#but I would rather watch both Kwami's Choice parts together

[seekinghelp-adhd]

Okay wait I'll stop blowing up my dashboard at 4am I promise but where the heck is that backup that Su Han said he was going to get and what are they going to do about literally any of what is going on??? This better not be one of those major plot points that the show just forgets about and moves on without.

[syndianites]

A Queen Serve and Protects

Chapter Six

First Chapter –> Last Chapter –> Current –> Next Chapter TBA! Summary:

Post-Style Queen, Pre-Queen Wasp.

Chloe finds the Bee Miraculous, but instead of finding an obliging, subservient Kwami, she finds the Kwami of Order and Subjugation, and Pollen is not about to let herself be used like Nooroo was.

Granted, the only danger in a teenage girl is the damage she poses to herself. Can Pollen shape Chloe into a hero? Or will she stubbornly refuse to change and remain the bitter, harsh person the city has long since known?

[My take on how Chloe’s character could have developed] ——————————————————————————————

Pollen tapped the tablet pen on the table. School had ended and the duo was officially home.

“Chloe,” Pollen began. “It has come to my attention that you don’t do your own work.”

“So?” Chloe nonchalantly replied, crossing one leg over the other from where she sat on the chaise in front of Pollen.

Pollen tried not to roll her eyes. “So, I want you to learn how to be self-sufficient.”

Chloe scoffed. “I am plenty self-sufficient.”

“Really?” Pollen had a sweet smile on her face. “Then prove it.”

:readmore:

Before Chloe could make any remark, Polle flew over to her school bag. It looked more like a purse, honestly, with how much makeup and accessories she had stashed away inside. Seriously, what did you need an extra pair of heels for?

Pollen shook off the thought and grabbed the binder Chloe used for class, as well as her homework folder. Brining both items back to the table, she flipped the folder open. She pulled out the first sheet of homework she saw- something math related- and waved a paw at it.

Chloe gave her a dumbfounded look. “You want me to do that? Sabrina normally does.”

Pollen raised an eyebrow.

“Ugh, fine, I get it.” Chloe grumbled. “What does doing my own work have to do with being self-sufficient anyway?”

“When was the last time you did your own school work.”

“Ughhhh!”

Letting out a little giggle, Pollen decided to make a compromise, “For every question you get correct, I’ll let you ask a question about the Bee miraculous and its powers. However!” Pollen held a paw up before Chloe could get too excited, “For each you get wrong, you have to listen to some history and background on the miraculous.”

“Ooo-kay? How is that a loss for me? I still get to know what I want to know,” Chloe replied.

If only the poor girl knew.

Pollen beamed. “I’m glad you asked! You know how much you love our ‘Bee Nice’ Sessions?”

Chloe groaned.

“Anything I tell you will come along with lessons. I will tell you tales that are important for a number of reasons. And you have to sit through all of them!”

Chloe’s eye twitched. That sounded excruciating. Buuuut, she did want to know more about what powers the Bee miraculous could give her. It was just a simple math worksheet. Surely, it couldn’t be that hard. So Chloe took out a blank sheet of paper and began working.

She was wrong. So, so wrong. Chloe was by no means a bad student. She got solid B’s and pleased her daddy enough with her grades to get by. Did she need to have a study session with Sabrina before each test or quiz to get the contents down? Yes.

But that was all pish-posh. She figured if she could pick up enough for a test or quiz a day before it, she could do homework with no problem. Apparently, she hadn’t been giving Sabrina enough credit. That girl made it so much easier than this.

It didn’t help that her notes were a total disaster. Half-finished sentences, unclear instructions, and a clear lack of interest in each page. For a moment Chloe cursed her own apathy. She wanted to know more, damnit! 

By the time she finished she felt exhausted. Pollen, ever chipper, hummed as she looked through each question. She procured a pen and started making marks. That was a lot of red. Oh GOD, there was so much red.

Pollen tapped the pen to her chin in thought. Giving a nod, she wrote a score at the top of her sheet.

6/15. 

That was just under half! And that meant she would have failed had it been a test. Chloe resisted the urge to hit her head on the table. She could not afford to be forced into tutoring. Again.

Despite Chloe’s despair, Pollen was excited. This was better than she was expecting! Sure, she had been hoping for closer to a 75% or 80%, but Chloe at least had the idea down.

Plus this meant she could drill some more lessons into her charge.

Rubbing her paws together, she addressed Chloe. “Alright. Since it is almost an even split, let’s go back and forth with questions and history. I’ll start with a history lesson first, since you missed more than you got correct. But since I’m feeling nice, I’ll give you a choice here: Would you rather hear some history about my previous holders first, or about all the miraculous as a whole?”

“Your past wielders, of course! I need to know who would be so lucky to use the same miraculous as moi.” Chloe flipped her hair back to accentuate her point.

Pollen huffed. Nonetheless, she thought back to her past holders, humming all the while. Who would be the best to start with to help Chloe learn? 

She smiled as someone came to mind. “Now, before we start, I should say that we aren’t always deployed to battle some great evil. Sometimes, we are let out into the world to help inspire something. For me, I either inspire Order and Control. Or, when that gets to be too much, I inspire freedom from Order and Control.”

“Wait,” Chloe interrupted. “Why would you go against your whole Order thing?”

“I thought you wanted to talk about past wielders first,” Pollen brought a paw up to her lips to hide a smile. “To get into that would mean I would have to talk about all the miraculous.”

“Ugh, fine, whatever. Tell me the basics about all the miraculous first. But! You better tell me about your past users after!” Chloe conceded, pouting at the little god.

Pollen started again. “Like I said, we don’t always need a great evil to fight. At their core, each miraculous is meant to balance out their respective aspects. Tikki- Ladybug’s kwami- is the kwami of Light and Creation, for example. She is largely put out into the world to inspire new ideas and innovation.”

Chloe scrunched her nose in confusion. “Didn’t you say you also get put out to stop Order and Control? Why would you ever want to stop Light and Creation?”

“Well,” Pollen looked off to the side. “You can’t endlessly create. Tikki works on a more individual scale. She inspires Light and Creation in people as individuals. I, however, inspire Order and Subj- Control in a much larger scheme. After all, a bee’s focus is on the hive, isn’t it?”

“In any case, sometimes people burn themselves out when creating too much or spreading too much light. If you give and give and give, what is left for you? Nothing. And those left with nothing often crumble and fall apart- or worse. Tikki, when she is needed to, can either help her holder ease off themselves or help their holder teach others to let go of such demanding responsibility.”

Chloe nodded slowly. That… sort of made sense. “So it’s like when Adr- a friend of mine kept being happy and smiling even after his mother died to help others stop being sad. Because he wanted others to feel ‘lighter’” She made finger quotes, “Despite the tragedy that happened?”

“Yes, that could be a good example,” Pollen agreed. “If your friend gave away all his light and such to others, it could burn him out and leave him feeling empty and cold. Though, in this case I would lean more into the Peacock- he worked to give good emotion to others to cover their grief. But we’ll get there in a moment.”

“Plagg, Chat Noir’s kwami, is Tikki’s counterpart. He is the kwami of Dark and Destruction.” Pollen stopped as Chloe seemed to ponder that.

“If he is all about dark and destruction, wouldn’t that make him more likely to be evil?” Chloe mused.

Pollen, for her part, wasn’t bothered by the question. “If I am all about order and control, wouldn’t I be more likely to use and abuse people?”

Chloe bit her lip, but shook her head no.

“Exactly. Just because that is what we represent it does not mean we are prone to be good or evil. In the balance of all things, there IS no good and evil. Really, it just comes down to what a certain group likes or dislikes, or how a person’s morals are aligned.”

“Okay, no, Hawkmoth is totally evil. There is no doubt about that. How could taking control of others and using their emotions to turn them into monsters be seen as a good thing?” Chloe didn’t like the idea of Hawkmoth being in the ‘right’ at all. It went against everything he had done to Paris.

“Well,” Polled offered, “Does Hawkmoth see himself as evil?”

Chloe sat back in her seat. If movies were anything to go by, he probably didn’t. She sighed and motioned Pollen to continue

Pollen pushed on. “In any case, Plagg is often put into the world to ruin things. Surprising, isn’t it? But sometimes the best things are made in the ashes of destruction. Growing from losing things is important for many people. Like how your friend lost his mom- he likely felt sad and lost. But if he grew from that? He could learn to see that others will have his back and he can lean on them. Even in the hard times.”

Chloe looked away from Pollen. She was right, sort of. When Adrien’s mom died, Chloe had been there trying her best to cheer him up. Did it really work? No. But she helped him escape the house and run around the city with her, and watch stupid cartoons and shows, and sometimes, just sometimes, get him to smile.

“But losing your mom isn’t a good thing!” Chloe snapped back. “That devastated my friend and his family.”

“I know, and I’m sorry I painted it as such. Loss is a horrible thing to endure. But I wanted to make a connection to something you mentioned.” Pollen bowed her head. “Destruction is rarely a happy thing. But, a more positive example would be something more metaphorical- the destruction of insecurities, or breaking a bad relationship, or- or bashing down a wall so you can open up a room to have more space!”

Sighing, Pollen shook her head. “It is far too easy to see Dark and Destruction as a bad thing. Darkness can be used to hide when you don’t feel safe. Or it can be used to tone down how bright something is when you feel blinded. It can also be used as a complement and give things more depth.”

“Of course, Plagg has also been put out to tame destruction. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘fighting fire with fire’? It’s the idea that you fight destruction with destruction. But he can also help people see their bad habits, or the things that hurt them, and get them to reign them in and stop themselves before it’s too late.”

“Okay, sure, that makes sense. But didn’t you just describe Tikki and Plagg as opposites anyway? Light and Dark, Creation and Destruction? Why do they need to get people to go against their aspect when the other IS the opposite?” Chloe butt in.

Pollen brightened. “That’s technically later in this lesson, but I can touch on it now. You’ve likely noticed that Ladybug and Chat Noir came together as a pair, correct?” At Chloe’s nod, she continued. “That is because they are like Yin and Yang- opposites that complete each other. While other kwamis do have opposites, none quite work the same as Tikki and Plagg. They were once a single being- one that was the kwami of Balance.”

“Well,” Pollen rubbed her cheek, “They weren’t a kwami, per se. But that is too much to explain for right now. You recall how Hawkmoth’s goal is to get the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous?”

“Of course, that’s all he ever talks about when he akumatizes someone!”

“Well, that’s because when you combine the two into one you can have any wish granted.”

“What!” Chloe slammed her hands down on the coffee table, startling Pollen. “That’s horrible! I mean, the power is cool, but if Hawkmoth got his grubby hands on that wish who knows what he would wish for!” 

“Exactly! But there’s a catch with that- whatever you wish for will have an equal and opposite consequence. If you wished for someone to come back to life? Someone else must die. If you want to have all the power in the world? Everyone else must become powerless. These may sound simple, but the gravity is just as dire as the wish would be grand.”

Chloe fell back. “So, if I- well, if I wished for my mom to love me..?”

“It depends,” Pollen shrugged. “Maybe everyone else around you would hate you. Maybe your father would stop loving you. Or, in a more subtle fashion, she wouldn’t love the real you, just a facsimile of you. Whoever she thinks you are. Sure, there are ways to make a wish that has a mostly positive outcome- for the one making the wish- but the consequence will always hurt someone. Even if it has to be a lot of someones.”

The two fell into silence after that declaration. It was a heavy thought. What could drive someone to want to change something so badly they would be willing to suffer or let others suffer for it? How cold hearted must you be? 

The whole thing baffled Chloe. She could just ring her father and have what she wanted with no consequence. Could she imagine doing something so drastic as to ruin someone’s life to make hers better?

Instead of voicing any of this, Chloe leaned forward. “So tell me about the other miraculous…”

[ultimatetornshipper]

Daminette December Day 3

@daminette-december2019-2020

Princes and Pedestals

Chapter 3 – Legend

Previous

Next

Marinette closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The breeze softly danced through her hair as she sat in the windowsill of her room. She opened her eyes and stared at the parchment resting on a book on her lap, her little bottle of ink sat next to her on the ledge. She fidgeted with the quill in her hand, frustrated.

She was trying to write a letter to Luka to let him know that they'd arrived safely. He was her right hand man and their friends were most likely bugging him on whether he'd heard from her or not. She needed to give them an estimate on how well the whole thing was going but she barely had a feel for these people. She was pretty certain they wanted this alliance just as much as the Order did, but she didn’t yet have any idea what exactly they’d ask for.

She sighed and dipped her quill in her ink, maybe if she started the words would come.

Dear Luka

I hope you are well. How is everyone doing? How’s Alya and the baby? How’s Nino dealing with her pregnancy hormones? How’s she dealing with his overprotectiveness? Has Chloe returned from her mission? How did it go?

I miss you all, I hope everything is alright back home.

We arrived safely at the Gotham Royal family's Summer home. They have treated me with kindness and respect.

She took a breath. Should she tell him about Prince Damian? He would in all likelihood be the next Black Cat. He was her match. She didn’t know him, but the Destruction radiating off of him was on par with the Creation that followed her. As much as she didn’t want to replace- She shook her head, moving on was inevitable, she needed someone to rule by her side. She needed to tell her court the truth.

I met him. It all feels too soon after everything that happened last year. The Destruction coming from him was incredible. Plagg would kill me if I didn’t introduce them. Please have Pegasus deliver the ring when you receive my letter. He can deliver it to my exact location, I’ll explain things to any witnesses. I’ll disclose more information on who he is if he accepts my offer of the ring.

Yours sincerely,

Marinette

She tapped her chin with the end of her quill as she reread her letter.

A soft mew made her look up, sitting next to her little ink bottle was a beautiful calico, staring at her curiously.

“Hey girl,” she replied softly, holding out her hand, the cat sniffed it then pressed her cheek against Marinette’s hand. She scratched the cat's head softly, smiling.

“Her name is Legend,” a voice said from her doorway. She looked up and recognized Lady Stephanie standing in her doorway. She was about to greet her when the girl kept talking.

“Oh sorry, your door was open, I didn’t think it'd be a problem, we’re just pretty casual around here and it slipped my mind, Your Majesty,” she said, quickly, her hands gesturing as she spoke.

Marinette smiled at her, standing and placing her letter, book and quill on a nearby table, “It’s quite alright, Lady Stephanie. My court and I are quite similar to you that way, and please do call me Marinette,”

“Only if you’ll call me Steph,” she replied, shifting from foot to foot in the doorway.

Marinette saw the movement and invited her in. They sat at the table she’d put her letter on and she folded it as they made small talk.

She melted some wax onto her envelope and pressed it with the Miraculous Court's seal as she listened to Steph detail a story about the time she and Jason had snuck into the kitchen to steal some of the pastries before a big event when she’d first arrived at the castle back in Gotham.

“It seems you are all quite close,” Marinette commented after Stephanie wrapped up her tale.

“Yeah, we’re family, you know?” she replied. Stephanie wrung her hands together before meeting her gaze, “Can I ask you something?”

Marinette could feel the girl’s unease, so she tried to appear reassuring, “Yes,”

“Yesterday,” she started hesitantly, “In the throne room, the older man who came with you did most of the talking. I don’t know much about the Order of the Miraculous, but I was pretty certain you’re their leader but you didn’t really talk so...” she left the rest of the question unsaid, clearly hoping Marinette would understand hat she was trying to say.

She could tell the girl didn’t mean any disrespect, she was simply curious and she couldn’t blame her. So she gave her a smile, “Master Fu is my teacher, I’m still learning to lead and he’s helping me through everything, until my training is complete he makes the important introductions and still does a lot of the talking. I will be voicing my thoughts a lot more during negotiations though,”

Stephanie nodded slowly, “That makes a lot of sense actually,”

They spent the afternoon together and had tea in the garden.

Marinette was listening to Stephanie ‘s retelling of how she and Tim first met when she recognized Prince Jason heading towards them.

Stephanie spotted him too so she paused when he got close. Marinette nodded her head at him, “Your Highness,”

He nodded back, “Your Majesty,”

He sat down on the open chair at their table and Stephanie quickly continued her story.

She listened politely, but she was aware of the Prince who had joined them studying her discreetly, if she hadn’t been trained to notice, she would’ve missed it.

He noticed her noticing him and she was impressed by his ability to read body language. He, if her training was correct, was growing more and more curious about her by the second.

Somehow managing to miss the tension Stephanie kept telling her story.

“We were both so incredibly oblivious to the other’s feelings and denying our own. Months of pinning and so many misunderstandings. Apparently it was an incredibly frustrating debacle to watch,” she said laughingly, giving Prince Jason a pointed look.

He groaned, playing along and ignoring their silent sort-of conversation that had transpired earlier, “Don’t remind me, it was torture,”

They all laughed, and a comfortable silence followed.

Well that was until Tikki appeared and the other two almost fell of their chairs. She turned to her kwami and decided to explain later.

“Guardian, Queen Bee is attempting to contact you,” she quickly supplied, ignoring the two royal siblings who were staring in shock.

“Put her on, these two can be trusted,” she replied, sipping her tea.

Tikki put down a device on the table and the familiar image of Queen Bee appeared shining in the air in front of her, it was nothing new to Marinette but the other two stared in shock at the moving image of a blonde girl in armor unlike any they’ve ever seen.

“Bee, this better be important, you know how much it takes out of the kwami to do calls (a/n I’m not gonna figure out a new name for it, calls make sense sorry not sorry °3°),” Marinette said sternly.

Chloe looked grim but stood up straight, confident in her choice, “I’m afraid it’s rather urgent Guardian,”

Marinette felt chills, Chloe rarely looked that grim, it was even rarer for her to address her by her title, “Queen Bee, what is it?”

Chloe grimaced. She gave her a meaningful look softly replied, “It may bring back a few unpleasant memories, Mari,”

Oh

It felt as though the wind had momentarily been knocked out of her.

The familiar green eyes that haunted her at night flashed through her mind. Immediately followed by a darker, newer pair. She pushed both images away, she’d deal with that later, now Chloe needed her to be the Guardian.

Marinette took a deep breath and tightened her grip on her cup, “I can take it,”

“It’s Gabriel, he has the butterfly, he wants -,” Chloe swallowed, looking at Mari with pity, she lowered her voice, “He wants to bring him back, Mari,”

Her grip around her teacup was deadly, it was a shock it hadn’t broken yet. She was certain her knuckles and face were both as white as a cloud.

“I -,” her voice cracked and she took a deep breath, she was in the presence of strangers, she couldn’t break down, she pushed her emotions back and went into her Guardian mode, “Tikki add Carapace, Viperion, Tigress, Rena Rouge and Paon to the call. Now. I want it taken care of quickly,”

Chloe’s eyes widened, “Those are all our top warriors,”

“Like I said, I want this taken care of quickly,” Marinette replied briskly.

The others were quickly added and they all switched to the language of the Guardians. If the two royal siblings could speak French, her and Chloe’s previous conversation had already given enough away. Chloe explained the situation while Marinette quickly pulled herself together, she could fall apart later. Right now her Court needed her.

Carapace looked on edge and she knew why. Rena was on the call and she was pregnant, he was scared that she’d have to fight.

