.”

A non answer. Clever wording on Ladybug’s part. Although he can imagine Sabine agreeing to put up a bunch of teenage superheroes in her bakery, he knows that it’s impossible for anything to escape from her eyes for very long. He’d bet anything that she figured out the majority of the team’s identities. And by extension, anything that Sabien finds out, Marinette is bound to find out as well; her past indicates that she has an equal, if not higher level of intelligence and creativity that Sabine had.

Had. They went for so long without patching anything up. Why was he so foolish? So Hard headed? She offered him so many chances to reconnect, to connect with Marinette, to be a second father to her. She didn’t have any romantic feelings for him left, that much he knew, what with how utterly in love she was with Tom, and he was happy for her. Happy that she found somebody more stable than him. 

If he and Sabine were closer, could he have prevented their deaths? Would he have been clued into the situation of a magic supervillain in Paris sooner? 

He can’t be mad at Ladybug. Not when Batman, a hero with decades of experience on her, failed to step in. Refused to look old problems in the eye. Let loved ones die for his own inability to communicate. 

“For a while, Marinette didn’t fight back. She didn’t want the boy she loved, her best friend, to get in any more trouble than he already was, trying to protect her. She laid low. But the classmate was very interested in this boy as well. The classmate tried to break him to get him to love her.”

Ladybug smiles wryly. “You can imagine that was the end of her rope. Marinette thought that the only person the liar was targeting was herself. After three years of bearing the weight, she finally snapped. She started using the resources she had. And the wasn’t any grandiose thing, though in retrospect, perhaps it should have been. She wouldn’t have ended up in prison, no she’s too young, and one of the two main victims was under lock and key, and Marinette was never hurt to the point where the liar would face real consequences for her actions. All that happened was a restraining order and her removal from Marinette’s school.”

“The girl’s name is Lila Rossi. She was already a suspect for working with Hawkmoth at the time by helping him turn people into akumas. Then Mayura stopped showing up and Pavona took her place. Pavona was clearly targeting everything and anything near Marinette. I should have seen the signs, but I had years of experience on her, and the Miraculous Cure--” Ladybug breaks off. “From one point of view, even Hawkmoth is better than her, because at least he didn’t cause any irreversible deaths.”

The Miraculous Cure is cruel. It only reverses the damage done with a Miraculous or while Ladybug is transformed. When Tom and Sabine were murdered, Pavona and the Peacock Miraculous were nowhere in sight.

Batman can’t say whether Pavona is better or worse than Hawkmoth. But Lila Rossi-- he recognizes the name. He knows what she looks like, since her image came up when he was doing a background check on Marinette. It’s quite possible that she has some type of mental disorder. Now is not the time to think about that. Hawkmoth’s identity needs to be revealed, and quickly. “How did you connect the two with the magic protecting your identities?”

“I used a little magic of my own.”

Beneath them, more and more lights begin to flicker out. Even though Paris is nicknamed the City of Lights, due to the extensive drain on energy, shops are required to turn off their exterior lighting after 1AM. 

“Please,” Ladybug says. “Please help me find Hawkmoth. Please help me put them in prison. I-- I’ve been fighting for so long, and it was a duty I didn’t even want for the longest time. I just want all of this to be over. I want to be able to scream and cry and mourn without Hawkmoth and Pavona trying to manipulate me. Please.”

Batman has never been one for physical affection, but he pats Ladybug awkwardly on her back. She launches herself into his arms, curling into him and sobs as he awkwardly rubs her back. He keeps his eyes trained at a distance, watching for any akumas or amoks.  

“Please,” she warbles, eyes watery. “Be good to Marinette. Be a good father. Be someone for her to lean on.”

His muscles tighten. He’s never claimed to be a good father, let alone a good man. He tries to do right, but Marinette is different from all of the other kids he’s taken in over the years. She’s not from Gotham. She had parents who were kind and stable and normal. He doesn’t think he can be a good father to her.

Somehow, Ladybug guesses exactly what he’s thinking. “You just have to be yourself. It may be stupid and foolish, but she loves you. She really does.”

For a long time, the two of them stay on that roof, Ladybug buried in the crook of Batman’s arm.

_____________________________________________________

@biodad-bruce-month

Maribat tag list(to be added onto this pls send me an ask/dm): @our-precipreciousss @my-dear-friend-anxiety 

Who Are You (and what will you become) tag list (to be added here just comment): @anjuschiffer @theunquiet-dead @certainmuffinbagelcalzone @cresentmo0n @allulily @myazael @zalladane @rebecarojas07 @keepingupwiththemalfoys @frieddonutsweets @all-mights-asscheeks @thornalchemist23 @trippingovermyfeet @jiso-lee @redscarlet95 @ira-sairain @screechingflapbiscuitpeach @ramos123 @cutechip

also if i missed you please just lmk in the appropriate place again! and is it a me thing or a tumblr thing that some of these tags just wont WORK AUGH. thank you all for the support on the fics i’ve posted so far! i’m quite bad at posting regularly because all sense of time has been stripped away

hahahaha consistent chapter length? what’s that? (jokes on you these aren’t chapters just loosely related chronologically told one shots. what even makes a cohesive story a story)

[yannowhatigiveup]

My One And Only - Chapter 17

Previous | Next | Master List

I have posted this chapter and I have had as much sleep as an insomniac can get. After next chapter, maybe, I’ll get to the scene that I have been wanting but also dreading to write so that’s something.

"...You're Ladybug, aren't you?"

————————————————————

Marinette's eyes widened, she didn't expect Alya to come to that recognition but as she gave it a second thought, it made sense. Luckily the pain in her chest had subsided so she could think clearly. The bluenette turned away from her best friend, nodding her head.

"Oh my god. You're Ladybug, my best friend is Ladybug!" Alya gasped, the situation truly hitting her, "Oh god you're Ladybug, the same Ladybug that got stabbed! Oh my god Mari are you okay?!"

The bluenette took a few long breaths before answering. "Yeah, I will be"

The aspiring reporter shook her head, "No, what happens if that happens during class? You might not have enough energy to stay conscious! I'll go tell Miss Bustier to let us off for today then we go to Damian's since he's the likely candidate to be Noir" Marinette knew not to underestimate her best friend's capabilities but she couldn't help but be stunned at her accurate conclusion. Hesitantly, she agreed and only after the bluenette was safely escorted out of the bathroom did Alya make her way to their classroom. After what felt like an eternity, though was probably only a few minutes, the amber-haired girl returned. "Come on, let's go get your stuff"

Once her belongings were collected, the two left the school building and towards the Grand Paris. While one hand was steadying the bluenette, Alya had her phone in the other. 'Texting Dami probably' The walk completely silent, but it was a comfortable silence. The aching in her chest would certainly appear in her voice and she didn't want to worry her best friend more than she already was. Marinette also knew that Alya was waiting to reach to hotel room before she asked questions, a good hero never discussed trivial matters out of the mask when it wasn't necessary, and Alya was definitely a good hero.

Soon enough, they arrived at the hotel and made their way to Damian's room. The green-eyed boy greeted them as they went inside, taking Mari from Alya so that she could lean on him. Once all three occupants were safely secured in the room, their three kwamis came up to check on their guardian.

Tikki's voice came first. "Marinette! Are you okay? I tried healing it but it didn't work I'm sorry"

"It's not your fault Tikki. It's oka-"

"No! It's not okay, Marinette! You're in pain! Plagg, Trixx is there anyway to get rid of it?" The red kwami anxiously floated towards her fellow companions.

"It's was caused by Hawkmoth" Plagg supplied. "Only Nooroo can remove his magic"

Damian hummed thoughtfully while Alya, though less panicked, was still slightly alarmed. There was still one question that left unanswered. What were they going to do now? Marinette's train of thought kicked in. 'We might have to expand our team sooner than expected...'

"What's the plan?" It was Alya who spoke, the reporter recognised the look of thought on her best friend's face.

"I think... I think we need to bring in more heroes" the bluenette replied hesitantly. "I'll give it some more thought before we bring anyone in"

Alya nodded. "Say, do you think I should practise my illusions? I could try to make them more fluid and realistic" Marinette approved for Alya to practice and watched Rena Rouge jump from rooftop to rooftop. The bluenette turned to her boyfriend.

"I'll look at the copy of the Grimoire, maybe it'll reveal a way to heal me, or subdue the pain at least." The blue-eyed girl blinked as an idea popped in her head. "Why don't you join me? You tend to pick up on things quite quickly so maybe I could teach you how to read the language of the guardians"

Damian sat on the chair, gently pulled Marinette on his lap and peered over her shoulder, looking at the digital copy of the book on her phone. "Learning an ancient language could be interesting"

~~~

The green-eyed boy chuckled ever so slightly as the bluenette kept whining about how he managed to pick this up much faster than she did when Master Fu taught her. After some time, Marinette decided to go check on Rena Rouge in her hero persona, she took one of Damian's hoodies before leaving, though. This went unnoticed by the owner but not by his kwami. Plagg snickered at Marinette's sneaky antics before asking, demanding, for some Camembert. Damian ordered a selection of cheese to see if there was a substitute to the stinky cheese, there was no way he would go around smelling like a used sock. The black kwami didn't complain since it means he would have more cheese. As Plagg was eating somewhere in the hotel room, a ringing sound came from Damian's phone. Thinking it was one of his annoying brothers, he left it idle for a moment before reaching to answer the call. It was a face time request. From Jon. Pressing the accept button, Damian placed his phone on the coffee table while waiting for the call to connect.

"Hi Dami!!" Was what was first said when the call finally connected. He didn't necessarily like the nickname, it was reserved for Marinette and Marinette only.

"Hello, Kent" he replied, his eyes briefly glanced over to the black kwami in his room. Then he remembered something that Marinette had mentioned momentarily.

Marinette had pulled her phone out from her purse and pulled Damian in for a picture, Tikki on her shoulder and Plagg on Damian's head. Wanting to make her happy, Damian let his lips twitch ever so slightly, having a small smile, one that his family would scarcely see, on his face.

"Don't the kwamis appear on camera?" He asked when she had finsihed. The bluenette turned to smile at him.

"Their magic prevents them from being recorded or heard on camera, so no" Marinette grabbed her phone back from where she returned it. She handed it towards him where the picture was shown and sure enough, there were no kwamis insight.

"Magic never fails to impress me"

The bluenette giggled. "I know"

"So how's the City of Love? Found anyone yet?" Jon's tone wasn't in a teasing manner, like most of his brothers would usually have, instead his voice held genuine curiosity. Again, Damian noted how much Jon would act like an excited puppy.

"It's adequate" He stated simply, he purposefully didn't answer the second question. Unfortunately for him, Jon managed to pickup on the fact.

"No. Freakin'. Way. You found someone! What's their name? What're they like? Do you have a crush or you and them together? Wh-" His voice was cut off by the sound of Damian's hotel door opening. He was thankful for the interruption before realising it was Marinette who entered, wearing his hoodie.

Completely forgetting that Jon was on call, Damian turned to the bluenette. "Is that my hoodie?"

Marinette, noticing Damian was speaking in English, switched to English as well. "I may have taken it as I left but you have no proof" She made her way to the couch, hugging her boyfriend from behind before noticing the boy on the phone. "Oh hello!" She greeted.

"Woah! Hi! Are you Damian's girlfriend by any chance?" The big wide smile that appeared on his face when she confirmed his suspicions, could rival her own. "What's your name?"

"Marinette"

"It's nice to meet you Marinette! I'm Jon, Dami's best friend!" He reminded her of Adrien, both had excitable personalities and they were both enthusiastic rays of sunshine.

"Self-proclaimed" Damian muttered under his breath.

Marinette, though having a smile on her face, jabbed the green-eyed boy in the ribs with her elbows, "Be nice, Dami"

"My name and nice are not usually in the same sentence" He smirked at her offended expression.

The bluenette huffed as she folded her arms across her chest. "Well when you're with me you're much more than nice"

"Well you are my girlfriend, it's hard not to" Marinette shot a playful glare at Damian, which was by no means intimidating in the slightest. "Such as right now, I feel like I'm being intimidated by a cupcake"

The blue-eyed girl's cheeks dusted with a light pink before she turned her head towards something in the room, muttering incoherently. Damian couldn't pick up what she was saying so he pulled her into his body, her begrudgingly leaning into the embrace.

Jon could tell that Damian had gotten soft and was completely smitten for the noirette. In all honesty, he was happy he could find someone like her. Despite only briefly talking, he could tell she was a pure soul. "Well I gotta get going. See you lovebirds later!" And the call disconnected.

"You're best friend seems like the cheerful type"

"Self-procla-" A soft pair of lips on his own cut off the words he was about to say. He didn't mind, he was just annoyed that this was a very convenient way to get him to shut up.

"Self-proclaimed or not-" Marinette began after she pulled away "-you still care about him greatly, much like you do with your brothers."

"You always try to think of the best in others" He muttered, his voice muffled as he placed a kiss on her temple. "Where's Cèsaire?"

"She returned to school, hey do you want to get something to eat while I'm still here?"

"Sure"

~~~

The two had sat down in the dining area, both scanning the menu for something that caught their eye, when an akuma made it's presence known. The couple quickly came to the the scene, the Akuma seemed to be a ten year old girl. Le Chien and Rena Rouge were quickly to arrive as well, with Le Chien providing the information on her backstory.

"Apparently, from what I heard, she got ridiculed for getting a participation reward" The dog-themed hero supplied, eyes dropping ever so slightly. "Poor her"

"If we deal with this swiftly, we'll be able to help her" Ladybug called upon her lucky charm and was given a long, spotted javelin. The spotted heroine noticed how the girl's weapon was also a javelin, just with a more pointier end. Her eyes darted all over the scene, first to Noir who was duelling the Akuma, then to the two heroes at her side. Quickly formulating a plan, Ladybug turned to Rena Rouge. "I'll need you to create illusions of the two of us, we'll able to confuse the Akuma and while it's confused-" The spotted heroine turned to Le Chien. "-you'll be able to identify the akumatized object"

Rena and Chien nodded while positioning themselves to attack. Ladybug, javelin in hand, joined Noir in the duel. Rena joined too after a music note was played and many clones of the hero team were created. The Akuma, however, was tactical and had managed to narrow it's opponents down to the original trio. This was when the main part of her plan was to take place. Ladybug slowly distanced herself from the fight, sending a signal to Noir to get him to do the same.

