#but marinette can touch him safely

[flightfoot]

Isn't the target audience for the show little kids? Why is the heroic mc gaslighting? Why was THAT chosen to be her decision? Idk I feel like the fandom excusing this is focusing solely on the fanfiction side of things lol. I can't really see a conversation about boundaries like you've mentioned happening, for example. Marinette will cry about it for one scene, hugged by the guy she gaslighted, then the show will move on. All the implications of her actions, how toxic the love square is- those are not things that can be adressed respectfully in an episodic kids show. Especially not by these writers. We've seen the twitter takes. So just- idk, I wouldn't want a ten-year-old to watch this ngl. Especially because the kid watching might be an abuse victim themselves.

We have had some conversations about boundaries before, in Glaciator 2, when Ladybug was upset at Chat for keeping on hinting at wanting to be a couple, which means that such a conversation IS in the show's wheelhouse of what it can do.

Cat Noir: I guess I'm not your favorite cat at the moment, am I? (walks towards Ladybug) Can I take you to a movie to make up for it? Or how about a restaurant to celebrate our nomination as Couple of the Year? Ladybug: (yelling) We're not "Couple of the Year", we're not a couple at all! Cat Noir: Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to make you so mad. (Ladybug simply looks away from him, still mad.) I get it. You're sick of me. I might sound like a broken record expressing my affection for you over and over. I know I should stop but... I can't help it, you know? I have so many feelings welled up in this heart, and I don't know how to control them. Ladybug: (sighs) I know your heart's in the right place and that you don't mean any harm but— Cat Noir: (dejectedly) You're right. You shouldn't have to put up with this. I'll stop. I don't know how yet, but I'll figure it out. I promise. Ladybug: (smiles) I'm counting on you. Cat Noir: (frowns) I'll see you later. (vaults away, and Ladybug eventually to the other direction)

(Later)

Cat Noir: Nice to see you again, my... dear friend whom I respect and for whom I have no other feelings than true platonic friendship. Ladybug: Are you making fun of me? Cat Noir: Not at all! I'm... just getting my bearings. Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (uses her power as a car drops in front of them) Cat Noir: Oh, yeah! That lucky charm really revs my engine! (Ladybug closes her eyes, coming up with a plan to use her lucky charm. The scene zooms to the big exhaust in front of Gare du Nord.) Ladybug: Okay! Take the wheel. I got a plan. Glaciator: There you are! You think you can escape me like that? (Ladybug and Cat Noir step in the car. Cat Noir starts the car engine and drives away, escaping Glaciator as the villain comtinues to chase them.) Glaciator: (sing-song) I'm Glaciator, the mean ice-cream man, and I am your number 1 fan! Cat Noir: (while driving) That's enough! We're just friends! Ladybug: Okay. Let's go! (hurls her yo-yo, tying it around Glaciator and on her car seat) Pass me the wheel. Glaciator: You think you can escape me by attaching me to you? Cat Noir: Where are we going with this—? I mean, not the two of us. Just... where are we going, like, a direction? Ladybug: I got it. We're heading to the Gare du Nord. We'll stay in touch. (She continues to drive, escaping Glaciator.) Cat Noir, now! (Cat Noir jumps out of the car.) Ladybug: (through the ear-piece) You know what to do. I'll come back as soon as you're ready! Cat Noir: Drive safe. (He leaps to rooftop where a billboard of him and Ladybug is located. He drops it to the ground to use it as a ramp for Ladybug's car.) Ready, m'lady! Uh, do you mind me calling you "m'lady"? Ladybug: No, that's okay. (performs a drift) It's not that complicated, you know? If I tell you that something's annoying, you stop doing it, that's all!

I don't know that the show could go over all the implications of some of the things Marinette's done with Adrien, in all the identity versions, but it having Adrien lay down some boundaries and Marinette doing her best to abide by them so she doesn't accidentally hurt him is within the realm of what it can do, since it's done it before. Granted, there's more variance and a bigger scale with some of the lies Marinette's told Adrien and the secrets she's kept from him, but it's a similar idea at least.

[lostuntothisworld]

Luka is Sun-Coded, Why the Snake has Time-Related Powers, and What the Future Might Hold for His Character

There’s been some back and forth whether Luka is represented by the sun or the moon, with most people seemingly on the side of him being moon-coded.

I have to disagree. More below the cut.

The name Luka is usually translated as “bringer of light.” This is of course the most common translation of his name. In This post, it’s explained that his name is also a Serbo-Croatian word for harbor or port. (Another win for my “the Couffaines are Balkan-Romani" headcanon).

I would also like to point out his hero name, Viperion, is a portmanteau of Viper and Hyperion. Hyperion was a Greek Titan, and along with his son Helios, was a personification of the sun. Sometimes the two Solar deities were conflated. It has also been suggested that the name Hyperion actually reads as “Apollo,” another Greek solar god. In fact, Apollo’s name has been suggested that it should be read as Hyperion. Also, Apollo famously has a younger twin sister, Artemis, a lunar goddess. Hyperion’s name translates to “He who goes before,” which is an apt name for Luka’s hero form.

Famous romantic poet John Keats wrote two unfinished epics on the subject of Hyperion. The second poem he wrote, titled The Fall of Hyperion: A Dream, was published after his death. It is a prequel to his first poem about Hyperion. The prequel is about his personal quest for truth and understanding. More on the topic of truth later on in this essay.

On a more scientific note, the theorized massive star that went supernova and created the our solar system is often called Coatlicue, who was the mother of the Sun in Aztec mythology. She is depicted as a woman wearing a skirt of snakes, and even her name translates to [she who has] the skirt of snakes. An aspect of this goddess was known as “snake woman”, and she was considered a very motherly figure.

Anarka went supernova and destroyed her music career and relationship with Jagged after she fell pregnant. Luckily, she built a wonderful new life for her twins, and The Liberty is a safe harbor for them and all their friends, just like our Sun and solar system. Remember, Luka can also be translated as harbor.

It’s also worth noting that one of Saturn’s moons is named Hyperion. Yes, I know, a moon, but hear me out. Hyperion’s orbit is extremely chaotic, and unpredictable, a quality that is needed in order to end time loops. I had a lovely dialogue with another person on the implications of that in the notes in this post.

Now onto part two: Why the Snake Miraculous has time related powers. It has been suggested by fans that we don’t need two time-related Miraculous, and Snakes are mythologically healers (Think Hermes and his caduceus), so the Snake should have healing powers. It’s a compelling argument, but I disagree.

I’ve touched on this topic before, but it bears repeating. There is a misconception that Wayzz was originally the leader of the Kwamis, and Sass was retconned to be leader at a later date. This is untrue. For one, Kwamis cannot leave the Miracle Box without an owner, so Sass is stuck in there with the rest of the Kwamis. Secondly, in season 2’s Sandboy, the episode where we meet the rest of the Kwamis, Sass is the one calling all the shots. Tikki and Plagg even defer to him. Furthermore, Wayzz was chosen by Master Fu because his power is Protection. Narratively, it makes more sense for an un-evolved character who is terrified of his past choices to choose the power of Protection, as opposed to Sass’ power of learning from past mistakes, and change through choice.

I dare say that they made a point of Marinette wearing the Turtle Miraculous in the season 5 finale due to a planned character arc. I predict this character arc is one where she learns to not be so overprotective of Adrien, or one where she needs to learn to accept the help of others and not put up such a shell and be so controlling. Or both, even.

Anyway, back to Snakes. I made a previous post about how the main three kwamis, Tikki, Plagg, and Sass are a reference to (a very simplified) Hinduism, with Tikki being Brahma (god of creation), Plagg as Shiva (god of destruction), and Sass as Vishnu (god of preservation). Shiva and Vishnu are both symbolized by snakes, but I think it’s important to note that one of Vishnu’s mounts is Shesha, a primordial snake deity of creation. It is said that when Shesha uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. Shesha’s name translates to “he who remains”, as even when the world is destroyed, Shesha remains as he is. It doesn’t take much thought to see how this relates to the Snake Miraculous and the power of Second Chance.

I had originally theorized that Second Chance erases the entire universe in order to reset, but the Paris Special brought the concept of a multiverse, and simple logic declared this untrue. No, I believe that Second Chance erases EVERY multiverse. Terrifying stuff.

And of course, there is the Snake Miraculous’ bracelet form of a serpent biting its own tail, an Ourobos. Ourobos is a symbol used all over the ancient world to represent various things, most notably of cycles, such as life, death, and rebirth. This feels like the most obvious reason for the Snake to have Second Chance.

Of course, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room… or the snake that swallowed the elephant a la the python in the beginnings of famous French novella The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The dominant religion in most of the western world is Christianity, and snakes have a reputation for being evil. But I think there’s more to the story ML is presenting to us.

In the season 5 finale, we are presented with a perfect utopia, an Eden, if you will. We can all agree this is not going to last, and all the glitter is not gold. Maribug’s web of lies, Lilamoth knowing the Truth, Adrichat being left in the dark. It will all come undone sooner or later.

Which is why I propose that it is Luka who helps Adrien discover the Truth. There are some academics who believe humanity wasn’t truly born until Eve tasted the forbidden fruit of knowledge and left the Garden of Eden. It’s very poetic that a Snake named Light would present Adrien with the Truth. Remember Keats’ epic poem Hyperion about searching for Truth.

And of course, it needs to be reminded that Ladybug’s Lucky Charm CANNOT bring back a sentimonster after the amok is purified or destroyed. But you know what CAN bring back a sentimonster? The Snake’s Second Chance. Adrien and Luka have unlimited chances to figure out how to sever the connection between Adrien and his amoks.

Remember also, the point of Second Chance is to end the time loop. This all goes hand in hand with my theory that ML is a 15-year time loop of Wishes, and Gabriel made at least one, if not multiple Wishes in the past.

Of course I could be completely off the mark and they made Luka a Guardian for no reason, and Adrien will never amount to anything other than being Ken to Maribug’s Barbie.

If you made it to the end, thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

[ggomos-maribat]

8 | in which Bruce is not the only aspiring Marinette-adopter

Part 8 of No Mr. Wayne You Can't Adopt Me! | Masterlist

"A visit to the Kent family farm?" Marinette echoed, "This sounds like a family event only. Are you sure I should be going?"

"I know it sounds like I'm pre-adopting you—"

"Yes, it absolutely sounds like that—"

"But Dick suggested for you to come instead of him since he won't be able to come," Bruce explained. "Besides, Lois specifically asked for you."

Lois, huh. Marinette felt an incoming headache already. On one hand, a part of her knew she should be declining it firmly but it would be terribly impolite to turn down the invitation as well. It was a problem indeed.

But if I go, I can just stick to the Kents and avoid the Waynes, right? She wondered. It's free food too and I won't need to work on a Friday.

One work week later, she ended up squeezed inside a van with Bruce behind the wheel, driving to Smallville. She had a basket of pastries at her feet, window to her left and Damian on her right. Everything seemed to be going fine when—

Screech!

The car suddenly halted and before Marinette knew it, Damian's arm was in front of her to keep her from face-planting on the back of the car seat.

"Sorry! There was a dog!" Bruce apologized from the front seat.

"If you were gonna drive this bad, you should've let me drive instead," Jason groaned from the passenger seat, rubbing his head.

"Yeah, Bruce, you should've told us if you were gonna send us to an early grave," Stephanie piped up from the back. "Damn it Cass, we have to redo the cracker tower."

When Marinette took a peek, she saw that the girls were trying to pile up some Ritz crackers on top of a sleeping Tim's forehead. Tim (lucky for him) was just snoring away the whole time.

Bruce threw his second son a look. "We both know you're going above the speed limit if you drive."

"I only speed when I'm on my bike!" Jason denied. "I can definitely drive better than you, old man."

Marinette figured these were the effects of not having Alfred around. The butler had to go to the farm ahead of them in the promise of helping the elder Kents prepare. But Marinette knew Alfred just secretly wanted to escape the family's chaos.

"Are you okay?" Damian whispered beside her. She nodded and smiled in reply.

In fact, Marinette was about to open her mouth to offer to drive but then she remembered her agreement with Bruce: on the trip, she wasn't supposed to act as an assistant but rather a family friend. She sighed inwardly in defeat.

"Father, if you're already too old to drive, I can take over the wheel as well," Damian said.

"I'm not too old to drive." Bruce rolled his eyes. "It's fine, I can handle this."

"Famous last words," Jason scoffed. "If Dickie were here he'd arrest you for reckless driving."

"I'm not recklessly driving!"

Marinette withheld a chuckle. Seeing someone causing trouble for Bruce other than herself was amusing. She stretched as much as the small space allowed her and whispered to Damian, "Can I rest my head on you?"

He stared at her for a moment. "Of course."

Grinning, Marinette leaned her head against his shoulder. Their arms were only slightly touching but she could feel his warmth. From her position, she could see Bruce squinting at them through the rearview mirror.

"Bruce, eyes on the road please," Duke warned.

Bruce huffed through his nose but focused on driving.

"Why can't Clark take us there instead?" Stephanie complained, "It'll be much faster."

An image was painted in Marinette's head: Superman carrying the van over the skies while Bruce sulked on the front seat.

"He's busy," Bruce replied, glancing towards Marinette (probably checking if she found the statement odd). "Don't you think I'm perfectly capable of taking us there safely?"