“Rena,” she said after Chloe finished explaining, all eyes turned to look at her, “You’re not fighting, but your strategizing capabilities are too valuable to have you sit out completely. You’re on the side-lines for this one,”

Carapace looked relieved and Rena nodded, understanding.

She looked at Viperion, while half her letter turned out to be written in vain, at least she could get this done quicker, “I need you to send Plagg and his ring with Pegasus as soon as you guys finish discussing details,"

She took a deep breath, "I found my match,”

(a/n did I totally just only put the prompt as part of a single paragraph? yeah i did. Do I have any idea where this is going? No i don't. Is the fact that I don’t listen to my outline and do whatever the hell I want gonna stop me? Nope, not at all)

(fr tho I’m just as surprised at this plot as yall are ngl, also, look at me doing a cliffhanger hehehe)

Taglist:

@animegirlweeb

[playingbaseballwithyourson]

A Comprehensive List of Why REFLEKDOLL is One of the BEST EPISODES

1. I mainly come to this show to watch Ladybug and Chat Noir bitch at each other for a solid 15-20 minutes and, my god, does this episode deliver.

2. “You’d better get going before you lose your clown costume.” I C O N I C.

3. For real, confirmation that Ladybug sees Chat as as much of a goddamn clown as the entire fanbase, it’s great. 

4. I know people get on this episode because the ladynoir banter is apparently “”mean-spirited””? But honestly like, banter between friends CAN sound this mean-spirited from an outward perspective while all the friends involved in it are totally fine and in complete understanding that it’s all just joking and in good fun. Ladybug really starts tearing into him (jokingly) and Chat still finishes the sequence by bouncing away yelling “SEE I WAS RIIIIIGHT!” in an upbeat, teasing tone. Like, they’re fine. This is just how they talk to each other as friends and it’s clear neither Ladybug nor Chat Noir take their banter very seriously. (Honestly my banter with my friends can be far more scathing than anything in this episode. XD)

5. Watching Juleka and Luka interact... It’s pure. It’s good. :’3 Just an all around good scene. It’s also nice to follow up on how Juleka’s been dealing with her issues since Reflekta, even though it does turn out she’s made very miniscule progress.

6. Alya’s galaxy brain moment of inviting Adrien to help Marinette with a fashion shoot: Makes a lot of sense and is a great way to capitalize on both the love square’s hobbies to get them to hang out more! It’s the single part of this episode that isn’t a contrivance! 

7. Adrienette look cute in the matching outfits. Sorry but they do.

8. Okay, the thing that is truly great about this episode is that everything about it is a massive contrivance to make the kwami swap happens. ML wants it’s fucking kwami swap and it’s going to bend over backwards to make it happen, and it is NOT shy about it and it is NOT sorry. And honestly?? I FUCKING LOVE THAT. Does a kwami swap make logical sense for it to occur without the heroes having planned for it? No. Are we going to do it anyway? YES!!!! BECAUSE A KWAMI SWAP WOULD BE FUCKING FUN!!! That’s what’s great about ML, and this episode is a great showcase of ML’s priorities as a cartoon (which is probably why this episode rubs some of the fandom the wrong way). A kwami swap is illogical, but it’s fun as fuck, so the show is going to do it. That’s the priority above all else. FUN. AND IT PAYS OFF!

Seriously, everything is a contrivance. Why akumatize Juleka again? Reflekta’s power can handicap the kwamis’ abilities to find their humans in the commotion. Why have Marinette and Adrien change for the photo shoot? Get them to take their miraculous off. Why have them keep the kwamis in the car instead of in their pockets? So they can’t find their own kwamis right away. This episode is jumping through flaming hoops to make this happen and it’s fucking gold. Might there have been a much more natural way to have a kwami swap? Yeah, sure, most likely. But literally WHO EVEN CARES cause this episode starts out fun and ends fun, and it works well enough that I don’t give a flumpty. Hell, I appreciate it even MORE for not being shy about its priorities in this episode. Kwami swap fun? Then kwami swap will happen. Fuck everything else.

9. “Are you okay, Marinette?” “YEAH. HE’S TOO HOT. I MEAN--” This is a top tier Marinette flub.

10. I recognize I’m a minority on this, but I fucking love Mayura. She is a goddamn queen. So gosh darn fabulous with the long coat and the fan. I just love it whenever she shows up so I’m glad she’s here. Makes the villains a touch more intimidating in this episode since there’s two, which pairs well with Marinette and Adrien being somewhat off their game due to the kwami swap.

11. Literally any time Tikki and Plagg interact together is great. 

12. Adrien telling Marinette to hide in the car... TTToTTT <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

13. No one ever believes me when I say Marinette is pure chaotic energy but she HECKING IS! When she finds Plagg with the cat ring, this girl does not waste a goddamn second. Will swapping powers probably mess them up? Yes, but FUCK IT PARIS IS IN DANGER AND WE NEED HEROES NOW SO GIMME THAT RING. SHE JUST DOES NOT WASTE A GODDAMN SECOND TRANSFORMING. SHE CAN TAKE ANYTHING AND ROLL WITH IT. I LOVE MARINETTE.

14. Also Ladynoire’s design is fucking choice.

15. Okay, go onto youtube right now, look up Mister Bug’s transformation sequence, and look at the way he puts on his mask.... I know right??? :D

16. This is a very personal thing, but I love seeing Adrien powered-up without the cat eyes. This is the only time you ever see it, and trust me while I fucking love the cat eyes, it’s a really eye-catching change to see him with his normal eyes here! Think about it, Ladybug has never seen her partner’s real eyes until this episode. It’s cool! (Marinette with the cat eyes, on the other hand, is neat as well, but I don’t think she wears them as well as Chat Noir.)

17. Adrien smacking himself with the yo yo.

18. I’ve said this before but I find it absolutely adorable how, when swapped, Marinette and Adrien base their new names off of each other, rather than making up new ones from scratch. Mister Bug? It’s Ladybug, but boy. Ladynoire? It’s Chat Noir, but girl. Seriously that’s adorable.

19. ADRIEN USING LUCKY CHARM AND GETTING EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED IS ONE OF THE SINGLE FUNNIEST MOMENTS IN THE ENTIRE GODDAMN SHOW. I’M SORRY BUT IT IS. IT’S FUCKING HILARIOUS. JUST ADRIEN BY SHEER LUCK SCHOOLING MARINETTE WITH HER OWN POWER, AND THE COMPLETELY OFFENDED LOOK ON HER FACE AFTERWARDS-- IT’S PEAK ML COMEDY.

20. I’m not the first one to make this comparison, credit goes to @buggachat on that, but Marinette in this episode is like the parent trying to teach their kid how to drive but ends up flipping their shit the second their kid touches the gas pedal. And it’s fucking funny. X”D Marinette has a strong sense of responsibility along with an incredibly specific way of how she likes to do things as Ladybug. Her process is you battle the akuma, gather info about your opponent, use lucky charm at the exact right time that only she knows in order to take them down, and then capture the akuma and/or amok. Her routine is pretty broken in this episode, since it’s now Adrien who needs to do all those things, so that combined with Marinette’s acute awareness of Adrien being a Child Who Causes Problems On Purpose has her veerrryyy on edge this whole episode and it’s just fun to watch. Her asking Adrien if they should switch back, correcting him every time he mis-speaks about how to do Ladybug correctly. It’s not a side of Marinette we get to see every day!

21. Additionally, getting to watch her relax for once in a fight since she’s now in the canonical clown costume is wonderful. I love Marinette. I want good things for Marinette. Relaxation and fun are good. She’s got a lot on her shoulders so this episode is nice, especially with the s3 finale in context.

22. Yknow, I can very happily buy that chataclysm doesn’t work on sentimonsters, since it’s already been established that Miraculous magic can protect from chataclysm. (See: Miraculer)

23. I’ve written already about why Mister Bug wasn’t actually bad with the ladybug miraculous, so I’ll only touch on a couple of those points again. But it is weird to me how people cry about Mister Bug being shit at the ladybug miraculous when he’s so clearly not? He just has a lot of stuff to think about that he usually doesn’t have to worry about cause it’s not his job. When to use lucky charm, HOW to use lucky charm, when to use miraculous ladybug, capturing the akuma once it’s released, capturing the amok. He just quite literally never has to put thought into any of that so it’s pretty understandable that he doesn’t have a handle on it just, automatically. Meanwhile, Marinette doesn’t have a ton of extra things to think about with the cat miraculous, AND she’s canonically naturally talented with handling different miraculous, so it’s very believable that she’d be fine? I get people don’t like that cause they have a problem with Marinette (and any WOC) being competent in general, but she’s just a talented girl. We see her take and roll with anything to stop the villain in every episode of the show, so there’s not actually a reason for her to notably struggle with the cat miraculous. But hell, she actually DOES make things worse by chataclysming Reflekdoll, which might have not happened if she paused before just rushing in and using her power (after proudly declaring she is now the Team Clown). But it’s understandable that she didn’t predict the sentimonster to react how it did, and I can see Adrien making the same mistake, so eh. 

24. But my point is that in terms of this discourse, I think this episode is fine. It’s about Ladybug and Chat Noir learning that they’re both quite good and very comfortable in their default roles. She’s great at handling her job and he’s great at handling his. That’s a perfectly fine lesson for this episode, and it’s not super necessary for them BOTH to learn that their partner’s job is actually super hard! The episode starts with them teasing each other about their roles, and it ends with that little bit of conflict between them being eased away due to their experiences from the kwami swap. Chat Noir is still a clown, Ladybug still is too concerned with her usual responsibilities to spend a lot of time clowning with him in fights, and that’s okay. They both learn to relax about it. It’s a good lesson for them to learn about each other, and it feels natural for the show to spend some time exploring their dynamic as partner heroes! 

25. I actually fucking love how it’s established that the lucky charm works differently for different people. This episode BASICALLY CANONIZES that Marinette’s lucky charm is so insane because SHE HERSELF, IS SO INSANE. Adrien thinks much simpler (which I’ve written about how that’s not a bad thing in previous posts), so his lucky charm is just: You need a mirror? Okay, here’s a mirror. And it’s actually very fun and interesting to me that his ability to use his lucky charm was handicapped specifically becuase he’s only ever watched Marinette use it. Marinette’s lucky charms always yield wildly complicated plans, and that’s the exact thing she’s shouting at him the whole episode, so he expects it to be complicated and thus can’t figure out how to use the mirror. It’s only when they sit down and realize that they’ll have to think on Adrien’s level instead of Marinette’s that they figure out what to do with it! Marinette’s spent the whole episode basically backseat driving for him (understandably), so the fact that the resolution is her meeting Adrien at his own spot and working on his level instead of hers- It’s a good way to wrap the episode up! 

26. Duuzu.

27. dID HE JUST DAB?!?!

28. Oh my god he did. And people actually hate this episode, smh.

29. Marinette flirting with Chat Noir will always give me life, and we get so much of it in this episode! Her calling him Bugaboy is this perfect combo of flirtatious and teasing that’s just very on-brand ladynoir. It’s perfect in this episode for literally so many reasons that I don’t even have time to list them cause this essay is already really long.

30. Adrien and Marinette interacting with the others’ kwami? Wholesome. Marinette and Adrien reuniting with their kwamis? Very wholesome. They’re both so attached to their kwamis in different ways, and they’re also together with their kwamis practically every waking moment of their lives. I can imagine being apart from them even for a little must’ve been a touch anxiety inducing, so it’s nice to see how sweet everyone is when they’re reuniting!

31. Adrien says at the end that he’s not cut out to be Ladybug and honestly y’all... That’s okay. Adrien has his role and he’s incredibly good at his role, and Ladybug is incredibly good at hers. They’re both SATISFIED with their roles. He’s not upset when he says he’s not cut out to be Ladybug, not even a little. He very happily takes Plagg back and steps back into his usual territory. Again, he wasn’t bad at the ladybug miraculous. It just came with more to think about than he really wants to, things that Ladybug is very HAPPY to think about, and if their dynamic already works, then he’s perfectly happy to focus on his part and leave her job to her. That’s great!!!

32. Juleka getting to do the fashion shoot... Yay. :’D I just want good things for Juleka.

In conclusion, this episode is pure unbridled fun from start to finish. It’s chaotic, it’s got top tier banter, it’s a phenomenal change of pace from the rest of the series. I actually love watching this episode with folks for the first time because seeing the look of complete shock and glee on their face as Marinette grabs that cat ring from Plagg is just FUN! And at the end of the day, this episode is a statement on three things:

- Marinette is a talented girl. -Adrien is great at his job. - And ML as a show’s priority will always, first and foremost, be fun.

And none of those are a bad thing. 

Hope you enjoyed the essay! :D

[nautiscarader]

Calm yo’ tits - a present fic for ZekkKiray

Rating: E, ladynoir/Adrinette (post-reveal), 9143 words (by notepad++ count, 8886 according to Ao3, so one of you is LYING)

Read on Ao3

 contains breastfeeding, lactation and mooificated large breasts.

Now, if you look at the tags (and the word count), and you know me, you might be understandably confused and worried that I might have been possessed, hacked by a Russian bot, or simply gone mad. The last part is very likely, but it is not the reason of this fic's existence.

The fic you are about to read is a present for my buddy, ZekkKiray, a vastly superior fic writer, who on one occasion quoted my works as inspiration for his, which solves once and for all the age-old philosophical dilemma, proving that something can indeed come from nothing.

I knew, to some extent, what his favourite kinks are, which sadly, were not exactly compatible with mine. So I needed to find a fandom we both like, and where I wouldn't have to worry too much about silly things like logic or common sense.

Enter "Miraculous Ladybug".

To put it simply, this fic is a bit of crack, I tried working some elements from my personal headcanons, and it doesn't break, assuming you don't push it too hard. More importantly, though, it's a birthday crack. Happy birthday, pal!

Also, this takes place after S3 finale.

================================

Sitting tensely in her chaise-longue, Marinette eyed her tutor and a temporary enemy with a keen eye. She has taken many exams in her young adult life, but this one might have been the most important so far. She concentrated on the small, levitating creature that flew that past her head, and when Tikki revealed a card, Marinette instantly replied.

- Zaggu, gnu kwami, the hero is Ram-page, and has ability to shapeshift terrain. Strong, but not too agile. Best pair with Pegasus for optimum efficiency. - she spoke quickly. - Yes! That's the last one! - Tikki cheered, flying to nuzzle Marinette's cheek.

For the past few days, Marinette has been extensively trying to fill in the shoes of Master Fu, as the new Miraculous guardian, and she has passed her self-imposed exam with flying colours, guessing each and every Kwami Tikki has tested her with.

- Well, if there are any challenging akumas, you will surely be able to know how to dispose of them! - Tikki cheered. - I sure hope so. - Marinette smiled - But now I have to study for actual exams, Tikki.

Marinette walked to her desk, took her college textbooks and opened them, her other hand already deep in the bowl of fruit snacks she prepared beforehand, knowing of the revision session ahead of her.  

- Don't you want to study with Adrien? - Tikki flew by her head - Last time you said he's helped you a lot. - I wish. - Marinette sighed dreamily at the sound of her boyfriend's name - And he did, but...

Her cheeks suddenly became slightly deeper shade of burgundy, and she shied away from her Kwami. The mere thought of her boyfriend made her instantly forget about her duties, both as a college student and as a protector of Paris. She let herself indulge in a fantasy of what could happen if the two were put together in her room, and were given a choice between studying for a very boring exam, or doing anything else... However, Marinette had to exert some self-control, and with her friend acting like a second moral compass flying next to her, she had to abandon of her daydream.

- You know, this is quite an important exam, I don't want to be easily distracted and-Adrien!

She let out a gasp when her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it to answer at once. Tikki smiled, watching as her friend melts in her chair at the sound of Adrien's voice. Something told her she's not gonna do any revisions today.

===================

In his dark lair, Hakwmoth was listening. With closed eyes, he concentrated his powers to filter out hundreds of voices, trying to find the loudest and angriest, speaking with pure rage and despair.

He heard squabbling teenagers and forgot about them at once.

He heard depressed, neglected workers and didn't give them a second chance.

He heard a man crying, pitiful and heartbroken, because of his beloved pigeo-NO, NOT HIM AGAIN, THIRD SODDING TIME THIS MONTH.

Gabriel sighed and closed the aperture overlooking Paris. Finding a good source for akuma was sometimes surprisingly difficult. So many voices, so many possible candidates. And yet, again and again, he has failed.

Gabriel stepped down into the staircase that brought him down to his office, and was not surprised to find Nathalie waiting for him.

- Anything new for me, Nathalie? - he corrected his glasses - Just one call from the office of Coco Marocco. They asked for a call-back... - Nathalie paused and dropped her formal attitude - Gabriel, is everything alright?

She gently put her hand on his shoulder, and his body twitched in an instinct to brush it off. But he restrained himself, paused and took another deep breath.

- It's sometimes so... difficult. To find a good one... - I know.

He looked back at her and gave her a rare smile, saying much more than he could have at the time.

- I'll make the call, thank you.

Nathalie left his office, never taking her eye from him as she closed the door. Gabriel sat in his chair, leaned back and dialled the number.

"Hi there! You have reached the office of Coco Marocco, the finest brand of clothing this side of the equator. For English, press One. Für Deutsch drücken Sie bitte..."

Gabriel sighed and let the voice machine continue its job.

"... for business inquiries, press 7".

Gabriel quickly pressed the number, and was welcomed with the same, lifeless, mechanical voice.

"To access your account, please input the number..."

Without thinking, Gabriel typed the eleven-digit number on the tone dial, and waited for the next step.

"We apologise. In order to access your account, you need to speak the numbers", the voicemail said.

A small vein twitched on Gabriel's forehead. He spoke each digit, loud and clear, hoping beyond hope it registered properly.

"We apologise, please say the number again."

It took him two more tries to reach the next step, and he finally heard the familiar waiting music. The second it stopped, he started speaking, but he was met with even more disappointing reality.

"Hi there! Thank you for your patience. Your call is incredibly important to us. Your number in the waiting queue is... FOURTEEN".

The mobile phone crashed and broke into dozens of pieces when Gabriel tossed it across the room, careful not to destroy the painting of his wife that hid the entrance to his observatory.  

- Why does it have to be so difficult? - he grumbled - Bunch of incompetent buffoons, making the easiest of things so much more difficult-

And then, a sudden burst of inspiration, privileged only to visionaries of his calibre, has dawned on him. He quickly got up and dashed to the elevator, not noticing that the crash alerted Nathalie to peek into his room, as he was too eager to bring his plan into motion as soon as possible.

When he stepped into his lair, he was Hawkmoth again, and he knew exactly what to listen for.  

=====================

The glorious weather outside taunted Nino to end his revisions early and go to the nearest park to bathe in the warm sunshine, but alas, he had to spend his day in the near-empty university library. Unable to concentrate, he took his phone and launched the app to check if the last paper has been graded, but was left with a disappointing, never-ending loading screen. He looked at the only other person in the room, sitting by the computer in the corner, and decided to break the ear-splitting silence.

- Hey dude, are the uni servers down, or something? - And when were they not? - the chubby student replied - The app constantly crashes, we can't even check anything, so I'm just loafing around.