Once noticing her signal, Noir took action. "Rena, fall back" The fox-themed heroine shot a shocked look at the black cat hero before hesitantly obliging. With all three heroes equal length away, the Akuma struggled to decide who to get rid of first, Ladybug had other plans. Using the moment of uncertainty to her advantage, the spotted-heroine charged at the Akuma, knocking the Akuma's javelin out of their reach with her own. While Ladybug was in the air, jumping over the Akuma, Le Chien had not a moment to spare.

"Fetch!" His boomerang lit up and he threw it at the Akuma with great force, the glowing boomerang snatched one of the many medallions resting on the Akuma's body before returning. A purple butterfly emerged as the dog-themed hero threw the medal on the floor.

A spotted yo-yo was quick to capture the fluttering creature. "Gotcha. Bye-bye little butterfly" Once freed from it's magical imprisonment, a white butterfly emerged. Javelin in hand, Ladybug threw it in the air, erupting into many magical ladybugs. "Miraculous Ladybug!" Once the ladybugs subsided, all four heroes fist pumped.

"Pound it!"

They were interrupted by the sound of three miraculous beeping. Sharing a chuckle, the superhero team parted ways, Ladybug and Noir leaving together of course. They arrived to the sound of Damian's phone being bombarded with notifications. With a sigh, the green-eyed boy went to check what the messages were while Marinette brushed through her hair. He hummed.

"What is it?" The bluenette asked, placing the brush down on one of the cabinets.

"Your uncle released his album, the song you provided the vocals for has already reached number one in a few countries" Marinette blinked in astonishment.

"I- already? Wow..." She couldn't really figure out what to say. In her defence, what do you say in reply? "Hang on, wait I'll be back" The girl left and Damian decided to occupy himself by rereading the digital copy of the Grimoire that his girlfriend had sent him. It was quite a simple language once you get used to it, most of the symbols were shaped similarly and it was quite an easy concept. Around twelve minutes later, Marinette returned with a few boxes. "I brought some of the things I made for your family. I thought it would be best to give it to you now before I forget"

Damian removed the weight in her arms while smiling. "Thank you, Angel"

"Anytime, also-" The bluenette took something that was hidden behind her back, since she had an oversized hoodie it was easy to. "-I made this for you" It was a hoodie of her own design, ever so subtly Robin themed.

Putting the boxes near his suitcase, Damian walked back over to Mari, delicately handling the woven fabric almost as if he were in fear of ruining it. The green-eyed boy slipped in on, it fit like a glove with a little bit of leniency to provide warmth. Turning back to the bluenette, Damian found her analyzing the piece of clothing in him, as if looking for mistakes needing to be fixed.

"Does it fit okay? Is it comfortable? Do you like the design?" Marinette kept rambling on with questions about the artwork that he was wearing. Walking closer, he enveloped the bluenette in a hug, her face buried in his chest while he stroked his fingers through her midnight hair.

"Thank you, Habibti. I am very grateful for this gift, but you really didn't need to make me one"

She looked up at him and huffed. "I wanted to and besides-" her arms snaked up his chest and made their way around neck, her fingers lightly tugging on the hairs on his nape. "-it looks good on you"

He hummed, his hands trailing down to her waist, "if it was made by you, it's bound to be" The green-eyed boy placed a slow but heartfelt kiss on the forehead. "I'm not sure about you, but I'd like to listen to the completed song"

Marinette whined but went to get her phone anyway, Damian chuckled at her antics before returning to the pages of the Grimoire he was reading. In the background, he heard the plucking of a strings instrument followed by chimes from what could've been a triangle. The genre itself wasn't what first came to mind when someone mentioned 'Jagged Stone' but the man was fully capable of creating great songs in any music style. His point was further supported when Marinette's voice echoed through the music. Damian unknowingly smiled as he listened to his beloved's voice, but something else caught his attention. Flicking through the pages, the green-eyed boy came across a page relating to both the Ladybug miraculous and the Butterfly miraculous. Briefly scanning the ancient letters, he caught the bluenette's attention.

"Angel, did I translate this correctly? If I did then..."

Marinette, intrigued, came over to peer over her boyfriend's shoulder and found him looking on a page she hadn't seen before. She scanned it hastily, her palm covering her mouth as she finished. Damian looked over at her expression, meaning that he had translated it correctly.

"...I believe I found a way to subdue Hawkmoth"

———

Taglist: @little-bluestar,@miracleofadisaster,@frieddonutsweets,@jjmjjktth,@genderfluidmoma,@starlit-dreaming,@icerosecrystal,@lolieg,@kashlyn, @mochegato,@eggadoodle,@walkingthroughonautopilot, @toodaloo-kangaroo,@lady-bee-fechin,@weebjai1

[thatasianstereotype]

Damn, You’re Looking Fine.

To my utter delight, my crack writing Fuck. I’m Gay. got a good reception. I was not expecting to write more for this AU/pairing. But why not? I got some ideas and a computer to write them down on.

So this fic is the took-a-while-to-put-together sequel. It’s focused on the downfall of one certain Liar-la, Damian wooing Adrien with all the flair and romantics as his Chaton deserves, and Adrien being a blushing hot gay mess. 

P.S. Damian’s formal way of talking is an utter pain to write but hilarious to read.

P.S.S. Creative liberties were taken. Again. I just feel this needs to be mentioned. 

.

.

.

So Status Update:

Adrien and Damian are definitely dating (It is totally official. Told you ya boi got game).

Adrien still calls him Hot-And-Sexy from time to time much to his utter mortification (He can’t make himself stop. Please send help). And Dami gets amused by it every single time, that arrogant smug jerk.

Marinette still puts the fear of god in Damian and he is wary of her. She feels very proud about that. Adrien wants to facepalm.

Fuck Gabriel Agreste.  

And Lila Rossi is still a bitch.  

Adrien and Marinette were made aware about Damian’s alter ego —well mostly because he is utterly terrified of Marinette’s seemingly sweet (icy) smile she gave him when she politely asked how he obtained the Butterfly and Peacock Miraculous and partly because of Adrien’s pouting kitten eyes. 

They truly were a pair to reckon with. 

.

“I am not sure why the Justice League dismissed your concerns and pleas for assistance. So I am taking the initiative. My name is Damian Wayne, the son of Batman and the current Robin and leader of the Teen Titans.”

He’s a superhero too?! And it’s Robin!!! One of his favorites!! Can you hear him internally squealing in excitement?

Adrien bit his lip to keep from fanboying right then and there. But a slight pink hue spread across his face. 

“You’re not lying.” Mari has gotten pretty good at deciphering through people’s bullshit. Whether it’s because she is now a Guardian or because Lila’s bitchiness made her a human lie-detector remains unknown.

Damian took it in stride. “I am not.”

“Paris is still our city.”

“I am only offering my assistance.” He won’t barge in on their superhero duties to the city. He has more class than that.

Mari didn’t have to look at Adrien to know his decision.

She smiled, a bright genuine smile. “Then we’re allies.” Before her eyes gained a spark of mischief and her smile turned teasing. “Hot-And-Sexy.” 

“Marinette!” Adrien immediately covered his blushing bright red face with both hands, utterly mortified. 

His sister was evil. E. V. I. L. And why is Damian smirking and looking so smug? Fuck! He even makes that look completely hot. Curse his Adonis genes. And curse his teenage hormones. 

He regrets introducing the two of them together. What a pair they make. Truly a couple of fur-midable terrors here. 

.

Back to the matter at hand, Marinette is able to ensure that Hawk Moth and Mayura will never be out again and another akuma won’t be made. She already made sure that the miraculous were better protected. 

Damian has enough evidence to put them behind bars for their crimes but Marinette wanted to go through it and make sure that Adrien won’t suffer the repercussions of having a villain for a dad so they held onto it until they figure out how best to protect their sunshine. 

.

Ah Shit. 

“Duusu? Where are you?” 

Did Gabriel lose the miraculous again? 

But when he looked into the last place he left it, he groaned. Fuck. His brooch was a fake again.

He knew he shouldn’t have made a miraculous fashion line and had replicas of the miraculous jewelries made. It was his most popular items to date. He has gotten lot of praises for getting the details just right and capturing the essence of each miraculous holder. No surprise there. He deals with them on a daily basis. He should get the details fucking right. 

It’s a wonder he only came up with a line because there was talk that he was becoming obsolete with no new ideas coming forth and if there is one thing that Gabriel Agreste isn’t, it is being obsolete. 

The line was just a joke, a parody of the heroes and villains if you will, but apparently people like it. Ladybug and Chat Noir were the most popular obviously (he should’ve seen that coming to be honest). Hardly anyone buys Hawk Moth or Mayura and he is left with boxes of fake brooches. 

It is annoying.

Especially since he keeps fucking misplacing his miraculous. 

.

Adrien felt like he could be a Disney princess and just skip his way to school and sing for the world to hear. 

Now that the Butterfly miraculous were safely with Marinette, he doesn’t have to worry about another akuma. He could just die happy right now. His dad doesn’t have a hold over him anymore. He doesn’t have to put up with Liar-la anymore. But if they put up a fuss? Well, worst case scenario is he becomes a Dupain-Cheng. 

And he doesn’t mind. He’s already an honorary one. 

And if that somehow doesn’t work out (which he highly doubts), Damian offered to make him a Wayne. 

.

Françoise Dupont High School experienced a shock that morning. Specifically Ms. Bustier’s class. 

When they saw Adrien and Marinette walking in class with arms intertwined, laughing and smiling together. 

What the actual fuck?

Did they cross into an alternate universe? Marinette is a nasty bully and Adrien’s a pure sunshine child. Why would they be acting like they were the best of friends? 

Lila glowered darkly when she saw them walking towards the back and sitting at the same table. Didn’t Adrien care about what his father thinks? Doesn’t he want to still be able to go to school? 

She bit her lip and turned on the waterworks, her eyes close to bursting into tears. She made herself be the very picture of a pitiful woe-is-me victim as she cried out in a hurtful and betrayed tone. “Adrien, what are you doing with her? I thought we were close friends.” 

The sheep class instantly catered to Lila, pointing their fingers at the pair. 

Alya, her biggest supporter, led the charge as always. “Adrien! What do you have to say for yourself? How could you cheat on Lila like this? And with her?” 

Adrien narrowed his eyes at his former friend. Bitch, how dare she implies he was in an actual relationship and had feelings for that harlot. 

Wow. 

He has been spending way too much time around Damian. 

"Yeah, bro!” Kim said, raising his voice. “How could you do her dirty?” 

“Okay guys.” Adrien cut in. “I don’t know where you heard that but me and Lila are not dating. Like at all.” 

“Please.”Alya waved him off like he didn’t know what he was talking about (he was highly offended at the notion he didn’t know what his heart yearns for). “We all know you have feelings for Lila. You’re just in denial over them.”

Bitch, what?

Is no one catching onto his chaotic gay vibes here?  

And oh, how his fragile little heart was betrayed yet again when he saw Nino supporting his girlfriend. He still couldn’t believe the first friend he made all by himself was a part of their rabid pack. He deeply mourned the loss of such a great friend in the midst of that deceiving fox’s claws. 

“How many times do I need to say it?” At this point, Adrien was about to throw hands. “I don’t like Lila like that. I feel nothing but pure spite for her. Also, me and Marinette are not dating if anyone’s wondering. We’re just really good friends.”

“But Marinette’s a big bully.” Alix piped up, a hard edge in her voice. “She treats Lila horribly.”

“Marinette didn’t do anything to her. Rossi is lying.” 

“Oh Adrien.” It was Mylene of all people who spoke up. “Did Marinette get to you with her lies?” 

He was done. 

Completely and utterly done. 

He looked over at Marinette who shared his exasperation at the class’ antics. 

Adrien already said it before. But it bears repeating.

Lila Rossi is a bitch.

Luckily (or maybe unluckily), that was the moment Ms. Bustier chose to step in the room and class started. 

When the teacher’s back was turned, Adrien pulled out his phone and proceeded to spend the rest of the time alternating between taking notes and texting with Damian. 

They were currently at the stage of their relationship to be sending animal pics and memes back and forth, with a few puns added from time to time. 

He really does have the perfect boyfriend. 

.

They cornered him after school. 

One: Rude. 

And two: Double rude. 

He was excited to meet Hot-And-Sexy (daMn iT! It’s Damian! Get it right brain) at the bakery and spending time with his two most favorite people in the world (Tom and Sabine don’t count because actual parents don’t have a ranking). 

His former friends were looking all concerned and everything because they somehow collectively came up with the idea that Marinette actually brainwashed him to believe Lila was evil. 

The fucking irony. 

They actually had the audacity to say that Marinette —sweet and honestly badass Marinette— was no good and just wanted to use Adrien to get ahead in the fashion industry (as if Mari actually needed him for that). He shouldn’t be around her. Lila was a much better person to keep as company. 

Adrien laughed in their faces and left. 

.

Onto happier events, Adrien was having a blast hanging out with Mari and Dami. His boyfriend (he still can’t believe he managed to score such a hottie!) fit right in the everything-that-matters siblings’ dynamics. 

They were in Mari’s room. Adrien was cuddling with Damian on her bed. And Mari was at her desk working on fashion designs. 

“So what’s your family like?” He played with Dami’s hair. It was so soft. Like what the fuck. It is so unfair. 

Damian thought about it for a few seconds. “My family is a bit...crazy. We drive each other insane every other day but at the end of the day, I have no doubt they have my back as I have theirs.” 

“You guys sound close.” 

“We were not always. We had an extensive amount of issues to work through before we actually bonded as a true family.” 

It was quiet for a minute until Damian casually said. “I would appreciate it a great deal if you can make time to visit Gotham for the summer.” 

Adrien stopped playing with his hair to look at him with wide incredulous eyes. “Summer’s only two months away.” 

“I am aware.” 

“You really want me to meet them? Isn’t it too early?” 

“I met yours the day we started dating.” 

True but....

Adrien averted his eyes. “Do you think your family will like me? You guys fight criminals and my dad’s a villain.” 

Damian put his hands over Adrien’s and gave them a light squeeze, making his Chaton look back at him. 