"Nope," Stephanie responded.

"Ditto," Cass said.

Stephanie snorted out a laugh. "I only agreed to go anyway 'cause Kara and Lois are there."

"Ditto."

"Hey if he gets any worse at driving, I'll call Alfred and tell him we got kidnapped," Jason suggested.

"No, you're not," Bruce sighed in exasperation.

"Twenty-one crackers!" Stephanie cheered suddenly. "Agghh, hold it there Cass, I'm taking a picture!"

Marinette's gaze strayed downwards. Our hands are really, really close. Their knuckles are just barely brushing. Sucking in a breath, she moved her fingers to touch the back of Damian's hand. To her surprise, his hand wrapped around hers with his thumb rubbing her knuckles.

The car swerved again.

"BRUCE!"

"That's it, I'm calling Alfred."

"Fuck! The crackers!"

". . . Wha . . . huh? What's happening?"

***

"Where is she?! Where's Marinette?"

One of the things Marinette dreaded. Seeing Lois Lane-Kent again. The woman practically squeezed past the other Kent boys to lock her in a suffocating hug the moment she stepped out of the van.

"Marinette!" Lois said, pulling away and squishing her cheeks together. "Jeez, recommend an assistant job to a girl and she never reaches out anymore!"

"I answer your calls sometimes," Marinette weakly protested.

"But no visits." Lois turned to Bruce with an accusatory glare. "Are you overworking the poor girl?!"

"No, no, I'm fine." Marinette gently pulled away from her hold while Bruce escaped to help the others prepare the picnic table. "It's a great job, honestly. The pay is very generous."

"You know Marinette, Lois?" Duke asked as he helped unload another box from the van.

"You haven't told them?" Lois looked at her, and Marinette responded with a sheepish look.

Lois smiled proudly, wrapping an affectionate arm around Marinette. "I had the absolute honor of interviewing this girl about the Paris akuma attacks. She was the civilian aide for the heroes!"

"Lois," Marinette groaned.

"We kept in touch, and I was the one who suggested she get a PA job at WE when she moved to Gotham." Lois patted the top of her head. "Hmph, on second thought I should've kept you as an assistant for myself."

"I told you, journalism isn't my expertise," said Marinette.

"You're a brilliant girl, you can learn! If you stay in Metropolis, you can even live with us!"

Marinette's eyes widened in horror. "No please, I've had enough of serial adopters."

"What? Oh, is Bruce trying to . . ." She scowled at the girl's boss again. "I knew it! I knew this would happen, agh I shouldn't have sent you to him!"

"Lois . . . no, you can't legally adopt me . . ."

The woman's eyes gleamed. "But illegally?"

"You were a civilian aide?" Damian asked, staring at Marinette.

"No big deal. I just worked behind the scenes to help defeat Hawkmoth." She kept a wary eye on Bruce. If he were to find out, he will combust for sure . . . and become more adamant on adopting her.

"Read my article, you'll see how amazing she is!" Lois boasted.

"Lois, please," Marinette sighed. "I'll go set these up at the table."

Fortunately, a savior by the name of Ma Kent called Lois back to the house so Marinette was able to shake her off. She was grateful for the journalist, really—recounting what happened to Paris was no easy feat and often other reporters liked to focus on the heroes and villain only, not the trauma or lasting damage on the city. Lois even helped her settle in, lecturing her on the dangers of Gotham despite not being its resident.

But Lois was . . . the second one who expressed the desire of adopting her before Bruce.

"Didn't know the Waynes had a new one," a new voice said.

"Kon!" Marinette put down the basket and reached up to hug the boy. "I didn't know you're here!"

"When I heard you were coming, I knew I couldn't miss this." Kon raised an eyebrow. "You're such a traitor, Mars, you're one of them now?"

"Of course not!" She huffed. "I wanted to skip out on work and, er, Lois wanted me to come."

Another familiar face approached the two. "Full offense, but you look like you're part of the Wayne family now."

Marinette lowered her tone to a whisper, leaning to give Jon a side hug. "Mr. Wayne wishes." She rolled her eyes. "But he can't, obviously."

A few feet away from them, Clark fell into a coughing fit. Oops, he heard that didn't he? Marinette's cheeks reddened.

She had been visiting Metropolis during her third meet up with Lois. At that time, she had the two boys join them for lunch, and that was when Marinette got to meet them. Both seemed just as energetic as the Wayne boys, by her observation, but in a different way.

Jon threw an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, is it just me or Damian looks extra broody?"

"Probably . . . jealous?" Kon looked at the boy.

"Jealous of what?" asked Jon. Slowly, his head turned towards Marinette, seemingly coming to a realization little by little. "What? No way."

"Maybe . . . yes way." Marinette brushed a hand over her bangs. "There was this, um, thing on our way here you see."

"What is it? What is it?"

Marinette rubbed her heated cheek. "I'll tell you later!"

Just then, Clark came to the table to set down some glasses and utensils. "It's nice seeing you again, Marinette. You haven't run into another Batman-related trouble I hope?"

"Batman-related trouble?" Jon repeated, directing a curious look towards her.

"Nope, not at all," Marinette chuckled. "In fact, he stalked me one night in an empty street just to apologize."

Clark's eyebrows raised. "He did?"

"You never told us that!" Kon chimed in.

"I know, it's a long story." Marinette grinned evilly. "But I think it's best told over lunch with everyone."

***

"Tea or coffee?" Marinette asked her guest, who was sitting at her humble dining table, hands folded together.

"Tea please, my dear. I do miss your personal brew—it's one of a kind."

Marinette rolled her eyes as she grabbed a teacup from the upper cabinets. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

The guest tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It's not flattery. It's only a comment."

Marinette prepared the tea diligently, and even brought out leftover banana bread she made for herself and her neighbors. From her periphery, she could see the woman looking over the photographs she had framed on the pastel walls. "There's too much of you who want to adopt me, you know," she said.

"Oh?"

"My boss and . . . Lois just the other day. I don't know if she was joking or not." Marinette scrunched her nose. "Seriously, legally none of you can adopt me."

"Who said I was going to do it by legal means?"

"Kwamis, don't say that, Talia. I think Bruce is an inch away from doing it under the table too."

With the tea and snacks prepared, Marinette put everything on a wooden tray she put together herself and brought it over to the table. If she anticipated Talia's visit, she would've cooked an entire meal. Alas, the woman popped up during the most unexpected hours.

"Your honey jar is very cute." Talia chuckled.

"Hmpf. It was a gift." A house-warming (or apartment-warming?) gift from Adrien: a custom transparent jar with a cat design painted on it. The top of the dipper's handle was carved out into a paw.

"How is Damian, by the way?"

"I thought you came here as a friend." Marinette crossed her arms. "It's not my job to keep tabs on your son."

"I know that, my dear, but he doesn't like seeing me . . ."

"Just talk to him." Marinette took a bite of her bread. "You know, the key to being emotionally constipated is to actually let it all out."

Marinette had met Talia al Ghul way before she met Bruce or any of the Waynes. She found out the woman's connection to them much later, however. After becoming guardian and losing Fu to amnesia, Talia had become somewhat of a mentor to her. Someone who taught her more about eccentric skills than magical knowledge and responsibility (the woman was crazy skilled in the most random things, it used to drive Marinette crazy). Since they'd parted aways after she graduated, Marinette saw her more like a troublesome aunt than a teacher.

"He has taken an interest in you, no?" The way her emerald eyes glittered spoke of her slyness. 

"Taliaaa," Marinette groaned.

"What? It is very funny how fate brought you two together." She sighed wistfully. "I never saw it coming."

"Do you seriously want me to be with your son just so you can make me your daughter?"

"What's the problem? You like him too, right?"

"Talia!"

She shrugged. "'I'm just saying I'm not opposed to the relationship."

Marinette rubbed her face, hoping to ease off the heat on her cheeks. "I thought you're here to see how I'm doing, not badger me about my love life. You're starting to sound like my mom."

Talia's grin grew wide. "Your mom?"

"Wait, no—"

Talia set her chin on top of her locked hands. "Would you like a League-themed wedding, my dear? Have a little blood pact mixed in?"

"Damian and I aren't even marrying!"

"Yet," the woman added. "I can't wait to have you in the family. I've got the perfect heirlooms to pass on to you. A sword, if you'd like or even a kunai."

"Oh, come on—"

"You have my complete blessing Marinette," she cooed. "In fact, I'd rather have Damian be with no one else but you."

Marinette stood up so quickly, red in the face, and her chair scraped the floor. "I'm going to bed."

Talia reached over to grab her hand. "Leaving your guest all alone! Where are the manners I taught you?"

"I'd actually love to chat if you have something else to talk about," Marinette huffed.

"Alright, alright, sit down. I'll behave myself, I promise." The former mentor smiled. Marinette narrowed her eyes. She should've closed her window that night.

***

After a debate with herself, Marinette decided to voice out her request to Bruce at the time she served coffee and snacks in his office. She was setting down his mug on a coaster when she popped the question: "Mr. Wayne, can I have next Thursday off? I can work on Saturday to make up for it."

Bruce looked up from his screen. "Hm? What for?"

"I've finally decided to let Lois adopt me."

"What?" Marinette had never seen Bruce so panicked. She didn't know if she should laugh or feel sorry for it.

"I'm kidding." She transferred the snacks next from the rolling cart. "Some of my friends are visiting Gotham, but their only free day is on Thursday. I haven't seen them in a while so I really want to catch up."

Bruce slowly regained his composure, clearing his throat. "Right. Of course you can go, Marinette. No need for the extra hours."

". . . Are you sure you'll be fine without me?"

"Yes, we have no meetings scheduled that day, do we?" Bruce waved the thought off. "Enjoy the day off. You deserve it."

***

It was Chloe who got them the reservations for their dinner: an open air chabudai-style restaurant that served Japanese cuisine. The tables were low, comfy enough for them to sit cross-legged on cushions while still keeping elegance.

Marinette sipped on her drink and nudged Luka with her shoulder. "You never told us what you were in Gotham for."

The now world-renowned musician ran a hand through his hair. "Dad's having a tour around the U.S. He wanted to check the venue here since this is the last stop. Our band's opening."

Marinette sucked in a breath. "Congrats, Luka! I didn't know about that, Jagged hasn't put out a commission yet!"

"Planning's still in the works." Luka smiled. "I'm sure Penny will reach out soon."

Adrien groaned and stretched his arms. "I'm so fuullll." He fell on his back, positioning his head on Marinette's lap.

"I told you to lay off on the maki roll," Chloe tsked to which Adrien stuck out a tongue in reply.

Marinette ignored the bickering pair and turned to Kagami. "What about you, Kags? Have you met up with your new student yet?"

"What new student?" asked Adrien.

"You're not reading the group chat, are you?" Chloe scolded.

"It's alright, I only mentioned it in passing." Kagami poured more cups of beer for Luka and Chloe. "A former coach told me about a rising fencing prodigy in Gotham. I wanted to take a look for myself if I can mentor them. Unfortunately there was an emergency at the airport earlier so I'm meeting them tomorrow instead."

Marinette grimaced, distinctly remembering that some Rogues had broken into the airport in the morning.

"Prodigy or not, the kid's gonna be an international level pro if you're the coach, Gami," Adrien pointed out.

"Hm. You have too much faith in me."

"What about you, Maribug? How's work?" Chloe directed her inquisitive gaze at the girl.

"Just the same old." With a little bit of something going on with my boss' son. "My boss still wants to adopt me, everyday's busy, sometimes I get caught up in robberies and hostage situations for a little spice."

"M'lady?" Adrien suddenly said in a soft voice.

Marinette reached down to stroke his hair. "What's up?"

"I think I saw something move behind the trees over there."

Marinette squinted into the dark, past the lantern lights. Familiar . . . shadows moved around, cloaked by the darkness.

"Oh hell no," she whispered. "What the fuck? Those are the Gotham vigilantes."

Adrien's lips shaped into an 'o'. "Ohhh, I think . . . I think they're here because of me."

"What?"

"Well, the small business I asked to do the landscaping for our runway event is Pam and Harley’s," Adrien explained. "I talked to them earlier and they got worried since it's my first time here in Gotham. They offered a security detail even when I said I didn't need any!"

"And that . . . security detail are the vigilantes?" Chloe stared.

"Guess so. Hey, do you think we should offer them some food?" Adrien sat up and waved at the shadows. "Do you think they'll join us?"

"Adrien," Marinette groaned. "Anyone but them."

"What, why?"

***

Meanwhile . . .

"Rob, you've been staring at Marinette and that guy for a long time."

"I am not."

"Are you jealous? She said they're her friends right? They must be really close."

"Tt."

Taglist: @hammalammadamdam @animegirlweeb @fairlyfatale @agentxx92

[generalluxun]

What are your favourite Chloe ships?

Well, I started with Luka x Chloe, it was safe(didn't tread on the lovesquare or upset existing ships) there was that moment of recognition in MQ (which is more than canon Felgami would get) and there's a lot of SPICE there. It's not a 'he can fix her' ship, because no, he can't fix her. What he does is entrance her. He makes her want him in an overpowering way that will have her break her identity to pieces and reshape it if that is what it takes. Similarly she ensnares him. He knows everything bad about her, but the muse is beyond reason, and he'll gladly be a burned moth having touched the sun. In the end, he gives her a reason to be good, and she makes it okay for him to be bad now and then.