Nino gave him - or rather his large neck -  a curious look and decided to end the conversation swiftly.

- Well, at least tumblog works... - If only - his interlocutor replied, much to Nino's chagrin, without even taking his headset off - Ugh, why did they change the colour of the background again? - You okay, dude? - he looked at his freckled face, and the man gave him a contemptuous look. - Yeah. But you seem to be okay with using this sub-par version - he glanced at his phone.

Nino raised his eyebrow and glanced at his phone.

- What's wrong with that?

The man groaned.

- Ugh, where do I start? The app also never works, they haven't implemented half the features of the desktop version, they still show sponsored messages, I mean, not for me, I hacked them myself away, and the options, can you believe they dared to change the font, it's so unreadable now...

He took a sip of a drink he definitely shouldn't have been allowed to bring into the library.

- But the site is so full of idiots now, it's not even worth going there anymore. Can you believe there are people defending the new Flunkies game? They've added cut content DLCs now! All of them sheep, they will buy whatever you throw at them, and...

The guy continued to complain into what was now a Nino-shaped void, as he left quietly a minute earlier, slightly afraid that arrogance might be catching.  

And he wouldn't be exactly wrong...

If Nino stayed, he would have noticed that the same window that finally tempted him to walk outside with its glorious view, became also a gateway for a dark-purple moth that landed on the student's headset, turning it into equally sinister shade.

Suddenly, the student's complaints, spoken into nothingness, fell on listening ears, and a voice spoke in his head.

- Anton, I am Hakwmoth. I have heard your eloquent delivery, and I must say, you are quite right. - I know I am - Anton replied, without missing a beat. - There are so many little things wrong with this world, and only you know how to fix them... - Yes, I wrote it all on my blog, but now they changed the tagging system, and they don't even filter by the- - The point is - Hakwmoth interrupted him - As all geniuses in history, you are underestimated. Like the Cassandra of the Greek myths, people do not believe you, despite you speaking the truth. But I can change that.

For the first time in rather long time, Anton listened, instead of talking.

- I can give you a platform to speak your wisdom, better than any social media would ever offer. I can give you the voice, and I can give you the chance to make others hear you... And to sway their views at once... - You-you can do that? - Anton asked excitedly, though remaining in his slumped pose. - Oh, yes. - Hakwmoth replied with an oily, greedy voice - All I need in return is for you to bring me Ladybug's and Chat Noir's Miraculi. They are wrong anyway, so they don't deserve them... Embrace my akuma, and rise-

Gabriel paused. He expected to feel something by now, but instead, he heard a quiet tapping.

- Are-are you typing? - Well, duh, someone is wrong on the Internet. - I was going to give you powers to do all of that a hundred times faster... - Gabriel spoke, unable to believe what he heard. - Okay, I'm done. - Anton spoke - What were you saying?

Stopping the urge to find a new herald of his will, Hakwmoth stomped in place and let the power flow through him and into his new apprentice, transforming his somewhat shaggy clothes into regal, red-and-golden attire. The chair he was sitting in merged into his body, becoming a golden, ornamented throne. And finally, the device around his head became a golden, conical-shaped object, perfectly suited for his new puppet, already fitting well in his hand.

- As I was saying... Rise, Echo Chamberlain, and correct the world, for only you know how. - I will! - the new villain spoke into his megaphone and flew out the library in his levitating chair, smashing the window to pieces.

========================

- Adrien!

Marinette jumped the last few stairs of her house and nearly tripped, but fortunately for her, she landed exactly where she wanted - in the arms of her boyfriend, meeting his lips a minute or so earlier than she planned. She smelled his trademark cologne, singed with his name, and she positively melted against his chest, blissfully forgetting about everything around her, until her mother's grunt brought her back to reality.

She jumped to her feet, fixed her hair and waved her parents goodbye, as the two walked outside for a stroll on the sunny day, with just a chance of studying in the park, in between kissing.

- How was the journey? - Marinette asked, eager to learn all about his latest business trip. - Well, nothing too out of the ordinary. I mean, for me. - he quickly added, afraid he sounded too immodest - I wish I could have brought you with me. - No biggie. I know how strict your father can be... - she leaned against his shoulder. - Hey, look, we should get some ice-cream!

Marinette eagerly pulled Adrien towards the famous André's ice-cream stand that now was parked underneath an old arch, and, predictably, has already amassed a small crowd, hungry for some cold refreshment. But as the two approached them, they heard an angry voice, dissonating with the rest.

- What do you mean you don't have chocolate chips? What kind of ice cream vendor are you? - a young woman was arguing with the poor ice-cream maker, who reacted to her anger with his usual jovial, kind behaviour. - Ah, but mademoiselle, I have other toppings, perfect for you! Brandied cherries! Candied walnuts! Peanut brittle! Or even... - he paused, before saying the next word with less enthusiasm in his voice - Sprinkles... - But I want my chocolate chips! - Excuse me. - Marinette gently addressed the angry woman - Don't you think you act a bit selfish? I'm certain André has been working so hard to bring us these phenomenal treats, it's not his fault he ran out of some of the ingredients... - Yeah - Adrien added quickly - And I think you will find some of these are as good as the one you crave, I can attest to that. - Plus, there are a lot of people waiting...

A shared murmur spread behind her, with people nodding, agreeing to Marinette and Adrien's polite reasoning. The woman sighed, and was about to accept the lesser version of her favourite dessert, but the next words she spoke left her mouth with a volume of hundreds of people.

- I WANT CHOCLOATE CHIPS!

Adrien and Marinette instinctively put their hands over the ears, and as they watched in horror, they might have just saved their sanity. Thre eyes of the people surrounding them glew with red tint, and the same people that a moment ago scoffed at the picky woman, now shouted with her.

- WE WANT CHOCLOATE CHIPS!

The two shared a concerned look, and they frantically looked around, knowing full-well it was a work of an akuma. Adrien spotted him first, a bizarre, red-and-gold man flying in his throne above their heads. They gave each other a nod and ran as far away from the crowd.

- André, run, it's an akuma! - Marinette cried, but it was too late.

The kind man now was roaring with them, demanding his own ice cream booth to give him chocolate chips, smashing it with his bare hands. Adrien and Marinette hid in an alleyway, and as soon as they could catch breath, their Kwami escaped their pockets, ready to transform them.

Two bright flashes of light later, Ladybug and Chat Noir escaped the same alleyway, following new source of cries and shouts. Ladybug shoot her yo-yo to climb onto the nearest rooftop, while Chat accompanied her onto his magical baton that propelled him into the air, so they could level with Hawkmoth's new puppet.

- You there! - Marinette shouted, gaining his attention - What are you doing to these innocent people? - And whatever it is, we are here to stop you!

The akumatised man laughed and rolled in the air in his throne.

- I am the Echo Chamberlain, and I have done nothing to them! I merely gave them the same voice I have. How dare these ice cream makers don't have the perfect ice-cream I want!

He grabbed his megaphone and spoke into it, emitting once more a deafening cry that reverberated amongst the buildings.

- People of Paris! Throw away your chains! Go to the barricades! And demand the ice-cream you want! Ha-ha-ha!

At once, the people beneath them, scared and cowering, stood up and rushed to the shops, big and small alike, chanting the same familiar phrase for their now-beloved condiment.  

- You fool! - a sudden voice rang in Anton's head - I gave you the voice so you can get me Ladybug's and Chat Noir's Miraculi! - Oh, right. - he took his megaphone again - But before that, get me Ladybug and Chat Noir! They took all the chocolate chips!

Echo Chamberlain flew onto his throne, leaving Ladybug and Chat Noir with the horde of people, that now began surrounding them with his single command. The two thought that they were safe on the rooftop of the building, but the angry people began climbing each other, forming human ladders, and in matter of seconds, the two had to escape in the same way they got there to begin with.

- He's using some sort of mind control! - Ladybug spoke, when they landed on slightly taller building, though they've already heard the clatter of broken glass beneath them. - The akuma must be in his megaphone. - Chat added - Also, I never thought people like chocolate chips so much. - I don't think they do. I think he likes it, and so he makes other people like the same thing.

Ladybug took a cautious look down, spotting some people rushing away from the angry mob.

- And I think he needs to target like-minded people. Or at least those that share some form of opinion with him... - she pondered. - Great observation, but may I add one? Duck!

Chat Noir pressed Ladybug's head down as a carton full of ice-cream cones flew right through the space once occupied by her head. The two rushed to their feet again, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, escaping the swarm of zombiefied people.

- Maybe there will be fewer of them here... - Chat spoke, but he was immediately proven wrong by a sudden voice behind him. - Oh, do you think ice-cream toppings is the only thing that makes people angry?

Echo Chamberlain arose from behind the building, already aiming his megaphone at the ventilation shaft.

- How about... Mobile chargers! Don't you hate how they always get lost and get tangled?

The powerful sound wave reverberated throughout the building, and the small rooftop door quaked when a small mob of residents rushed to the top, with said chargers in their hands, ready to strangle the two. Ladybug tried sniping a few of them with precise shots of her yo-yo, but the crowd was too dense.

- My lady!

Chat Noir grabbed her and propelled themselves off the building, landing in the vicinity of the same park they were meant to not-study in. But as they landed, they were already surrounded by more hypnotised civilians, this time complaining en-masse about mosquitoes.

- There's too many of them! - Ladybug shouted, jumping onto the nearby lamp post and then onto the tree. - I mean, they aren't exactly wrong, mosquitoes are horrible... - Chat! - Ladybug scolded him - That's the problem, he is making these people aware of all those small, insignificant problems of their lives. - But everyone has those!

Chat Noir's statement suddenly sounded ominously, as the sea of multicoloured people of every race, size and age surrounded them. Each person beneath them complained about something, creating a powerful choir of cacophony.

- We need... we need something to calm them down all at once...

Marinette looked around, and suddenly, as she spotted André's destroyed ice-cream stand, she saw the bell he would rang to alert Parisians of his presence, and a smile appeared on her face.

- I know what to do! - she cheered - Follow me!

The two escaped the tree just as if it was bout to be uprooted, and the two traversed the Paris to land on an even more familiar balcony.

- Don't peek, I'm gonna change my clothes. - she gave him a quick peck as she opened the hatch door to her apartment. - I'd never think of doing that. - Chat grinned, prepared his baton and jumped to the ground to defend the Dupain-Cheng bakery from the horde of people.

Once she was inside, Marinette quickly opened her supplies cabinet. Under the multitude of sewing accessories lied the hidden, oval-shaped red-and-black object that once looked like an ancient music box. The new guardian took it and gently tapped the black spots on the Miraculous Box, and under her touch, the small drawers began opening, one by one, like petals of a flower, revealing the multitude of Miraculi inside. Each of the intricate jewels glowed with a magical light of its own, as if to invite Marinette to try them, but she already knew which one to pick.

She took a small, circular Miraculous and spoke its Kwami name, illuminating her room with calming, white light, as the small, furry creature appeared in front of her.

- There's no time to explain, I need your help. Tikki, unify!

=====================

Meanwhile, Chat was getting more and more surrounded, forcing him to jump higher and higher, hoping the crowd would follow him and not Ladybug, trying his might to defend himself with his baton from the hypnotised masses, chanting their many inconsequential complaints that made them so strong.

- The prequels suck! - The sequels suck too! - Everything sucks!

As the mob was about to grab Chat, suddenly, he felt a familiar grip around his torso and his stomach did a somersault when he was dragged upwards, away from the crowd, as Ladybug reeled him on her yo-yo as if he was a fish.

- Thanks Ladybug, your timing is impecca-

Words got stuck in Adrien's mouth as he turned his head to meet his rescuer. At first, he wasn't sure it was Ladybug, but he recognised her yo-yo and her charming smile, though they were the only familiar element of her looks that remained. Only half of her original red could be found on her new costume, and the tidy, trademark polka-dots merged into black blots against white-brown rest of her costume. But it was the accessories she was wearing that truly befuddled Chat and forced him to pursue his curiosity, even if he was to be proverbially killed for it.

- My lady...! - Adrien stopped mid-way, taking another long look at Marinette - You... Your choice of fighting style is always impawssible to predict, but... Really, a cow? - What?

Marinette looked at herself, turning in place, as if to check if she's made a mistake choosing a Kwami to merge with, but once she ascertained herself, she shot him with a stern look.

- I'm not a cow. - she spoke quickly - The Kwami, whose powers I'm borrowing, is a yak! From Tibet! - Er, my lady - Chat raised his hands in defence, trying not to stare too long at the horns that adorned her head now - With all the respect, half of your costume is white with black spots, you have a ring in your nose, and you wear a cowbell around your neck... - IT'S NOT A COWBELL! - Marinette stomped in place - It's a Tibetan singing bowl, used for meditation. The Kwami told me so. - And what was its name?

With some hesitation, Marinette looked at Chat, whose lips curled into a sly smile, somehow foreseeing the answer and using every ounce of his intelligence to prepare a comeback.  

- Lhamuu... - she whispered. - Lha...MOO - Chat articulated, his smug grin becoming unbearable to look at. - Oh, shut up! - Marinette yelled - We have an Akuma to defeat. - You're right, we should get mooving.

The superheroes nodded and jumped once more into the crowd of people under the super-villain's control, a plan already forming in their heads.

===========

- What's this?

In his observatory, Hawkmoth looked through his puppet's eyes at a sight he most certainly didn't expect.

- Ladybug... is a cow. - he muttered, unable to believe his borrowed sight. - Actually, it's a yak, you can tell by the horns, they are quite common in Asia and- - Never mind that! - Hawkmoth interrupted him - Ladybug has acquired a new power! That means she's wearing two Miraculi! Get them at once! - Is it "Miraculi" or "Miraculouses"? Or does this word even have plural form? - Anton pondered - I think there was a thread on Ladyblog about it, and- - THEY CAN BE CALLED "CROISSANTS" FOR WHAT I CARE, JUST GRAB THE JEWELS! - On it.

==========

Anton's throne flew closer to the two superheroes, who kept fighting the overwhelming crowd of people. Though banking on disappointment from recent block-busters wasn't unreasonable, he decided to play on even more delicate strings. He took his megaphone and spoke one word that electrified the masses and angered them all.

- Don't you just hate... CAPTCHA?... yes, it's because of Ladybug and Chat Noir you have to solve those stupid riddles, finding fire hydrants and whatnot! Destroy them!

At once, the mass of people acting, ironically, like radio-controlled robots, roared with pure hatred and began swarming towards them climbing onto balconies, just so they can get to them. Chat took a step backwards, knowing the crowd there was equally dense. But just as he was about to secure Ladybug, she did something utterly unpredictable.

With grace and skill only she possessed, SHE jumped off the rooftop, right into the horde of people, ready to tear her apart.

- My lady!

From the rooftop, Chat watched as Ladybug landed on the plaza, and let the crowd of people encircle and approach her from every side. And though he was afraid, he also had faith in her, strengthen only by her charming smile and a wink she sent him, while the shouting mob surrounded her.

- It's time to use... The Bell of Clarity!

Marinette touched the bowl affixed to her neck, enveloping herself in a delicate, yellow light, grabbed what looked like a ring in her nose and swiftly pulled it, revealing it to have two small balls on each side, and twirled around, ending with a stylish, victorious pose. With her new weapon in hands, she reached it, and gently stroke the bowl with the metallic ring, letting its vibration travel towards their target.

A powerful sound wave surrounded her, spreading in all directions, engulfing more and more of space, finally reaching the ears of the hypnotised people. When the note rang in their minds, they stopped, appearing confused and disoriented, as they suddenly lost the connection to their master's words.

- No, no, get them, you idiots! - Echo Chamberlain shouted through his megaphone.

Marinette stroke the bowl a second time, producing a more melodious tune. The crowd of like-minded zombies became even less coordinated, much to the supervillain's anger. And when she gently began moving the ornamented metal ring across the bowl's edge, instead of producing a single note, it began singing, its soothing melody finally dispelling the charm put on the people.

- No! You have to listen to me! I am right! - Anton took his megaphone and began speaking into it again - The games now suck! The-there are micro-transactions everywhere! The-the toilet paper! It's never turned the right way around! There is product placement in movies!

But no matter how many annoying details about life - or rather lack of it - he spoke of, the crowd remained calm and peaceful, unified with the sound of Ladybug's bell, that spread across the city each time she hit it.

And just when he was about to think of some new annoyance, something hit him from behind him, and when he turned around, he saw Chat Noir, wrestling with him, his baton already locking his arms from reaching his tool of control.

- It's time to dethrone your highness! Now, Ladybug!

At once, Ladybug shoot the yo-yo, grabbing the megaphone, while Chat and Echo Chamberlain wobbled in the air, each trying to overpower the other. But as soon as Ladybug got her hands onto his prized tool of control, it was over. She broke it in half, releasing the purple akuma, she then gracefully caught with the same yo-yo.

- By bye, little butterfly... - she spoke to the purified Akuma, watching it, as it flew away. - Miraculous Ladybug!

A storm of light, radiating from her engulfed the city, repairing the damages caused by the entitled mobs. As for the Echo Chamberlain, he found himself in his regular, not-levitating chair, and only thanks to Chat Noir's strength he didn't hit the ground.

- I believe it was yours. - Ladybug handed him the headset. - Y-yeah... - Anton stuttered. - Uh, Ladybug, I... - That's okay, Anton. - she spoke calmly - We all get upset sometimes, and we all think we have all the answers. - But maybe it's better to walk outside every once in a while, and, say, have some ice cream? Regardless of toppings? - Chat Noir added, giving him equally warm smile. - Y-yeah...

The two watched as the man waddled away, pondering what his behaviour has done. Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at each other and bumped their fist with a cheerful "Pound it!".

- So, the Bell of Clarity, eh? - Chat Noir leaned against the wall, watching as his partner affixes her new accessory once more to her collar. - Jealous of my new toy, kitty? - Ladybug shot him with a mischievous grin - It has quite powerful properties, I should tell you about that some time, since I've been studying all the Kwamis and... - Nah, I was just pondering the name...

Marinette eyed him suspiciously, noticing the familiar smirk appearing on his face, about to turn into a full, unashamed grin, but when she did that, it was too late, as words already left his mouth.

- It's "Bell of Clarity"...or Clara-bell, if you will.

The Tibetan singing bowl made one last, long, pronounced note as Marinette struck Chat's head with it, putting an end to his jokes and another successful mission.

===========================

Another tune, this one of pure sorrow filled the air, as Hawkmoth roared in anger, his voice echoing in his evil lair atop the Agreste mansion.

- Preposterous! I have been defeated by a superheroine dressed like a cow! - I think she was a yak, Gabriel. - Nathalie added - SHE HAD A RING IN HER NOSE! - he yelled, slamming his fists against the floor, as he collapsed onto his knees - I HAVE A HEADACHE!

==================

Far away from Hawkmoth's prying eyes, as well as many security cameras they've learned to evade, two superheroes were celebrating another victory in a way that became almost a tradition for them. There was a time when Marinette would be utterly shocked at the mere thought of kissing in public, let alone exposing herself there, but the years of serving as a protector of Paris has changed her mind. At some point, she started treating entirety of Paris as her home, with every dark alleyway and rows of chimney that hid them from the rest of the world, and with that notion came the desire to express herself and her love in the open air. And it certainly helped that her boyfriend was a horny tomcat.