“My mother is a villain and I was raised as an assassin. Yet despite of that, my father accepted me. And I am fairly confident he will do the same to you. Mon amour, you have a pure and selfless heart. You are a better person than I am. I have no doubt that my family will love you from the start. 

“Are you being fur real right meow?” Adrien tried to lighten the atmosphere but he could feel his eyes tearing up. 

"I wouldn’t lie to mew.” 

He let out a small laugh, wiping his eyes. How did he ever get so lucky to land such an amazing guy? “You always know the purr-fect thing to say.” 

“We get it you’re in love. It’s amazing. Now stop it with the puns.” Mari rolled her eyes, utterly exasperated at these idiots who just ignored her and pulled out even more cat puns. “You have got to be kitten me.” 

Before she noticed what she said and groaned in faux despair. “Oh you two are so dead.”

Adrien stuck out his tongue playfully. “You can’t catch me. I got a handsome knight in shining armor to protect me.” 

Damian interlaced their fingers. “Always, mon amour. I’ll protect you from everything like your wicked father.”

“Does that make me the dragon here?” Mari joined in. “Cool. I can breathe fire and torch people. Too bad I can’t do that to a certain liar.” 

“Liar-la is totally the witch here.” Adrien said before thinking for a few seconds. “Does this make me the princess?” 

“Well, knights always have to save the damsel in distress.” Mari said. 

He frowned before crossing his arms indignantly. “Dami, I love you more than Plagg loves his stinky cheese, but I’m no damsel in distress.” 

Damian rolled his eyes. “Tt. Of course not. You can destroy things with a single touch. It would be not be in my best interests to downplay your abilities.”

Adrien relaxed and beamed a sunny smile. “Good. Remember that.” 

“Mon amour, I look for an equal as a partner, not some weak spoiled harlot that can not defend their self.” Damian placed a flower crown (that was just sitting on Marinette’s nightstand, must be one of her projects) on Adrien’s head. “Having said that I do believe you are a prince that deserves all the love and care in the world.” 

And oh my. 

Adrien can feel his face burning scarlet and his heart almost bursting at how sweet this incredible, conceited Adonis was. 

He was falling in love with Damian over and over again each time they meet up. 

“You deserve love too, Dami.” 

And sweet, caring Hot-And-Sexy (Ah, fuck it. He will never grow out of that) placed a soft kiss on his cheek. 

Oh dear, he didn’t know his face can burned any redder. 

He could almost hear Mari cooing in the background. 

And in case anyone was wondering, Tom and Sabine adores their everything-that-actually-matters son’s boyfriend. Damian Wayne seems like a responsible young lad. And he makes Adrien really happy which is a major plus. Anything that makes their son happy is good in their books. 

.

Lila was not at all pleased. 

Why was Adrien suddenly hanging out with Marinette? Yeah, he doesn’t buy into her lies but she was confident he will be lured into her charms. Why wouldn’t he be? She was young and way more beautiful than a baker’s daughter. He was supposed to be hers. 

She and Gabriel are going to have a talk about his rebellious son. 

Except when she arrived at the Agreste mansion, Gabriel was apparently too busy to see her. 

He was too occupied with searching through boxes of fake miraculous to find Duusu to bother with her. 

“I don’t have time for you.” 

“Excuse me?!” 

She was aghast. How dare he speak this way to his biggest supporter —well, besides Mayura and Nathalie. 

“You’re excused. Now leave the premises.”

Before the door shut in her face and she was left fuming, her face an unflattering angry red. 

.

Being Damian’s boyfriend, Adrien has come to learn that Damian does nothing by halves. Including asking him out on a date. And the actual dates themselves. 

Today as the sun fell down and night came about, Damian and Adrien were taking a stroll in the park. It was relaxing and it was nice. They talked about everything and anything. 

Adrien did not think Damian planned anything more. 

But he really shouldn’t underestimate the son of Batman. 

Because when the last of the sun’s rays were gone, Damian led him to a gazebo strung up with beautiful lights giving the whole place an ethereal feel. And with the bright moon out tonight, it looked like fairies dancing in the garden. 

He didn’t notice Damian pressed play on his phone and classical music filled the air. 

He definitely noticed Damian bowing with a flourished and holding out his hand with a charming smile. “May I have this dance, Chaton?”

Adrien would have to be a huge fool to say no. 

“I’ll loved to.” He placed his hand in Damian’s and let the Adonis lead him in a simple waltz. 

This was his life. 

His life was one big sappy romance novel. And you know what, he doesn’t care if it is. Between dealing with his shitty father and Liar-la, this kitty deserves some happiness. 

.

It was a scene from one of those Disney fairy tale movies Adrien used to watch as kid. The magic. The love. The romantics. He felt like Cinderella and wished this night will never end, that the clock will never strike midnight. He just wanted to stay in his Prince Charming’s arms forever. 

Under the starry night sky, the lovebirds danced to their heart’s content and when another song ended, Damian tilted his head down to place a tender kiss on Adrien’s lips. 

“I harbor a great deal of non-platonic affections for you, mon amour.”

“I love you too, Hot-And-Sexy.” 

.

What the fuck?!

Seriously. 

What the actual fuck? 

Lila was simply walking home after her disastrous meeting with Gabriel (She was still not over how he simply dismissed her like she was nothing. How dare he). 

When she saw them. 

Adrien and some guy (she’s pretty sure that was a guy) dancing in the park. She can feel that disgusting jealousy just burning in her veins, a cold anger thrumming underneath. 

Things were not at all going her way. 

First, Adrien is back to being friends with that Mari-whore. Then, Gabriel ignores her. Her. And now, she is seeing her Adrien in the arms of someone else. 

Oh this will just not do. 

She took out her phone from her pocket and snapped a couple of pictures, making sure Adrien can clearly be seen. She didn’t care too much about the other guy. He’s probably just another pretty airhead Adrien knew through his father. He’s not important. 

A cruel smirk appeared on her face at the thought of the perfect revenge. Adrien was going to have a rough time at school tomorrow. After all, he should’ve known better than to make a move against her. 

.

“Seriously?!”

“Wow.” 

“I’m sure there’s an explanation for this.”

“Yeah. Adrien is obviously gay. That’s the only explanation.” 

“....Maybe not? There could be another reason.”

Lila had watery eyes and a sad frown on her face but inside, she was fucking smiling like a Cheshire cat. She made sure to be at school early so she can show the class the picture of Adrien’s little date last night. Who —predictably— were shocked at their sunshine child being with a guy and made plans to confront him about his supposed sexuality. 

She glowed at the thought of her plan working. This will teach Adrien to know his place or become a social pariah like his little friend Marinette. 

“I thought Adrien had feelings for me.” Lila wiped the “tears” from her eyes. “How could he lead me on like this when he’s been gay all along?” 

Alya —predictably— comforted her. “I’m pretty sure he’s just confused. He doesn’t know what he’s feeling.”

“I’m sure that’s it.” 

The pair didn’t notice Juleka and Rose glaring at them. 

.

Damian was not at all pleased. 

He was rightfully angry. 

How dare that poor sense of fashion taste trollop tried to shame his mon amour for being gay. How dare she try to say he was simply confused and didn’t know any better. How dare she defame his reputation because he holds nothing but spite for her person. 

How dare she. 

As Adrien’s boyfriend and future husband, it is his duty to correct this travesty and defend his Chaton’s honor. 

.

When the Damian Wayne, youngest son of Bruce Wayne, appeared at Françoise Dupont High School, you know that people are gonna stare and talk. 

When he headed towards the courtyard where Adrien and Marinette were sitting at, boy are things going to get juicy. 

Lila and her followers who were sitting a bit father from the outcast pair were utterly confused. They could possibly get Adrien knowing such a super hot celebrity but for him to be on good terms with Marinette too? How inconceivable. Absolutely flabbergasted. 

“Hey Lila didn’t you tell us you knew him and his family?” Max brought up. 

“Uhhh....” Lila knew she dug herself in a corner here. She never thought that the Damian Wayne would ever visit here. At this second rate school. 

“Well, let’s go, girl!” Alya exclaimed. “I’m sure Damian just hasn’t seen you. That’s why he didn’t walk towards you.”

Before proceeding to practically drag Lila to where Damian was talking with Adrien and Marinette. 

Lila, on the other hand, was cursing out Alya in a bunch of different languages in her mind while trying to come up with something to dig herself out of this mess. If they talk to Wayne, the class will realize she was lying all along. 

She was not going to lose control of her kingdom like this —well, not without putting up a fight. 

But when they and the rest of their classmates walked close to the trio, they were shocked when they saw Marinette playfully punching Damian in the arm. 

“Okay. How the hell are you so close with Damian Wayne?” Straight off the bat, Alya was on the offense as she glared at Marinette as if it was Mari who did something wrong. 

Damian answered before the bluenette could. His face was impassive and his glare cold. “I’m Ms. Dupain-Cheng’s top model for her fashion business.”

What? 

Even Lila was taken aback at the news. She knew that goody two shoes likes designing but she didn’t think anybody would actual buy her stuff. She didn’t think a Wayne would like her stuff. 

She could feel her fists clenched. How dare Marinette steal the spotlight again. 

“I’m also Adrien’s boyfriend.” Damian continued casually as if that wasn’t a huge bombshell. 

Everyone’s minds screeched to a halt. 

They knew about the possibility of Adrien being gay since Lila showed him on going on a date with an unidentified but clearly male person yesterday. But they didn’t think there was actually something there. 

Lila could feel her anger clouding her mind. Adrien was supposed to be hers. He was her ticket to fame and fortune. 

“And what about Lila? Aren’t you guys best friends?” Alya put her hands on her hips. How could Damian just ignore someone he is close friends with but give Marinette all the attention? Lila deserves better than that.  

Damian was unamused. “I don’t know her.”

“Yeah, you do.” Alya ignored Lila’s gestures to stop talking. Lila was too shy about her achievements and she was going to have her amazing best friend’s back. “She’s the one who helped your family out multiple times.”

“She did not. And I am appalled that you believe I would know a harlot like her in the first place.” Damian’s face twisted with disgust as he glanced at Liar-la like she was a mere insect. “Please. I have class and dignity.”

“Take that back!” She screeched. “You are so rude.” 

“Are you honestly going to lecture me on my rudeness when you plebians are being hypocrites?”

“What? I’m not a hyprocrite.” 

“Lila Rossi is a pathetic liar who begs for attention like street dogs beg for scraps. She never once saved Jagged’s cat nor does she help out with green charities. Lastly, she is not on close terms with myself nor with my family.”

“No! You’re lying!”

He raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Ok then. Look her up on the internet. If she is as grand as you lot seem to think, she should have articles dedicated to her. Show me proof of her actions that isn’t your subpar blog and I will give you an exclusive.” 

Alya’s eyes gleamed at what should be an easy challenge. But when she pulled out her phone and typed Lila’s name and what she did in the search engine, her smile disappeared. 

She spent the next few minutes scouring the net for anything, any mention of a Lila Rossi that wasn’t on the LadyBlog. 

She found nothing. 

Lila Rossi was a fucking liar all along. And Alya and the rest of the class believed her. 

“We tried to warn you.” Marinette said in a soft voice. But anyone who knew her knew she was trying to hold back her laughter. 

“Marinette,” Rose cried out as she realized the class has been total jerks to the one person who always had their backs. “We were horribly wrong. Can you ever forgive us?”

She shrugged. “I forgive you. But this doesn’t mean we’re friends again. Because we’re not. Seeing how easily you drop me for that liar without even looking for any kind of proof hurts and I’m not eager to be friends again. Maybe in the future but not right now.”

“That’s goes ditto for me.” Adrien added his two cents. 

Their former friends classmates wore gloomy expressions, utterly devastated at ruining their friendship with their Everyday Ladybug and Sunshine Child. 

And with that, Adrien and Marinette left the courtyard, with light hearts and heads held high. 

Damian shot the class a razor sharp grin. “Well, it’s been nice to meet you.” 

Everyone knew he meant anything but. 

“I always knew teenagers were prone to be foolish imbeciles. But seeing the collective stupidity of you people today made me realize that the bar can in fact be lowered.” 

.

Adrien was fucking ecstatic. 

Elated. Overjoyed. Jubilant. Drunk on happiness. All the synonyms associated. 

Because Lila was finally exposed. The class realized what utter assholes they have been. His father will receive his due (soon according to Mari and Dami). 

He was happily humming a tune as he swung his and Damian’s intertwined hands back and forth. 

He was entirely grateful that Damian showed up to school today. Although he was a bit mean for Adrien’s taste. 

But oh man. Payback was so sweet. 

He smiled giddily. 

Mister Hot-And-Sexy definitely earned himself a kiss. 

Previous

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[thr-333]

Mismatch- Part 1

Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Month 2020

Just found out this is a thing! I have a couple of  miraculous fics like that (all of them, not really but still!)

Next

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“We’re late, we’re late, we’re going to be so late,” Ladybug mutteres to herself, as her earrings beep again.

“Yeah, late for our three hour wait,” Chat Noir jokes, running alongside Ladybug. “Which, by the way, is in place so no one is late,”

“Not the point! We still haven't packed!” Ladybug threw her yo-yo out.

“Oh dear if only we had a super convenient way to instantly travel between continents,” Chat Noir teases, landing next to Ladybug.

“We cannot use the horse miraculous for selfish reasons,” They could see the bakery now and sped up before they transforming back.

“Selfish?” Chat calls from behind, the window was open so they jump straight down onto Marinette's bed, “We couldn’t pack cause we spent all afternoon saving Paris, how is that selfish?”

Marinette’s transformation fall as she speeds down the stairs into their room, throwing clothes in her pink polka-dotted suitcase.

“Marion, I don’t have time to argue about this, now pack,” Marinette commands.

“Yes sir,” Marion jokingly salutes as he drops his transformation, giving Plagg cheese before he could complain.

Marinette did her best to quickly fold the clothes, which ended up in a jumbled mess regardless. Marion didn’t seem to care either way and just stuffed whatever clothes he could find into his suitcase.

“Nette, are we putting the Miracle box in a suitcase or carry on?” He asks, pausing before he packs more.

“Better do carry on, we can tell security it's a gift for Aunt Selina that we didn’t want to lose,” Marion nods and shoves an armful of clothes into the suitcase.