Chloe x Adrien was the next thing I explored and that is another very interesting ship. Childhood friends, often reunited much later in life after several dings and bruises along the way. Time puts things in perspective, and at the end of the day she's the only thing truly *his* among the friend group. All the others are connected more to Marinette than to him. Similarly he's an anchor point to a childhood long gone for her. There's a sense of solace when they're together. they're not perfect, but their damage lines up well.

Chloe x Marinette is a ship that is interesting and was unexpected the first time it popped up in one of my fics (near the end of the fic, a side ship not the main) It's interesting. they have a lot of history and it is full of emotion. Emotion is an amplitude, adjust the frequency and a low becomes a high. It takes a big shift(or a lot of little ones!) for this to be a successful ship, but once it's together... they're really sweet. Marinette is perceptive and once she's untangled herself, so is Chloe. She knows a lot about emotional needs, and the things you can't ask for. Chloe x Sabrina is honestly not a favorite of mine. I've written it a couple times, and it's not bad but I really just see them as lifelong friends, possibly with an occasional situationship but not a lasting or serious relationship. Chloe x Alya was a fun one I did just for a friend, and it turned out Awesome! Alya has family dynamics experience and also the force of personality to set boundaries but be encouraging. She knows how to do a little manipulation on the side to help things along too. Chloe, once Alya makes herself a personality in her life, throws herself into things full tilt. It's sweet, and comfy, and I really like this ship. Chloe x Felix I've done twice, once standard het, and once aro/ace Felix and Allo Chloe(and all that it entails) They're two broken kids, who kind of figure out how to be broken together. I like the way it shaped up. I like that no one is the 'mature' one when they are together. They take turns by some unknown rubric of picking up when the other falls down.

Hope this helped!

[wintermelonbear]

Maybe Meant to Be

Pairings: Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Damian Wayne, Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Adrien Agreste

Summary: Adrien finds out about his soulmates entire secret life, and realizes maybe he doesn't know as much about her as he thought

“GET IN THE CAR!” Adrien’s arm was yanked towards a sleek black SUV by the spotted heroine. He quickly jerks his head to the side to see his parents and Madame and Monsieur Dupain-Cheng being ushered into the car by a boy not much older than him clad in grey and red.

Before he’s even buckled in the car starts off with a loud screech against the pavement. He can hear his father’s shoulder as it hits the side of the car. “With all due respect Ladybug and Robin, what business does our family have with the Teen Titans?” 

“Where is our daughter?!” Sabine is basically in tears at this point and whips out her phone to check for any messages from Marinette. Swiftly, Adrien whips out his phone as well to see if there are any missed calls from his soulmate while he was stuck in his most recent photoshoot. 

A slight look of panic crosses Ladybug’s face until she gives them some reassurance, “Marinette is safe, there’s no need to panic, I promise!” Strange promise to make given their behavior a mere minute ago insisting the Agrestes and Dupain-Chengs drop everything and flee. 

The dark-haired teen boy chimes into the conversation with the click of his tongue and gives a quick glance to the rear-view mirror “Tt, we cannot discuss anything in detail here it could jeopardize the safety of Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng and your own safety.” He tears his gaze from the mirror and puts it back onto the long stretch of road as Ladybug’s elbow digs into his side. Ladybug lets out a hiss, and most likely with the intent of keeping it a secret from the inhabitants of the car she bites out “Robin! Why would you say that, they are going to freak out and worry. What’s wrong with you, you heartless bastard.”

“Oh? I am heartless now? You certainly did not feel that way last night when–” a hand clamps over his mouth before he can complete his thought. “That’s enough. You know what you did and why this is happening.” Touching a comm in her ear Ladybug switches straight into a commanding tone “Titan B1 and B2 reporting to OG can you get us permission for the west warp gate at coordinates….” She turns to the center console of the car and flicks a switch unveiling a panel of controls that rivaled every sci-fi fantasy movie Adrien had ever seen. “Alright everyone buckled in? Get ready to hold on the ride can be a bit bumpy. Also, you may want to close your eyes because it gets quite bright.” True to her words, once they entered the tunnel in front of them instead of being met by darkness it was like they had walked into the sun itself. By the time Adrien opened his eyes again he was in front of a large building that melded into the surrounding storm.

With a grunt, Robin pulled the car into park and swiftly unbuckled himself. After going around the car to open the door for Ladybug and then Marinette’s parents he finally decided to speak up again “Welcome to the Fortress of Solitude, please follow us.” “It’s not as scary or depressing as it sounds, I swear.” Ladybug cheerfully chirped. “This next part you’ll have to close your eyes, here I have blindfolds for everyone. Oh, and put on these cloaks, it's cold.”

Adrien understands that Ladybug is known to be a friendly hero, but the overfamiliar way she was touching all of them felt oddly reminiscent of a certain girl in his life. So much so he struggles to not lean into her touch as she drapes the last cloak around him. 

From this point on for the next 15 minutes all the civilians could sense were the beeps of machinery and mild arguing between the teen heroes as they worked through security clearance. After one last heavy door slamming behind them Ladybug begins to remove their blindfolds. “Take your time opening your eyes, they’ll need to adjust to the lighting in here.” Peeking through his lashes Adrien could see Ladybug nervously glancing at Robin as he gives her a stern look with his arms crossed. 

“I think it’s time you tell them.” This voice is unfamiliar enough that Adrien fully opens his eyes to see the statement came from an older hero, Nightwing. Looking around the room he sees that it is set up like a living room with a large couch in the center, a dining table to the side, and a kitchenette with counter seating in the far back.

“We just got here we should let them get comfortable first!” 

“You’ll just keep pushing it and we don’t know how much time we have until Blue Beetle gets here with his family and we have to do this all over again.” Robin gives Ladybug a pointed look. 

Jabbing Robin’s chest Ladybug chastizes him. “Well, we never would have been in this situation if you weren’t an untrusting jerkwad to begin with!” Robin begins to straighten up his posture to look down on Ladybug and he opens his mouth to retort- 

“WOAH! OKAY THERE! Let’s calm down.” Approaching them with his hands in front of his chest Nightwing positions himself between them. Wrapping an arm around the black-haired teen he  “Robin, let’s give Marinette some time with her family.” 

With her eyes wide open Ladybug growls out “You’re really living up to your name right now.”

With one last glance back Robin bites out “And keep your morals away from me. I don’t care about being nice and friendly like you do. Tt.” With that last remark he quickly turns his head and leaves the room with Dick. 

Fuming, Marinette nearly forgets her identity being outed until she is met with the shell-shocked faces of her parents, her soulmate, and her soulmate’s parents. With a nervous chuckle, Marinette whispers, “well…haha funny story…I can explain?” A light envelops Ladybug and as the illusion cast by the Miraculous’ glamor falls, and a sheepish Marinette is all that is left standing. Seeing Adrien’s disbelief written across his face with his mouth agape she lifts a glove-covered hand to his face to close it and brings her hand back to chest level to peel off the black kevlar glove donning the hand and reveals a mark Adrien has known front, back, and sideways since he first got it at the age of eight. “Well, I’m not sure who is going to collapse first because my dad looks like he has just seen a ghost and you’re questioning everything right now so how about we sit down.” Marinette guides them to a plush couch in the middle of the room. “Let me get you guys some refreshments. Give you time to think about this, I’m sure you all have a lot of questions.” 

By the time Marinette returns with a tray of tea and some prepackaged sweets Adrien is the only one left upright. Gabriel had his head in his hands with Emilie leaning over to rub his back, and Tom was folded into the arms of Sabine as she comforted him. 

“How long?” Adrien’s sudden inquiry nearly has Marinette dropping a glass onto the sterile floors of the fortress. 

“Oh okay straight into it. We’re 17 now so about…one, two,....five years?” 

Adrien’s eyes immediately flooded with hurt.

Immediately, Marinette knelt in front of him and took his hands in her so that their soul marks made contact. “Hey, listen to me for a second okay, and this goes for everyone on this couch right now. It’s not like I left you guys in the dark because I don’t trust you or because I don’t love you.” Looking around she makes eye contact with everyone so she knows they’re tuned into her words, “There’s so many reasons why, honestly, I never wanted you guys to find out about my secret identity. It’s not safe for you guys to know and I don’t want you to feel any worry when I have to be out there fighting.” 

“How did this even happen? When could this have started? How did you get powers?” With his hands holding a fistful of his own hair each, Gabriel can’t help but let out rapid-fire questions. 

“I CAN ANSWER THAT!” Tikki flies out from where she was hiding in Marinette’s zip-up jacket. 

“AAHHH!!! BUG-MOUSE THING?? WHAT IS THAT?” 

“That is so rude. I am not a that. I am a god, a Kwami to be more exact! Why do you humans always react like that.”

“Guys this is Tikki, the kwami of the Ladybug miraculous, she represents creation itself and through my earrings, she grants me powers. I have been in her care for the last five years. She is my best friend and closest ally.”

“I love Marinette! I would never let something bad happen to her.” Tikki exclaims as she flies up to hug Marinette’s cheek. 

“When I was 12 I met a man, the one you would know as Fu, at the time was guarding the Miraculous, a set of jewelry that much like my earrings can grant people power beyond what's normally possible for humans. He said the stars had told him I was to be the next guardian. It was written in my soul.” Marinette takes a deep breath before continuing her tale. “Honestly it took some convincing until he pulled out a slab that detailed what my life would be like as a hero. From then on he began to train me to take over as grand guardian and when I turned 16 he officially handed the role down. That's why you guys haven't seen him in a little over a year. Every time, for the last year at least, that I was “at Grandpa Fu’s” I was actually going on missions or training with the Teen Titans.” Breathing out, Marinette continues, “The reason why you’re here is because someone broke into the Hall of Justice last night, we’re not entirely sure who yet, or what information they obtained. The only thing we do know is that the Teen Titan’s folder was breached and because,” She begins to grit her teeth “Batman and his spawn –you know him as Robin– are nosy little pricks the folders included information about our members’ families and close associate. So we grabbed you guys in case they were able to obtain that level of information and wanted to use your safety as leverage.” Puffing out her cheeks she mumbles, “I know they could probably figure out my family without the listing, and I know he didn’t do it maliciously…but I am still mad at Robin. Even though he’s my best friend…”

At this point, a calmer Robin has re-entered the room nursing a mug and a volume of manga titled “I Chose You.” Adrien recognizes that story, while the content made him mildly queasy it was extremely well written with a moving story. The only thing that he didn't sit well with was the main theme of the story itself. The story follows a young woman Mako, her soulmate Ryo, and a young man Akito. The story is comprised of a love triangle between the three main characters until Mako defies fate and chooses Akito as her partner, hence the title. While it has won many accolades it continues to be a controversial title to many romance readers as very few people in real life choose to go against fate and be with someone who isn't their soulmate. Adrien himself can't imagine a life without Marinette by his side.

Without acknowledging the civilians Robin plops himself right next to Marinette and continues reading his book. Adrien makes a few attempts at conversation only to be met with silence and Marinette's reassurance that it's not his fault.

After a bit more chatting Nightwing jogs in, “Hey guys sorry to bother you, but Jaime is going to need this room next.”

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

As they walk down the barren hallways hovering over Ladybug’'s shoulder Adrien whispers into her ear, “So, who is he exactly? I know he’s Robin, but…” 

“Who am I? I'm simply the better option.” Robin looks back at Adrien with a gaze sharp enough to cut steel. The better option for what? Marinette? Adrien is literally her soulmate. It's written in the stars for them to be together.

“Oh hush.” Marinette chides Robin before turning back to them. “We got into a fight the other night so I may have been harsh with him, but despite his asshole exterior and mainly asshole interior, he’s actually quite the decent guy once he starts to care about you. Very much giving the grinch who stole Christmas.”

“DAMIANNNNN!” A voice booms from a distance as Robin and Ladybug facepalm. A flash of blue and red tackles Robin as Robin brings his fist onto the head of what looks like Superboy. 

“Identities you dunce! This is her civilian family.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose Marinette sighs.

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

A few hours later the Agrestes and the Dupain-Chengs are sitting across from the Reyes family who just learned about Jaime’s superabilities and double life. The Agrestes act as translators for the Dupain-Chengs who have much weaker English skills. They talk about the shock they’re under and concerns for their children’s safety. 

Nightwing tries to reassure them. “Your children are in safe hands I would never let them get hurt if it is in my control. Being a part of the Teen Titans gives powerful young adults the chance to use their powers for the greater good and train for when they’ll be needed in larger-scale attacks. I know you are concerned, but your children are extremely capable heroes.” 

“Got it.” With those words Damian projects the CCTV footage he's been analyzing onto the wall and continues typing away on his computer. On the wall is a clip of a group of ten individuals clad in all black running down a white pristine hall and then the footage cuts to those same individuals in a control room. 

The teen heroes in the room clamor around the projection. “So then what are we waiting for, why aren't we leaving now?!” The Blue Beetle is clearly worked up, most likely because of the endangerment of his family.

“Well normally we would need to figure out who these people are who breached, but considering Robin’s personality I’m sure he already has an answer,” Marinette answers with an air of confidence, an attitude Adrien has not seen her carry since Lila entered their school. 