Though she would have preferred if Chat pushed her against her soft bed, she didn't mind the cold, sturdy surface of a building they were kissing against. With his relentless, but delicate caresses, there was no place on Earth where they wouldn't be feeling comfortable, and something told her she would be soon melting in his arms or underneath his body.

And Chat was especially meticulous today, as he wanted to make sure that he'd cover every millimetre of her new costume and find out if her new alter-ego changed something with her preferences regarding making love.

- Chat... - Marinette moaned and curled her toes, tightening her legs' grip around his body. - I've had you as a Ladybug...

Chat pressed her against the wall, his hand already on her crotch, and his fingers dug through the latex costume that parted underneath his gentle, yet steady caresses.

- ...then as a mouse...

She let out a short squeak, almost mimicking her timid, Multimouse persona, as he continued undressing her using his claws and teeth.

- Then as a Rena Rouge... do you remember that? - How-How could I forget? - Marinette gasped, her hands sliding up and down his slim, but muscular body - Especially since Alya was filming us...

Chat let out a deep purr of approval, letting his lips and tongue take action, as he leaned against the skin on her neck. And while he was busy peppering her skin with kisses, Marinette decided to continue diving into their memories, perhaps just so she won't have to moan in anticipation of her lover's next, carefully planned move.

- And-And do you remember when Mister Bug used Lady Noire's face? I've never thought he would be so rough... - Mhm, most certainly... - Chat purred, nibbling on her ear, both actions making Marinette's skin shiver - Turned out white goes very well with your the black mask... And, well, rest of the costume too... - Naughty kitten... - And now, I'm gonna be with you as a... - Chat paused, looking up at his lover - ...a yak. - It's fine, you can say I'm a cow. - Marinette rolled her eyes, leaning in for a kiss. - And how should I call you? - Figured you would kiss first and ask names second...

She spoke those words in somewhat croaky voice, after Chat's kiss successfully left her breathless. She tightened her grip on him and looked him in the eye, seeing the familiar, fiery spark of lust that could lead them on a predictable route.

- Yin Yak - she answered - That's the name of that-that superheroine... - Marinette paused, trying to silence herself from another surge of pleasure building up in her loins. - So, would you be Lady-yak? - Chat kissed her breasts through her costume, yearning to feel her costume splitting apart - Or Yin-bug? I have to say, I am purrplexed and confused...

Marinette cupped his face and brought his face millimetres away from hers, just so her next words could firmly root themselves into his mind.

- I will tell you how I want to be called. - she paused and without losing a bit answered - Yours.

With her words acting like a spell, Chat Noir smiled and in a single move tossed her into the air, and caught her with his arms again, letting her legs spread. And as he did so, a rip in her costume appeared, under Chat's most delicate of touches, as a final proof of Marinette's consent and her yearning for her lover. Marinette yelped when his fingers brushed the now-exposed skin underneath her partially-torn costume. In response, she yanked his bell and slid it down, finally laying her eyes on his naked, alluring body.

- It's so much easier for you... - Are you complaining about an incredibly minor inconvenience? - Chat paused - Be careful, or you're gonna get akumatised too...

They giggled and closed their eyes, preparing for a kiss, but as their lips were about to meet, Chat found that something began pushing them away. And when the two looked down, they couldn't help but gasp at the sudden development happening right in front of them.  

- What the-?!

Both Adrien and Marinette stared at her chest, or more precisely, her breasts that sprung from beneath her costume, ripping it completely and showing properly how enlarged they've become. And neither of them could tell which one was more surprised of the sight that greeted them. Her usually perky, medium-sized breasts now felt like two balloons that became inflated the moment Chat parted the way of her costume, though despite their size they seemed to defy laws of physics, never truly succumbing to gravity. As if in disbelief, Chat gently cupped them, and only under his touch, Marinette could feel how much they have grown, and that they were in fact still parts of her caresses-starved body.

- They-they are huge! - Marinette gasped, stating the obvious. - Indeed they are... - Adrien licked his lips - I have to admit, I am enjoying your new superhero form more and more...

Marinette gasped when she felt Chat's breath around her nipple, even more sensitive than usual, as his lips closed around the nub, a lot bigger and more pronounced now. And while his tongue lapped around her areola, his left hand caressed her other breast, exploring the new, vast territory he was going to conquer.

As Marinette whimpered under Chat's caresses, he moved from left side of her enlarged bosom to the other, finally taking a dive between them, licking the alluring valley between the voluptuous,breasts on both sides of his face. He looked up, meeting Ladybug's widened eyes, seeing the mixture of pleasure and lingering shock in them. He gave her one final kiss, and asked sheepishly.

- My lady, I'm not doing anything wrong, am I? - Can you hear me complain? - Marinette smirked - I have no idea what happened, but keep your mouth busy, kitty.

She gently pushed his head back between her huge bosom that almost engulfed Chat's head. Suddenly, she felt his kisses everywhere across her sensitive skin, causing her to moan without any care. They were still hidden, at least partially, since she fully expected her breasts might now expand like a portable raft and take the entire space of the rooftop.

Of course, she knew why this happened. Though Chat was joking, her Kwami certainly had a few bovine traits, and her arousal must have accentuated those even more, just like Chat's claws could tear through her otherwise indestructible suit as if it was papier-mâché when his animalistic needs got over him.

As her kisses became more and more ravenous, her legs slowly gave up, and that gave Chat a chance to sneak his arms underneath her back and raise her leg up, just so his access to her dripping sex could be easier. With her left leg on his shoulder, his fingers continued the delicate dance against her pussy, while his tongue lapped at the skin around her nipples.

- Cha-Chat!

Marinette threw her head back, hoping her lover would bring her to her climax soon, and when Chat closed his lips around her nipple once more, just to contain his scream, she felt something new. An exhilarating, electrifying surge rushed through her, and at the same moment as Chat's eyes opened wide, while his fingering slowed down, though with his new discovery, she didn't exactly blame him.

Once he understood what was happening, Chat smiled and doubled his efforts, suckling on her teat, just so he could taste the delicious, sweet milk she began producing.

- My lady, you are... full of surprises... - he spoke, once he took a healthy gulp of her essence, watching as it dripped onto her large breasts.

To her bewilderment, when Chat brought his lips back to her nipple and continued suckling her milk, she felt the pleasure rising again, and with the newly found source of enjoyment, Marinette realised she couldn't think straight, especially when Chat resumed the moves of his hand again, spreading her folds.

But this time, as his muscular body came in contact with hers, it became obvious he was eager for more than simple finger play. He moved his hips in tune of her moans, sliding his exposed cock along her folds, eager to her her begging. And sure enough, once his name left her lips, he dived between her wet, soaking folds, just like his head dived into the valley of her breasts, equally leaking from anticipation.

Marinette let out another prolonged moan. Chat often made love to her this way, pressing her against walls, often just meters away from busy streets, but never before has her body changed. And now, to each of Chat's thrusts, her enlarged breasts reacted accordingly, bouncing up and down around Chat's face, though every once in a while her lover's thirst for her milk caused one of her mounds - or rather mountains - to remain in place, while he feasted on the liquid ambrosia she kept producing.

Adrien thought that he might have  harder time keeping his lover up, and bouncing her with the extra baggage, but it turned out that the opposite was true. She felt lighter, giving him chance to exert a bit more pressure and dominance over his lover, much to her enjoyment. Ladybug dug her fingernails into Chat's shoulders, pushing him against the cushions of her bosom, letting his entire face stimulate her much larger and more sensitive area.

With each kiss Chat placed around her nipples came another deep thrust, reaching further and further into her yearning sex that coated his cock with her juices, only helping his cause of sliding as far as possible. And with that storm of sensation, it came as no surprise to Marinette that her mind slowly started going blank, and she began chanting Chat's name like a mantra, begging him to help her reach the peak he promised her, hearing only his grunts in return.

Their shared orgasm made their joined bodies shudder; at the same time, walls of Marinette's pussy contracted, desperate to contain Chat inside her, coating his crotch with more and more of her juices; then the torrential jets of his warm seed shot up her sex, right against her womb, filling her to the brim. And then, just when she thought she was finished, she felt a new form of warmth on her chest, when milk began spurted from her breasts, though the stream quickly found its way to Chat's mouth.

With each of Chat's final, weakening thrusts, the effects began anew, forcing her lover to switch suckling on her nipples, thirsty for her nectar, as if to use it to replenish his essence he kept flooding her with. But as their juices were leaking out, so was their strength, and even Chat's muscles had to give up at some point.

The two collapsed on the rooftop, still hidden by the shadows of the construction scaffolding, though at this point, Marinette truly didn't care if their love making has been heard, or observed by anyone; with her enormous breasts people might think it's some sort of stunt anyway. Her lips found Chat's and she tasted a new flavour, a sweet one that sent shivers down her spine, when she realised what it was, and she understood at once why Chat was so desperate to milk her.

The same flurry of kisses that drove her to her peak didn't stop, as Chat made sure to pepper her breasts with as many of those as possible, at the same time giving her ample time to recover from her equally explosive orgasm.

And as her mind, hazed by pleasure, slowly returned to reality, a new plan formed in her head, and with a quick, but difficult to pull off maneuver - a drawback of the new addition to her body - she rolled and pinned Chat to the ground, much to his surprise.

- My lady?

Chat's ears perked up when he saw her move along his naked body, leaving a trail of kisses as well as her milk along it. And when she reached her destination, she shot him with a mischievous, sly smirk that would have turn his legs to jelly if he wasn't downed already.

Her delicate fingers closed around his half-lips cock, bringing his sensitive tip to her mouth, and as her lips brushed his skin, it twitched satisfyingly in her hand, signalling he was ready again.

- You just lay there, kitty, and let me take care of you...

Marinette's soft, velvety voice, spiked with just a trace of lust worked its magic on Chat right away. Though Marinette might have been surprised by the sudden changes to her body, the superheroine adapted to them at once and decided to put them to good use. Her voluptuous, wobbly breasts engulfed Chat's hard cock, as Marinette proceeded to give her first tit-job of her life, given that now she had proper equipment for it.

As Chat got lost in her ample bosom, he threw his head back, filling the air around them with low purr of delight, followed by prolonged moan when Ladybug's mouth met with his cock's head upon her first bob. it was equally fascinating for Marinette to watch as Chat's length is enveloped by her breasts, and how she can now stimulate far more of him than when her mounds were small an perky.

She had to keep an eye on his legs that twitched with every few seconds in response to her caresses. Chat's claws closed around the nearest edges, after frantically trying to find one to push away his oncoming climax, and his slim, but muscular torso arched from time to time, in sync with Marinette pushing her massive breasts up and down.

To make things a bit varied, she slowed down her moves, replacing them with a bit of her tongue-work, much to Chat's delight. Marinette could distinguish her name being muttered by her lover, begging her to finish her love torture, but the superheroine had none of that. While she was certain Chat would love nothing more than jump to his knees and face-fuck her, she wanted to prolong his pleasure as much as she could, knowing full well of the building and boiling climax in his loins.

As her tongue ran around his head, Marinette had to steer away to taste her own body, still covered with traces of milk she was leaking, and when the same tongue returned to his tool, Chat moaned again, feeling the liquid she was mixing with his pre-cum, almost as if he could taste it again. Once more he was privileged to see how the once-shy superheroine pushed her limit of perversion with a kink neither of them expected to enjoy an hour earlier.

And it was that knowledge (combined with her dedication to bring Chat to climax, as she started bobbing her breasts up and down again), that drove Chat to his edge, turning his moans incomprehensible begging only Marinette could understand and reply to. She waited until Chat's eyes would meet her again, and spoke to him taking breaks from kissing his swollen tip ready to burst.

- You, kitty - she started - You like my milk... But I...

She pressed her hands against her breasts, wanting to completely envelop Chat's cock between her massive breasts.

- ...I prefer cream.

A loud, yet weak cry of defeat escaped Chat's lips at the same time as first rope of cum flew from his swollen tip, landing straight across Ladybug's face, forcing her to close her eyes momentarily, though she opened them a second later, just so she can marvel at Chat's virility.

Just as second rope of cum was about to decorate her face, Marinette opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, inviting Chat to change his aim, though with his cock still engulfed by her breasts, she was much in control of the trajectory, and with some difficulties, she has managed to fill her mouth with the thick, sticky seed, getting the first sniff of the pungent and aggressive, but alluring taste and smell of her lover.

Three more streams of his cum landed in Marinette's lips, before her treatment has emptied Chat's balls, and the heroine could swallow the veritable pool of Chat's cream sitting in her mouth. She did it without breaking the eye contact with him, making sure he'd hear the guttural, gulping noises as his essence travelled down her throat, his warmth, taste and smell lingering far longer thanks to its consistency. He must have been saving for days...

But that wasn't complete end of Chat's climax; long after he stopped supplying Marinette with his seed, he withdrew from between the heavenly trap of her breasts, and another strands of his seed adorned them, prompting Marinette to perform action she wasn't able before, due to how much bigger and more supple her breasts have become. She pushed her breasts just up enough so she can lick off each and every drop of cum Chat left, as if it was the most delicious meal she wouldn't let go to waste. And the sight of expression on Chat's face was a reward already, aside of the familiar, musky aftertaste that reminded Marinette who has just marked her as his. Not to mention that as she squeezed her breast, Chat's essence mixed with her milk, adding a new taste of sweetness to his salty one.

Marinette revelled in the overwhelming storm of tastes that filled her mouth, and that indulgence gave Chat opportunity to counter-attack. Though he was pressed to the ground by her body and her breasts that now were a significant part of it, the superhero easily rolled her to her back, his head already back between her mounds, licking the milk that has managed to leak during his climax.

- I'd say that's a tie, my lady. - Of course you'd say that. - Marinette chuckled - You just want to get comfy and drink milk, and I just happen to have what you need...

In response, Chat let out a soft purr, as he nuzzled himself into Marinette's breasts, never taking eyes from his lover. Marinette reached and toyed with his untidy golden hair, and her charming smile managed to lure him from between her breasts for another long-needed kiss.

And just when she thought she would be given some time to relax, Chat Noir yanked her legs upwards, pressing them against her body, trapping her enlarged breasts between them, squishing them even more, which made them appear even larger.

- Sorry, Ladybug, but you are just too appetising to not ravish...

Marinette yelped when Chat's hard cock entered her again, and she felt Chat's delicious weight on top of her. She knew her new form would drag a very primal string in his masculine mind, and she did not object when he jumped to his feet and pushed her into a mating press, ready to engage in deeply animalistic form of love making.

His hips worked twice as hard than previously, wanting to reach as far into her throbbing, needy sex as possible, and while he was leaning over her, he was given once more chance to taste her delicious milk, each time he plunged himself inside her.

Ladybug's legs dangled above their heads, in sync of his ravenous thrusts, and as Marinette met his eyes, she had no doubts what drove him into his frenzied state. She knew that her kwami chose to make her look like a perfect mating partner, and that Chat was making sure there was enough milk for his kittens...

Their frantic bucking lasted shorter than they expected, but the same, wild thought they shared pushed them over the edge at the same time. Chat grabbed her thick thighs, buried his face between her breasts that erupted with milk, and in turn flooded her once more with his virile seed, bringing their shared fantasy to completion.

Chat collapsed on top of her, landing his head across Laybug's vast breasts, once more basking in their sweet glory. When their lips met again, they could both taste it, and the two lovers fell into a tight embrace.

The two were blissfully unaware that in the mean time the sun has gone down, but that only meant there will be less light for onlookers to catch them.

=====================

Standing by the kitchen counter, Marinette concentrated on making another batch of freshly baked sweets, so then they can be ready in an hour or so when the bakery opens. It was the quiet before the storm, but Marinette enjoyed those early morning hours... especially when she had someone to help her.

Adrien sneaked up behind his girlfriend, peppering her exposed neck with kisses, while his hands gently travelled up and down her waist, though once he saw what she's been making this whole time, his caresses stopped,and he let out a satisfying purr. On the counter lay several, hemispherical pastries, glazed in white marzipan, each adorned with a candied cherry on top, and the longer Adrien stared at them, the more he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

- Well, our adventure has certainly given you some inspiration, Marinette. Your original design? - I wish. - Marinette snickered - Those are called Saint Agatha's breasts, it's an old, Italian treat.

She handed him one, watching as his fingers dance on the shiny surface.

- It does remind me of what happened yesterday, though... - Adrien smiled, before taking a bite of the sugary coating. - I might have double-glazed them just like you did me.

Marinette brought her finger to his mouth to collect a small crumble of marzipan stuck to his lips, and predictably, her boyfriend wasn't just ravenous for sweets, as he quickly licked her finger clean too.

- Adrien! - Marinette pulled back and rushed to the sink - Warn me next time... - Okay, here's a warning..

Adrien chuckled, closing his arms around her belly once more. He sneaked his mouth to her neck, while his arms separated, each travelling closely to one of her erogenous zones. His left hand dived underneath her apron and tried getting into her panties, while the right one caressed her perky breasts, and as soon as his fingers began toying around her nipples, Marinette addressed something that has been on her mind.

- You miss them, don't you? - You know that I love you exactly the way you are... - Adrien answered tactfully   - Don't lie, kitty - Marinette interrupted him. - You are, alas, only a man, therefore, I know you liked when my rack was three times the size of my current one. - Fine, if you want to, then I will say it - he kissed her neck - But just because I had more of you to love. Is it okay if I admit that I do slightly miss them? - If you'll keep finishing inside me, like yesterday, then I can assure you, you'll get them back very soon...

Marinette yelped, when his hands travelled back to her hips and spun her around in place, but once she met his face, she closed her arms behind his neck without missing a beat, just in time for his comeback.

- Is that a warning, or an invitation?

Adrien raised his brow, watching as her face reddened.

- Tell you what, I'm gonna finish in five minutes, and we might find out. - If you'll wear this apron then I will finish in five minutes... - Adrien!

[maybehesclawstrophobic]

Let’s Try to be Civil(ians)

Wanting to spend more time with Ladybug, Chat suggests the two don disguises and hang out as civilians.

When the two venture out, big sunglasses and hats galore, they soon realize that pretending this isn’t a date might be just as hard as protecting their identities.

AO3 Ch. 2

Chapter 1

He fell in love in a single moment, suspended in time. Looking up at a girl who was standing her ground against a powerful menace that threatened the city she called home. A single stance at the top of the Eiffel Tower, a single reassurance to the people of Paris, a superhero.

She was unstoppable. She held the safety of the city in one hand and his heart in the other. The fierceness in her eyes as she challenged Hawkmoth announced to the whole world that she would never give up and would never back down from a fight.

In every moment after that, he found himself falling all over again. He fell in love in an infinite collection of infinitesimal moments, multiplying over in his mind to enforce the certainty of his affection.

And everytime a heart broke in Paris, everytime the city dissolved into chaos, he couldn’t help but smile softly to himself at the thought of spending time with her, regardless of the context in which that time was spent.