Marinette starts rooting around for something, Marion hands her a sketchbook filling her face with relief. The two work frantically for the next ten minutes, Marinette reading off a checklist. She double checks both their bags despite Marion's protests.

“Are you two ready to go, the taxi’s here!” Their Papa calls from downstairs, as Marion is packing his laptop into a backpack.

“Just a minute!” Marinette assures, rushing to the Miracle box to safely zip it into a secret compartment underneath her bag, covering the pocket up with her tablet, another sketchbook and water bottle.

Marion opened up his satchel for Plagg and Kaalki, double checking he had his passport, phone and wallet, Marinette doing the same. Once they were set they gave each other a nod, grabbing their bags to take downstairs.

“Do you have everything?” Their Maman asks, as they struggled to take their heavy bags downstairs.

“Everything that's important,” Marion answers cheerfully.

Sabine nodded with a smile, very used to the panicked calls telling her they forgot something at home.

“Well this isn't a tour bus so make sure you have your toothbrush,” Sabine takes the suitcase from Marion easily.

“Ah!” Marion dashes upstairs to their joint bathroom, fond but exasperate looks following him.

“Now remember to have fun,” Tom tells Marinette, “This isn’t work, make sure to spend time with your friends,”

“Well it’s a little work,” Marinette smiles, it had seemed like a waste to go to Gotham without having a concert. They plan on going to a few more cities in the states after the rest of their class goes back to Paris.

“Make time for fun anyway,” Sabine gives her daughter a hug.

“We will,” Marion runs back downstairs, quickly unzipping his suitcase. Marinette cringed at the mess of clothes all spilling out and was sure a toothbrush wasn't the only thing he forgot.

Marinette gave her Papa a goodbye hug as Sabine helps Marion close his overflowing suitcase. Marion starts to say his goodbyes as Marrinette goes downstairs to promise the taxi driver they're coming. Tom follows shortly, carrying down their suitcases.

“You stay safe ok, Gotham is dangerous,” Tom warns, as their bags are loaded into the car.

“We will, promise,” Marion assures, knowing full well there were two costumes upstairs they plan on using in Gotham, at least they are bullet proof, “Love you,”

“We love you too,” Sabine squeezes them into a tighter group hug.

“I love you too, but we’re really late,” Marinette tries to wriggle out of the hold.

“Make sure you call us,” Tom laughs, letting them go.

“We will,” They get in the taxi, rolling down the window to wave goodbye as they speed down the street.

“Well, I haven’t got any messages demanding to know where we are so that's good, right?” Marinette scrolls through her phone.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Marion rolls the window back up. “We’ve been hours late before and they waited,”

“That was because we were-” She casts a look at the driver, “That was different, I doubt they’d do it again,”

“They better, you're the only reason the class gets to go on this trip,” Marion starts rooting through his carryon, probably double checking everything.

“You helped,” Marion snorts at that.

“I proofread,”

“You gave me lots of ideas, and helped me write it, and you were the one that suggested it in the first place, and-”

“Ok, ok stop,” Marion playfully places his hand over her mouth, and they both brake down in giggles.

They arrive at the airport probably quicker than they should have and unload as fast as they can. They rush inside looking around for the class. They are gathered in a group with Miss Bustier at check in, somewhere around the midway point. The twins walk over to them, remaining on the other side of the tape, not in line.

“Oh good you're here,” Madame Bustier clasping her hands, “I’m afraid you’ll have to go to the back of the line, we can all meet up before security,”

“Looks like you got what you wanted, now we’re all going to be late,” Lila sneers from the crowd around her.

Most of the class gave them slight glares, the others avoiding them. Alya rolls her eyes at them and turns back to Lila asking another question about her newest tall tale. Marinette tries to ignore the sting and Marion rolls his eyes right back at her, Chloe was having a bad influence on him.

“We won't be late for anything,” Kagami speaks up, making her way towards them, “We have plenty of time before the flight leaves, I’ll join you two,”

The twins smile as Kagami ducks underneath the tape, pulling her comparatively smaller suitcase with her. The three walk together asking each other how packing was, Kagami cast them an unsurprised look when they told her what happened, omitting a few details.

“Can’t you use the first class line,” Marinette asks, as they reached the back of the check in queue.

“I was here before Madame Bustier, she insisted we stand together in line so the others could find us and not get confused, many joined us late,” Anyone could hear the venom in her voice at the hypocrisy.

“Don’t worry about it,” Marion tells her, “We wouldn’t have cut in anyway, it’d be rude to the people behind us,”

Marinette nods scanning the people around them.

“Adrien is over there,” Kagami tells her, Marinette blushes but looks to where she's pointing.

Adrien was talking with Nathalie, there was no luggage around them. They watch as Nathalie leave, an outsider wouldn’t be able to guess they knew each other. Adrien looks around, probably for the class, but saw Marinette waving instead and waves back.

“Hi,” He smiles a smile that could almost beat the twins pure sunshine. They do their greetings, or Kagami and Marion do, Marinette babbles nonsense.

“Did you already check in?” Marion asks.

“Yeah, but I’d rather stand in line with you,” Adrien smiles, no one but Marinette missing how he glances at her.

“So where's Gorilla?” Marion shuffles forward with the line a bit.

“MDC and MCD specifically requested that he go with them on their tour of America, so-”

“That means you're free to do whatever the check you want,” Marion finishes, giving his shoulder a light punch.

“Yeah- did you just sensor ‘heck’?” Adrien puzzles.

*gasp*”Watch your mouth Agreste,” Marion mocks, a smile giving him away. They both smile knowing full well that Gorilla wouldn't be guarding anyone until the end of the class trip, so would have lots of free time for a mini vacation.

“You’re Father is an irrational man, insisting on a bodyguard to everywhere but one of the most dangerous cities in the world,” Kagami says bluntly, Marinette cringes as Adrien's face falls.

“That's because he knows you’re going to be there, Gotham should be very afraid,” Marinette tries to cover up, making Adrien smile slightly.

“Plus a bodyguard signals someone worth something, probably better to have a Kagami,” Marion helps along. Kagami seems to find this acceptable, given that she tries to hide her blush, and drops the topic.

They continue chatting about what they were most excited for in Gotham. Marinette mentions that she was dying to see the botanical gardens, Marion could almost hear the cogs in Adrien's brain turning. A familiar voice interrupts yelling across the busy airport.

“Chloe we’re over here,” Adrien waves his arms for the blonde looking around.

She turns and waves back. Marinette is surprised to see she was carrying just one suitcase, but understands as her butler follows with several more.

“You’re going to be over the limit,” Kagami simply states as Chloe pushes her way to them, not seeing or ignoring the irritated people around.

“So what?” Chloe asks, as he suitcases are placed around her.

Kagami looks like she was about to continue, but stops as Adrien just placed a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. She sighs and ignores Chloe's smug look, everyone knew that argument would go nowhere.

Adrien and Marion both happily greet her. Kagami and Marinette, less enthusiastic but still friendly. Chloe starts on a tangent about how she was stuck on what outfit to wear on the plane, because it had to be comfortable but also had to be fabulous enough to be her introduction to America. Marinette at least had to admit she was good at filling silence.

They make their way slowly to the front of the line. Luckily with minimal complaining from Chloe, who they distracted each time she got restless, with questions about her of course.

When they reach the front of the line Adrien stands to the side while they checked in. The only one who runs into problems was Chloe who predictably had to pay a fee for more bags, and overweight bags. Marinette fears how it will be coming back.

After they’re all checked in, they find the rest of the class waiting by the security, sitting down on the chairs around. They ignore Lila's comments about them taking too long while Madame Bustier does a headcount.

“Ok, now that everyones here I would like to remind you all that this trip is a great honour granted to us by the Wayne Foundation and I expect you all to be on your best behaviour. Now Gotham can be quite dangerous so it is important you all stay close and don’t go wandering off without telling me…” The speech goes on awhile longer before they were allowed to get in line for airport security.

“I’m telling you Chloe they will make you take it off, just do it now so you don't hold up the line,” Marinette reasons, as they shuffle forward after the rest of the class.

“Believe me once they see how fabulous I look, they won't,”

“That’s not how it works,” Marinette bites out.

“Rules were made to be broken,” Chloe dismisses, looking at her nails.

“This is airport security,” Marinette is close to tearing her hair out. Seeing this Kagami sends Chloe a death glare over Marinette's shoulder.

“Fine,” The blonde huffs out, reaching up to unclasp her necklace.

“Oh I’m just not sure,” Lila pouts much louder than needed. “The plane could make my tinnitus so much worse,”

“Excuse me Lila but didn’t you say Ladybug cured your tinnitus?” Max asks, holding his pile of technology that has to be scanned separately.

“Well I didn’t want to mention it but it came back a while ago, I guess the cure was only temporary,” Lila covers for herself.

“Oh dear,” Rose says with unfortunately genuine concern. “I wish you’d have told us we could have helped,”

Alya, Sabrina, Mylene, Kim, Juleka and Ivan all nod or voice their agreement.

“Oh you guys that's so sweet, I’m sorry I just didn’t want to bother you,” Lila says, queuing up her fake tears.

“Don’t worry about it girl, you could never bother us,” Alya assures, giving Lila a hug. Lila's victorious smirk would have been directed at Marinette if Kagami wasn't blocking her.

As they get closer to the check Marinette and Marion send their Kwamis off with their miraculous quietly. Marion pretending to put his glasses in his bag. They get through the check fine until Chloe... surprisingly doesn't set off the alarm, but that doesn't stop security from pulling her aside to check her bags after noticing some concerning items.

“Well yeah, who doesn't take hairspray on a plane?” Chloe challenges the tired looking security guard.

“This could take awhile,” Marinette whispers to the group who nod in agreement. The class had already gone ahead, Madame Bustier telling them to be at the gate at least twenty minutes before boarding.

They need to look for their Kwamis. They left Chloe to argue with the guard, telling her they would be at duty free just up ahead.

They pursue through the duty free, which teenagers doing might seem strange. They can't call out with Kagami and Adrien so close. Marion spots the candy section, tugging on Marinette's sleeve.

Marinette sighs knowing Tikki will definitely be there. The two sped off leaving Kagami and Adrien wandering behind. There was a kid there looking at the candy, but went running off when their parents called them.

“Tikki,” Marinette whispers, searching through the blocks of chocolate.

“Down here,” Plagg answers instead. The twins bend down, yelping when their heads knock together. Rubbing their heads they saw Tikki hugging a giant Toblerone block like the Kwami's life depended on it. Plagg was off to the side looking pouty, Kaalki looks indifferent. They fly over to Marion who slid his ring back and glasses back on as his Kwamis hide.

“Tikki let’s go,” Marinette whispers, Marion standing to look at the other chocolate.

“No,” Tikki said stubbornly, as Marinette puts on her earrings.

“Why can’t I find a block of camembert that big,” Marinette hears Plagg whine to Marion.

“Comeon Tikki, please,” Marinette begs, trying to tug the block away.

“Because no one but you would eat it,” Marion tells Plagg.

“I’ve never seen one this big before,” Tikki whispers with stars practically dancing in her eyes.

“Exactly it's perfect,” Plagg gushes, Marinette could feel the eye roll.

“Plleeeeeeeeaassssse?” Tikki gives Marinette the biggest baby doll eyes the small Kwami could manage, this was a losing battle.

“Every time,” Marinette sighs, picking up the large block. Tikki cheers flying into her purse.

She goes to the counter to reluctantly pay for the block. Then joins Marion where he was now standing with Kagami and Adrien.

As Marinette walks over Adrien's eyes practically light up at the sight of the giant Toblerone block. Marinette had already opened it, slipping a piece to Tiki. She sees the awe on Adrien's face.

“Um, would, would you like some?” Marinette asks, blushing at her stammering.

“Can I?” Adrien wonders, as if she is offering him some sort of treasure.

“Of course!” Marinette exclaims, breaking him off a piece immediately, smiling brightly.

Adrien starts to blush at her smile, then combusts as she hands over the piece, their fingers accidentally brushing. He fumbles trying not to drop the piece.

“Thank you so much,” Adrien smiles and Marinette might be clinically dead.

“Sorry-I mean thank you- I mean good-I,” Marinette stutters.

Both Marion and Kagami smirking. Marion notices Kagami looking a little jealousy at the block, but both are unwilling to interrupt(or save Marinette) from this little scene. So he sneaks off and buys another block, breaking off a piece and handing it to her. Kagami looks surprised, then smiles, accepting it with a thank you as they both watch the two blushing disasters. Marinette notices Marion holding another block and looks confused.

“You could have asked,” Marinette offers, holding out her block.

“But then I would be left without a weapon, engard!” Marion shouts, dropping into a not-at-all-correct fencing pose. Marinette catches on, hitting her block against his as fake swords.

The two are left pretending to be bad at swordplay, much to the amusement of the actual fencers. They ‘fight’ to a more open area away from the duty free, into a corner viewing the security check. Chloe casts them a confused look before rolling her eyes at their antics. When Marinette boinks Marion on the head he over dramatically collapses with a gasp.

“Adrien-A-Adrien are you there,” Marion reaches out blindly.

“I-I’m here,” Adrien drops down to his knees, clasping Marion's hand.

“Adrien, Adrien listen… no matter what… you must avenge me,” Marion gasps out, while Marinette is trying not to deflate into giggles.

“I-I don’t know if I can,” Adrien cries.

“You can, I know you can… I… believe…. In………. You……………. Blegh,” Marion sticks his tongue out, the universal sign of being dead.

“NooooooOOOOOooooooooOOOooooo,” Adrien yells, except not really because this is an airport and that would be rude so he whispers. At that Marinette starts crackling with laughter, no longer being able to hold it in.

“You think this is funny you-you monster,” Adrien bellows, as dramatic as possible, picking up the Toblerone. Marinette can’t answer as she just starts laughing harder.

Adrien ‘lunges’ at her, pretending to miss as Marinette tries to dodge through her laughter. The two keep ‘fighting’ every time Marinette starts to recover; she just breaks out into more giggles.

“You should probably get off the floor, it’s dirty,” Kagami tells Marion, who is still playing the part and not at all calling out ‘avenge me’ every ten seconds to make Marinette start giggling again.