Adrien tunes out some of the conversation from here as he realizes the exact reason why Marinette 

seemed somewhat unbothered when he told her that the reason their friends don’t invite her to hang out anymore is because she can’t get along with Lila. She had friends here, not just friends, an entire life he didn’t know about. 

“...the Scarlet Toad Society.” By the time Adrien tunes back into the conversation Marinette is staring intensely at an enhanced image of a wrist from the CCTV footage. “Every member of their society wears that bracelet. They’re mainly active in South-East Asia. It is weird that they made the trip to North America to infiltrate the Hall of Justice. Which means–”

“They have a target in mind. The Teen Titan folder would not be the easiest one to grab. They were looking for it.” Robin cuts her off. “But they have yet to visit Jaime’s family nor yours or the Agrestes. None of the traps in the Titan Tower have gone off either. Does anyone have contacts in South-East Asia we should be worried about?” Ravager and Superboy shake their heads.

“Wouldn’t you already know?” Jaime coldly asks Robin. 

Robin opens up his mouth to retort, but before he can Marinette steps in between them and covers his mouth with the back of her hand. “He knows that this isn’t entirely your fault, but his family is potentially in danger let him have this.” Silently fuming Damian scowls before turning back to the monitor in front of him. Clearing her throat Marinette continues, “I can’t think of any contacts I have there, but I can ask The Order to keep an eye on the happenings there, you may want to do the same with any shadows you can contact. For now, I think the best thing we can do is wait. I would offer to go in undercover, but I think we’ll be needing more information first.”

Marinette turns Damian’s chair around so that he is facing everyone and wraps her arms around his neck from behind to calm him. With this action, Adrien feels his heart drop down to his stomach. “Jaime, Ravager, Superboy how about you show our guests to their sleeping quarters? Dames and I–” Damian cuts her off with a glare, “Hey, Superboy over there already outed your first name, as long as they don’t find out the rest I don’t see why we can’t call you Dames. Anyway, we will work on getting some dinner settled, you can come back here in an hour or so after getting settled. Sound good?” 

“Aye Aye Captain!” Shouted Ravager and Superboy in a mock salute, and with that Damian and Marinette headed back in the direction of the kitchen while the civilians and remaining heroes shuffled into yet another hallway. 

From the distance Adrien can hear Marinette shout, “Take good care of my family Superboy!”

“I’ve got Mari’s family, you can go with Jaime Rav!” Shouts Superboy. After the short tour of their assigned space, he asks them if they have any questions. 

“This uh, it may sound silly, but could I ask… what’s Mari’s relationship with Robin? They seem pretty close. I think I might’ve even heard her call him her best friend.” Adrien feels ridiculous for even asking, but the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach just won’t go away.

Jon dramatically gasps, “She said that?? He’s supposed to be my best friend! They’re more like– more like– Ah! I got it! A bickering elderly couple!” 

“A-Are they–” Adrien stutters out in disbelief. Marinette would tell him if she was in a relationship right? They’re soulmates, they’re supposed to tell each other everything! But…but…Adrien realizes they haven’t been telling each other everything. Marinette has been hiding being a superhero for over 5 years. Maybe he doesn’t know her as well as he thought he did. 

“O-Oh! Oh gosh, I am so sorry I forgot you’re her soulmate. It’s not that they are an elderly bickering couple, they just act like it! But also maybe they…well I’m not sure if it’s my place to tell you I wouldn’t be a very good best friend if I did.” Jon looks extremely conflicted, but tries to figure out what to say so that Marinette won’t kill him on site the next time they meet. “Well you know I think if anything she would tell you! Marinette is a good person! Oh would you look at the time, we should head back, dinner could be any moment now!”

At dinner that night all Adrien could taste was the bitter realization that maybe he didn’t know Marinette as well as he thought he did.

[trishacollins]

Merry Christmas Trisha! ❤️🎄

You know me, I am a Senticousins hurt/comfort girlie at heart, but I have a special craving for Felix being the one to comfort Adrien… It’s such an underused dynamic.

Maybe… Maybe with some platonic bed sharing if you feel like it… In any case I love them being physically affectionate with all the trust that implies on both sides. Especially given one was physically abused and the other could literally destroy him through a single touch. I am getting emotional OK BYE

Merry Christmas Nina My Love! I hope you enjoy!

The room is dark – he can vaguely see the rise and fall of Adrien’s chest in the darkness, but his cousin is otherwise completely still and silent.

The blinds are all closed, and Adrien hasn’t turned on any light sources.

It looks like a depression nest if he’s ever seen one.

“Are you just going to stay in bed all day?” He asks, keeping his tone conversational.

He didn’t need the six hundred text messages from Marinette to know that things had gone horribly, terribly wrong. That Adrien had found out one of the dozen secrets she had been keeping, and reacted badly enough that she was afraid for his safety.

He didn’t need them, but he had them.

It was an accident. She didn’t know it was Adrien she was talking to.

The new Butterfly Holder had been involved.

“Go away, Felix.” Adrien rasped in the darkness.

Felix ignores the faint command, slipping off his shoes and padding to the bed.

“Go *away*.” Adrien snarls, and he isn’t foolish enough to not hear the wetness in his voice. “leave me alone. That’s all everyone ever does!”

“No.” Felix answers simply, taking off his jacket and crawling under the duvet with Adrien, scooting until they’re side by side.

He sort of expects Adrien to swat at him, but his cousin is limp under the blankets.

“You’re sort of proving her point.” He muses. “She felt like you would react badly.”

“Shut up, Felix.” Adrien whispers, and turns his head away.

Felix fumbles around under the blanket, interlocking their fingers and squeezing gently. “I’m sorry, for what it’s worth.”

“You’re not.” Adrien mutters.

“I am, actually. I never wanted to lie about your father’s true nature. I think you already knew who and what he was capable of being. Having him venerated as a hero when you knew all of that...it was hard.”

Adrien’s fingers squeeze back weakly, twisting and interlocking. “Everyone lied to me.”

“I know.”

“They built a statue of him. People-people worship him.” Adrien’s crying, messy, choked sobs that shake the bed.

Felix holds his hand. “We could destroy it.”

That derails Adrien enough to pause. “What?”

“Spray paint a his face, cover him in graffiti about how terrible his clothing was – tell people he got upstaged by his assistant?” He squeezes Adrien’s hand.

“He would hate that.” It’s a laugh, watery and miserable, Adrien’s head thunks against his shoulder with a wet sniffle.

“You wouldn’t.”

“I wouldn’t.” Adrien agrees. “Why couldn’t I know anything?”

“Well, Akuma were a concern. I think your girlfriend is traumatized and putting herself in a bubble.” He says. “Other than that – she wanted to protect you.”

“I’m tired of being protected. I want to be-to be able to remember him and hate him without feeling guilty about how he died.”

“Noted.”

Adrien twists their hands, rolling onto his side. “Why did you tell her?”

“Kagami’s suggestion.” He admits. “Kagami trusted her, we didn’t know about you – and...well. Your Amok.”

Adrien’s face impacts his shoulder with a wet moan.

“I can make you decoys.” He offers softly.

“I don’t know where I could put them that they’d be safe.” Adrien’s miserable tone is familiar. “I’ve been just wearing them around, not knowing- what do I even do with them?”

“Well, it’s...it’s inconvenient.” Felix admits, twisting his own Amok on his finger with his thumb. “The paranoia never goes away. But you do get used to it.”

“You would know.” Adrien’s face is pressed tight against his shoulder.

“I do. Kagami as well. She has a decoy ring she wears.” He squeezes his hand. “You are not alone in this.”

“You were.”

Felix smiles faintly. “I was never alone – even if you didn’t know, we were always the same. We were lucky in that respect.”

“Lucky.” Adrien sighs. “I’m the most unlucky person in the world.”

“I feel fortunate to have you.” He tells him gently.

“Thanks.” Adrien mumbles, and is quiet for a moment before he says. “I’m still mad at you, but – it’s the same. For me.”

“You can be mad at me.” He offers, generous. “Are you mad at Marinette?”

“Furious.” A sniffle. “But I love her, too. It’s- why did she…”

A miserable sound, more animal than human, escapes his cousin.

“We’re supposed to be a team.” He whispers.

“She’s very clever.” Felix says quietly. “But- her parents seem nice.”

Adrien snorts. “She doesn’t know how to tell the truth because she has good parents?”

“Your parents are terrible.” Felix points out. “Selfish creatures. Self obsessed. She didn’t know how to handle that – and your father, is very good at manipulating people.”

“She knew he was Hawkmoth.” Adrien grumbles.

“And you didn’t. And he was dead.” Felix is playing the devil’s advocate with gusto – he can feel Adrien knows it. “So she told a lie, which promptly – because she’s Ladybug and the world bends to her whim – twisted out of her control into something far larger than one might hope. And Kagami’s mother – certainly looking to save her own skin – reinforced it with that horrid statute.”

“I hate it when you do that. Let me just be upset about this.” Adrien complains.

“You cry like a toddler.”

Adrien hits him with a pillow, and Felix returns the favor swiftly.

It’s not comforting, exactly, the wrestling they’re doing in Adrien’s bed. It’s a twist of limbs and bodies, both of them fit enough to know how to pin someone and too fit to allow someone else to pin them easily.

They end up tangled around each other, Adrien’s face pressed into his chest, breathing ragged and still a bit wet.

“Better?” Felix asks, cautiously stroking his hair.

“Yeah.” Adrien sniffles a bit, rubbing his cheek against his shirt.

“If you get snot on me, cousin, you will buy me a new shirt.” Felix commands, but he really doesn’t mind.

“I’m sure I can handle the expense.” Adrien yawns, and then makes a deep rumbling noise in his chest that takes Felix several long moments to recognize as a purr.

“That is extraordinary. How long have you been able to do that?” He asks, running his fingers through his cousin’s hair.

“Dunno. Just could.” Adrien’s rumbling purr remains, and he doesn’t move from his spot.

“Once you have finished your emotional episode, I have a million questions.” Felix offers softly.

Adrien doesn’t respond, breathing evening out as he falls asleep.

Which is alright, Felix doesn’t mind this sort of entrapment.

[liquid-luck-00]