Yet even with this permanent grin on his face, the sorrow of unattainable reciprocation cast a shadow he could never quite escape.

Anytime he hoped to hope, anytime he gazed at the one who held his heart, and he placed everything on the table, Ladybug would give him the same soft look and the same “I’m sorry Chaton . . .”

He couldn’t help the overflow of emotion he held in his heart, yet would always place her comfort and trust above his own selfish desires, so he learned to channel his affections into playful banter rather than obsessive pining.

(He would save the pining for the times he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as a single tear paved a cold path down his cheek)

The two fell into a comfortable rhythm. Chat would drop a line or confess his undying love with a wink, and Ladybug would roll her eyes and giggle at his antics.

After a while, he stopped asking her out in the hopes she would say yes. He asked her out to remind her that he loved her, and if the response was always “maybe next time . . .” or “you know we can’t . . .,” it didn’t matter. What mattered was her.

He wanted to see her. He wanted to spend time with her. He wanted to drop a line and watch in glee as she giggled, turning away so that he couldn’t catch the blush on her face.

Any time he gained, any moment he could add to his infinite collection, he would cherish over anything and everything else.

Perhaps that’s why he found himself grabbing onto Ladybug’s wrist right as she poised to swing away, both of them three beeps away from shedding the layers between them. Maybe that’s why this “I’m sorry Chaton . . .” had hurt just as much as the others. Maybe that’s what prompted him to say,

“Wait! M’la . . . Ladybug! Please. I know you don’t see me that way. But really, I just want to spend time with you,” he admitted, wringing his hands together.

“Chat, I’m sorry, but I really have to go,” she urged, two beeps ringing out into the crisp night air.

“What if . . . what if we didn’t go out go out. What if we just went out? As friends?”

The suggestion hung between them as Ladybug paused, considering the option in her mind.

He continued, “we could just hang out and Chat, some miraculously needed team bonding if you will.” The idea started to take shape in his mind, his excitement increasing tenfold as the feasibility of his request grew more apparent. “We could meet up as civilians! Wear crazy hats and ridiculous sunglasses like those American tourists! We could . . . “

A final beep from both miraculouses cut him off.

“Chat, we’re out of time! Look, let me consider it, okay? I’ll get back to you the next time we see each other” she offered, before breaking free from his grasp and bounding away.

---------

Marinette couldn’t believe she was actually doing this. She couldn’t believe she had actually convinced Tikki to even let her do this. Most of all, however, she couldn’t believe how excited she was to let Chat Noir know that she was on board.

They saw each other a few days after Chat’s initial offer. The akuma had been defeated quickly, with no need for either hero to use their special power. This was due in large part to the akumatized student’s decision to lay down and take a nap rather than use her newfound powers to wreak havoc on the city.

The two heroes leapt onto the closest building and looked at one another, neither wanting to speak first.

It was Chat who broke the silence.

“Soooo, M’lady, have you purrt any thought into my pawsome offer?” he queried, tail flitting back and forth.

Ladybug’s rolled her eyes and glared him down, ignoring the bubbly laugh that threatened to sneak past her throat and validate the boy’s goofy sense of humor.

“As a matter of fact, I have” She paused, eyes falling to the floor as she glanced at her feet. A wave of nervousness washed over her, and Marinette could feel a warm color brush its way across her nose and cheekbones. She had no reason to be hesitant. It wasn’t as if this was a date. This was not a date. In fact, the reason she was about to agree to it was dependent on that particular detail.

Risking a look up, she decidedly ignored the way Chat’s hopeful eyes sent a pang straight to her heart and answered, “I think you’re right. I think hanging out off the clock could be fun.”

His reaction was immediate. “This is great! I have it all planned out! M’lady, I swear you won’t regret this. We are going to have the time of our nine lives.”

He paused to wiggle his eyebrows and puff out his chest in self-appreciation of his joke before continuing on, “Do you know that park we’ve fought at a few times? The one we tried to lure Mr. Pigeon to all that time ago?”

Ladybug nodded, a smile taking over her face in response to Chat’s bright eyes and joyful tone.

“We could meet up there,” Chat suggested, “at-or, whenever works for you.”

“I’m free at 12:00 tomorrow, since it’s a Saturday.”

“Perfect! I know a great place to grab a bite near there, and it shouldn’t be too hard to spot each other if we’re wearing ridiculous disguises,” he offered, “It’s going to be amazing Bugaboo, almost as amazing as you,” he flirted, causing Ladybug to smack his shoulder as a way from distracting him (and herself) from how flustered the comment left her.

Having solidified the plan, Chat Noir took off, leaving Ladybug alone on the rooftop.

She lay a hand on her chest, surprised by her racing heartbeat.

This is normal, she told herself, I’m just excited about hanging out with my friend.

A picture of Chat Noir flashed into her mind, his boyish smile, the sheer goofiness he radiated from every pore, and his steadfast loyalty. She would never let him know just how much she was looking forward to spending time with him. He would never know the giddy effect he had on her.

She shook her head, snapping back to reality. She would not become some type of fangirl, swooning over the elusive Chat Noir. She was in love with someone else, someone kind and selfless and generous. This outing was not a date, and Marinette was determined for it not to sway her from her immovable love for Adrien.

Just the thought of Adrien, the thought of him offering her his umbrella or catching her when she inevitably fell down the stairs of the collegé, was enough to deter her from the dangerous line of thought she was embarking upon. There would only ever be room in her heart for one boy, and that boy was not Chat Noir.

(Yet as she swung off into the night, her racing heart continued to say otherwise)

---------

“You look ridiculous.”

“Gee Plagg, thanks for the support,” Adrien responded, giving a side-eye to the kwami in question.

Plagg, either not noticing or not caring, continued, “I mean, you always look ridiculous, but this really takes the cake.”

Adrien frowned, looking over his choice of outfit in the mirror. Was it too much? The black slacks and a black button up shirt he wore would have looked good onere their own, but were greatly overshadowed by his attempts at disguising his identity.

The upper half of his torso and his neck were obscured by a big green scarf he made after snatching some fabric on a modelling job. The material was fraying and bound to fall apart without being properly hemmed, but it would do for the day.

The look was completed by a black snapback pulled low over his eyes and a pair of big sunglasses with paw prints in the upper corners of the frames.

His eyes glanced over the whole get together in the mirror, arm reaching out to rub behind his neck.

Plagg’s ears perked up as he watched his chosen spend a little too much time looking over his outfit in the mirror. He should probably let the kid catch a break: “I do also think everything other that camembert looks ridiculous, kid, so you never know, she might find you endearing.”

“Aw Plagg, you do care,” Adrien grinned.

He checked the clock. 11:00. Only one more hour. Deciding it couldn’t hurt to be early, Adrien headed out, being cautious as he left his home so as not to alert his father of his current fashion disaster status. Plagg flew close behind, flying into the pocket of Adrien’s slacks once the two got outside.

By the time he reached the park, Adrien couldn’t keep still. He was bouncing up and down on the tips of his toes and glancing all over the place for a sign of Ladybug.

He circled the park, taking in the children playing on the carousel and the various teenagers sitting on blankets and benches throughout the area. The sun shone bright rays of light on everything, creating a picture of a perfect day.

He breathed in the air, closing his eyes to let the moment sink in, before a large lump of something ran right into him and pushed both of them to the floor.

Opening his eyes, relieved to find his disguise still intact, he looked up at the face peering down on top of him. It was a girl, wincing at the compromising position she had put them in. She wore a red t-shirt and black jeans, with a black sun hat covering the top layer of her face and a pair of red cat eye sunglasses obscuring the rest.

“I am so sorry! I was running late, and I’m supposed to meet my friend, and I guess I’m just super nervous because I’m super excited to spend time with him, but don’t tell him that or I’ll never hear the end of it, and now I’ve gone and run right into you, and now I’m rambling, and oh I’m just so sorry about all this,” she rushed, as a loose strand of dark hair made its way from under the hat out into the open air.

“M’Lady?” Chat questioned, watching in glee as the girl in question widened her eyes and scrambled up to standing.

“Chat?” she started, “Is that really you?”

Chat stood up, holding his arms wide before bringing them in and bowing, “‘tis me, LB, the one and only Chat Noir.”

“Oh please with the theatrics. I still can’t believe I’m doing this.” Ladybug responded, fiddling with her hands in front of her.

“Oh really? Because I seem to remember someone saying how she was super excited to spend time with me,” Chat smirked, pushing further, “not that I’m surprised. I am pretty great, if I do say so myself.”

Ladybug glared Chat down at his over-the-top antics. Even though he was momentarily terrified for his life, Chat couldn’t help but take a moment to take in her powerful stance and focused attention. Even in civilian clothing, there was no way this fiery presence in front of him could be anyone but Ladybug.

He found it difficult to breathe as he watched her bare arms and hands sway back and forth at her sides, unobscured by a tough red suit.

His eyes tracked her right hand as it reached up and grabbed onto his own left hand, fingers entwining with slow hesitance.

“Come on! Let’s go check out the carousel!” she beamed, and Chat realized how foolish he had been to admire the brightness of the sun when a far greater source of light was now only two feet away.

She pulled them over to the ride, not a care in the world about the fact that the ride was geared towards younger children.

Chat Noir clenched the hand Ladybug wasn’t holding, sweat pooling at the back of his neck. He was not going to make this weird. He was going to function like a perfectly normal human being. He was not going to freak out about the feeling of her soft hand gripping his. He was not going to freak out about Ladybug pulling him into one of the carousel’s benches so they could sit together. He was not going to freak out, period. This was just a normal outing between friends. It didn’t matter that his entire face felt hot, and he wanted nothing more than to squeeze Ladybug’s hand. It wasn’t like this was a date. This was not a date.

The ride started and he saw Ladybug perk up with a childlike enthusiasm he never got to see in the midst of a battle.

A grin split her face, and she leaned over to say, “I used to ride this carousel all the time when I was a kid. I mean, I’m still technically a kid, but that was-you know what I mean.”

“I get it. When I was much smaller, I used to tie a blanket around my neck and run around the house pretending I was a superhero,” Chat offered, lowering his voice as a wave of shyness washed over him. He never really talked about his childhood, but with Ladybug he felt safe enough to continue, safe enough to be vulnerable in the presence of a friend, “little me had no idea he was getting in some vital practice for saving the day.”

Ladybug giggled, the rim of her hat bouncing up and down in rhythm with her movements. “That’s adorable! I keep picturing a little Chat running around with a blanket swooping out behind him! Imagine if your younger self could see you now”

“He would have absolutely lost his mind!”

“Hmmmmm, are you sure he that he didn’t?” she teased, waiting for Chat to realize what she was implying.

“Hey!” he shot back, glad that his glasses could hide some of the blush making its way across his cheekbones, “Just two seconds ago you were calling me adorable! Let’s go back to that,” he went on, “and M’Lady I can assure you that my mind is just as sharp as my jawline.”

She leaned in closer, as if trying to see for herself, before finally letting go of Chat’s hand and instead feeling the fabric wrapped around Chat’s neck. “Maybe I could see that jawline if you weren’t swaddled in so much loose fabric. Where did you even find this?”

Chat sputtered at her proximity, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for the fabric that didn’t involve the fact that he was the most famous model in Paris, “Um . . . well . . . you see, I found, or I didn’t find-I took-er . . . “

“Oh my god did you STEAL this?” she exclaimed, drawing a few glances from parents in the area.

“What! No! I would never,” he panicked, his honor on the line.

“Okay, it’s okay, I trust you,” she comforted, “but you do realize that tying some loose fabric around yourself doesn’t automatically make a scarf, right?”

Chat Noir watched in wonder as the girl in front of him went off on a tangent, speaking clearly and eloquently about the ins and outs of creating a scarf. She talked about the different types of scarves, she talked about the amount of effort one had to put in to make a scarf, and she even gave a little bit of history on the origin of scarves.

The lights of the carousel reflected in her glasses, mimicking the gleam Chat knew her eyes held in that moment.

He drank in any information he could, beyond grateful to Ladybug for sharing a part of herself she was passionate about.

The ride slowed to a stop, and the two got off, walking idly around the park.

Chat was about to suggest what to do next when the sound of Ladybug’s stomach grumbling filled the air.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” she laughed, “I didn’t have a chance to grab breakfast.”

Chat internally smacked himself for forgetting about food. The excitement of the day had washed away that detail of their plans entirely. He took a deep breath to calm himself before remembering where he was and grinning as an idea took shape.

“Don’t worry, I know the perfect place to grab a bite,” he suggested, “in fact, we are within walking distance to the greatest bakery in all of Paris!”

Marinette looked on in horror as the boy gestured directly towards the Dupain-Cheng’s.

---------

Major thank you/shout out to @etiepe and @lady-charinette for reading this over for me. Y’all are amazing!

[nobodyfamousposts]

Missing Interlude - Plagg

So remember when I said that the Missing Interlude was just a one time thing?

Yeah...my muse disagreed.

Contrary to popular opinion, Plagg was not simply the lazy and foolish kwami that most people believed him to be. Sure, part of that may be his fault, as he wasn’t about to go out of his way to correct people’s assumptions about him if he didn’t need to. After all, if people think he’s lackadaisical and silly, they tend to not expect much from him, which worked doubly in his favor in either convincing people to leave him alone or allow him the element of surprise if they wouldn’t. After all, most people generally didn’t worry whether he was plotting to kill them if they thought he was simply sleeping most of the time.

Plagg…admittedly hadn’t had many good wielders in the past. Fu referred to them as owners, but the very thought of the title grated at him something fierce. By their very nature, cats weren’t ‘owned’. They would stay with people. Go to those who fed them or treated them well. But they claimed their humans, not the other way around.

Even if that weren’t the case, most of his wielders had been…not the best of people. He joked about Hawk Moth and didn’t take his akumas seriously because honestly, how could he? It was ultimately the equivalent of a child playing with toys in comparison to some of the things he had been forced to do. He pitied Nooroo for his current unfortunate situation, certainly. The butterfly kwami was gentle by nature and while he wouldn’t wish such misuse on any of his brethren, Nooroo was especially sensitive. But it still said something that he found himself envying him more.

Cartoonish characters who made people burst into song or controlled birds were always preferable over serial killers, war mongers, and so-called ‘visionaries’ that saw fit to topple an entire nation to rebuild it to fit their ideals.

Atlantis was a joke. The Leaning Tower was an accident. The dinosaurs…well, those jerks actually had it coming. But still, each incident was almost minimal compared to the acts caused by some of the people he had been unfortunate enough to be discovered by over the millennia. It was part of why he played up his destructive and cat-like tendencies for the monks when he’d finally been retrieved, if only in hopes that they’d seal him up so he’d be left alone for a few centuries and just not have to deal with any of it.

There was a part of him that questioned Fu’s wisdom in sending him of all the kwamis out to face Hawk Moth. Especially when his power was one of the two that the villain was specifically after.

Ladybug made sense. Tikki was practically built for purifying, healing people, and undoing damage. Like a cosmic reset-button that allowed the akuma battles to be a temporary disruption of the norm rather than a literal matter of life and death. And sure, Tikki was always willing to be useful.

But Plagg had wanted to sleep. He had wanted to be left alone. He wanted to NOT be reminded of things he really REALLY wanted to forget. And he couldn’t even have that.

Cheese was a nice distraction from these darker thoughts—as well as part of the reason he demanded it so often since he knew he had a chosen who could manage it. Yet strangely enough, his chosen had also started to become a good distraction in his own way. An annoying one at times, sure. But a good one. It was why he even put up with listening to the kid waxing poetic about Ladybug. That plus the realization that the Ladybug he was crazy about was actually his little girlfriend who was secretly just as crazy about him?

Gold. Pure gold. It was like a movie that practically wrote itself!

At this point, he was honestly just waiting for the day the two finally had the big reveal for themselves just so he could imprint their expressions in his mind for the next century. Maybe even millennium. His only wish was that he would have a camera when it happened that he could show the rest of the kwamis.

Plus he knew Tikki would love it, even if she would lecture him for it.

Still…

Adrien was a good kid. He regretted not being able to trust him fully because he was at least somewhat certain that the boy wouldn’t follow in those ever darkened footsteps of his predecessors, but…

He sighed internally.

Plagg liked Adrien, he really did. But Adrien was young and immature in a lot of ways. Sure, he was a hero now. But would he stay that way? The future was always left to be determined. There had been a lot of Black Cats before Adrien Agreste. Too many that had gotten his hopes up only to let him down in the end.

Maybe that was why he worried so much for his current holder. The way that Adrien opened up to him so quickly and easily was less a testament of their bond and more indicative of his desperation just to have someone he could talk to.

Plagg couldn’t help but pity the kid. It was also why he didn’t try to fight the way the kid started to grow on him, either. Even despite the puns. And the lovesickness. And his at times stupidly over the top gestures and complete disregard for his own well being that Plagg was going to break him out of mark his words!

Adrien still had a lot of growing to do, and for all that Plagg let his impulses get the better of him, he was also surprisingly patient—in this case patient enough to help Adrien grow and give any sort of nudge the boy may need to do so. Because he knew the boy had potential.

The problem was the numerous stumbling blocks that were getting in the way.

There was his father—and stars, how Plagg despised that man. Always watching but never there. The undeserving focus of a completely one-sided relationship. If Adrien’s passivity and other “quirks” were signs, the fact that the nightmare Sandboy conjured for Adrien was a cage was practically glowing neon.

There were also the other girls who kept clinging to him, giving his boy the impression that he was not allowed to have personal boundaries. That not making other people upset mattered more than making himself heard when they did something to make him uncomfortable.

There was the overfilled schedule that stole away the precious little time Adrien would have to find himself and just enjoy life before it was over all too quickly. Humans were such short-lived creatures, after all…

There were the regular akuma battles. And Hawk Moth. The constant danger they and Paris as a whole were constantly in.

And then there was this latest upset…Marinette’s “disappearance”.

It was…strange. He honestly didn’t know what to think.

Plagg had known that Marinette was Ladybug since Dark Owl. He’d gotten a good long laugh out of it, too. Later. Much later. Couldn’t let Adrien in on the joke too soon, after all.

Watching those two dance around each other became a whole new form of entertainment that it took everything he had at times to not burst out into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

It also had the other side effect of making him want to bang his head against a wall most days because his current wielder was so oblivious it was downright painful at times. It hurt when he watched the kid be so blind to how much she adored him. And then there were the instances where she all but TOLD him—gaah! He was starting to understand why humans loved romantic tripe so much. It wasn’t the ooey-gooey kiss-fests, it was the anticipation of when the people involved would finally get their heads straight so they could bonk lips the right way.

And wasn’t it just hilarious that both his kid and Tikki’s were pretty much their own rivals? Even their own worst enemies in keeping them from getting together? Well, hilarious and frustrating. It really depended on the day and the antics involved.

Of course, the other problem was that the antics involved had started to be other people.

Chloe was one thing. Adrien wasn’t interested but they were at least friends. Whatever feelings of affection she had could be tapered off and tempered with time. She would likely even try to support Adrien more if she knew. And the girl had…at least somewhat started to grow up. Ladybug was a surprisingly big help with that, given how much her civilian self was often on the receiving end of the other girl’s cruelty.