“Oh shine your right,” Marion scrambles to stand up.

“Oh no a zombie,” Kagami says, montone, but Marion can tell she's trying.

“Brrrrains,” Marion groans out, making Kagami's lip twitch.

“At last!” Adrien calls out in victory, holding his ‘sword’ over Marinette who has completely cracked up and is curled over on the floor “I have defeated you,”

“Not so fast,” Kagami interjects picking up Marinette's dropped block, “I challenge you for the life of this mortal,”

“Oh great one,” Adrien calls, Marion doubts even he knows what he's talking about. “I must slay them to avenge my fallen brethren,”

“Thats me!” Marion exclaims, too happily for a guy that just died. Marinette starts laughing harder, Marion is concerned she's not breathing.

“You will have to defeat me first,” Kagami lunges at Adrien with the actual skill of an accomplished fencer.

Marion watched the two in awe as they somehow manage to make fencing with Toblerone blocks look cool. Marion walks over to Marinette, who is still laughing.

“You ok?” He asks, causing Marinette to start laughing harder. “Right got it,”

Marion sits down and rubs her back to help her calm down as she takes gasping breaths. Breathing out how her ribs hurt through the laughter. She starts to calm down into smaller giggles and sits up with Marion to watch the two fencers. They had even managed to draw the attention of some people around them, mostly the bored people waiting in line.

They both start getting more intense. Adrien lunges just a little too forcefully and the silver covered chocolate goes flying out the cardboard across the room. That is officially too much as the twins start howling with laughter. Adrien is frozen for a moment before he doubles over with laughter. Kagami even joins in, quietly chuckling. There are some people around them who are either laughing or smiling with them.

Once Adrien calms down a little he walks over to where the chocolate flew. Someone who had witnessed the 'fight' had picks up and hands it to the laughing boy as he comes over, chuckling themselves. They all gather to sit together and calm down their laughter. They try to keep quiet by each time someone starts to giggle again they all break down laughing. It takes some time but they all calm down.

“Sorry about that,” Adrien says, handing the chocolate back to Marion.

“Don’t ever apologise for something that makes us laugh that hard,” Marion smiles back, then descends into another bout of giggles,

They wait for Chloe a little longer until Kagami gets impatient. She marches over to where Chloe is still ‘talking’ with the guard. The others can’t hear what she says, but she pushes the pile of unauthorised stuff to the guard, closes Chloe's bag, and drags her away in little under thirty seconds.

“I really liked that nail polish,” Chloe pouts as they walk over to the others, who are grabbing their bags.

“Why would you bring it in carryon?” Kagami takes her bag from Marinette.

“I wanted to paint them on the plane,” Chloe looks at her nails sadly.

“Chloe you had ten vials!” Kagami accuses, as they started to walk.

“I couldn't decide which color,” Chloe pouts as they walk through duty free.

“They were the same color,”

“No they weren't! You take that back!” Chloe shouts, outraged.

“No,” Kagami states calmly, as they leave duty free.

“First of all how dare you I had canary, lemon, dandelion, honey-” Chloe starts counting out on her unpainted fingers.

“Those are all yellow,” Kagami fumes.

“They’re actually very different,” Marinette interjects, Kagami giving her a look of betrayal, but the girl is a fashion designer, what can you do?

“See? Marinette gets it, why can’t you?” Chloe asks, throwing out her hands.

“Why do I have to ‘get’ anything?”

“Because it's important to me,” Chloe sniffs, turning away.

“And why would I care?”

“Because- Oh my God look at those sunglasses!” Chloe cuts in front of Kagami to look at the pair on display in one of the airport’s shops. The group follow, still having plenty of time before they had to be at the gate.

“I like this pair,” Chloe says, looking at herself in the mirror.

“But this pair's shape suits your face shape much better,” Marinette hands Chloe another pair that she swapped over.

“Hmmmm, you’re right, what do you think Kagami,” Chloe poses for the girl.

“I don’t care either way,” Kagami answers truthfully.

“Hmph,” Chloe turns back around to admire her reflection.

“We are going to Gotham, I don’t think they get a lot of sun there,” Adrien pipes up, wearing a pair Chloe insisted he try.

“Doesn’t need to be sunny to look fabulous Adrien,” Chloe places another pair on his head.

“Is that the only word you know?” Kagami mutters.

“What was that?” Chloe asked, eyes narrowing.

“Nothing” Kagami answers shortly.

“How about we exchange some money?” Marinette suggests, cutting Chloe's comeback off.

“I don’t need to, I have a credit card,” Chloe says, flaunting her purse.

“It's always good to have some on hand,” Marinette plucks the glasses off her head and puts them back on the stand as Marion guides the protesting blonde away.

They exchange the cash, Marinette and Marion having to prevent Chloe from exchanging more than was actually necessary. They tuck it safely in their respective wallets letting their Kwamis watch over it.

They decide to get some food, Marinette and Marion immediately giving way to Adrien's excitement over eating Mcdonalds. Chloe refuses to go near the fast food place, and Kagami also refuses. So Chloe ends up dragging Kagami to look at more shops.

They take their food to an empty table. Adrien having a pile of food while the twins have a burger each and fries to fight over, not that they would have it any other way. Marinette watches completely spellbound at Adrien's simple excitement as he tried all the junk food. She vows to herself that she would take him everywhere in Gotham that sold something deep fried. Marion was slightly scared Gabriel would kill them after this trip, but it would definitely be worth it.

Marion decides to scroll through MCD’s social media before he has to turn his phone off. Marion smiles to himself at all the people in Gotham excited about his upcoming concert. He would be using the newly adapted outfits of all Gotham’s heroes that Marinette had finished weeks prior. It would be a nice surprise as everyone thought he was just going to wear the ones they already made.

“Hey Nette, do you think we can hold a meet and greet in Gotham?” He whispers so Adrien can’t hear. Although it is doubtful he would be able as he slips into a food coma, refusing to stop.

“Mmmmhmmm,” Marinette hums, as she keeps looking at Adrien with heart eyes.

Marion shrugs and sends their manager a quick email. She was a friend of Penny’s who had helped them out ever since they were small-time, despite being skilled enough to get jobs with much bigger celebrities. He gets an email back almost immediately telling him it would be hard to set up but she would try.

They spend as much time as possible away from the gate. Adrien had gotten a stomach ache and Marinette was rubbing his back as he groaned into the table. Marion offered the untouched food to surrounding people. Pointing to Adrien as he explains. Most people laughed and accept the food with thanks. Marion was glad he had a friendly disposition, he somehow doubted people would take the same food from Chloe.

Kagami and Chloe eventually come back. Kagami seemingly defeated, helping Chloe carry some bags. Marion smiles at the two but knows better than to say anything. Chloe sees Adrien's state and starts ranting, in her own caring way.

“Just the sight of that stuff is enough to make me sick, imagine what actually eating it does to you, oh, I don’t have to because you’re demonstrating that quite well,” Chloe gestures wildly.

“I think it’s more the volume that's the issue here,” Marion placates.

“Peasant food,” Chloe sneers, Marion smirks at her and they both start giggling.

“Oh that reminds me,” Chloe says, pulling out her phone still giggling. “I was filming your little scene,”

Marion shifts closer to Chloe, Kagami and Marinette watching over their shoulders. They don’t have audio but they see Marion as he dramatically falls down, causing Marinette to start giggling. They all start laughing as the chocolate goes flying out the wrapper, the angle showing just how far it went.

“Send me that,” Marion giggles, under 5 seconds later his phone beeped, “Witchcraft,” He whispers.

“You better believe it,” Chloe smirks.

“We should head to the gate,” Kagami was looking at the time on Chloe's phone screen. “Adrien can you move?”

Adrien groaned into the table, which probably meant ‘of course I’m raring to go!’.

“There's barf bags on the plane,” Marinette supplies, in what was trying to be helpfully. It likely just made Adrien die inside at the fact that Marinette had now envisioned him puking.

They manage to pry Adrien off the table. Making their way to the gate where the rest of the class was. Most of the class are sitting together, besides Max, Nathaniel and Alix who all sit alone. Well Max did have Markov.

Lila is concocting some story about the heroes from Young Justice fighting over her last time she was in America.

“Oh wow, maybe you can introduce me, I’m dying to get some interviews for my blog,” Alya babbles.

“Maybe, I’m just worried they’ll be fawning over me instead of paying attention to you,”

They walk right past the group and go towards the window. They settle down for the remaining wait looking out at the planes flying in and out. Marion and Marinette point out each time a new plane is arriving or departing. They watch with interest as smaller vehicles dart around the large plane delivering luggage and fuel. Kagami gladly listens to the twins chatter. Adrien is just glad to be looking out the window. Chloe is trying to savour her last moments with her phone.

----

Heres a bad comic

[inkjackets]

AU – Beauxbatons

written for @adrinetteapril​ day 1 - AU

(also for @judiejodia​ in memory of our abandoned beauxbatons au :’) )

‘Rhopalifors,’ Marinette muttered, trying not to cry. One of the little bluebells in front of her transformed into a butterfly. 

‘Rhopalifors.’ She flicked her wand again and another bluebell-turned-butterfly flapped into existence, joining the others circling her head. The little creatures shimmered in the sunlight; blue wings sparkling like the light on the river cascading down the mountain behind her. The white and blue towers of Beauxbatons castle stood out in the distance.

‘Rhopalifors!’ Marinette said with a bit more anger than she intended and a whole swarm of butterflies flew up into her face, making her yelp and splutter. Once the last butterfly was safely out of her hair, she groaned and placed her head in her hands.

Why did she have to be so clumsy and scatter-brained?

‘Can I join you?’

Marinette raised her eyes, peering through the gaps in her hands. ‘Adrien?!’ she squeaked, jumping.

He gave her a relaxed, carefree smile. Heat rose in her cheeks, but her stomach turned cold. His smile was no doubt an effect of that potion. 

She nodded, and he flopped to the floor, leaning back and drinking in the sunshine.

For a moment the only sound was the fluttering of butterflies.

‘Did you make these?’ Adrien asked, holding out his hand and laughing with delight as one landed on his finger. Marinette nodded, not meeting his eye. She prodded the earth with her wand. ‘It’s hard enough transfiguring inanimate objects, but to transfigure live things?’ He shook his head in amazement and smiled at her so brightly she had to blink from the brilliance. ‘You’re so talented, Marinette.’ 

Marinette froze; his stunning green eyes and gentle smile took hold of her.

‘I’m sorry I spilled that potion on you!’ she blurted out. Adrien blinked. ‘I didn’t mean to, it was an accident, I swear! The bottle flew out of my hands when I tripped and I tried to catch it with a levitating charm but it flew up instead and—’

She cut off at the soft sound of Adrien laughing. If bluebells rang for real, she thought, that’s what they’d sound like. 

‘I won’t lie, it was a bit of a shock,’ he said, grinning, ‘but there are much worse potions than the Draught of Peace you could’ve spilled on me. Honestly, you should’ve spilled some on yourself, I feel fantastic!’ 

He flopped onto his back and placed his hands behind his head, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Marinette stared at him. He was gorgeous in his blue uniform surrounded by bluebells, his wand tucked behind his ear just because his father hated it. A gentle breeze blew through, ruffling his hair and sending the bluebells swaying. Both his smile and the rolling mountains were alight with fresh spring sunlight.

‘Feel free to spill that potion on me anytime.’ Adrien said, his eyes still closed. ‘I haven’t felt this relaxed in…’ He frowned. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt this relaxed.’ He gave a little chuckle, but Marinette didn't share his smile. He cracked open an eye. ‘Are you going to join me?’

Marinette hesitated. Then she lowered herself so she was lying next to Adrien, a little row of bluebells the only thing between them. 

She lay stiff and tense at first, but with the sunshine on her skin, and the gentle grass tickling, and the soft sound of her butterflies fluttering above, she ever so slowly relaxed and breathed in the cool mountain air.

She rolled her head to the side and started when she was met with Adrien’s piercing green eyes looking right at her.

Heat rose in her cheeks. ‘What?’

A soft smile danced on his lips. ‘You’re amazing, you know that?’ 

The heat in Marinette’s cheeks intensified. She raised an eyebrow. ‘You sure that’s not the potion talking?’

Adrien threw back his head and laughed.

‘The potion may be making it easier to say,’ he admitted, ‘but it’s true.’ He rolled onto his side to gaze at her properly. ‘I really like you.’

The wind blew through, sending the bluebells swaying in her vision. A butterfly fluttered down and landed on Adrien’s nose; his sudden cross-eyed expression made her giggle. She swept the butterfly from his nose and tossed it into the air so it joined the others.

‘I really like you too,’ she said smiling. She met Adrien’s gaze, so warm and so earnest. Her heart hammered in her chest. ‘I like you more than a friend.’

[aeonghaseyo]

Anonymous asked: Adrien stans make me uncomfortable, the way they act to Adrien, gives me serious pedophile vibes, I like Adrien but those stans just are so creepily, I have seen male fans act the same way with minor characters from animes, they so obsessed with Adrien that I actually feel sorry for a cartoon character.

Anonymous asked: Normal fans: trying to explain that's you can like a character but also not like things that character does. Adrian stans: omg you're attacking our sunshine boy, his perfect, everything he does is Marinette's fault, your such a Marinette stan. *Karen sceech sounds* *screaming slurs* Normal fans: *confused*

Anonymous asked: There are way too many Adrien stans in the main tags claiming that anyone who calls Chat Noir a sexual assaulter are mocking survivors. And then those same people completely double down the moment an actual victim explains that his behaviors are triggering and problematic. I said this in that one person’s post, but it seems they deleted my comment but: the creator is misogynistic and racist. That’s going to influence the writing of the show, and ignoring it just helps the creator continue to spread these harmful rhetorics

God seriously. Fandoms shouldn't have to have this drama going on and their morals askew but here we are. AGAIN, like all other communities, the Miraculous Ladybug fandom is supposedly this one safe haven for fans of the show to enjoy it as they please without being assholes to each other.

Is it so hard to be a decent person? If it is then why the hell are you still here? You really want to scratch your itch and piss people off just to pointlessly prove you're the center of the whole damn universe just because the damn character you stan is a Golden God in your eyes? Toxic stans are the problem but a really pressing problem now to be exact is toxic Adrien stans.