Marks of Magic

Day 6 Cat of Maribat Spooktober 2023

First *** Previous *** Next

Language and cursing is used

1600 Words

~~~~~~~~~~

Well shit.

"Miss Marinette how do you know of the kwamii, especially those two?" Alfred questioned and she curled a bit under his gaze.

"I… Paon." She looked up at him, but averted her eyes towards Jay, but he was staring at both herself and Alfred. "August 24th 1944."

She looked up, the words she was speaking didn’t seem like her own. But she knew them all the same. Alfred seemed to pale.

"How do you know that?" He staggered slightly, catching himself on the back of a couch.

"It’s when they were lost." She shrugged, the story that Fu passed to her easily came to her mind, because it wasn’t her memory but Fu’s. (Guardians pass memories along to the next so they wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes.)

"I am so lost, Alfie?" Dick rose and tried to get the older man to talk.

"You are much to young."

"Ha." She snorted. "And you think I didn’t tell Fu that."

She crossed her arms.

"Where are they? You said they were lost, how? I can’t seem to remember." Dick had gotten him to sit down but his every question sent pangs through her heart.

"They have been found, and are safe." She was still fiddling with her ring.

"The miraculous of the black cat." Alfred spoke so certainly that it forced her to look up, away from the the kwamii she had drawn. "Where is he? He can come out, we…"

He looked around at the boys but stopped when his eyes landed on her. Silent tears rushed her face, all the words she has been wanting to share choked her.

Tikki, she wishes she was still here but that will never happen. Plagg, she didn’t meet often but he really did care about her, the other kwamii, and especially Chat Noir. Chat Noir has it worse she has told herself constantly. More than likely Plagg was his friend too and then overnight without warning he was gone, no way to contact her, and not knowing why.

"Nettie…" Jay stepped towards her, quickly glancing between her and Alfred, stopping in his tracks. "What’s going on?"

"They’re gone." She finally choked out. "I got the grimore, Nooroo, and even Dusuu back, but… I miss them."

"What did you do?" Alfred dropped down onto the floor and lifted her chin.

"I won the war in Paris."

"What war?" Dick she thinks spoke but her eyes were on Alfred, his aura calming her.

She pulled out her phone and quickly searched it, turning the device towards the others.

"What is this!" A voice she wasn’t expecting practically growled, Bruce was standing in the room, reading over Dick’s shoulder.

"You made a wish?"

The question wasn’t accusatory, but she flinched. "No, but it might have hurt less if I did." She finally looked away from the group.

"Marinette, who are you?" Alfred asked her, she looked up and something clicked a flash of dark blue light emulated from him. Pinned on his lapel was none other than the miraculous of the peacock. The man tenderly touched the broach as if it was going to disappear forever, she knew she could trust him, so with that she took a breath.

"I am, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Holder of the miraculous of the ladybug, the heroine of Paris, Ladybug, and the guardian of the Chinese zodiac Box of Miracles." She addressed resolutely, her conviction and pride fueled every word, while understanding seemed to flood Alfred’s features.

"If I had known… " Alfred whispered, looking at her like the pieces fell into place.

"Are you saying this happened, that children fought this maniac. Why not ask for help, there are other heroes in Paris, even the Justice League could have sent reinforcements." Bruce seemed to seethe.

"It’s not like I was given a choice, the other heroes left or quit, besides the Justice League knew about it and did nothing." She became defensive, even if she felt she could trust them, Bruce’s tone rubbed her the wrong way. She started this fight at the tender age of 11. Fought a magical war while trying to not feel anything for 3 years. Endured bullying and heartbreak for just as long, but couldn’t let herself feel it. So yes she is angry when someone she barely knows is offering ‘solutions’ when she had exhausted them long ago.

She didn’t even notice how quiet the room had gotten, but was staring at the man who offended her character. She was a child when all this started, of course she tried, but why, why would he be so mad. That is what she didn’t understand.

"Master Bruce calm yourself!" Alfred scolded the other adult in the room. (Who was making a straight beeline towards the grandfather clock to his right.)

"It doesn’t matter anymore, it’s over." She sighed finally deflating, knowing that anything done now won’t change anything.

"Miss Marinette, that is not nothing." Alfred stood and faced her.

"That is not something you should have had to do alone."

"I wasn’t, I had a partner." She mumbled as if it would change the minds of the adults.

"You said you were the holder of the ladybug miraculous, but you are wearing the miraculous of the black cat. Did you wield both?" She was asked by Alfred who seemed to know the most.

"I did a few times, but I wasn’t Plagg’s cat, I was Tikki’s. My partner was Chat Noir, he was the holder of the black cat."

"What happened to him?"

"I don’t know?" She shrugged. She took off the ring and started tracing the face of the ring. "Probably worried, Hawkmoth, Plagg, Ladybug, and Chat Noir disappeared without warning from his life. Black cats really are bad luck."

"Nettie, you’re a hero". Jay was now right in front of her, tentatively he reached out and took her hands.

"Was… the kwamii don’t exist in this universe, not anymore."

"My dear." Alfred placed a hand on the top of her head. "This proves they still can. That they are more of the metaphysical than before."

He tapped the broach before pointing to the ring in her hands before noticing her earrings.

"Why don’t you both go to bed, it’s getting late, and it’s a school night." Bruce finally spoke again. He was still angry, yet she could tell his anger wasn’t towards her. Actually she couldn’t tell who he was angry at, but she knows he is.

"Okay." Mari palmed the last tears from her eyes as Jay stood up and pulled her from the room.

•••

"Alfred tell us all you can." Master Bruce marched down the steps into the cave.

Master Dick and himself followed. "I don’t know what exactly happened to her, but the miraculous, I may be able to shed some light on."

"If my math is correct she was eleven when all of that started. B she was a child." Master Dick was horrified.

Although he went through similar event he was older, the boy was only 13 at the time of his parents accident after all. Master Bruce was also young during his parents death, and although he became the Bat it wasn’t until he was and adult.

"Why did no one take it seriously?" He was scanning all calls to the Justice league, until a call log from Paris showed on the screen marked from two and a half years ago.

‘You’ve reached the Justice League, how can we help?’ A bored voice, the log said Booster Gold, answered the phone with a yawn.

‘Hello! Please Paris needs adult heroes, all the older heroes left and we can’t keep this up!’ A young female voice started to rush their words.

‘I’ve told you before, kid, nothing has happened in Paris. Stop prank calling. This line is only for actual emergencies that require actual heroes.’ Booster Gold seemed to wave the girl off. ‘Don’t call again.’

They continued through the log, some earlier calls were looked into but since nothing seemed to be proven they dropped the inquiry. If what they saw from the site the Ladyblog it was no wonder. All damage all lives taken were brought back in pristine condition. Ladybug, Marinette, and who she called Chat Noir were the primary heroes for the past three years. Few other heroes would aid them, which he recognized the miraculous that they used.

"We can’t do anything about this can we." Master Jason had come down into the cave. "She’s asleep."

"The past is past, unfortunately." Master Bruce dragged his hands down his face. "Besides these children are practically meta, or even magic users, right?"

"Yes. But don’t forget these children grew into child soldiers and more than likely they could not trust anyone with this pressure. If Miss Marinette’s emotional collapse is any indication." Alfred supplied.

"Jay go to bed Dick and I will go on patrol."

"But."

"Jason." Bruce snapped at the boy.

"Fine…" The child surrendered, all his fight leaving him at Bruce’s words. The boy trudged up the steps.

"Bruce he’s worried for his friend! Can’t you see that." Master Dick slammed his hands on the desk in front of him.

"She’s a meta Dick."

"She is a child."

"That doesn’t change facts." Bruce spun around to face his elder ward.

"You work with aliens, metas, even magic users, and so do I. Our teams are made up by them, so what’s the difference." Master Bruce didn’t say anything, making the young man even angrier. "Figure it out Bruce." Dick started to walk away, before turning back. "Don’t call until you do."

He left without another word.

"Master Bruce."

Silence.

Next

~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist:

@jennifer-rose123 @toodaloo-kangaroo @joydone07 @mizzy-pop

[marauderundercover]

Rain (One Shot)

The rain pounding incessantly on the window jerks Jason out of dreamland, and thrusts him immediately into flashes of dirt, scratched wood, and broken nails. Breathing heavily, he doesn’t dare close his eyes, feeling as though losing his sense of sight would be catastrophic, even if just momentarily. He wished it was brighter, that there was a light down here with him. He wished he didn’t have to wake up in total darkness, that he could see something- anything. The darkness surrounding him closes around him and he immediately stills. He didn’t want to touch the sides of the coffin, didn’t want to accidentally knock more dirt down with him than was necessary. He tries to breathe normally, but the sudden feeling of dirt falling down his throat makes his feeble attempts impossible. He gags on the taste of the earth around him, the damp soil rich with worms and plants and his own previously dead body. Somehow, he’s able to flip himself over so that he can breathe in the musty smell of the silk lining of his coffin instead of the mouthfuls of dirt he was getting before. The storm raging around him does little to help him ground himself, and not even the distant feeling of someone near him can help him stay calm. Thunder booms, shaking the windows and throwing him back even further- into explosions and broken glass, fire and sand. He can’t help the whimper that slips through. Almost immediately, the form beside him moves and he can distantly feel a soft hand intertwining with his own. A soft humming sound appears in the distance, and Jason manages to focus on that instead of every other bad thing surrounding him. 

Eventually, the smell of damp soil fades away. The feeling of sand slips through his fingers as if it was never there, and what he was once sure was silk underneath his left palm roughens out into a much safer cotton. Jason lets out a shaking breath, still careful not to close his eyes. 

“Jay?” A voice says softly, and only then does Jason realize the humming had stopped. Careful not to jostle the bed too much, he rolls over to face his girlfriend, but still avoids her eyes. 

“I’m fine.” He says, his voice rough and scratchy. He winces at the slight pain in his throat. Had he been screaming? Marinette pulls him into a hug, and they just lay there in silence. Jason does his best to ground himself in the moment, to ignore the rain that had yet to stop. 

“It’s okay if you’re not.” Marinette says gently. Jason blinks, tilting his head a little so that he could look at her face better. 

“What?” He asks. She smiles, but it’s a sad smile. Not the wide smile she gets when she talks about Jagged Stone’s newest album. Not the small smile she gives him across the table at dinner. No, this smile was sad. And he couldn’t quite place why. 

“The storm. If you’re not okay with it, and with the memories that it brings, that’s okay. You don’t have to always be fine. It’s okay.” She says gently. Jason’s shoulders slump as he lets Marinette pull him impossibly closer. Sometimes, he just needed to be held. To know that he was safe. He wasn’t sure when things had shifted. When he had started to believe, again, that he was worthy of love and care. That his own feelings also mattered. Sure, he still slipped sometimes. He just wrote it off as a side effect of dying and coming back to life though. Taking another steadying breath, Jason lets himself relax completely. He was safe. And he was loved. 

[magnolia-miraculous]

A. Agreste (aka Chat Noir) Headcanons <3

Kind of a lot tbh—just headcanons that I like to apply in my AUs when they don’t clash with their particular premises. It’s just a hot mess under the cut yeah? Cool.

He was actually in ballet classes as a kid—the same ones as Chloé.

What’s funny is that Marinette was there too. However, boys and girls were kept separate and so he only really knew Chloé.

He only found out when he was going through his closet and found a shoe box with his old shoes and a bunch of class photos; he noticed Marinette in the corner of one.

He’s still really flexible though.

He actually used to go to see a live rendition of The Nutcracker each Christmas.

He wanted to play the Rat King rlly badly.

He’s got a killer steady hand that makes for rlly good cursive.

He has the neatest handwriting in the class, and takes rlly good notes too—particularly in physics.

He’s also got terrible sense in fashion. He knows good stuff when he sees it, but doesn’t know bad stuff is bad at all.

He really likes milk; in some horrible twist of fate, he’s also lactose intolerant.

He’s totally touch starved and rlly touchy feely w/ certain people.

He refuses to kill bugs. He once screamed and lifted Alya up off her feet for trying to squash a spider in the middle of science class.

He put it in a cup before disappearing for a good five minutes so he could walk all the way over to the park to release it where it would be safe.

He’s English and French.

He really likes gelato—specifically passionfruit; peach is a close second tho.

He knows how to run in heels; has a subtly burning hatred for them.

He really likes light up sneakers though and always wanted a pair.

He knows Morse code.

Rlly ticklish.

Sneezes super loudly.

Really crappy immune system thanks to never being allowed outside his castle walls; he got sick like three times within the first two months of school.

He really likes Piano Man by Billy Joel and can sing and play the whole thing.

Honestly his music taste consists of five types of music: Heavy/classic rock, classical/classical-style music (In The Hall of The Mountain King slaps ok), Billy Joel, chill-somber-sad-theatric-feels-y, and whatever the heck that migraine-inducing bs he’s got stashed in the back is.

His Spotify is a hot mess tbch; lots of spontaneous playlists depending on how he felt at the moment. The titles are usually smth along the lines of “ifykyk”, “vibe”, or “yeah”; either that or just the playlist #.

He has like five that are nice enough to send ppl, and those are the only ones he’s listened to more than twice. They’re called “Classical Vibes”, “Cheese Demon”, “Billy Joel Aesthetic”, “sad”, and “Spontaneous 2am Dance Party OST”.

He’ll literally save recommended playlists and never listen to them.

He never bothers to clean it up though, and has 600+ playlists sitting around.

Also he used to drink a ton of pediasures as a kid and his father doesn’t let him drink them anymore bc he’s not a little kid anymore obviously but he would kill for a muscle milk.

He’ll throw up if he ever tries to eat kale again; it’s a trauma response ok.

Emotion smart but social dumb.

Honestly kinda yandere ngl.

I mean have you seen this man?? Cheez-its man, chill.