Kagami was…interesting. But really little better in the long run. Less antagonistic, sure. Not nearly as harsh or cruel. But she was just as aggressive and controlling, from her demands for a duel with Adrien and insistence on winning when they first met to talking over Adrien at the ice rink. He would grant that she at least respected him and didn’t infringe on his personal space, but she still saw his passivity for what it was and took it upon herself to step in on his behalf—or what she thought was his behalf at any rate. Adrien already had enough of that in his life. What he needed wasn’t someone to make his decisions for him, it was someone who would encourage him to make his own.

That was why he had been rooting for Marinette. Even if she hadn’t turned out to be Tikki’s newest bug, she would be good for him. She had dreams about him, certainly, but any of her plans seemed to at least involve taking his kid’s feelings into account. Whatever lengths she went to in order to get his attention were less about pushing him to go her way and more about just trying to push for a chance to go the same way together. It was endearing. A little cringy at times, but overall endearing. And it had seemed they were finally making progress after the Heroes Day incident. 

But then there was Lila…

Oh, he had a few choice words for Adrien after the whole Volpina incident. Blindly following the new hero over his own partner? Overlooking how downright impractical it was for her to take out a meteor that literally NOBODY saw coming before it reached the earth and was closing in on the city? Ignoring his partner’s very valid suspicions and writing her off as jealous for not wanting to trust a supposed ‘hero’ they only just met? FLIRTING WITH HER?!

Ladybug’s behavior towards Lila may have been harsh, but Adrien damn well KNEW better than to immediately take her word at face value. He’s been around socialites and the power-hungry ‘elite’ for Tikki’s sake! Best friends with Ladybug? Fox Miraculous? Descendant of the Fox user? Adrien actually KNEW Ladybug and about the Miraculous! How was he actually BUYING any of that? How did he not clue in that Lila was the reason his book was missing? And the way he looked so disappointed when Ladybug revealed the truth—to the point of being more upset with Ladybug for outing the girl rather than the girl for lying in the first place?

This kid was too kind and trusting for his own good. And it was probably going to be the death of Plagg just from the sheer stress of it all. Honestly, he could feel his fur thinning out because of it.

It seemed like it was a short lived problem since the girl left soon after. But then she came back. And worse than ever, being akumatized at least twice more since then. One of which involved putting Adrien in an enchanted sleep that Plagg only just got to avoid kissing him out of. The other which involved witnessing Adrien…disappearing in a way that Plagg was still having to try very VERY hard not to think about at risk of revisiting other less than pleasant memories thankyouverymuch!

It made one thing clear: Lila wasn’t just a pest. She was a threat. One he really wanted to see gone.

So it was really no surprise that Plagg wasn’t happy about his kid choosing the ‘moral high road’ in this situation, since the poor idiot didn’t understand what the high road was even supposed to be. It was so easy for him to say, especially since Adrien wasn’t the one really being affected by the lies.

No, it was clearly Marinette being affected, and she was also the one Lila seemed to have it out for since she, at least, was willing to call the other girl out on her lies. Adrien thought that staying quiet and keeping his head down was the best option because for him, that’s how any conflict was resolved. It was a bad habit that Plagg had been hoping to break him out of, but that progress was slow going. His passivity was too strong and only bolstered by his relentless optimism and belief in others as well as the way that others would tend to push him down.

Plagg sighed. The kid just didn’t get it. This class of serial liar and manipulator couldn’t be dealt with by letting her continue unopposed.

So he understood at least why the Ladybug girl had been so upset. And he even sympathized with her, he truly did. But she was the sort of person to meet a challenge head on, and if an attempt failed, she simply looked for another way to deal with it. She didn’t bow her head. She didn’t turn tail and run away. And though there was conflict and it was having an effect on her, things were hardly so bad as to warrant an extreme reaction.

Like say, having her civilian self “disappear”.

If he hadn’t known she was Ladybug, he would be confused. But with that knowledge of her identity…he was only more confused. He didn’t understand why she was pretending to be missing.

Had something happened?

Was she in danger?

Did someone discover her identity?

Sure, maybe being Ladybug full time might be more productive, but given how protective she was over her civilian life, he couldn’t see her simply giving it up if she didn’t have to.

He didn’t buy for a minute that she would simply pull a vanishing act for the hell of it, even if her classmates were being mind-numbingly stupid. He knew he’d said before that these people were blind, but to just automatically accept all those tales was sheer lunacy! They certainly deserved some sort of reprimand, but not by making them think their friend might be dead! And even if they did, she would never do it to them.

The girl took her role as Ladybug seriously. Other than a few missteps, she treated the title with all the caution and importance that it warranted. He’d met her in person as himself, and even had the chance to work with her. He could understand why Tikki felt it justifiable to reveal Fu to her. And as much as he wanted to think well of his kid, he couldn’t deny that of the two of them, she was the better suited for handling the secret and bearing the responsibility that came with it.

So what happened?

When he first discovered she was still out and about as Ladybug after hearing that initial report, he wanted to forcefully end the transformation and confront her outright. He even considered slipping away when Adrien was busy and tracking her down to get some answers. Because Plagg may be patient, but he really needed an explanation for this.

He stopped, feeling that tingling energy of a Cataclysm waiting to happen and realizing that he was getting worked up again. He took a breath and forced himself to calm.

Observe first, Plagg reminded himself. Stalk your target. Watch. Wait. Gather information before making a move. Something had to have happened to warrant such a drastic change. He needed to find out what was going on.

And if she was doing this for giggles?

They would be having words.

[chocoluckchipz]

Dance with Me, Chaton - 26

Read it on A03, WattPad, FF.net

Written for @ladynoirjuly2019

< Previous

26. Sacrifice

Something scratched at his door. Adrien cracked open one eye and shuffled out of the bed on autopilot. He slightly opened the door and almost jumped in his place when a black kitten slipped in, immediately jumping on his bed and curling in its middle.

“Where did you come from?” Adrien asked, glancing at the clock. Five in the morning.

“Whatever,” he murmured and crawled back under the blankets. The kitten curled against his side and started to purr. Adrien didn’t mind. He’d always wanted a cat but was never allowed. Turning to the side, he wrapped his arm around it, falling back asleep in seconds.

***

Something rubbed against his foot, a cold dot pressing into his sole. Adrien shivered and pulled his leg away. That something jumped on him, tiny feet scampering up his chest, proceeding to knead its paws at Adrien’s pecs all while purring like a steam engine.

Adrien opened his eyes. Oh! So, the kitten wasn’t a dream? A small, black kitten with green eyes.

“Good morning, little fellow.” With a smile, Adrien picked it up, cradling it in one hand. The kitten rubbed its head against Adrien’s other palm. In return, he obliged and petted it, scratching behind its ears, its chin, and eventually getting to its belly.

A knock on his door nearly sent him leaping from his skin.“Get up, sleeping beauty!” Plagg shouted from behind the door. “Breakfast is on the table.”

“Be right there,” Adrien answered and, putting the kitten aside, got out of the bed. “Where did you even come from?” he asked. “I don’t remember seeing you yesterday.”

The kitten meowed in response and followed Adrien to the bathroom, constantly rubbing at his feet. Ten minutes later, the two of them appeared in the kitchen.

“Oh, there you are.” Plagg glanced at the kitten. “I was wondering where she’d gone to.”

“Is it yours?”

“It’s a she and her name is Cheesecake,” Plagg said, putting two plates on a table. “Tikki dropped by and brought her along. She’s staying at Marinette’s tonight, and her place isn’t equipped for a kitten. This one is, so Cheesecake is camping with us until tomorrow.”

“Tikki’s been here?”

“She left ten minutes ago,” Plagg said, motioning Adrien to the table. “Just checked in on me and brought us some food.”

“So, she knows I’m here, then?”

“She figured that much.”

“And is she okay with that? I mean she’s probably on Marinette’s side and—”

“And she understands. Not thrilled, but I told her your side of the story, and she agreed to turn a blind eye on what I do behind her back for now. But you’d better sort this out, kid, or I’ll be living here permanently. With Cheesecake, since she’s my kitten.”

Adrien sighed, sitting down. “Sorry. I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”

Plagg shrugged, joining him the table. “If I were in trouble, we wouldn’t be eating my Queen’s cooking right now, but we are. You’re in trouble; I am not. Tikki has her own charge with her own issues, so she understands. Now, shut up and eat while it’s hot.”

Adrien couldn’t help but let a smile tug at his lips. “Yes, Sir.”

They spent the breakfast making small talk. Nothing serious, nothing grave. However, once the last of the food was done, Plagg asked. "So, what're your plans for today?"

“A visit with my father,” Adrien said.

Plagg rested his chin on his arm, propped up on a table. “Oh? What for?”

"I cost Marinette her job. I need to fix that."

“I don’t think she’d want that job back,” Plagg hummed. “Not while that jerk is heading that company, anyway.”

“I know,” Adrien echoed. “I had something else in mind.”

“Like?”

“Father could write an excellent recommendation letter and send it out to other fashion houses. They’re always on the lookout for new talents, and I’m sure with Marinette’s portfolio and a recommendation from M Gabriel Agreste himself, she’d have multiple offers in no time.”

Plagg quirked an eyebrow. “How are you going to do that? Not that I’m doubting your abilities, but—”

“Plagg.” Adrien looked him straight into the eyes. “I think it’s time I put to practice everything you’ve taught me these past few weeks. You’ve pushed me way beyond my comfort zone, and in doing that, showed me that I'm capable of things I've never thought possible. You've also shown me that standing up for myself isn't that bad or hard and would only benefit me. So, thank you, Plagg. Thanks to you, I can handle him now. I know I can.”

Plagg’s lips stretched into a grin. “There you go, kid. A little self-esteem and courage that you needed. You’re improving.”

“Thank you.” Adrien bowed his head with a chuckle. “Oh, great and powerful master of destruction… By the way, why do you put ‘Master of Destruction’ on your business cards? I haven’t noticed you destroying anything.”

Plagg laughed. “The chains, Adrien. The chains. I destroy the shackles my students have around them, or rather I enable them to do it for themselves.”

Adrien chuckled. “Well, in that case, I’d say you’ve succeeded.”

“Did you doubt me, kid? I am a Master.”

Adrien wondered. “Do all instructors in Kwami Kave have titles like that?”

“Yup. Tikki, for example, is a Master of creation. She helps her students to create a new future for themselves, a future they want, not the one they’ve been dealt with. Don’t ask me about the rest. Can’t tell you now. You haven’t met them yet.”

“I haven’t met Tikki.”

“You know about her. That’s close enough. But—" Plagg leaned back into his chair. “—better tell me, what are you going to do regarding yourself and your father? You aren’t staying with them, are you?”

“Nope. I’m walking away and keeping my head high while at it. Just like you said,” Adrien responded.

“Good plan. I like it.”

“Should’ve done it years ago,” Adrien said, his eyes focused on Cheesecake on his lap. “But he always managed to calm me down and convince me to stay.”

"He's gone too far this time if you ask me."

“He has.” Adrien nodded. “He’s crossed all lines in hurting Marinette, so I’m walking away. After I get her justice.”

“I wonder how you’ll do that.”

“I didn’t get my Masters in Business for nothing, Plagg,” Adrien said. “I know my legal rights and options, and your questioning me yesterday about my part of Gabriel shares gave me an idea. I just need to visit a few places and make a couple of calls, and with everything that’s been going on with Gabriel, I say I have a pretty great bargaining chip in my hands to get anything I want.”

Plagg grinned and gave Adrien thumbs up. “Go get your freedom, kid. Avenge your woman, while you are at it.”

“Will do,” Adrien smiled, standing up. “Thanks for hosting me last night. It really helped.”

“About that…” Plagg cocked his head to the side, crossing his arms over his chest. “What do you say, you deal with your asshole father and Marinette’s new job today, and tomorrow we’ll take a train and get away for a few days?”

“Like a mini vacation?”

“Yup. We both need it, and I have a perfect place for that.”

Adrien hesitated. Getting away right now sounded kind of nice but…

“I wanted to be here when Marinette would be ready to hear me out.”

“Tikki said she needs at least a few more days. We’ll be back by then.”

Adrien fell quiet. That’s right. Plagg talked to Tikki. She probably told him what was going on with Marinette. “How is she?” he asked.

"Still upset and heartbroken, but Tikki said she's been re-reading your messages closer to the evening. So, it seems she’s starting to think about it. Now, prove your words with actions, and I bet she’ll give you a chance to talk.”

Adrien could barely withhold a smile, his chest full of hope and happiness. Marinette had read his messages! She didn’t block him. He had a chance. Determined, he grinned. “Then I’d better get to it.”

“You’d better.” Plagg chuckled. “Break a leg, kid. Preferably your father’s, not yours. You need it for tonight’s training.”

“Will do.” Adrien saluted him. “See you later, Plagg.”

***

Chat Noir: This cat is off to Hawkmoth’s Lair to seek justice. Wish me luck. I’ll need it.

***

All Gabriel did when Adrien entered the room without an invitation was to quirk an eyebrow.

“Nathalie told me you were alone, so I didn’t think you’d mind a visit from your son,” Adrien said, settling in a chair across Gabriel. “How are you, Father?”

Gabriel straightened and leaned back into his chair, putting his pen on a desk. “I don’t appreciate being interrupted, Adrien, nor do I like the arrogant tone of your voice.”

“Then I guess you won't like what I’m about to tell you either.”

“And what is that?”

Adrien let a few seconds slip as a smirk appeared on his lips. He crossed his leg over the other and continued, watching Gabriel carefully. “It’s against the law to monitor your employees’ personal emails and communications. You admitted to having Marinette and my private interaction history for the past few weeks on your table.”

Gabriel puffed. “And?”

Adrien continued. “To fire an employee—”

“I didn’t fire her,” Gabriel stated coldly. “She quit. We’ve been over this.”

“I beg to differ,” Adrien said, his face just as emotionless as Gabriel’s. “There are security cameras all over this building, including this office.”

The light panic on Gabriel’s face, as short as it was, was delightful to watch. Adrien pressed on.

“I already paid a visit to security to make sure the footage from yesterday is safe and protected. Shall I continue with the official protocol to fire an employee?”

“I gave her an offer.” Gabriel seethed through his teeth. “She made her choice. I didn’t fire her.”

“You offered her to be fired with such recommendations she’d never find another job in the industry or sign a resignation,” Adrien stated as a matter of fact. “That’s a threat and punishable by the law.”

Gabriel pressed his lips together.

“You also accused her of things like extortion, emotional abuse, and theft without any evidence.”

“I had the victim’s testimony!”

“I wouldn’t believe a single word of that compulsive liar and a bully. Did Lila give you any evidence to prove her words?”

Gabriel stared at Adrien in silence.

“Innocent until proven guilty,” Adrien said. “You had no right to fire her without proving her guilt first.” Gabriel remained silent. Adrien continued. “To fire an employee you have to notify them ahead of time by a mandatary registered letter and arrange a meeting for negotiations. You did none of those.”

“I’m not rehiring that slut back,” Gabriel barked.

Adrien suppressed a growl, staring at Gabriel. “Why would Marinette want her job back? She’d be treated much better at any other company. Though, a compensation which the law requires of you would be prudent.”

Gabriel’s lips went white from the way he was forcing them together. He silently stared at Adrien for a few moments; then snarled. “She’s entitled to 1/5 of her yearly salary, notice period and vacation pay. I’ll get Nathalie—”

“I wasn’t done," Adrien said, standing up. "Work and labour regulations state that if the dismissal was unfair, the employee is entitled to a minimum of six months’ salary with no maximum depending on the circumstances. You’ve not only fired her unfairly in the cruellest of ways, but you also threatened and insulted her with absurd, false accusations. Therefore, five years’ worth of paychecks, including notice period and vacation pay should be enough.”

“You’re insane!” Gabriel growled, standing up. “I’ll never—”

“She’d also need a glowing letter of recommendation. Be as nice as possible, father.”

“Or what?” Gabriel fumed. “You can’t do anything to make me—”

"I can," Adrien stated, his posture straight and confident. “Did you forget that I own forty percent of your company’s shares?”

“So, what? You have no power whatsoever!”

“I don’t think so,” Adrien countered. “I just got off the phone with our investors. In the light of the recent events, they are concerned about your mental stability and capacity to lead Gabriel .”

“What?” Gabriel stared at Adrien in shock. “You aren’t seriously doing this.”

“I am,” Adrien said. “The time has come for you to focus on your health instead of heading such a big, troublesome company, father. You're not the man you used to be. You started threatening, firing and insulting your employees. Your actions in this past month alone tanked Gabriel’s reputation and stocks. People are leaving without notice. Not just designers either. People from other departments, loyal employees who’ve been with Gabriel for years are resigning. There is no job security anymore. No pride in their work. They’re abandoning this sinking ship caused by your actions and your unpredictability. You hiring a talentless, lying bully instead of a loyal, hardworking designer with an unprecedented talent alone caused us a few employees to leave. Look around you, father. You are destroying Gabriel .”

The muscles on Gabriel’s neck twitched as he stopped caring about keeping composure and spat, “You little brat. You wouldn’t side with them. You’re my son. You do what I say!”

“This time, I’ll do what’s best for the company,” Adrien seether through his teeth. “And right now it means removing you from it.”

“You little—”

“I’d think twice about saying anything else,” Adrien said, his voice low as he leaned against the table. “I’m not taking it anymore from you, and if you make me angry, I might change my mind about giving you a choice.”

It took him a few moments but, understanding he had little options, Gabriel cursed and seethed through his teeth. “What do you want?”

Adrien straightened and continued. “A five years’ worth of compensation for Marinette for unfair dismissal and an impressive recommendation letter for her to be sent out by the end of the day, upon my approval. Law-defined compensations and glowing recommendations to all other people who want to leave as well. All hiring and firing from now on to be handled strictly by the HR department. You’re a designer. You should stick to that. As for my freedom, I’m no longer asking for it. I’m taking it and walking out of here.  Your choice, though, if I walk out of here peacefully, or I bring you down with me.”

His breathing visibly laboured, Gabriel gripped at his table. “So, you’ve finally got the balls to threaten me?” He scoffed. “And for whom? For a lowly—”

“Don’t you dare to finish that sentence,” Adrien hissed. “Marinette’s worth more than your pinky would ever be.”

“She’s a manipulative bitch,” Gabriel snarled. “Look at what she did to you. You’re threatening your family!”

“Look who’s talking,” Adrien barked back. “As if you haven’t manipulated and threatened me for my whole life.”

“I did what’s best for you!”

“You did what was best for you !” Adrien growled. “But I’m not you, and I don’t want to live a life you chose for me. I want my own life, and I want to be my own person! How hard is it for you to understand?”

“Get out!” Gabriel seethed through his teeth. “Get out of my office. You are a no son of mine!”

“As soon as I receive what I came here for.”

“You’ll have everything in two hours,” Gabriel said with the coldest voice Adrien had yet to hear from him. “And I want you out of my apartment by the end of the day.” Adrien raised an eyebrow as Gabriel laughed maniacally. “ I bought that apartment. For my son. You aren’t him.”