I'm not the fandom president and I'm pretty sure there's none that I know of, but there has to be a blacklist for those kinds of stans.

[hateswifi]

No More Second Chances: Chapter Four

So as I promised, here it is. I’m a person of my word... enjoy. salt and chaos

Master: Master List

No More Second Chances 

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

She was woken up to multiply phone calls from Adrien. “You realize I’m five hours behind you, why are you calling me this early?” Marinette said groggily into the phone.

“I sent you a video, I’m going to be in my room if you want to,” Adrien said before hanging up. Marinette sighed, and opened the link. She proceeded to cry. Not even thirty second later, Jon appeared in the doorway. He found Marinette in full tears, her phone playing a video on her bed, and her digging through her draw.

“Marinette, are you ok?” Jon asks, looking at the girl in bewilderment.

“I’m sorry for waking you, but I have to go!” Marinette says, quickly opening the Miracle Box.

“What’s that?” He asks, approaching the distressed girl.

“I’ll explain everything later,” Marinette said, standing as she placed the box on her bed beside her phone. She opened the smaller box she had taken from the big box. As she opened it, a blinding light emitted throughout the room.

“What the actual-”

“Miss Marinette, are you ready for action,” Kaalki said, looking at the young guardian earnestly.

“What the heck is that thing!” Jon asks, taking a couple steps forward.

“I am no thing! I am a demi-godess!” She says, looking down on the boy.

“Like I said Jon I’ll explain later, I have to go to London and Paris, I’ll be back by lunch! Kaalki! Transform me!” Marinette said, letting the familiar feeling of the transformation cover her. She picks up the Miracle Box.

“One normal person, that's all I ask,” Jon sighs before snapping out of stupor to watch his unofficial sister open a portal. Before he knew it, the portal closed, leaving her in the dark. He looked over at Marinette’s phone, which was playing a video. He picked up the phone and restarted the video. It was of a big mustache man and petite asain woman they were talking to in french before the video cut to a dark pink room. There was a flash of light similar to the one that just happened but in pink.  “Mom! Dad!”

In London with Marinette, she broke down crying into Adrien’s hug. “I’m such a mess up, I first revealed myself to my parents, then to Jon, and now everyone knows,” Marinette cried.

“They’re doing an interview later if you want to bomb it,” Adrien smirks, as he rubs her back. “You could finally reveal everything, you could clear your name, and right the wrongs that were made against you.”

“Noir what even was that wording?” She sniffles with a little giggle.

“It’s early, ok? Hey at least I got a laugh out of you,” Adrien said, with a groan.

“Adrien it’s time to leave,” Felix said,opening the door. “Marinette.” He nods. 

“I’ll be out in a minute Fe,” Adrien says. “Their interview is at the tower, it starts at nine, stay here and get ready if you need to. I have to go to school, but remember I’m proud of you, you’re strong, and we are partners through this all.”

“Will you come to the interview as Chat Noir?” Marinette sniffles, looking up at her blonde friend.

“I’ll have to talk to my aunt, but I think that can be arranged,” Adrien says, leaving the room. A minute later, she heard the door reopen. 

Marinette wipes her tears, and says. “That was fast, what did she say?” She then looked up, it wasn’t Adrien, it was Felix. 

“I heard the video earlier, I’m sorry for trying to force myself onto you,” Felix says, sitting beside her.

“Apologizing doesn’t make it right, but I accept your apology. Did you learn not to do that again?” She asks, he nods his head. “Then we’re good.”

“Marinette I got permi--,” Adrien says, opening  the door. He looks to the bed and pauses. “Do you guys need a minute?”

“No we finished our conversation,” Felixa said, standing. “Good luck with the interview today.”

“Thank you, Felix,” Adrien said with a nod. “Do you need to do anything?”

“I need to wash my face, and maybe wear something that isn’t pajamas,” Marinette says with a laugh.

“I'll go ask Aunt Emelia if you can look through her closet,” Adrien said, leaving her to compose herself. Next thing she knows, she is looking through a closet of clothes, most of them appropriate for a fancy setting. She found the closest thing she could dress down in, a white fitted blouse, and a black tube scalloped skirt. She washed her face and tied her hair up in a princess bun using a red ascot. She took one last look in the mirror as Adrien said. “Ready to go? It’s eight-fifty.”

“Yes, I want to make a dramatic entrance so we're gonna wait a bit ok?” Marinette says, putting on her glasses. They walk through the portal and Marinette transforms into Ladybug and watches the interview on Adrien’s phone.

“So where is your daughter today?” Nadia asked a couple of minutes into the interview.

“She’s in the states doing an exchange program,” Sabine said with a smile.

“Do you know if she likes it there?”

“I don’t know, we haven’t talked to her since we told her about it,” Tom says, sheepishly.

“Did she want to go?”

“I mean we told her that she had the option to stay here in Paris,” Sabine said.

“Are you trying to say that Ladybug no longer wanted to be in Paris?” Nadia asks, shocked. Before Sabine or Tom could answer, Chat Noir and Ladybug land on set.

“I feel like that question is more directed to me,” She says walking into view of the camera. 

“Someone get them seats!” a shout came off screen. Marinette drops her transformation, Tikki immediately hiding. After seats were taken, Marinette decided to answer the question.

“I, originally, didn’t want to leave and thought it was unfair because of the reason I was being sent to America,” Marinette pauses, her parents’ eye watering. “Some of my old classmates decided to approach my parents and tell them that I was bullying a girl. Sabine and Tom believed them over me and didn’t bother to listen to my side of the story. They only asked me to stay once they found out I was Ladybug.”

“We still want you to come home,” Sabine said, tears falling down her face.

“Mom you took away the only place I felt safe, you believed someone you didn’t know over me and ridiculed me over it,” Marinette said quickly. “I’m going home, it's just not here in Paris anymore. Now that’s everything I wanted to say, I’ve got to get to school, I promised someone I would be there.” She said, standing. “Also Lila Rossi, I’m not your best friend, never have, never will be. You made my life hell, I was almost akumatized because of you. I hope you enjoy your sheep, I don’t want them. Let’s go Chat.”

“Wait! What’s your relationship status?” 

“Seriously? He’s like a brother to me, Noir, its now or never,” Marinette said, looking at her partner.

“I wasn’t in your corner when you needed me, but I’m here now,” Chat said, detransforming. “Umm… hi!” 

“This amazing sunshine is the closest thing I have to family now,” Marinette says, firmly. “Don’t give him crap over his father. His father is not him. Adrien worked his butt off to get to where he is today. If I hear otherwise, you’ll deal with me.” 

“Let’s go.” Adrien said, leaving behind chaos.

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

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[iamdunn]

Miraculous Flash Forward part 2: Hei Mao

A Miraculous Fan-fic

Written By

AJ Dunn

Adrien went about his day grocery shopping and stocking his new home with personalized essentials. Something to make it more him and not as much Amelie, bless her heart fro trying. It had been nice having a mother even if it wasn’t his mother. Emelie remained in a coma in London. He had visited her everyday. It felt like he had finally healed from her loss only to have the wound ripped open again. The ache still seeped from his being as a dark shadow hung over him. Not only did he have to hide from the identity his father created for him, but also the bad publicity his father created as well. 

With groceries put away, and Plagg fed, Adrien set about finally unpacking his bags. He could hear the television turn on as Plagg scrolled through channels. News reports still talking about the capture of Hawk Moth even though it’s been two years. A report came on their air and he recognied Feliz’s voice. He hung his shirt and went downstairs to see. 

“I have been given full authority over the former Agreste Brand and we will be revitalizing this brand starting…” he stopped talking to the microphone at the podium to turn around. He was standing in front of the Agrest Building that Gabriel had built. Felix raised his hand as the blind covering the company name was removed and exposed the new name. 

“Graham De Vanily” 

“In honor of our beloved Emelie Graham De Vanily who was so terribly stolen away from us by the heinous villain Hawk Moth.” Felix’s fist clenched near his chest as he closed his eyes for a moment. Adrien was hurt hearing the words but Felix’s scheme was working. The crowd cheered. No one really knew exactly what happened to Adrien’s mother, but making her the face of this company’s new facelift, making her the victim in all of it, took the public's eye off of Adrien and showed the company’s sympathy for the victims rather than the villain. 

Camera flashed as Felix reopened his eyes. Reporters pushing forward with their demanding questions and microphones ready to accept his answers. 

“What about Adrien Agreste?”

“I’m sorry there is no Adrien Agreste.” Felix said sharply. It was what Adrien had asked him to do. 

“Then who was the model Gabriel used?” This was the part that Adrien knew Felix could handle. He watched as Felix threw on his best Adrien smile and scruffed his hair into the shaggy mane that was Adrien’s trade hair style. He was good. Adrien missed the antics of their childhood with his twin of a cousin. Adrien snorted a laugh then shook his head returning to his chores. 

“Is it dinner time yet?” Plagg complained. Adrien returned to the seating area. Plagg was still seated on his favorite armchair with a lump of cheese. It wasn’t Camembert but it seemed to satiate him enough. 

“You're right.” he smiled realizing how quickly the day went by. “Let’s go.” Adrien walked to the front door. Looking back at Plagg wondering why the little guy wasn’t moving. Plagg stared at him stupidly.

“You're not planning on taking the metro again,” Plagg complained. “When we can take the quicker route.”

“It’s still light outside, I can’t risk Cat Noir being seen by the public.” 

“He was seen last night by those guys?” 

“But who is going to believe a bunch of criminals?” Adrien realized he would have to think of something to maintain his own cover of darkness.

“But you're not even Cat Noir anymore.” Plagg reminded him. “Just change the appearance of your suit.”

“Wait,” Adrien walked back into the seating area. “I can do that?” 

“Kind of,” Plagg explained. “You will still be dressed in black, but you could… add a hoodie to cover your sunshine blond hair.” Plagg flew up and looked Adrien over. His tiny hand on his chin. “Maybe you could check out Marinettes’ website for some thoughts.” 

“But when I transform it automatically puts this design on me.” Adrien was confused. 

“It’s too basic,” Plagg complained. “Shadow Moth never wore a dress I can assure you but Mayura did. Polymouse looked nothing like Multimouse, and let’s face it, Luka was a way better holder for Sass than you.” Plagg was still sore about that one. Adrien thought about it. Sure a hoodie would help, but he didn’t want people to know there was A BLACK CAT superhero in Shanghai. 

“I’ll think about it. For now, we take the Metro.” He grabbed his coat and key then opened the door. 

Adrien got off the bus at the same stop as last night and went into the same store. This time he would grab something at random then head to the restaurant. He could smell something amazing coming from the restaurant down the street and it made him think of a seafood dish he had the last time they visited. Adrien found the seafood tanks in the back of the market and picked out 4 hairy crabs. 

“Cheng Sifu, I am here,” Adrien said as he entered the kitchen. He handed the bag with the four live crabs in it to Cheng. His eyes widened in excitement as if he had hoped for this.

“This is a very fortunate fateful food, Adrien.” He dropped the four crabs into the already boiling pot. “I started this broth earlier for another crab dish but these are much fatter and tastier.” Cheng proceeded to show Adrien how to prepare the broth and they worked quickly as the crab's shells turned bright red before they used a wire scoop to lift them from the pot. Cheng strained the broth from the pot setting it aside as they rinsed the crab in ice-cold water so they could deshell them. Cheng flung droplets of water from his fingers as he worked so quickly. Splattering Adrien on the face. Adrien laughed like a little kid seeing the playful grin on Sifu's face. 

“I give you Adrien Soup.” Cheng set a bowl down in front of Adrien. 

“De Vanily Soup.” Adrien corrected him. The steam rolled off the bowl as chunks of crab bobbed in the bowl. The red broth with vegetables floating sent an aroma into Adrien's face. He was proud to be able to know how to make this. Cheng played the accordion as Adrien scooped the soup into his mouth. He lost himself somewhere in the memory as he looked to his side smiling expecting to see Marinette laughing at her uncle. She wasn’t there. The smile drained from Adrien’s face as he looked back at Cheng. 

“We could call her.” Cheng set the accordion down then took a seat across from Adrien. He let his face fall back to his bowl as he continued to eat trying to regain his composure. He felt the burning in his eyes as the tears tried to well up but he swallowed them down with another bite of soup. 

“Best not.” He said then looked at his watch. “You know, the time difference.” He shrugged then lifted his empty bowl. They returned to the kitchen to clean up but the kitchen staff took his bowl and there was nothing more to do. “See you tomorrow Cheng Sifu.” Adrien gave him a quick wave then headed for the alleyway. It was very dark now as clouds were rolling in. Adrien thought about what Plagg had said earlier and imagined what his suit would look like with a hood. 

“Plagg claws out.” He said. Sure enough, as his suit covered his body from toe to head, a leather hood sprouted off the neck covering his head, his cat ears protruded from the top. It came down far enough over his eyes that while he could still see, it would make seeing his face that much harder. It was much different from the suit he wore as Aspik which completely covered his head, this one instead felt more modern and airy. He made his way back to Chao. 

“It will rain tonight, Xuesheng,” Chao said as Mao landed on the ground before him. “We will start with a few small lessons, but you will need to rest your Kwami.” Mao had to take a minute to take in what Chao had said.

“Rest my…” his breath caught in his lungs. “Kwami?” 

“You think me a fool? That I do not know what powers your ability.” Chao turned and headed into a side room of the temple. Mao followed him. There were many drawings on the walls, various characters that depicted magical beings. “Many believe them to be folklore. And to those who are not trained, they are.” Adrien sees a black cat adorned character from an ancient Chinese battle. “Many are taught here and sent to the guardian temple to become guardians. I was one of them.” Chao said.  

“You were a guardian?” Mao asked. 

“I was there when the temple was gobbled up by a sentimonster.” Chao turned to look at him. “It was you, and your partner that defeated it, and restored the temple.” 

Mao was shocked as he stood before his Sifu. Chao turned and walked deeper into the temple down a flight of stone stairs to a large room filled with various weaponry, sparring dummies and in the middle of the room a large sparring mat. Mirror lined the four walls surrounding the mat. The torch-style electric lighting illuminated the room in an orange glow. There was a small table in the corner with a plate of cheese and crackers.