He resists when in civilian form but once he’s transformed it’s Full Gremlin Mode activated.

He’s not good at drawing but he does try; he does a lot of blob style digital and is slowly getting better.

He overcomes his feelings of being stuck and not knowing what to do in life as seen in wish maker when he spends time with the Dupain-Chengs and realizes that that is what he wants. He then dreams of working in the bakery one day.

Cannot for the life of him resist eating the batter, ok. He needs it. He’s gonna get heckin’ salmonella one of these days and it’s going to have been worth it.

He gets really good at frosting “flower” cupcakes. He switches to succulents pretty easily after learning how to airbrush. They’re adorable.

Also really good at modeling lil fondant animals and things.

He’s developed separation anxiety surrounding both ladybug and Marinette—he rlly just wants to have both of them in one place at once and he’s rlly sad that it somehow never seems to happen; he’s rlly happy post-reveal.

He rlly loves babysitting; like honestly he loves kids, so so so much; if he weren’t thinking of taking over the bakery (and/or tied down as Chat Noir), he’d probably become a pediatric nurse or a daycare attendant or smth bc 💞💞💞

He’ll leave the press to Ladybug so he can talk w/ the akuma victims and make sure they’re okay.

He’ll escape out his window and climb to high places when stressed to pace.

Once lost a Chat Noir look alike contest.

Has referred to his civilian self as, and I quote, a “dipshit boytoy” whilst en costume.

He became a total night owl thanks to his miraculous but he’s just rlly good at pretending to not be tired.

He’s more cat than he’d like to admit:

He’ll react to catnip when transformed;

He’ll also chase laser pointers;

He subconsciously stares at birds;

Once a bird got stuck in the classroom and everyone was freaking out trying to catch it in a wire trash bin and stuff but it kept evading them so Adrien looked up and pulled out his music, watched it for a second, and then caught it by the feet mid-flight;

He brought it closer to himself and calmed it down as best he could, petting it as he walked over to the window to let it out;

Everyone was flabbergasted but no one said anything as he went back to working and by the time anyone could speak it was kinda late for questions;

He gets the zoomies at the most inconvenient times;

He’s made incredibly uneasy by dogs despite actually being more of a dog person.

Also more destruction powers seeping in alongside the cat attributes:

When he’s is in a funk, there’s crappy cell service, lights flicker, machines go haywire and burn out;

If he’s REALLY upset, drinking glasses and crystal can spontaneously combust;

His powers trickle over into when he’s a civilian;

He just keeps getting more and more frustrated with his computer as it begins to function less and less and keeps giving increasingly worse error codes;

He’s in a funk for the first half the day at school and for some reason the wifi is down;

His mood is lifted after a good lunch break and all of a sudden the computers are working super fast;

Though it frustrates him at first, Adrien learns to hone his powers and either repress or, if needed, direct them.

That’s all I have for now! Feel free to adopt/modify any of these as you please :)

[gale-gentlepenguin]

"Just because you're unhappy doesn't mean I have to be too." -Adrien to Gabriel, most certainly

The words echoed in the main hall of the Agreste mansion.

The quiet mansion fell even more silent. Adrien felt shocked by his own statement. Did he really say that to his father?

“Adrien.” His father spoke up, his tone clearly trying to push past his shock and reel back control. “I am your father…”

“Then maybe start acting like one!” Adrien snapped.

Gabriel felt his hand shake behind his back.

“What has gotten into you?”

Adrien thought about it for a moment. This was it, it was his chance to tell his father how he felt. For some reason he never had the chance to let him know, he always built up confidence only for it to shrink right after his father spoke. But right now, he was not going to back down.

“Why can you never let me be happy!? Everything I want to do or try is always turned down. It’s only when you have some sort of alternative or convenience that I ever get a modicum of joy. I thought things were different, I thought you were finally changing… I thought maybe you were ready to try and be my dad again.”

Gabriel watched his son’s expression shift. He could see the frustration in his son’s eyes.

“Why can’t you let me be with Marinette?” The question had tears welling in Adrien’s eyes.

Gabriel felt himself pause for a moment. But it was at that moment he realized that this was something he could use.

Gabriel’s expression shifted to sorrow. He covered his face and turned away, as if to weep.

“I have failed you my son! I’m sorry.”

Adrien’s drive felt halted by the sight of his father supposedly crying.

“Father?”

“I am dying Adrien.”

The statement shook Adrien.

“What?”

Gabriel removed his glove to reveal the blackened skin.

“I’m on borrowed time. Everything I had been doing was to prepare you for… for the inevitable.”

“Papa please tell me you are joking.”

“I wish I was but there is nothing I can do. Soon, I and Nathalie will depart from this world.”

“Nathalie? She’s sick too.”

“Yes Adrien… it’s the same disease that took your mother. There is no cure.”

“That can’t be true! There has to be something I can do!” Adrien felt his heart sink, he felt the horror of the situation hit him like a truck.

“I’ve been searching for a cure… and it’s impossible, unless…”

“Unless what?!”

Gabriel smiled darkly for a moment, before shifting to his sorrowful expression and turning to his son.

“Do you remember that book I had in the safe?”

Adrien paused for a moment, remembering that misadventure.

“In it there is a way… two magical items needed to grant a wish.”

Adrien realized what his father was saying.

“The miraculous…”

“Yes… the miraculous are the only way to save me… save us.”

Adrien took a step back.

“But… the miraculous are dangerous… monarch is after them! He wants to use the power to wish…”

“Wish for his family to return. That’s all he ever wanted.”

The final pin dropped. Adrien understood the situation. All the cards were on the table, Gabriel’s last emotional punch.

“You’re monarch….” Adrien stumbled backwards. Falling on the ground.

“Adrien…. Please. Help me end all of this. Help me make us a family again. That wish will fix everything.”

Adrien felt his heart rip in two as he saw his father’s pleading…

He started to try and get up… to run away. He needed to get out of there!

“As your father… I ask you to stay.”

Adrien felt his muscles freeze…. He couldn’t move. Why was he unable to move!?

“Help me get Ladybug and chat noir’s miraculous… and once it’s finally over we can all be happy.”

Adrien noticed his father touching the ring. This wasn’t his father begging him… it was an order. He felt his body being compelled to obey.

“Plagg… help…” he whispered as he felt his will being sapped.

“Tell me you will hel….” Gabriel’s expression stopped as he saw a kwami fly out of his son’s jacket.

“Cataclysm!”

Plagg touched Gabriel’s forehead before he could even respond.

“No!”

His face started to turn black much like his arm… but this spread rapidly and instantly Gabriel dropped to the floor and turned to ash leaving his clothes and rings…

Adrien was gasping for air… his father was controlling him, his father was monarch, he was a sentimonster, and … his father was gone.

[lily-drake]

The Demon’s Queen

Chapter Thirteen

First <> Previous

Marinette’s skin was buzzing, but for once it wasn’t in a bad way that was caused by poisons or getting her butt handed to her, though she was now lasting longer and longer on the mats.  No, it was something almost warm and inviting.  She had not been expecting Talia to have been so…understanding.  It was a welcoming difference, just not one she had been expecting.  

“Marinette.”  Talia began, her voice warm and sweet as honey.  “Follow me, I would like to see how well you have been able to keep up on your education studies.”  Marinette perked up at that, quickly following after the older woman.  While the boy had placed her in classes such as: War Strategy, Arabic lessons, and different “fundamental” type classes, she was sure that Talia would allow her to study something else.  

“Marinette, you are a healer.  Though my son understands the importance of this role, he does not fully recognize what it means to you.  You held the Ladybug Miraculous as another part of you for many years, so much so that I have seen the subtle hints of your power coursing through your blood when you battle.  However, you were also blessed by the Miraculous of Destruction as the Guardian of the box.”

“Why does that matter now?  Without my Miraculous I can’t use my magic.”  Marinette asked, pain hidden behind her stoic facade.

“And that my dear, is where you’re wrong.  You are the guardian, you do not need to hold the Miraculi in or hand to weild it’s power.”  Talia explained as she opened the doors to a large library she had never seen before.  “As you were exposed most to the powers of creation, your gifts will lie first and foremost in that of creation and healing rather than death and destruction.  And I assure you, that is not something that should be frowned upon in this line of work.”  

They walked past large shelves filled to the brim with scrolls and ancient tomes until they stopped in front of a shelf in one of the farthest corners of the library.  From the top of the shelf she polled out an ancient tome with no markings on it firm leather cover that could hint at what it was about, but Talia seemed to know what it was anyway.  “This, is my father’s research on past holders and the powers that they maintained long after use and loss of the Miraculi.  I think that you will find the information located in this book rather insightful.”  Marinette took the book, holding the ancient thing carefully as she hugged it close to her chest, as if that action alone would keep it safe.  Talia gave her a warm smile, and gently patted her head, ignoring the way Marinette ever so slightly leaned into the touch.

Marinette stared up at Talia, her blue eyes still unable to hide the questions and curiosity she tried to hide.  Though it was obvious that Marinette wanted to ask her something, she stayed silent.  Talia didn’t say anything either, waiting to see if the young woman would break or if she would hold herself back.

“Thank you Ma’am.  I will study this carefully.”  There it was.  Talia simply gave a light dip if her head before turning and escorting Marinette out of the room.  Talia watched as the young girl turned down the hall towards her quarters, and smiled.  Marinette’s steps barely made a sound.

__________

“What do you mean you can not take the box back?”  Damian seethed as he glared down at the three Guardians before him.  “Is it not your original responsibility to obtain and keep these jewels safe from others?”

“It is Demon’s Head, however the box no longer belongs specifically to me.”  Grand Guardian Su-Han stated calmly.

“Do you truly expect me to believe that you have no way to remove your curse from another yourselves?”  Damian demanded, leaning back against his throne.

“Not unless you wish for her memories to be completely erased.”  Damian kept his face passive though he was burning on the inside.  How was it that the only options here were for his protégé to either keep their curse or lose their memory of everything to be set free?!  While it was true Marinette losing her memory would make molding her far easier, he did not wish for her to lose what made her great; her intimate knowledge of battle and unwavering need to become better—even if the need was driven on an attempt to escape.

“If you can not fulfill this properly then I wish for you to renounce Marinette from belonging to your Order.  She belongs to The League of Assassins now and no one else.”  The guardians shared a look amongst the others before staring back at The Demon’s Head.  They did not want to give up one of their own, but if Damian was anything like Ra’s al Ghul, he would not hesitate to attack their temple.  If they had more time, they would be able to defend themselves from such an attack, but they were still recovering from their sudden return and thus were too weak.

“If we let you have the young Guardian, will you promise not to harm our sacred temple while we rebuild ourselves?”  

“Tt.  I am not as cowardice as to attack while you are defenseless without cause.  And I have no cause.”  Damian replied flippantly.

“Very well.  I, Grand Guardian Su-Han, relinquish my pupil Guardian Marinette Dupain-Cheng to her new mentor, The Demon’s Head, Damian al Ghul.”  There was an invisible power that hung in the air around them, swift and strong.  Nothing big happened, there was no light show, no gusts of wind, no strings of fate.  Yet, it was magically binding all the same.

“Your presence here is no longer required.  You will be allowed to safely travel back to your temple.  Now leave.”  Damian may not have been able to rid himself of the cursed box, but he no longer had to worry about The Order of the Miraculous trying to retrieve her.  He knew the power given over him didn’t do anything, it gave him no power, it was simply a promise that they would not interfere.  But it filled its purpose nonetheless.  

Damian watched the guardians bow before swiftly leaving the throne room in one smooth motion.  Once he was alone Damian slowly stood from his throne and walked back to his quarters.  

“Looks like your attempt to get rid of us didn’t work out too well, huh Kit.”  Plagg laughed as he flew into Damian’s hair as soon as his door shut.

“Poor Dami.”  Trixx mocked from the bookshelf.

“I normally like rich and powerful men”, Kaalki began, “but you are the one exception.”

Damian sighed in annoyance.  How Marinette handled the childish beings was beyond him.  Plagg laughed, rolling around his hair like a normal cat would do with catnip.  He watched from the corner of his eye as Tikki sat atop the doorframe, glaring down at him with hatefilled eyes.  She didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to.  Damian knew what she thought of him, and he knew that that opinion would not be changing anytime soon, Damian didn’t care.  

With one last sigh, Damian got ready for bed.  He had promised his mother that he’d take Marinette out to the village tomorrow, he’d need to be prepared in case she tried to run off.  And he had no doubt that she would try.

Next

Taglist:

@sinoffalsejudgement @peachmuses @myazael @snnoww26 @dur55 @tip-tap-tired @ledalasombra @jennifer-rose123 @kylamai @plz-excuse-my-inner-gay @stella17luna @meduarts @toodaloo-kangaroo @valeks-star @crazylittlemunchkin @achaoticmess1 @queenz-z @doll246 @aespades @liquid-luck-00 @a-slytherinish-gryffindor @demigraceling-blog @kashlyn @castle-bookworms-world @a-classic-bookworm @wheredoesonegetnameideas @ascetic-orange @night-ngale @0anodite0 @strawberryfire17 @laurcad123 @firestorm0316 @aksartisticlife 

[the-delta-42]

Headache

Headache

Marinette rubbed her eyes as a familiar searing pain appeared behind her eyes. She let out a quiet groan, straining her ears to hear what Ms. Mendeleiev was saying.

“Is there something you’d like to add, Ms. Dupain-Cheng?” Asked Mendeleiev, glaring at Marinette.

“No, professeur, I’ve got a headache, I’m sorry for interrupting.” Responded Marinette, as she felt another stab of pain.

“That’s the fifth headache this week,” Noted Mendeleiev, glancing around the classroom, “Bourgeois, take her to the nurse.”

“What?” Demanded Chloé, staring at the teacher.

“Now.”

Chloé scowled, as Marinette got out of her seat and stumbled slightly. Chloé grabbed Marinette’s arm and practically dragged her to the nurse’s office. Marinette’s headache to taking up most of her attention, so she didn’t argue with Chloé during the trip.