A few moments of silence passed as the pair stared at each other, after which Adrien turned away, ready to leave. “If I don’t have everything by five o'clock, you'll be replaced as the head of Gabriel next week. Don’t pull any tricks, father or I sell my shares to the public, and then you’ll never get control over this company ever again.”

With his head high, Adrien walked away. He briefly visited Mme Bustier to get a copy of Marinette’s resume and her portfolio and headed to his apartment to pack. He didn’t take much. A suitcase full of essentials and a few items with sentimental value. His mother's picture. Marinette's lucky charm. That t-shirt she slept in.  

Adrien: Do you think I can crash at your place for a few more days?

Plagg: What happened?

Adrien: Sacrifices were necessary. I’m homeless for the time being.

Plagg: I’m ordering pizza. You’re paying. Don’t forget my Camembert. I’m charging two wheels a day for rent.

Adrien chuckled, looking at Plagg’s message. That glutton and his Camembert obsession. With a smile on his lips, he replied.

Adrien: Deal. I’ll be there in a few.

_______________________________________________________________________

Next >

[minetteenfers]

Marichat May Day 7: Roommates

**warning** There are mentions of life altering injuries within this piece.

@marichatmay

Chat sat on the couch beside Marinette as they watched a movie. He stole glances at her throughout the film. His gaze fell to her hand that was resting between them, often. He licked his lips and stared at the movie as he slowly inched his hand closer to hers.

They had been friends for so long. Had been living together for the past month due to her needing help paying her rent. He had dropped by, as he usually did after long akuma fights, and had found her crying with a piece of paper in her hand. Once she had admitted that she didn’t have enough to afford to live on her own, he offered to move in with her. She didn’t know who he truly was and when he had first seen her room, he was shocked to say the least. Photos upon photos of his secret identity layered her walls. An identity that she couldn’t know about. He locked his bedroom door at all times and they had rules to prevent her from finding out.

He bit his bottom lip as he skirted his pinky over hers. He felt her flinch and look over at him. Chat quickly moved his hand and brought it to the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Marinette. I didn’t realize your hand was there.” He awkwardly laughed and watched her blush fade.

“Y-yeah. Honest mistake. You know… with all of the- I mean with the small couch and mall- ALL.” Marinette corrected herself and internally cringed.

Chat laughed and smiled at her. “This movie got bad reviews didn’t it?”

“Yeah. Because they didn’t portray his illness enough.” Marinette sighed as she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

“Ah. Well, it does seem to glaze over it.” Chat shrugged and leaned back with an arm along the back of the couch.

“I don’t think the illness is the focus. I mean, think about it. If you died from an illness… would you want a movie that focused on that instead of all of the good things in your life?” Marinette peered over at him and he thought for a moment.

“You know… that’s a good point. Why focus on a disease and not about the other things about a person?” Chat smiled over at her and a blush came to his cheeks as she spoke.

“A person is more than a disease. Just because someone is sick or different… doesn’t mean that we should focus on that. Having an illness or a disability doesn’t make someone any less human.”  Marinette sighed and relaxed against the couch. “So, I get why the movie didn’t focus on it.”

Chat stared at her with parted lips and then smiled as he focused on what she was saying.  Marinette worried her bottom lip as she glanced over at him from her periferal. “Anyway, I’m going to get a drink. Want a drink?” Marinette hit her thighs with her palms and stood up.

“Sure.” Chat smiled at her and watched her walk towards the kitchen. “I’ll be right back.”

Marinette nodded and Chat got up from the couch. He walked to his bedroom and produced a key from his pocket. He took a deep breath and peered at Marinette to make sure that she wasn’t looking. She was busy grabbing cups down from a cabinet, so he opened his bedroom door and slipped inside. He shut it behind him and stared at the one thing in the room that he hated with a passion. The one thing that he resented and wanted to get rid of. He hated it and if being Chat kept him from having to use it, he’d stay as his alter ego all day and night.  But Plagg often got tired from holding him up for so long.

Chat sighed, locked the door, and sat down in the wheelchair that was beside his bed.  He dropped transformation and rested his elbow on the arm as Plagg tumbled through the air. It had been an accident, one that made the headlines despite how much money his father paid to try to erase it. To erase how he had been injured in a car accident and become paralyzed from the waist down. Plagg was able to fix his situation and he owed the little God the world.

“Rest up so I can go back out there, Plagg.” His voice sounded weak as he sat in his chair with his cheek rested on his fist. His expression was unamused as he ran his fingernail along his designer jeans.

“Yeah, yeah, Kid. I don’t know why you don’t just tell the girl.” Plagg rolled his eyes as he grabbed camembert from a secret stash.

“I hate this.” Adrien complained as he stared down at his legs. “Why did this have to happen to me?”

“It’s not your fault, kid.” Plagg shoved cheese into his mouth. “Look at it this way, at least you’re alive. Plus, you’re living with your best friend.”

“But I’m living a lie, Plagg.” Adrien sighed as a knock sounded on his door. “Hurry up and inhale that.”

Plagg rolled his eyes and shoved another piece of camembert into his mouth; before, Adrien spoke his transformation words. “Hang on! I’ll meet you out there!” Chat called out and stood up from the chair, testing his legs by tapping his steel toed boot on the ground. He breathed out, finding it stable.

“You can’t hide this forever.” Plagg sighed in his head and Chat shook his in disagreement.

“I can. If she knew? She wouldn’t want me, Plagg. I love her. She can’t find out. She wouldn’t accept it.” Chat sadly spoke as he cleared his throat and opened his bedroom door to slip out. He locked the door and walked over to Marinette with a smile.

“I didn’t know which drink to make. So I made you both.” She smiled as she held up two cups and Chat took them with a warm smile.

They walked back to the couch and sat down beside one another. Chat set one of his cups down and brought the other to his lips.

Marinette peered down at her cup of tea. “I um… I was wondering.”

Chat became nervous as he took a sip of the coffee. “What about?”

“Ho- How come you can see my room and I can’t see yours? I mean- that’s probably stupid.” Marinette rolled her eyes at herself and awkwardly laughed. “With the whole superhero thing… nevermind.”

“I’m scared.” Chat’s hand trembled as he held the cup in his hands.

“Scared?” Marinette raised an eyebrow at him and put her teacup in her lap. “Why? Why would you be scared?”

 “That when you find out… you won’t want to live with me anymore.” Chat looked away from her and hid behind his cup. “That I’ll be seen as a burden to you.”

Marinette took his cup from him and sat it down with her own. “Why would you think that, Chaton?”

Chat worried his bottom lip and shook his head. “I’d rather you just know me like this. A PAWsome friend that is enjoying his time with you.” He smiled to hide the pain and she sighed.

She touched his leg and Chat noticed how he couldn’t feel it. He longed to, but it felt like nothing. There was no warmth, just fuzziness like they had fallen asleep, and it hurt him. Plagg had never explained how it worked. How when he was Chat, he was able to walk but he wasn’t complaining. It was his moment of freedom. His moment of solace from the pain. He would get phantom pains from time to time, but was able to hide it behind the fact that it was normal aches and pains from being a hero of Paris.

Marinette rubbed his leg and searched his broken peridot eyes. “You know you can tell me anything. Anything at all and I won’t judge you. If you need help… I’ll….”

Chat took her hand off his leg and stood up. “I don’t need help. I can do things for myself.” He snapped at her and walked to his bedroom again. He opened his door without caring if she saw what was inside.

Marinette caught a glimpse of something beside his bed as he slammed his door shut and her mouth fell open. She brought her hand to her lips and sat back against the couch, closing her hand into a fist. She shook it off. It didn’t matter to her. She didn’t care. He was her best friend and the one thing that mattered.

She stood up and cleared her throat to knock on his door. “Chat? I- I didn’t mean to look, but-”

“I know.” Adrien ran his hand through his hair as he sat in his wheelchair and talked towards his locked door. “I know you saw and I know what you’re thinking. Poor man. He was so perfect before. Now this happened. Blah,  blah, blah… His career is ruined. His father abandoned him. What ever will he do?” Adrien spoke with his hand and Marinette shook her head and placed her palm on the closed door.

“No. That’s not true.” She sighed and pressed her forehead to his door. “I thought about how strong you are to live with that burdan. I thought about how scary it would be to suddenly lose the ability to walk. How hard it would be to deal with it.”

“It’s- it’s not that bad. I’m used to it now.” Adrien ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not a pretty life, but it’s mine nonetheless. I don’t have a choice. This is who I am. I can’t put this burden on you. Being Chat makes it easier. I can walk and be myself. Save the world.”

“You don’t need to be Chat to save the world. Chat doesn’t make you a hero.” Marinette tried to open the door, finding it locked. “Please let me in.”

Adrien looked at Plagg and transformed again. He tried to push himself up from his chair, but found that he still couldn’t walk. “Plagg.” He cursed under his breath at the little kwami.

Chat sighed and punched the arm of the wheelchair with his hand and gave up. He grabbed the wheels and began pushing them to move over to his door. He unlocked it and backed up to open the door. “My kwami apparently wanted you to see me like this.”

Marinette peered at him and suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t pity me. I don’t want to be pitied.” Chat sighed and felt her tremble in his arms.

“I’m not pitying you.” Marinette sniffed as she pulled away from him. “I’m sad that you felt like you couldn’t tell me about this. That you felt like you had to hide it from me.”

“I mean… it’s a bit more obvious as to who I am if you saw me like this.” Chat sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “More so for you.”

“Chat. You could be anyone. I still have no idea…” Marinette looked around his room and found photos of Adrien with his mother in frames and on his three monitors.

Chat turned his chair around to follow her gaze. “Is it really that hard to figure out, Marinette?”

“No. I- I mean Adrien Agreste isn’t the only person to have your disability.” Marinette spoke in a quiet tone.

“But he’s the only one that you know of.” Chat sighed as he peered down at his legs.

“So, could you feel when I touched your legs earlier?” Marinette worried about offending him. She didn’t want to hurt him more, but the curiosity got to her.

Chat sighed and he peered at her with saddened eyes as he shook his head. “No. Not really. I may be able to walk as Chat, normally.” He inwardly cursed at himself. “But I can’t feel your fingers on my legs and it kills me.”

Marinette became shocked by his confession.  “Kills you?”

Chat suddenly swallowed hard as he realized what had come out of his mouth. “I mean- um…” He awkwardly chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Can we start over on that?”

“No. I want to hear why.” Marinette pressed him further and he sighed.

“I miss your touch.” Chat sighed and Marinette warmly smiled.

“I don’t have to just touch your legs, Minou.” Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him harder. “There is much more to love and hug about you. Your legs don’t define you. This disability doesn’t define you.”

“The media seems to think so.” Chat peered away from her and she held him at arms length.

“So? Who cares what the media says? They say a lot about me too and I don’t listen to it. You need to get out and get some fresh air.” Marinette smiled and walked over to open his black curtains. The sun shined through and made his suit shine. “Come on. We’re going out.”

“I can’t go out like this. Chat is supposed to be brave and strong and walking on two legs, which Plagg is keeping me from.” Chat scolded his kwami as he glared at his lap.

Marinette walked back over to him and placed her hands on the arms of his chair with her back arched. “I don’t want to walk with my kitty. I want to walk with the real hero beneath the mask. So, drop it and let’s go.”

Chat swallowed hard and worried his bottom lip as Plagg forced himself from the ring.

“About time!” Plagg stretched and zipped up, landing on Marinette’s shoulder.

Marinette peered at Adrien with a warm smile and saw how insecure he looked. How he played with his ring and hid inside himself. She touched his chin and brought his gaze up to hers. “I didn’t fall for your body, for your perfection, for your walk. I fell in love with how nice you are, with how you see the good in everyone regardless of how mean they are. I fell in love with the puns and jokes. I fell in love with the way that you see life as this giant adventure. I fell in love with your warm smile. With your way of looking up. I fell in love with your soul, Adrien. I don’t care about what the media says. I don’t care about the fact that you can’t walk without help. It’s not what defines you.”

Tears fell from Adrien’s eyes as he peered up at her. “I don’t deserve you.”

Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her onto his lap. “You deserve to be happy. There are many many more amazing qualities about you. This is just one. Don’t let it take over.”

Adrien nodded and he touched her chin as he peered into her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault. Nothing is your fault.” Marinette softly spoke and he closed the gap between them.

She parted her lips and he deepened the kiss. Adrien broke the kiss to press his forehead against hers. “I would still feel better going for a walk as Chat Noir.”

“Alright.” Marinette stood up and closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” Adrien peered up at her and suddenly covered his eyes as the red light took her over, leaving Ladybug in its wake.

“Then I’ll go as Ladybug.” She held her hand out to him and he transformed back to Chat.

She watched him grip the arms and stand up on shaky legs. He took her hand and tested his stability, finding that he could walk again. “We’re a team, remember. We stick together. We work together as a unit. Your burdens are mine and mine are yours. If you fall, I catch you. If I fall..”

“I catch you.” Chat smirked at her as he took his staff from his back.

“Exactly, Kitty.” Ladybug smirked at him and he touched her cheek with his palm.

“I love you to the end and back.” Chat sighed as he leaned down to capture her lips with his own.

“I love you too.” Ladybug smiled up at him and pulled her yo-yo from her hip.

Song I wrote this to:

[spideydaddyboy]

The Red Sweatshirt P1

Hey everyone! So I know I haven’t been active lately on this fic and I decided to repost it closer to the second part I am posting just a few minutes after this. If you are new to the fic:

Post Hawkmoths defeat

Aged up 16-17

This was supposed to be a one shot between Marinette and Adrien, but instead of the fluff I was going for it turned into some angst! I wrote that first part around the time I created this blog, and then about a few months ago decided to rewrite the entire thing and add chapters and details to it! 

My writing is trash but enjoy!

(LINKS OF NEXT PART DOWN BELOW)

~

Hawkmoth was gone and Marinette was back to being Marinette. There was no need for Ladybug and Chat Noir anywhere. Even for the little crimes, Chat wouldn’t show up. Luckily Marinette could rely on her other partners, Queen Bee and Rena Rogue, or else she’d be drowning in petty thefts and robberies all day long. Even so, she held an emptiness without her leather clad partner, incomplete; and she hated it. When Master Fu had relayed the choice Chat Noir had made, it stung that he didn’t feel he could confide in Ladybug. Even though she couldn’t understand the base of his decision, she did understand one thing-Chat Noir wanted nothing to do with Ladybug anymore.

“Tikki,” Marinette murmured, her kwami flew from her hiding spot to rest on her holders knuckles. “Do...do you think it’s time for me to give up my miraculous? Give them back to Master Fu?

The red spotted bug looked concerned, “no not yet. You never know when Paris might need you against another super villain! And maybe-!”

“Wouldn’t it have already happened by now? It has been nearly a year and a half since we’ve defeated Hawkmoth and nothing big has happened! Chat Noir obviously gave his miraculous back-”

“You don’t know that Mari!”

“-so what’s the point of keeping mine?”

The bluenette yanked open the trap door leading up to her balcony and marched outside, the humid summer air and a light sprinkle of warm air washed over her face, “where could he be Tikki?” She whispered, an ache throbbed in her chest and she feared she was suffering from a breaking heart.

“If it makes you feel any better Marinette...he hasn’t given up his miraculous...I can sense it and he’s closer than you think.”

The dusk began to settle over Paris like a dark cloud, like Marinette’s grief settled over her heart. The loss of a hero, a partner, and a friend. Taking down Hawkmoth was supposed to be a joyous victory for Ladybug and Chat Noir, but it seemed to benefit them the least.

“Tikki,” Marinette whispered as her tears began to mix with the rain on her lips. “Spots on..”

~

“Adrien?” Natalie called through a closed door, “would you like to run to the Dupain-Cheng’s bakery with me? I am picking up some croissants and you can get those macaroons you like so much as well!”

A muffled response strained through the thick wood, “...when?”

“In about twenty minutes or so...would you like to go?” Natalie gave an eager and hopeful reply, “your friend Marinette, you could visit her, Sabine mentioned she misses you.”

Adrien sat up on his bed and blinked in the darkness of his bedroom, “she said that?”

“Well y-yes-”

“No did Marinette actually say that?” He ran pale slender fingers through his choppy blonde hair.

“Um...Sabine-”

“Then no.”

Natalie became frantic, her voice strangled and clipped, “she also mentioned Marinette’s been miserable with Alya’s internship taking up all their time to spend together, she’s stuck in her room all day, just like you-” a pause as Natalie bit her tongue at her word choice. “I-it sounds like you could both use a friend right now.” She recovered.

The model mulled over his decision as he absentmindedly rubbed his ring out of habit. Plagg gesticulated wildly and swung his arms at the door, but Adrien only shook his head as of to say ‘not right now’. He had left his friends so sudden, of course they had to have understood, he was now related to Super Villain numéro un of Paris. Before, Adrien had been aching to get out of his house, to do new things and meet new people, and he did. He met Nino, Marinette and Alya, his best friends. He had met Ladybug, the love of his life, but now that the world knew of his families freshest secret wound, he had yet to leave his house publically. Of course he’d have Nino over every once in awhile, and he still modeled for his father’s dying brand, but other than that he’d become a household mystery. Adrien Agreste; boy turned ghost.

“You gotta get out and do something kid…” Plagg patted the blonde’s cheek and hid behind his mound of fresh camembert.

“What was that Adrien?” Natalie strained to hear through the door and startled him.

Small green eyes peeked over and stared into Adrien’s, “just give me a minute Natalie and I will meet you downstairs.”

~

Ladybug was soaked from the rain as she swung rooftop to rooftop, aimlessly searching for something she knew she wouldn’t find. With every slap of her feet on concrete, it reverberated through her bones, and numbed the pain she was already feeling. Out of subconscious she found herself at the Agreste mansion, and stared at the huge cold structure that haunted her nightmares. She could see it now, that day that she had discovered Gabriel Agreste’s secret. Her, Alya, and Nino had been over for a group assignment. Although it had been decided Mr. Agreste was off the suspects list, Rena Rogue had thought differently. Marinette had gotten a call from Rena, and since Alya had gone to the bathroom prompting a hold on the project, Marinette found it appropriate to take the call outside the hall. The fox rambled about a secret room in Gabriel’s study and told Ladybug to get over there ASAP. Marinette checked to see if the group had kept working on the project but Alya was still taking her time in the restroom as usual.

When she had joined her other partner in the dark eerie viewpoint, she had called on Chat Noir, but he had missed her call, so she left a message. Their investigation didn’t last long as Gabriel(as Hawkmoth) discovered them, and seeing the love of her life’s already cold father as the number one super villain in Paris made her stomach turn over. A battle ensued to which Chat Noir and Queen Bee joined, rather annoyingly late. It was in the final moments that Ladybug sensed a vulnerability in Gabriel Agreste she had never seen before, in an exchange between him and Chat Noir. A flash of remorse, guilt, maybe, but only for a moment as he ripped the ring off of Chat Noirs finger with a sickening crack. Chat’s transformation dropped, but all Ladybug could see was red, the red of her yoyo wrapping around Hawkmoths neck and slamming him into the ground where he levitated. The brooch was easy to take from the limp fashion mogul and it was over. Ladybug felt light, but when she turned to share the victory with her partner, he was gone.