“I assume Plagg still eats human-sized portions of cheese?” Chao asked. Mao chuckled. He was still nervous at the prospect of exposing his identity to anyone but Master Fu. “I assure you, it is safe here.” 

“Claws in.” He whispered. Plagg zipped out. His eyes exposing his shock as he found himself in a strange place. Until his eyes fell on the Sifu.

“Chao Sifu?” Plagg asked in surprise. He flew up to the old man gripping his face in his tiny hands. Chao chuckled at the action, bringing his hands to cup the Kwami.

“You seem… friendly.” Adrien felt a bit jealous as he watched his best friend warm up to a stranger.

“Plagg and I encountered much mischief.” He stared at the Kwami now sitting in his hands. “I was but a child when I went to the temple. I felt caged in. I did not want to be there.” he set Plagg down by the plate then brought his hands back together in front of himself. “Sometimes at night, Plagg and I would escape the temple and bound free through the mountains.” Adrien's jaw dropped as he heard the Sifu talk about his rebellious side. 

“Sounds like someone I know,” Adrien said acting innocent. 

“Cat Noir had plenty of freedom, while Adrien was locked in the best bedroom any teenage boy could want.” Plagg scoffed as he gobbled some cheese. 

“Oh, is that so?” Chao asked. 

“It’s a long story.” Adrien swung his arms in anticipation of his first lesson. 

“We shall start with some basic steps.” Chao led him to the center of the sparring mat after they kicked off their shoes. 

Adrien hurt so bad as he rolled out of bed the next morning. Not sure if he would be able to move. In the bathroom, he stripped out of his pajamas tossing them on the floor. He caught sight of his body in the ever-present mirrors that encircled the room. The main thing he hated about the bathroom. He was his own constant reminder of his father. 

“Hmm…” he mused in the mirror. “At least now I know what father would have looked like after taking a beating.” he chuckled. Plagg droned on something about being awake so early and not having anywhere to go. 

After soaking in the steaming hot jet stream tub Adrien sat on the couch with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. He had to lower the eclectic blinds on the windows to prevent possible sighting of the mysterious floating creature even though they were up high enough that it was most likely not a concern. 

He opened his laptop and began searching through design pages looking for ideas for his Hei Mao suit. 

“Nothing,” Adrien said frustrated after a while. 

“What about Marinette. She could design something for you.” Plagg offered. Adrien shook his head, he wanted nothing more than to wear a Marinette design again. 

“I can’t talk to her Plagg.” Adrien groaned. 

“But Felix can, and if I remember right he is the CEO of a fashion company am I right?” Plagg was on to something. He picked up his cell phone and dialed up his cousin.

“Adrien to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” He sounded upset. 

“What is it, Felix?” Adrien’s question could wait. 

“I just got out of a meeting with public relations and they’re screaming for something to boost the community morale.” Adrien smiled. This was purrfect he thought.

“I think I can solve your problem and you can solve mine.” Adrien started. “Initiate a community-wide design competition. The theme is aged-up versions of Ladybug and Cat Noir in more… fitting attire.”

“It’s a competition?” Felix asked. “What would the reward be?” 

“How about the winner gets to spend an entire day or week as a Graham De Vanily designer and their design is featured in the catalog, as say a costume.” Adrien grinned. “I’ll be the final judge, a silent Judge.”

“How,” Felix started, his voice sounding confused. “Does this benefit you?” 

“Remember that girl, Marinette?” Adrien asked him. 

“How could I forget,” Felix remember the beautiful girl from the video sent to Adrien.

“She’s a designer and well, I really want a costume designed by her.” Adrien wasn’t entirely lying. 

“Let me guess, you want the Ladybug costume.” Felix scoffed. 

“Exactly, well one of each. But the winner will be the one who designs the best of each costume, it’s a two for the win.” Adrien’s face beamed and he was glad that Plagg was the only one who could see it. 

“I’ll put the word out,” Felix said coldly before hanging up the phone. 

It had been nearly a month since the announcement for the costume design went out. He watched Marinette’s webpage and even found Alya’s blog. They definitely knew about it and even commented that Marinette would be entering her designs in as well. Adrien was so excited. His body was getting more accustomed to the beatings dished out by Chao Sifu, and his cooking skills got better with Cheng Sifu. During the day he often went past the temple to watch Chao Sifu teaching classes to groups of younger kids. They seemed to be far too young to learn martial arts but he was also forced to participate in far more activities by the time he was their age. 

He spoke a number of different languages and played the piano. Adrien hadn’t touched one since he left his in his old bedroom. Felix said he wanted to move into the Agreste manor but felt uncomfortable with that idea given the current state of the public opinion regarding it. So he agreed to ensure the mansion was being maintained for when Adrien was ready to return to it. 

Adrien felt a little stalkerish as he checked Marinette’s social media accounts daily, followed Alya’s blog, and even yes. The Lady blog. Marinette got more beautiful as she grew up. He had been watching his friends from afar. Nino seemed to be doing good. He even found Luka’s page. He wondered why Marinette hadn’t mentioned anything on her pages about her boyfriend or husband. Luka seemed happily married as he bragged about various things his twins were doing, never posting pictures of them though, or his wife. 

Something tugged at Adrien’s heart as he scrolled through her pages. Juleka now served as her primary female model for her designs and even Luka joined in on occasion. He used to be Marinette’s model. As the contest date closed in, Adrien had to fight the urge to return to Paris for it. He wanted to be there, to witness Marinette winning. He knew her designs were going to be the winners. The days dredged by as Adrien maintained his covert agenda. His evening meals with Cheng Sifu, and his training with Chao Sifu. Two people that maintained his secrets. Even the grocery clerk aided him in his endeavors as she would help him pick out his fateful food items each day. 

“So, are you planning on being here for the judging?” Felix asked. 

“You know I can’t.” Adrien felt like his father, he had always had Nathalie walk around with the tablet showing him each of the designs. He didn’t even want to be that present. 

“I have an idea,” Felix said. “I’ll call you right back.” A few minutes passed when Adrien’s phone chimed on his duo to pick up a video call. He saw Felix standing in a mirror wearing a pair of clear lens glasses. The image was coming from a micro camera in the frames. “This way, You can hear and see everything and no one will be the wiser.” 

“How, can you hear me?” he asked. Felix reached up to the earpieces over both ears. 

“The speakers are her like with earbuds only they don’t go in the ear. I can’t see you though unless I look at my phone.”

“This is purrfect.” Adrien beamed. He saw his cousin groan dropping his shoulders.

“Did you just make a cat pun?”

“Yep.”

“Are you blushing?”

“Pawsibly.” 

“You’re encourageable.” Felix turned away from the mirror. He was in his suit at the Bourgeois Hotel. It was just like the one Chloe used to live in. 

“I know.” Adrien fought back the urge to say something cattish. 

“Goodbye, Adrien.” Despite his cold tone, Felix really did seem to enjoy their dynamics. He was the straight-laced one and Adrien, fun and playful. 

“Could you imagine Plagg?” Adrien slumped back in his chair. “If Felix was given this miraculous,” he said holding up his hand. A look of terror crossed Plagg’s face as if he was threatened to never be given cheese again. Adrien laughed. 

It was the day of the competition and Adrien watched as Felix straightened his tie. A chill running down his spine as he recalled how his father used to do it. Felix really was the younger version of his father. Sometimes he forgot that they had different fathers. Even though he looked nothing like his father, rather they both looked like Gabriel and Amelie. 

Adrien shook the feeling off his shoulders as he watched his cousin leave the bathroom. The venue was set up at the Graham De Vanily building in the showroom. There were tons of people scattered about the room with various changing stalls set up using temporary wall structures. Felix walked through the halls slowly inspecting each station. Two models to each one in a Cat Noir suit, the other in a Ladybug suit. The gender specification had been an explicit requirement for the event. 

Felix stopped by each inspecting the details and scoffed moving on to the next. Most of them were near replicas of the original suits. 

“Is there just one person here who didn’t copy the original design?” Felix fumed. 

“There,” Adrien said through the screen. He had to mirror his phone to the TV so he could get a better look at everything. His heart dropped when he recognized the old familiar midnight hair. It was no longer pulled into two down ponytails, instead, it was long and flowing. There was a bit of curl to it as it swayed back and forth with her movements. She was preparing her model already in costume. “I hope she’s not married,” he said before he realized his cousin could hear everything. 

“Miss Dupain-Cheng,” Felix said stepping up behind her. “What have you got for us this time.” He at least sounded pleasant. She spun around to face him. Adrien watched her face as it lit up in a bright red hue. 

“A..A... Adrien?” Adrien could feel heat welling up in her heart even though she was, once again mistaking Felix for him. The fact that she was still thinking about him and tripping over her words at the thought she was in his presence made him wish he had gone. 

“Felix, actually.” he took both of her hands in his looking down at them as he placed a kiss on each knuckle. “Adrien was a fool for letting a gem such as yourself slip through his fingers. Adrien fumed as his cousins’ obvious attempt to annoy him. Marinette’s cheeks returned to their normal hue as her face melted into sadness. Adrien’s heart broke for a minute. 

“Do you need a tissue, Adrien?” Plagg asked. Adrien ignored him so as to not expose him to Felix who could hear everything except the Kwami. 

“Show us what you have made for us.” Felix said. No one knew he was televising this for Adrien. Marinette explained in detail the design of this new Lady Noir Suit. It wasn’t all red as Ladybugs had been instead there was more black around the waist with a light red tulle skirting around the waist allowing for movement while offering a bit more coverage to the more sensitive areas. Another Tulle adornment lay over the breasts. 

“Exquisite Marinette,” Felix said.

“Ask about the signature stitching.” Adrien chimed in quickly. He was nearly biting at the bit as he watched his cousin explore every detail of the suit.

“Ah-hem. Um, show me your signature stitching.” He looked up at Marinette who suddenly blushed.

“How do you know about that?” Marinette shrieked. 

“Tell her Gabriel had made reference to it after other designs she had done.” Adrien threw in.

“I am the CEO of a fashion company, it is my job to know about that,” Felix smirked. Marinette pulled out another suit, it was designed for a man but she held up the collar piece showing the distinct gold embossed threading signing her name through the stitch. 

“You did that with each of these designs?” he mused then moved on to the Cat Noir suit. Adrien swallowed hard when he saw Luka wearing the Cat Noir Suit. He almost didn’t recognize him with the hood pulled nearly over his face. The Ears protruding through the hood even seemed to have a little fluff to them. The hood flowed down the back with fine red lines detailing the changes in the material. The extra padding around the soft spots was highly more with the deep red. Felix walked around Luka slowly inspecting every detain including the attached belt that held a baton. The extra-long belt that also served as Cat’s tail dangled down to the floor. Adrien wondered if his belt was actually longer now than it was when he was a teenager, he was much taller now. “Why is this red and not Neon green as his ring?” 

“This design is meant more for stealth. The red.” Marinette blushed. 

“Ah, she’s so cute.” Adrien didn’t mean to say that out loud. Felix snorted. 

“Who is Cat Noir without his Ladybug?” she finished. “I added more black to her’s to signify him on her so I thought I’d give him a piece of her.” Adrien felt warm at the thought. “As for the hood, Cat Noir has such bright hair, so this would provide him more stealth.” She scooped up the tail belt holding the end out for Felix to inspect. In fine detail along the edge of the belt was the customary Marinette signature. 

“Very good Miss Dupain-Cheng,” Felix again took her hands. He flipped them over and even rubbed his fingers along the back of her hands. “Lovely, sure you didn’t make these by hands these hands are far too nice to have labored so.” Ooh, that smooth talker. Adrien was standing now anger fumed on his face. Felix turned away and began walking to another stall. 

“Wait.” Marinette’s voice was small through the receiver. Felix turned around. Luka was holding her shoulders as she stood in front of him face Felix. She nearly shook as Adrien swore he saw a teardrop from her chin. “Can you tell him, if you see him…”

“What that you love him? I saw that video message you sent him. Was that your attempt to confess your feelings or just console a friend.” Felix seemed a bit harsh but Adrien bit back his words wondering what it was Marinette had said in the video.

“Tell him we miss him.” Ah there it was the fire in her eyes she was angry. “We miss our friend.” She turned away from Felix in a huff. Felix laughed.

“What are you doing Felix?” Adrien barked.

“Congratulations Marinette, I think you might just be our winner.” He scoffed then turned around. 

“I just had to see her fire up, oh Adrien,” Felix whispered. “I can see why she means so much to you.” Felix tapped a button on his phone and disconnected the call. Adrien had recorded the entire video call. He replayed the video showing Cat Noir’s suit. He memorized every detail. Mulling it over in his head before setting his phone down and calling on his transformation. 

He ran to the bathroom to examine his new suit. Every detail mimicked Marinette’s design. He suddenly realized and reached for his belt tail. It was longer. He studied the red stitching design and found it. Her signature was embedded into the magic suit he now wore. 

[bugsandchatons]

when you weren’t mine to lose (2)

Summary: Change is a scary thing, especially when it feels like nothing has stayed the same.

It’s been a year since Marinette became the Guardian of the Miracle Box - a year of struggling beneath a burden she never asked for, a weight that has her leaning on her partner more and more as the hours fly by, of letting him come to her, too, when he needs a soft place to land. A year of falling for the boy who takes on the world by her side with a smile made of sunlight, and fighting the growing urge to tell him what he means to her.

After all, they’ll have time enough for that when Paris is safe.

But when the unthinkable happens, Marinette learns the tragedy of loving someone quietly, and the lines she’ll cross to save him.

A/N: thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reblogged, liked, commented on the first chapter! That first response was incredible and so encouraging and I love all of you so much! 

*****

[[on AO3]] {from the beginning}

  [two: for me, it was enough]

When faint, barely-there morning light filters in through the slatted blinds and sneaks in from the skylight overhead, Marinette blinks awake to a solid warmth at her back and an arm slung over her hips. A bare arm, no leather gloves in sight. 

Marinette sighs. It’s happened again.

She keeps her eyes forward - ignoring both the press of his uncovered palm to her skin and the static prickle of awareness that follows his unconscious touch - and finds what she’s searching for in a little black blur, curled up around Tikki at the furthest edge of the pillow. He might even be snoring.