The nurse looked up from her computer and spotted Chloé and Marinette, “Can I help?”

“Dupain-Cheng’s had a headache for the past week.” Said Chloé, before turning on her heel and leaving the office.

“So, this headache,” Said the Nurse, after a moment, “have you been having any other pains alongside it?”

“I’ve been having some issues with my eyes, and I’ve felt dizzy and sick at times.” Said Marinette, wincing with her eyes closed, “I’ve been taking some pain killers, but those haven’t touched it.”

The nurse hummed, before looking at Marinette, “What did your doctor say?”

“He said it’ll pass in a few days.” Responded Marinette, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Do you require glasses?” Questioned the Nurse, typing on her computer.

“I haven’t checked.”

“When you said your doctor told you it’d pass in a few days,” Asked the Nurse, “when did he say that?”

“About a month ago, so in January.”

The Nurse stopped and looked at her, “Marinette, we’re in May.”

H

“And you’ve had this headache for five months?” Asked Dr. Bateman, looking at her computer screen, “And you’ve also been feeling dizzy and nauseous?”

“Yeah.” Replied Marinette, as her mother sat next to her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Interrupted Sabine, looking between Marinette and Dr. Bateman, “Dr. Marsille didn’t ask any questions.”

“I think the migraines, nausea and dizziness are symptoms of another issue.” Confessed Bateman, looking at the mother and daughter, “I’m going to schedule an MRI, just to make sure it isn’t anything to be worried about.”

Sabine and Marinette left the doctors surgery with more questions than answers, and, in Sabine’s case, a quiet voice suggesting everything that could be wrong.

H

Alya chewed on the end of her pen, Lila, while her stories had been interesting at first, was droning on and on about some charity gig she went to with Clara Nightingale or some other popstar. Marinette had left half-way through science to attend a doctors appointment, so Alya was left to deal with the headache that the class often called ‘big boss in charge headache’. Thank you very much Kim, for that oh so wonderful name.

Speaking of Kim, Alya glanced to the side and saw him making spit balls with Alix, each choosing another member of the class at random. Alya groaned as Chloé squawked as a spit ball hit the back of her neck.

When was Mari going to get back?

-

-

“Okay,” Said an orderly, as Marinette was loaded into the MRI machine, “try not to move, so any scans we take are as clear as possible. And, don’t be afraid, it’s going to be loud, but you’ll be quite safe.”

Marinette nodded, feeling terrified, she taken the earrings off and left them with Tikki in her purse. She took a deep breath, before the procedure started.

-

-

“Okay, so,” Said Dr. Bateman, “This is Marinette’s brain, the different areas, like the hippocampus and brain stem. Now, we discovered a mass in your temporal lobe. We believe it’s the source of your headaches, and other symptoms.”

“Is, is it dangerous?” Asked Sabine, as Marinette just stared at the scan.

“We don’t know, we might start preparations for surgery, if that’s what you’d like.” Answered Bateman, as Marinette chewed her bottom lip.

“I-it’s nothing dangerous, right?” Asked Marinette, looking at Bateman.

“Until we do an angiogram, we can’t tell for sure.”

H

A couple weeks and one angiogram later, Marinette sat across Doctor Bateman, with her mother next to her.

“I’ll be honest, finding two abnormal aneurysms was a surprise.” Admitted Doctor Bateman, “We can schedule surgery and have them removed, if you’d like to. There have been people who have had aneurysms that have live long and healthy lives.”

“But…”

“But that number is few.”

Marinette tried to keep herself calm, thinking on the treatment for the aneurysms, “W-when can we have the surgery?”

H

“Okay, we have the tickets bought and the hotel paid for,” Said Bustier, looking over the list, “almost everyone in my class has paid the fee and all the paperwork is up to date.”

“Almost everyone?” Questioned Rebecca Chamber, another teacher, with a smirk on her face, “Is it your resident liar, or one of those blond brats?”

Caline sighed, “Okay, first of all, Adrien isn’t a brat, and it’s Marinette who’s not going on the trip. She has an important appointment.”

“Your little goody two shoes?” Scoffed Chamber, “What’s more important than a trip to London?”

“She has a medical issue.” Responded Bustier, “She needs the time to prepare for the procedure, undergo it and recover from it, by the time we get back, she’ll be ready to reattend class.”

“Ooh, she has a procedure?” Said Chamber, haughtily, “What’s going on? Is she having a face lift?”

“She’d having a brain aneurysm removed.” Said D’Argencourt, “Her parents told us and asked that the news be shared with her teachers, including you, Mademoiselle Chamber.”

“Oh, is that what that email was about?”

“Yes.”

H

“Okay, Marinette,” Said Dr. Bates, looking down at her, “we’ve started the anaesthetic. Now, I want you to count backwards from ten, can you do that for me?”

Marinette gave a small nod.

‘Ten.’

‘Nine.’

‘Eight.’

Marinette didn’t reach seven.

H

When Marinette opened her eyes, she was in a different room. Giving out a small whine as she looked around, before spotting an orderly.

“Hiiii.” Slurred Marinette, giving the orderly a dopey smile.

“Hi.”

“I have a secret.”

“Really?” Answered the orderly, looking at Marinette’s chart.

“’m Ladybug.”

“No way.”

“But it’s a secret.”

The orderly silently nodded, as Marinette rolled onto her side and went to sleep.

“Another Ladybug?” Asked a nurse, getting a nod from the Orderly.

“It’s nice that kids these days have someone positive to look up to.” Commented the Nurse, as they started to wheel Marinette to the discharge ward.

H

Marinette looked around the room she was in, her parents were sitting in the chairs next to her bed and she was scribbling in her sketchbook. A knock alerted them to doctor Bates entering the room, frowning at a scan done after the surgery.

“Is everything alight?” Asked Sabine, making Bates look at them.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” Said Dr. Bates, turning the scan so they could see it, “There appears to have been a mistake, there was only one aneurysm.”

“B-but the scan showed two.” Said Marinette, feeling a chill run down her back.

“We think there might be an issue with the machine,” Confessed Bates, “I was confused when we only found one. It might’ve been large enough to be confused as two, but we’ll schedule an appointment for another scan a few weeks from now.”

H

Marinette rubbed her eyes, squinting at the front of the class, absently rubbing her head. The follow-up scan didn’t show any more abnormal masses and, after a quick chat with Tikki and Alya, Marinette had decided to bring Chat into her secret.

“You okay, girl?” Asked Alya, quietly, jerking Marinette out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, the board’s really fuzzy today, isn’t it?” Responded Marinette, before freezing, “Merde.”

“What?”

“I have an eye test in ten minutes.”

[aalissy]

Sparks

Here's chapter 12 :). And it's a lil identity reveal bc I loveee when these two cuties learn about each other hehe. Lemme know what you think <3

AO3

Adrien quickly ducked into the darkness of a deserted alleyway. His heart pounded loudly in his chest as he peered around the corner. Those stupid Alliance rings were causing him to get mobbed nearly every day by screaming fans.

Luckily, they hadn’t seemed to notice where he had gone as their heads swiveled around, obviously looking for him. He swiped a hand across his brow, sinking back against the wall as he panted for breath. He was safe now. He could transform into Chat Noir and make it home in no time.

However, just as Adrien was about to transform, a soft thump landed next to him. He couldn’t help letting out a small shriek, whirling around to see who had been seconds away from noticing his secret identity. It was Ladybug. Her blue eyes were wide with concern as she peered over at him.

Instantly, he relaxed. It was only Ladybug. He could trust her. She was probably one of the few people he would trust. Minus Marinette of course. If he was going to reveal his identity to anyone, it needed to be his girlfriend. A small smile grew on Adrien’s face as he thought about her.

“Are you alright, Adrien?” Ladybug’s voice broke through his thoughts and he shook his head as he looked back at her. “I noticed that you seemed caught up with those fans over there. Did you need some help?”

He chuckled, shifting on his feet as he ran a hand through his hair nervously. “No, I-I’m fine. I don’t think that they noticed I came in here.”

Her worried expression softened into a smile, and she took a step closer to him. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, her voice gentle. "But if you ever need help, just let me know. I'm always here for you."

Adrien nodded, feeling a warmth spread through him at her words. She was always so kind. "Thanks, Ladybug. I really appreciate it."

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes searching his face. "Are you sure you don't need a lift home? I can make sure you get there safely without any more incidents like that happening."

He hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. Transforming into Chat Noir would obviously be the easiest way but he couldn’t stop the small fear that Ladybug would somehow figure him out. Plus, she seemed so earnest, like she didn’t want to leave him here alone.

"Actually," Adrien said, a shy smile playing on his lips, "I wouldn't mind the company."

Her smile widened, and she extended a hand towards him. "Alright then, hold on tight."

As Adrien reached out to take her hand, a spark of electricity seemed to shoot through him the moment their fingers touched. He gasped, glancing up at Ladybug, who appeared to have felt it too. Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a reassuring smile.

"Ready?" she asked, her grip on his hand firm yet gentle.

Adrien nodded, his heart racing for a reason that had nothing to do with the fans outside. But he... he didn’t like Ladybug like that. At least... not anymore. Not since Marinette had stolen his heart with her bright smile and even brighter blue eyes. He peered up into her own eyes before taking a step closer. "Yeah, I'm ready."

With a graceful leap, Ladybug propelled them both upwards, swinging through the city with practiced ease. Adrien held on tightly, the exhilaration of flying through the air mingling with the strange, almost magical sensation of her touch.

As they neared his home, Adrien's mind wandered. That spark... it felt so... so familiar. Like something he had experienced before. He thought back to all the times he had felt a similar sensation: when Marinette had brushed his hand, or when she had touched his arm.

Could it be? He glanced over at Ladybug, who was focused on their route. Could Ladybug and Marinette be the same person?

They swung into his room from one of his bedroom windows, and Ladybug released his hand, the spark dissipating as quickly as it had come. Adrien turned to her, his curiosity burning.

"Ladybug," he began, hesitating for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"

She looked at him, her eyes bright with interest. "Of course, Adrien. What is it?"

He took a deep breath, deciding to take the plunge. "Have you ever felt... a spark when you touch someone? Like, a really strong connection?"

Ladybug's eyes widened slightly, and she glanced away for a moment before meeting his gaze again. A flush was on her cheeks as she gazed at him almost knowingly. "Yes," she admitted softly. "I have. W-with my boyfriend."

It was her. It just had to be her. Adrien's heart skipped a beat. “I feel the exact same way with my girlfriend.”

A large beam spread across her face as her entire face lit up. “You do?”

“Yeah, I do,” he whispered as a jolt of euphoria raced through him."Ladybug... are you... are you my Marinette?"

Ladybug's eyes widened in shock, and for just a brief moment she was silent before she erupted into a burst of nervous energy. “W-what me?! Marinette? Pfft, no. W-why, um, why would you think that?!”

“Because...” Adrien stepped forward, taking her hand in his and squeezing it as the same spark of electricity sparked along his arm. She gazed down at their hands with wide eyes. “I feel this same spark whenever I touch you. The same spark I’m pretty sure you feel right now.”

She slowly looked up at him, before they fluttered closed. She murmured a few quiet, soft words, causing the transformation to fade. In a flash of pink light, there, standing before him, was Marinette, her eyes filled with both fear and hope.

"Yes, Adrien," she said, her voice trembling. "It's me. I'm Marinette."

Adrien stared at her, his mind racing to process the revelation. And then, with a surge of emotion, he pulled her into a tight embrace. "Marinette," he whispered, his voice filled with awe and relief. "It's you. It's really you."

She hugged him back, tears of joy glistening in her eyes. "Yes, Adrien. It's really me."

At that moment, everything fell into place. The sparks, the connection, the unspoken bond between them—it all made sense now. And as they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Adrien knew that this was just the beginning of their story. 

He brought his lips down to hers as Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck, standing up on her tip-toes as she deepened their kiss. 

“I love you,” he murmured after he pulled away.

“I love you too,” she whispered back before tugging him back down in another wonderful kiss.

[marcmarcmomarc]

Miraculous

Chapter 25: Back To Normal

(Now, the reaction crew and Crossover Characters walk through portals to their home dimensions, shouting farewells.)

MARINETTE: Bye! Thanks for everything! Come back anytime!

(The portals close. Marinette walks away with her friends.)

MARINETTE (V.O.): And so, things are back on track, the way they should be. I’m back with the people I can safely call my friends and family again, and I’m back in François Dupont. Things have changed, of course. Chloé, Sabrina, and Lila have officially joined the friend group, and Lila, Mr. Agreste, and Ms. Sancoeur were sentenced to community service and are on probation until further notice. Also, Mayor Bourgeois made an announcement last week.

(Outside City Hall, André Bourgeois stands before the Parisians with the Miraculous and akuma heroes.)

ANDRÉ BOURGEOIS: (OVER MIC) With the power vested in me, this team will all will continue to work together as Team Miraculous, led by Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

(Everyone cheers for them.)

MARINETTE (V.O.): In other news, Adrien and I have started going out, and I have become a famous face on the city streets.

(Marinette crosses the street to the school. August’s mother passes behind her.)

AUGUST’S MOTHER: Hey, Marinette! Good luck on that test!

MARINETTE: Thanks, ma’am!

QUENTIN’S MOTHER: Excuse me, can my son have an autograph?

MARINETTE: Of course.

(With her pen, Marinette signs the paper.)

QUENTIN: Thanks, Ms. Marinette.

MARINETTE: Anytime.

MARINETTE (V.O.): I also stayed in touch with my new friends, finding out that Luna-TK has since gone on to have a baby with her husband. As for Mr. Agreste, Adrien and I found out what happened to Mrs. Agreste, and we agreed to let him revive her and restore Ms. Sancouer’s health, with the exchange being the aforementioned court sentence. And, no, the universe didn’t restart itself when the wish was made. Oh, and the Peacock Miraculous has been fixed, therefore, it’s safe to use.

(Nathalie puts on the Peacock Miraculous. Coming out of it, Duusu faces her.)

DUUSU: Hello again, Ms. Nathalie.

(Nathalie’s transformation sequence begins.)

NATHALIE: Duusu, spread my feathers!