The slam of a door woke Ladybug from her daydream, and below she watched as Natalie made her way to the iconic silver Agreste car from her early lycée memories. Behind her shuffled Adrien, dressed in a bright red sweatshirt with the hood flipped up and covering his golden hair. It had felt like forever since she had seen her crush, but instead of a flutter of the heart, a pang of guilt stabbed her in the stomach. As if he had sensed her sudden ache, he turned his eyes up to where she stood on the rooftop over, green met blue. They stood there for what seemed like forever, but was only a couple of seconds. Natalie called Adrien to the car and with a tight face he turned away, a similar feeling piercing his side as he slid into the  car. When he looked back through the gate to his partner, she was gone.

Part 1  Part 2

[j-esbian]

red sky in the morning

I wrote this for the sky zine, my first project with p:ml!! we’re finally allowed to post our pieces separately but if you haven’t already you should go check it out bc a lot of other people worked on it too and it looks great.

Words: 2101

on ao3

Marinette woke with an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Without being able to explain why, and before she could second-guess the instinct, she suited up, wandering restlessly over rooftops. It was the middle of the night, and all was still—or at least, as still as it got in Paris. The streets were fairly empty, and stragglers few; though the city of light continued to glow, it seemed almost deserted. But despite its stillness, Ladybug found a familiar silhouette in the distance.

Chat Noir sat cross-legged at the top of the Eiffel Tower, casting a long shadow on the sidewalk far, far below. He was staring ponderously up at the night sky, and as Ladybug landed beside him, he stretched his arms as if awakening from a nap.

“Good evening, chaton,” Ladybug said curiously.

“Good evening,” he replied. He seemed subdued, and looked at her as if he was coming out of some kind of trance. He turned his head and patted beside him. She sat down. “The moon is unusually bright tonight, don’t you think?”

“Are you sure it’s not a star?” Ladybug teased.

He’d once confessed that while he’d lived in the city his whole life, he had a habit of stargazing—or rather, trying to stargaze. On boring patrols they sometimes made a game of it, with Ladybug pointing out a pinprick of light in the sky and Chat arguing for its identity as a star, until it moved, or flashed, or shone a different color, giving itself away as an airplane or a satellite.

“Ah, but the brightest star in Paris tonight is you, my Lady,” he teased back, a wide grin on his face as he brushed his shoulder against hers.

His teeth looked unsettlingly sharp and unnaturally white, with the lights from the tower illuminating him from below. With the odd pattern of shadows laid across his face, Ladybug almost didn’t recognize her partner.

She ignored his flirting, as always, and asked, “What are you doing out so late?”

“I should ask you the same.” He squinted back up at the sky. “Couldn’t sleep?”

She hesitated. “Something like that. You?”

He nodded. “I usually like to go for a walk. Clear my head. Something feels… weird, though.”

“You feel it, too?” she asked, relieved. “I can’t explain it, but something just told me I needed to... get out. To be here.”

He nodded again. “Yeah… Like, this pull from my stomach. And everything looks and feels strange… Maybe we’re asleep. Maybe we’re both sharing some weird dream.” He trailed off into silence. Then, “So, to answer my question… does the moon seem different to you?”

Ladybug lowered herself onto her back and stared up at the sky. It was its usual dark gray, a combination of clouds directly above them, trailing down into the haze of light at the horizon.

A stiff breeze whipped around them suddenly, and they both sat up, wary

“Weird,” Chat murmured. His hair whipped around his face as he sniffed the air apprehensively. “I didn't think it was supposed to storm at all this week.”

Ladybug followed his gaze and saw that a few large, dark masses, carried by the wind, were rapidly converging overhead. Stormclouds. They could already hear the faint rumble of thunder.

The stormclouds began to grow, and in the darkness it wasn't clear what was going on. They seemed to have been pulled toward one central spot, and they crashed together overhead. Darkness rippled outwards at the edges as they combined into one huge, solid mass. And then it continued to grow.

Chat realized with horror that it was descending on them, and he tried to get away. He only succeeded in pushing Ladybug a meter or two from where she had originally been before he felt something strange, like thousands of feathers brushing over his body, and his feet lifted from the ground. He called out for his partner and felt her arm slide through his hand, but then her fingers gripped tightly to his. Any sound was drowned out by the deafening roar that surrounded them, a million pieces of paper rustling in the breeze.

And then, just as suddenly, they fell, tumbling to the ground again. They just barely managed to twist around and land on their feet, hands reaching for their weapons, when they saw… their savior, presumably. A masked figure in green fought the cloud that had enveloped them, bringing it down to earth and attacking it with a bo staff. As they tore chunks away, Chat and Ladybug realized with a sudden chill that it wasn’t some kind of sentient storm cloud, after all; it was made up of thousands of black butterflies.

Akumas.

The two heroes rushed over to help the other figure; their ally, for now. Figuring out who this stranger was could wait until after the more immediate danger was defeated.

As they approached, though, they watched the person in green slam their bo staff into the ground. From the point of impact, a web of cracks splintered across the pavement until it had created a circle underneath the mob of butterflies. They yanked their staff back up, and earth exploded from the cracks, pelting the butterflies with dust and pebbles and clods of dirt that were enough to buffet their delicate wings and bring a fair amount of them down. The rest fluttered away in retreat.

Ladybug and Chat drew level with the stranger, who was turning toward them now, but before Ladybug could utter the “Thank you” that danced on the tip of her tongue, the stranger staggered forward, and she surged forward to catch them. Their bo staff clattered to the ground, and Chat scooped it up, offering it back to the stranger once Ladybug had steadied them. They accepted it gratefully and stood up, leaning on the staff like a cane, and began walking away. They spoke for the first time, in a hoarse voice. “Follow me.”

Chat and Ladybug looked at each other, then at the figure hobbling away, then back at each other. But after one unpleasant experience that night, their guard was already up, and Chat shrugged, pointing his head toward their retreating savior. Ladybug nodded. An explanation would be wonderful. And so they followed.

She laced her fingers into Chat’s after a few blocks, for suddenly they were being led through darker and darker streets, and she had no such advantage as night vision to guide her. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and they both picked up their pace; as unsteadily as their guide seemed to be walking, it was fast.

Soon, they arrived at a narrow alley, and the figure stopped in front of an unmarked door, gesturing for Chat and Ladybug to enter. Ladybug gripped his hand tightly, and Chat reached for his baton, while Ladybug used her free hand to swing the door open.

They stepped inside and blinked in surprise. Overhead lights flickered on and illuminated a small, comfortable kitchen. The stranger stepped in behind them and shut the door, engaging three different locks in a rather complicated process. When they were done, they smiled up at the heroes and said, “Please, follow me,” before walking through the room’s only other exit.

The following hallway was dark and just wide enough for them to walk single-file. Thankfully, it ended quickly, and they pushed open a large wooden door into another brightly-lit room.

It appeared vaguely familiar to Ladybug, but she couldn’t quite place it; it was as if she’d once been there in a dream. A pair of glass doors looked out onto a balcony, although they couldn’t remember climbing any stairs, and before they could get a better look, the stranger drew the blinds. The room was sparse with furniture; a large mattress occupied most of the floor, and an old, wooden chest of drawers lined the far wall. There was a short bookshelf and a round table, both stacked with candles, which provided most of the light.

The stranger sat down on the mattress with a heavy sigh and muttered something. They were enveloped in a bright yellow light, which cascaded down to the floor and revealed a short old man with graying hair, a gray mustache, and a pointed goatee. A tendril of light spiraled off onto the head of the mattress and resolved itself into a sleeping green kwami.

He smiled kindly at them and pointed at a pair of wooden stools. “Please, children, sit.”

They sat.

“I am the Great Guardian,” he began, “but you may call me Master Fu. I am the keeper of the Miraculouses, and I’m afraid you are here because I have failed.”

“I’m… sorry?” Chat asked. He smiled politely. “Sir, I don’t understand. We’ve never met before, have we?”

Master Fu smiled again, but he looked sad. “The Miraculouses are ancient and powerful, and there is much you do not know. But we don’t have time for a history lesson tonight, so I’ll try to keep it short. Many years ago, I believed the moth miraculous was lost forever. Of course, we know now that is not the case. Wayzz felt its return, and the evil that enshrouded it, but I am too old to fight anymore. So I chose the two of you, and gifted you the Miraculouses you now wield. But I was foolish. It appears the very Miraculouses I gave you are the same that Hawk Moth desires. The ladybug and black cat miraculouses contain incredible power, which I hoped would enable you to defeat him and regain his miraculous, but he craves this power. And now you two are in terrible danger. Hawk Moth drags this fight out as long as he can, keeping just out of reach of you and making every attempt on your miraculouses. Now, he has gone a step further. He’s becoming desperate. And it’s time for you to make a choice.”

Ladybug tensed. “What choice, Master?”

“Hawk Moth has proven to be more resilient than I anticipated. It is unfair of me to ask you to continue this dangerous fight when you were never given the choice to be a part of it.” Master Fu closed his eyes. “I am an old man who has made many mistakes in his life, but this is one I will not make again. You may leave now, and think on it tonight if you wish, and in the morning, return and leave your miraculous with me. Or you may keep it, and continue the fight. But I must warn you that, no matter your choice, everything is going to change. Hawk Moth has made a risky move tonight, in luring all of us out and attempting to kidnap you, and we must rise to meet him.”

“I already know my answer,” Ladybug said immediately. She gave her partner a sidelong glance. “Chat?”

He gave a slow nod. “I think so, my lady.”

Master Fu drew his mouth into a tight line. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Ladybug said. “I’m going to stay.”

“Me, too,” Chat agreed firmly. “So, what’s the plan?”

Marinette had had a long night, and very little sleep, but in the morning she was up again and out of bed before the sun. An anxious energy had filled her head all night, but she was excited for the day ahead.

She packed her bag and left for school early, for once, relishing the cool morning breeze and the soft light reflecting off the clouds as the sun rose. As she rounded the corner, a butterfly fluttered by, and she faltered just enough to trip over her own feet and topple towards the pavement.

Adrien, who had been waiting by the front door of the bakery, rushed over to catch her and steady her balance. Marinette gripped his hand tightly with both of hers. “Oh. Good morning, Adrien,” she said faintly.

“Morning, Marinette,” he replied, quickly pulling his hand away and tucking it into his pocket. “I thought I’d, uh, wait for you.”

“I don’t think ‘protect each other’ meant ‘be my bodyguard,’” Marinette teased, hitching her bookbag more securely onto her back.

Adrien chuckled. “No, but it does include stopping you from breaking your face on the sidewalk.”

They watched the butterfly make a few more lazy laps around them, then it flew off to the east, and they watched it disappear into a tiny, shadowy speck, backlit by the calm reds and pinks and oranges of the sun-streaked sky.

“It’s beautiful out this morning,” he commented.

She smiled and reached for his hand. “Yeah. It is.”

[havendance]

Still Alive

My entry for day 7 of kwami swap week. In which I sort of continue day 1.

“Once upon a time, long, long, ago, there was a turtle who fell in love with a butterfly.

“When he was with her, the entire world seemed bright and beautiful, just like she was. He spent all of his time with her and when they were together, he was so happy that every day felt like it would never end.

“But after a couple weeks the butterfly died, and the turtle had to keep on living without her. Time passed, he found many other people he loved, one or two of them were even butterflies too, but none of them could replace the his butterfly, the one he had loved. So the turtle kept trudging through life, seeing  and experiencing much, but always mourning the love he had lost.”

“That’s a sad story, Grandpa.”

“Sometimes life is sad.”

“What if I don’t want to listen to sad stories?”

“If you want to inherit the turtle miraculous one day, you have to understand that you will life twice over. You will watch everyone you know die. That is the price you must pay.”

“But if I take the miraculous won’t you die?”

“I’m an old man, Petra. I’m ready to see my darling butterfly again.”

The first pair of heroes Ivan can remember are himself and Mylene. A butterfly and a turtle. An unlikely pair for sure, but one that Paris needed and welcomed in their time of need. When their work was done, Mylene stopped being Swallowtail, but he had never stopped being Bouclier.

The old man had seemed to think that Ivan would be a good guardian and he taught him well. Ivan knows everything there is to know about the miraculous, there are even things that he figured out himself. But taking up the turtle’s burden came with it’s own costs. His darling Mylene died long ago, as did their children. He has outlived so many generations that he has lost track of descendants that are still alive. All except Petra.

Petra is his grandchild, there are quite a lot of greats before the grandchild in her title, but Ivan is old and has lost track. Her maman doesn’t pay much attention to her, so he’s all but adopted her as his own. Her youth livens up the place. He’s teaching her to be the next guardian. But he’s making sure she understands what she’s getting into. She’ll at least know that much more than he did so long ago.

“What are you doing, Grandpa?”

“I’m choosing a pair of heroes to defend Paris.”

“But they’re always saying that we don’t need heroes to make things right. They’re saying that they can solve any problems themselves.”

“They always say that, but they never mean it.”

The second pair of heroes are a peacock and a bee. Mylene is still alive and she is the only butterfly in his mind. Ivan can’t bear to see anyone but her wear the broach. So he avoids choosing a wielder for it. Eventually a butterfly will spread it’s wings again, but for now it continues to sleep.

The new heros do their job well. They are a flashy pair, but one that never the less gets the job done quickly and efficiently. They defend Paris against it’s petty criminals and little villains, but most importantly they give the city hope during one of its bleakest moments and darkest times.

Eventually though, they clash and fight, overstaying their welcome. They grow too petty and proud to work together anymore and cause the people of Paris to turn their backs and become resentful and bitter. As they turn on each other, the city they once fought to protect turns on them.

The first whispers come from student radio stations that broadcast only at night, and poorly written articles and arguments from people who don’t think. “Maybe, we don’t need heroes.” The idea gains ground.

Ivan manages to read the currents and pulls back the heroes he created before they can do any more harm. It’s too late to undo the damage already done though. Ivan’s mistake will affect him throughout the decades to come.

“Can I help you choose this time? Since It’ll be my job eventually?”

“Of course, Petra. You’re certainly old enough.”

“Okay, I’ll get the chest.”

“Go right ahead.”

Ivan waits a long time before he risks choosing another pair of heroes. Mylene is the one who encourages him to face his fear of failure. When a new technology leads to abuses and corruption, he chooses a new wielder with her encouragement. This time he chooses one that can act discretely, working with the current instead of openly opposing it when the mood has grown so hostile.

The fox is a natural choice, one that plays tricks with the mind, no one will know about them unless they choose to reveal themselves. Their partner is harder to choose. And in the end, Ivan ends up donning his mask once more and taking the wellbeing of his city into his own hands. The fox is a, well foxy, sort of person, he prefers to wage his battles words rather than with fists or weapons. He has a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue.

Nobody tells stories about Loki or Tortue, nobody even sees them. The ones that do see, don’t remember. They just see the effects of the heroes work and congratulate themselves on a job well done. Ivan sees no reason to make the truth known.

Ivan stays friends with the fox, even after they set aside their masks. It’s yet another person who he eventually outlives. Ivan didn’t realise how fleeting life could be until his is  stretched out longer than most people even dream of living.

“I can see them, Grandpa! They’re really out there and fighting, and being heroes!”

“You did give them the miraculouses.”

“I know, but seeing it makes it feel real.”

“It does, doesn’t it.”

“I hope they succeed.”

“You chose well, I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t.”

Ivan feels more confident after choosing Loki, but he’s still cautious and he waits a long time before deciding to choose again. When war strikes and Paris comes under attack, he realises that he truly has no other choice. This isn’t a job for just any heroes, this calls for a truly extraordinary pair. He chooses the wielders with the utmost care this time, they are a black cat and a ladybug and must fit together perfectly, two halves of a whole.

This time, he doesn’t make a mistake. The two of them are just what Paris needs in the chaos. They defend, protect and heal the people. The hostility toward heroes starts to fade, little by little, remaining no matter what the heroes do. Lucky Buf and Panther don’t seem to mind, they fight on regardless, to busy saving the city and falling in love to care much about what he citizens think. If they do care, they certainly don’t mention it to the friendly old couple living down the street.

Ivan is relieved to see their competence. Mylene is getting old and she’s too stubborn to agree to leave the city for somewhere safer. He knows that this will be the last pair of heroes she sees. She loves watching the heroes at work, remembering her own time as Paris’s hero.

Lucky Bug and Panther go out in the same way they come in, with a bang. Literally. They sacrifice themselves to prevent Paris from being targeted by the lasted superweapon that people with more money than morals have come up with. Ivan pretends to be a old uncle and discretely retrieves the miraculouses off their dead bodies. Their death comes as both a shock and a relief to Paris. Relief that they’ll live another day, shock that the heroes that they had almost grow to love are dead.

It doesn’t surprise Ivan as much as it probably should. They were always a passionate pair. He can imagine how their last conversation must’ve gone:

“They say Paris doesn’t need heroes,” Lucky Bug would say, “Are you up for proving them wrong?”

“You bet! I’ll always be by your side Bug,” Panther would reply.

“It’s a shame we have to end things so soon.” Lucky Bug would say, voice filled with false bravado.

Panther would just shrug. “Till death do us part.”

Ivan couldn’t see it ending any other way.

“Why are you giving me this? It’s your’s. It’s always been”

“I think you’re ready to inherit it, Petra.”

“But if I take it, you’ll die.”

“Haven’t I already told you, my dear? When you get as old as I am, you don’t fear death anymore. I’m ready to move on.”

“I, I’m still not sure.”

“Take your time, think about it, I’ll wait.”

After that the memories of the heroes fade more into a blur. Mylene dies, and he lives on. Eventually, he outlives their children and grandchildren. Time and time again, more frequently than before, he chooses heroes. Times are changing more rapidly than he ever thought possible. A fox, a bee, a peacock, once a black cat and ladybug, take up arms to defend Paris. Even a butterfly spreads its wings.

Miraculouses are lost and found. Mistakes are made fixed. Sometimes wielders fight each other, other times they fight together. The attitude towards them never quite changes though. Some heroes are more welcome than others, but Paris always feels at least a little resentment towards them.

So much time passes, governments rise and fall, political parties say one thing this moment, and change their minds completely the next, new technologies are developed and others are rediscovered. Living for nearly two hundred years tires a person out, and Ivan starts to look for a successor.

He finds a potential one in his some-odd great grandchild, Petra. Her mother was a young, unmarried, student who was relieved to find help in raising her with the friendly old “Uncle Ivan” down the street. She visits and calls occasionally, but having a child was never part of her plan.

“I think I’m ready now, Grandpa.”

“You’ll be an excellent guardian, Petra.”

“Wayzz, Transformez-moi!”

AN: I’m back again with my final entry! More turtle!Ivan this time, only angstier. Because apparently I can’t participate in a fandom week without writing angst, or really write much of anything. Writing these has given me an attachment to turtle Ivan that you can’t talk me out of.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my entries! I’m currently working on a multi-chapter fire emblem fic, so that’s going to be the next thing I publish. This isn’t the last of my works for miraculous ladybug though, not by a long shot.