“Plagg,” she hisses. “Plagg. Claws out.” 

He yawns with a luxurious and unconcerned stretch. “Hmmm. No.” 

Marinette reaches out and pokes him. “Get him out of here.”

Plagg groans and opens one slitted, bleary eye. “When are you going to put us all out of our misery and tell him, Pigtails?” Tikki tries to shush him but he only hums, thoroughly unrepentant. “Oh, just think of all the extra sleep we’ll get then!” 

When would she tell him? Marinette bites down on her lower lip. The weekend, maybe. Next week, absolutely. The perfect moment had to come eventually.

At her telling silence, Plagg sighs, loud and dramatic. He ignores both Marinette and Tikki’s protests for him to be quieter. “Fine, fine.” He floats off the pillow, waving one small paw. “You know the drill, ladies.” 

Tikki zips out of sight as Marinette drops her head back onto her pillow, takes a deep breath, and feigns an award-worthy sleep.

Right behind her, Plagg murmurs to Chat - no, the boy who wears Chat Noir’s mask, the boy whose arms she sleeps in several times a week but whose uncovered face she’s never seen. She feels him stir against her back, hears his flustered stammering as snatches his rogue hand back and he pulls away. The green flash of his transformation stains the back of her eyelids. Then, Chat’s clawed fingers brush her hair off of her cheek, so softly she could almost pretend it was part of a dream. He rises, carefully tucking the blanket back into his vacated place.

They’re playing with fire, she knows. Most mornings, Chat is gone before she wakes - Marinette can’t imagine how he hasn’t spotted Tikki yet - but the days she has to kick Plagg into gear are surely the most dangerous; Chat is right there, sleeping against her back, and all it would take is a stray glance. Just an accident and everything they’ve fought to keep in the dark would unravel.

They should have stopped months ago, and yet…

“See you later, Marinette,” Chat whispers. The affection there, the gratitude, makes her heart ache. It’s why she can’t turn him away, why she can’t call it quits.

The mattress shifts with his weight, the terrace hatch creaks, and then he’s gone.

With a heavy sigh and something raging in her stomach she can’t find a name for, Marinette rolls over and checks her phone. She doesn’t have to be up for school for at least an hour. She lets her eyes fall closed as she sinks back into the pillows and pulls close one in particular; the one that carries the faintest trace of sunshine, like the boy she knows best. If not by name, then at least by heart.

 ***

An hour and a half later find Marinette in a mad dash from her closet to her desk, with a shoe in hand that doesn’t match the one already on her left foot. Tikki chases after her with a hair ribbon. 

“Have you seen my other shoe?” Marinette drops to her knees to scan under the desk. Her school bag greets her, gaping open and spilling contents onto the floor. She huffs and pushes her hair out of her face. One problem at a time. 

“Hold still,” Tikki says, before zipping around one of Marinette’s wild pigtails, looping the ribbon somewhat haphazardly through her hair. Satisfied, she points. “Now, check under the chase.” 

“Thank you,” Marinette gasps, making a dive for the correct ballet flat before reaching back to pull the ribbon tight. “What would I do without you?”

Tikki only smiles. “The time, Marinette!”

Marinette groans. “I’m so late.”

“If you had gotten out of bed when Chat Noir left, you would have had plenty of time.” Tikki’s observation pulls Marinette to a halt, frozen while precious seconds slip away.

“I...I can’t get up when he goes,” she argues, knowing even as the words leave her that they make very little sense. Tikki gives her a skeptical look, and Marinette can’t even attempt to start finding words to explain.

The picture comes to mind of what it would be like, rising when Chat does. Of him and her together, rolling out of bed and preparing for the day ahead, of shared glances and shy smiles, gentle teasing, and sleepy affection. Fingers in her hair and kisses pressed to cheeks in goodbye. The scene is so unbearably intimate, somehow even more so than going to sleep to the sound of his slowing breaths. It would, undoubtedly, take them across the still-somehow-platonic borderline they’ve been hovering on for months and dump them solidly into uncharted territory.

No, it’s safer to prevent the opportunity from arising at all. The simple truth of it is this: if she falls back into sleep after Chat Noir leaves, it keeps him caught somewhere firmly between sleeping and waking, a dream she can tuck away when daylight comes.

Marinette frowns, patting her hands to her suddenly too warm face. Tikki gives in first, breaking the standoff and bumping sweetly into Marinette’s cheek before diving into her purse. “Come on Marinette, let’s go!”

In what might be considered record timing, Marinette scoops up her school bag and books and dashes out the door and down the stairs. She skids past her mother with a hasty goodbye and out into the front of the bakery, past her papa as he organizes a package for a customer. He calls out a quick, ‘Slow down, Marinette!’

As soon as she glances over her shoulder to reassure him, she runs straight into something solid, something that grunts on impact.

“Oof. Oh, hey Marinette.” Adrien’s hands come up to cup her elbows, always catching her before she can fall.

Of all the boys and bakeries in Paris, he walks into mine. Marinette scrambles backward, her face flaming. “Adrien,” she gasps. His hands fall away from her. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t - what are you doing here?”

His cheeks redden and for a moment, Marinette stares. He seemed almost flustered by her question, but Adrien being flustered by her is a ridiculous, impossible thing.

“Not that you can’t be here!” She hurries to add. “It’s a public place! It’s just - this isn’t school! And you’re supposed to be there, not here, and I’m late, which means you’re late, and…” she trails off with a hopeless flail of hands.

Adrien watches her outburst with the beginnings of a smile. “I’m going to miss our first class, but I should make it to school later. My cousin is arriving today for a visit and Father is letting me go with Nathalie to meet Félix's train. 

Papa steps up behind and passes Adrien a box of pastries over Marinette’s head, accepting his thanks with a grin. He claps a massive hand down onto her shoulder, making her jump. “Marinette, you’re going to be late!”

Before she can open her mouth, Adrien speaks up. “We could give you a ride. The car’s waiting just outside.” 

“I-” Marinette hesitates. Papa simply steers her towards the door and out onto the sidewalk. 

“Thanks so much, Adrien! What a good friend you have here, honey,” he adds to his daughter, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Have a good day!”

As she’s all but shooed to the car with Adrien, Marinette takes a breath and reminds herself that’s exactly what they are. Friends. Good friends, even. That was enough. 

Adrien, she’d come to learn, was like the sun in the sky. Endlessly warm, bright, and oh, so easy to love - but far away and forever out of reach. She could only drift so close before she burned. 

The front passenger window rolls down and Nathalie nails them both with a look more severe than Marinette has seen on akumatized villains. Adrien meets it, unfazed, as though he’s slain monsters far worse. “Marinette’s running late and we’re passing the school anyway, right?” 

There’s a beat of silence, a twist of Nathalie’s lips, but she nods once and disappears back behind tinted glass. Adrien offers Marinette a radiant smile and opens the car door for her. She reflects it back at him and climbs inside, mercilessly snuffing out the flutters in her chest as she goes.

He slides in beside her and as the car starts moving, he fidgets - adjusting his seatbelt, drumming his fingers on the bakery box, or reaching up to fiddle with his hair. She stares, certain she’s never seen him so unsettled before.

“Are you okay?” Marinette asks. He jumps, just a little.

“Oh, yeah.” He puts on his front-page cover smile. “A bit nervous, I guess.” At her silence and raised brows, Adrien gives in. “Well, last time Félix visited, he deleted the messages you guys sent to me, then pretended to be me and got our friends akumatized.” 

Marinette looks down at her school bag and picks at the zipper teeth with her thumbnail. She remembers all too well - it was her last real attempt to confess her feelings for him before deciding maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. After all, the one time she’d found a way to shape the words, they’d never made it to his ears. 

But being Adrien’s friend was enough. She was lucky. He had so much fondness to hand out he practically burst at the seams with it, and stepping out of the shadows of hiding from him and into the light of his high esteem was a lovely, wonderful thing.

“I just hope he doesn’t cause trouble this time around,” Adrien adds in the face of her silence, his hand going up to scratch at the back of his neck.

Marinette offers him a sheepish smile. “Well...he can’t do much worse now than he did last time, right?” 

Adrien blinks and laughs, unbridled and free, like she’d startled the sound from his chest. “Yeah, I hope you’re right.”

When the car comes to a stop outside Françoise Dupont and Adrien’s bodyguard gets out to open the door for her, Adrien turns to face her. “I’ll see you later, okay?” 

“I’ll take notes for you,” she offers.

He gives her that smile - the one so soft it melts her defenses away to nothing. “Thanks, Marinette. You - you’re, ah. A good friend.” 

She barely registers the sting of it these days. If anything, this time the words bring with them a flicker of recognition, a hint of something that flirts with her memories and dances just out of reach. She makes it out of the car and halfway up the steps before glancing back, watching Adrien’s car as it turns the corner and leaves her sight.

Tikki zips up from Marinette’s purse to her shoulder, taking shelter behind her hair. “You okay, Marinette?”

She sighs. “I just...sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, Tikki.”

Tikki offers a sympathetic hum. “About what?”

Marinette waves a dramatic hand in the direction Adrien disappeared in. “I mean...there’s Adrien. And most of the time, I think I’m just fine, but then he smiles at me, and I…” she trails off, chewing on her lower lip. “But then there’s Chat.”

Then there’s Chat. Those words could define her life. He was an ever-present shadow, woven into her heart in a knotted mess she had no idea where to start untangling.

Tikki stays quiet for a second before saying, “I think it’s okay to love them both, Marinette. If there’s anything I’ve learned about humans, it’s that you have such an endless capacity for loving, and I think that’s beautiful. Can that ever truly be a bad thing?”

It was our love that did this to the world, my lady.

The memory comes to her as it often does, unbidden and with force enough to steal her breath. Marinette shakes her head fiercely, as though the nightmare itself could be so easily dispelled. “Maybe it could be,” she whispers. “Chat Blanc-”

“Might never happen again,” Tikki interrupts, her little voice firm. “That was just one possibility out of hundreds - thousands, even. The future isn’t set in stone, any little thing could change it. So letting your fear stop you from telling someone you love them...that’s letting Hawkmoth have control. And who knows,” Tikki adds, brightening, “if you and Chat Noir do share your identities, it might make things-”

“There you are, girl!”

“Alya!” Marinette squeaks. She swipes a hand through her hair, scoops Tikki into her palm in a move she hopes is inconspicuous, and lets her escape back inside her purse. “Hey!”

“With just a minute to spare,” Alya teases, looking up from the time on her phone as she falls into step with Marinette and leads the way into the classroom. “Guess what? I think I’ve almost managed to convince Carapace to give me an interview for the blog!”

From the corner of her eye, Marinette sees Nino shoot them a surreptitious glance as they pass. She grins. “Oh yeah? Have you been stalking him?”

“Only in the name of journalism,” Alya says, a mischievous smile in place. “I see Adrien was at the bakery this morning.”

Marinette slides into her seat. “Stalking him, too?”

“You’re one to talk. No, he posted it.” Alya holds up her phone and shows Marinette a picture of a box with her T&S logo, complete with Adrien’s caption - Sweetest place in town!

“He’s going to get into trouble with his father for the free advertising,” Marinette notes, though the observation does nothing to quell the blooming fondness in her chest.

“Until your parents start designing clothes instead of cupcakes, I think it’ll be okay.” Alya tucks her bag away under their bench before asking, “So, how was that?”

Marinette doesn’t need to ask what she means. “It was fine, Alya. We’re friends.” She’s been saying it so often over the past few months she might as well have the mantra tattooed somewhere plainly visible. To head off Alya’s inevitable protests, she adds, “Besides, I’ve been, uh, sort of talking to someone else.

Shit.

The speed with which Alya whips around to face her would have been funny, had Marinette not just thrown herself to the wolves without a means of self-defense. Alya’s scrutiny alone is a force to be reckoned with. “I thought you and Luka gave up on all that months ago.”

“We didn’t - first of all, we’re friends,” Marinette stresses. “We decided we’re better off that way. And it doesn’t matter, it’s not Luka.” 

“Ooh, been holding out on me, Dupain-Cheng?”

Marinette regrets ever opening her mouth. “No. It’s nothing. We’re taking it slow - I mean, its uh, not even worth mentioning. Really.” 

“As if you’re getting out of this that easily. Spill. Do they go to our school?” Alya’s already scrolling social media on her phone. 

Marinette sighs. “Alya, slow down-”

“Do they have an Instagram?” 

The idea of Chat Noir running an Instagram has Marinette biting down on her lip to hide a smirk. What a cat-covered, pun-laden nightmare that would be. “Oh no, Chat - ah, he’s shy.”

“Chat?” Alya demands, something sharp in her gaze.

Oh, no.

“Chad!” Marinette hurries to say. “It’s Chad, of course. Chad, uh, Norway.” 

Alya blinks, arching one perfect eyebrow. Marinette blinks back, guileless. She hopes her face isn’t as red as it feels.

“Chad Norway,” Alya repeats, drawing the name out. “Do you know a Chad Norway, Nino?”

Nino glances at them, opens his mouth, then catches on to the gleam in Alya’s eye and seems to think better of it. He waves his hand frantically, a clear ‘I Do Not Want To Be Involved’, and turns back around in his seat, pulling on his hat down over his face for good measure.

Marinette could have hugged him, but Alya is not so easily deterred. She takes her boyfriend’s abandonment in stride. “So where’d you meet this Chad Norway?”

Marinette glances at the door. She’d take anything - the teacher walking in to start class, an Akuma barreling through the window - anything to end this ridiculous conversation she’d plunged herself into. “The - bakery! He, uh...comes in on the weekends, sometimes. He doesn’t live around here, which is why you haven’t met him, of course,” she forces a laugh.

Alya just stares, endlessly skeptical. Marinette pastes on a smile. “Well,” Alya starts, “you’ll have to introduce me to this Chad Norway next time he comes to town.” 

“Oh, sure, yeah.” Marinette flaps her hand, feeling every bit the liar she’s become. Between secret identities and complicated relationships, she’s told plenty. When Ms. Bustier walks in, Marinette can finally breathe, despite the dagger-sharp side-eyes Alya keeps throwing at her.

It isn’t until much, much later, after an interrogatory lunch break and afternoon classes and she’s walking home alone, that Marinette realizes Adrien never did make it into class.