(As Nathalie throws off her glasses, Duusu enters the brooch. It gains the colors of a peacock tail. Starting from her feet, Nathalie gains her blue dress and fuzzy collar, indigo tights and skin, and blue peacock tail hand fan, becoming Mayura.)

(Mayura lets a feather float into her hand and turns it into an Amok. It floats away and approaches a bear-like akuma hero.)

MAYURA: Hello. I am Mayura. Your Sentimonster will be your ally on this mission.

(In a cloud of purple smoke, another bear appears. Both bears approach a bank as a pair of robbers run out of it. The duo grab the robbers and pin them to the ground as the Miraculous heroes arrive.)

LADYBUG: Well done.

(The robbers are escorted into a police car and taken away. Now, in her room, Marinette climbs the stairs to her bed.)

MARINETTE: I’m just happy with where our lives are now. I went from normal girl with a normal life to class representative to hated in my class to global hero.

(She eyes her bulletin board full of photos of her friends.)

MARINETTE: Besides, as long as I have my friends by my side, what can go wrong?

(Marinette turns off the light above her bed, and she and Tikki go to sleep. Fade to black, ending the story. A message appears.)

In Loving Memory of Philece Sampler 1953 - 2021

[sizzleissues]

Ladrien day 27 - Autograph

Read here on ao3

“You can have your signature, kitty-.” His ears perked up. “-If you catch me when you're civilian you.”

Or under the cut

Chat Noir was suspiciously quiet as they lazied atop the Eiffel Tower. Something had been bothering him since they met up but it wasn’t anything she could figure out from his lingering stares and solemn expression. Whatever it was she’d rather he’d spit it out then let it weigh on him like this.

“Go on, you want to say something.” 

She put the offer out there but didn’t expect an answer. It was much too hot and much too late to muster more than passing concern. She’d review this conversation in the morning when her anxious mind replayed every word to search for the rotten apple. 

“Would you-.” He cut himself off, sinking beside her.

“Yes?”

“Would you sign something for me?”

She waited expectantly for more, that can’t have been everything but no, it really was. Chat Noir stared at her with wide hopeful eyes and a rising excitement.

She probably shouldn’t have laughed. Forgive her, it was 3am, beyond past normal Marinette functioning hours. 

“Really? That’s it!”

“Uh-.”

“You made me worried there for a second.” She slapped his arm playfully, her laugh fading to a grin. 

“So will you?”

“Why? Autographs are for fans. You’re not a fan, you’re my partner. I think that’s better than a measly signature.”

“Civilian me is a fan though! Even my best friend who’s more of a Chat Noir fan has your signature, it’s getting embarrassing at this point.”

He was genuine then. Marinette chewed her lip, looking down at Paris as she tried to think. There wouldn’t be any harm to giving him a signature. If he promised never to show it to anyone or post it at risk of her recognising outside of costume- no, she couldn’t give it to him like this. She couldn’t know who she was signing it for.

“You can have your signature, kitty-.” His ears perked up. “-If you catch me when you're civilian you. I’ll stick around after the next few battles. Just don’t make it obvious.”

“Really? This is great. So great!”

Marinette nodded along, feeling a touch of concern as he spent the rest of the night even more distant. At least it was a happy kind? That was good, right?

—-<0>---

The next few battles had Marinette searching every crowd afterwards for someone vaguely Chat Noir shaped. She knew she shouldn’t, she didn’t want to know his identity but curiosity got the best of her. Chat Noir stayed tight-lipped on whether he’d gotten the autograph yet and she couldn’t help the sinking feeling in her stomach that she’d missed him. 

She squashed those feelings down and eventually her eyes stayed strictly on the fan in front of her, not ahead looking for blond and green. The brief flirtation with the possibility of figuring out his identity had only been interesting because of the danger it brought. She’d confused those feelings for intrigue and not fear, a definitely easy mistake to make. That was all safely behind her now.

So when Chat Noir disappeared moments after fist bumping her she didn’t even notice. There was the akuma victim to comfort and the press to shake off and the fans to satiate. A missing stray didn’t even cross her ray-dar.

“Will I grow up to be as cool as you?” A little girl asked, her adorable cheeks squished up in a huge gap-toothed smile. She gripped a ladybug doll in her hands but her eyes were entirely captivated by the real thing. Marinette kneeled down so they were the same height and held a hand out to her.

The girl tentatively reached for it, her eyes like stars as she touched her palm. Marinette smiled warmly, clasping the girl’s hand in her’s.

“You’ll grow up to be even cooler. I don’t have half as beautiful a smile as you.”

After a hug and photo she toddled after her grateful mother. Marinette’s gaze shifted from the girl to the pair of legs now in the spot in front of her. She had to crane her head back to look up at him, the sun silhouetting his body. It created a hazy halo-like effect around his face where she could only see a brilliant smile. 

“Do I get to be as cool as you when I grow up?”

That voice. So familiar yet just slightly not right. Not enough that a face sprang to mind but just enough she knew something should be happening in her brain besides slight embarrassment of still being crouched down. 

“Well maybe if- Adrien!” She squeaked. 

Adrien blushed, which was strange, as she stared at him. How could she not notice him approaching? She’d been too busy with the girl- This was a disaster. 

“That’s me?”

“Ohmygod- Sorry! I just wasn’t expecting you. But why would I expect you? I’m Ladybug, I’m really cool.” The word vomit spewing out her mouth didn’t seem to be off-putting to him but still she nearly sunk back to the ground to hide her shame. Ladybug didn’t stutter. She was cool. She shot finger guns.

Why was she shooting finger guns at him right now?

“Sorry if I’m bothering you- I just wanted to ask for an autograph.” He averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck absently, yet she couldn’t understand why. He was Adrien, he- he was a huge fan of Ladybug. With an insane Ladybug wall to rival her Adrien one. Ladybug, who was also Marinette. But he didn’t know that.

“You’re not bothering me!”

“Oh?”

“In fact, I want to ask you for your autograph. In exchange for mine.”

She smiled, holding out the pen she’d been using to him. Adrien stared at it like it was a live snake before taking it from her hand.

“What do you want me to sign?”

That was a slight flaw in her plan. She had a matter of moments before he realised it too. 

“Here.” She pointed to her cheek, turning her head to the side so he could get a better angle. 

She tried not to catch his eyes as he leaned forward. That level of intimacy would have sent her straight to A&E. If she wasn’t totally insane she got the distinct impression Adrien’s heart was beating as quickly as her’s. He made the signing quick, snapping back straight once the pen left her cheek. 

“Does it look good?” She asked as she faced him again. She already knew what it looked like, this was not her first Adrien autograph.

His gaze was unfocused and he buffered, if that was even possible for a human to do, before answering. 

“Y- yep! So good.” His voice uncharacteristically strained.

“Coolio. Now, where do you want me to sign?” She forced herself to smile brightly and try not to think about the fact she asked Adrien to write on her face and he didn’t bat an eye. 

“Not on my chest! I want you to sign somewhere normal. Like my face- I mean this picture.”

He held out the pen and a framed photo of herself from a couple months back that had gone viral on the Ladyblog. 

Their hands brushed for the slightest of moments as she reached to take the pen, something electric shooting through her body. Adrien squeaked like a trodden on mouse and jumped back, dropping the pen in the process. 

“I’m so sorry.”

“No, I'm sorry!”

Adrien ducked down at the same time she did, their heads knocking together. Tiny stars exploded in her vision, though she couldn’t tell if it was from bumping her head or the sheer embarrassment nearly causing her to pass out. 

“Oh my god, I am so sorry.” Adrien said, his face stricken with worry. 

“No, I should be sorry. Is your forehead okay?”

“I’m fine and don’t apologise! I dropped it, I should pick it up.”

“No, but really-.”

“Don’t even.” He held a hand up to stop her and bent down to pick up the pen. 

Marinette giggled as she tried to take it again. This time she made sure their fingers didn’t even so much as brush off each other. 

“I’ll have to make this extra special.” She said,

“You don’t have to-.”

“I’m your biggest fan too, I can’t leave you with a subpar signature.”

“Oh.” His face flushed a shade to match the setting sun. 

She signed the photo, adding a heart at the end. Adrien beamed down at it once she’d finished. 

“Love, Ladybug?” He parroted back what she’d written.

“Reserved for very special people.” She winked, surprising even herself. Adrien cradled the photo close to his heart, hesitantly looking up to meet her eyes. 

She would do anything for him to look at her like this when she wasn’t in spots. 

Adrien didn’t move and she thought for a second he was about to say something important, something that had threatened to spill out of him since their first interaction. Instead he said this;

“I think this pen is permanent. Will it come off your cheek?”

Her eyes grew wide.

“Sure it will, plus it’ll probably disappear after I detransform.”

It didn’t. 

–—-<0>-----

“So did you ever get the autograph?”

It was in the middle of an akuma battle that she’d even remembered the deal she’d made. Chat Noir paused, his eyes flicking to her cheek for the briefest of moments. It was easily brushed off as an innocent glance and she hadn’t been looking anyway.

“I did.”

She smiled. Even though she had no idea who he’d been, the fact the entire deal had led to talking to Adrien made it worth it. 

“Was it worth it?”

Chat didn’t answer for a second, dodging a well aimed blast from the akuma. Within moments he was back at her side. 

“I’d do it again a thousand times.”

She laughed, zipping away from another blast. “Don’t actually, I might start to recognise you.”

“I have a feeling that you wouldn’t even be able to tell.”

[airi-p4]

Pretend boyfriend - Chapter 2

Chapter 1 | Ch2 | Ch3 ____________________

Summary:

Chat Noir tells Ladybug in a spaz that he has a boyfriend and asks Luka to pretend and fill in for the role for a double date with her and her boyfriend. The problem is he's trying to make Ladybug jealous… and Luka is caught in the middle of it when he's also the spotted hero's date.

AO3

________________________

Chapter 2: Later, that night...

That night, when things had finally calmed down, Ladybug visited Luka's house. She had heard his music by the back of the ship, so she landed there quietly, sneakily. 

"G-goodnight Luka…"

"Ladybug?"

She nodded. "I wanted to apologize for today… I admit nothing went as I planned. Nothing ever goes as I plan when it involves confessing to boys I like…" She shrugged, laughing awkwardly. "I don't want you to think that I lied to you. I really wanted to talk about strategy before. But then Chat was- well, being Chat- and everything got messed up."

Luka hummed, but said nothing.

"In truth, I wanted to ask you to be a permanent miraculous holder." He gasped at her offer. "Well, only if you want to, of course."

She took the Snake Miraculous out of her yoyo and offered it to him. Eyes open wide, he stared at it, and then at Ladybug, who spoke again.

"I won't insist or pressure you with my feelings, so that won't be a problem. I know too well what it is like to be forced or pressured after my experience with Chat, so I can guarantee that... But I'm afraid I can't speak for him. I'm sorry if he becomes a nuisance for you. I'll understand if you don't want to take this burden." She pointed at the Snake Miraculous with her eyes.

"I'll take it."

"You will?" She beamed.

"Yes, but with one condition."

"Hm? What is it?"

"I want a chance to correct myself," he stated.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

He stood up, approached closer to her and clasped her hand and the Snake Miraculous between his hands, while staring firmly at her eyes. She blushed.

"I want to take back my rejection to your feelings." He smiled softly. 

"Eh!? What?" She jolted. "B-but- didn't you say you were in love with M-Marinette!?"

He chuckled. "Do you really want to play this game, now?" 

He didn't need to say more; his softened expression spoke for him. That's how Ladybug realized it.

"You know…" She gasped.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" He smiled tenderly. "The beautiful hair and eyes, the sweet voice, the lovely freckles that peek under the mask… and the unforgettable melody I could never get tired of…" He rubbed the back of her hand as he talked. Her blush deepened. "What I want to ask you is: did you mean it? Do you feel the same about me? The same I feel about you?" 

"I truly meant it," she said, her heart drumming fast, but convinced. "I love you. I have for a while now…"

He beamed. "Would you ask me again, then? Or shall I do it instead?" He approached, foreheads almost touching.

"I'll do it." She decided. 

Luka separated, leaving her enough space to take a deep breath. Her free hand set on his hand over hers, clasping it with care. She noticed Luka's eyes on hers, but she wasn't nervous. No, Luka always managed to bring calm to her, and she loved that about him. She took a second deep breath before she spoke, looking directly at his expectant, dazzling eyes.

"I love you, Luka. Would you be my boyfriend?" 

"Absolutely. I would love to be your boyfriend." His smile was brighter than ever. "I love you, Marinette."

She beamed at him, relief and shared happiness engulfing her. She removed her hand from Luka's to wipe a happy tear that escaped her. He leaned in and kissed it, on her cheekbone, making her warmer. 

She giggled happily, to his delight. 

"I guess I'm taking this, then," Luka said, finally taking the Snake Miraculous and placing it into his pocket. "I'll be honored to help you keep Paris safe. And my girlfriend, too, of course." He winked and she blushed.

"Girlfriend!" She squeaked. "I think I still need some more time to process it!"

He laughed. 

"Well, at least you can't say you aren't able to confess your feelings to boys anymore. The curse is broken, isn't it?" 

"Well… I don't care. I don't plan to confess my feelings to any other boy ever again so…" She would panic later. "All I want to do from now on is to tell you 'I love you' many many times, so I hope you don't ever get tired of it because I don't plan to stop and-"

It was his turn to blush.

"That makes me very happy…" He cupped her face with his hands and jolted a bit when his face approached, only to rest his forehead on hers. She was happy, but maybe she expected a bit more. She wanted to-

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

"Yes, please!" That's what she secretly wanted. 

He let one of his hands slide down to her shoulder, while the other one remained in place, to steady her for the upcoming contact. She tilted her face up, and he angled his to kiss her properly. Her heart was beating fast as the awaited contact arrived. And it wasn't how she expected it, no- it was better. Because the love she felt in that kiss would never be able to be conveyed with words or even music. Her arms surrounded his neck, pushing closer and deepening the kiss. She didn't want it to end, and he didn't seem to disagree with her. Sweet, loving, passionate- but the need of air, sadly, broke them apart. 

Foreheads touching, wide grins never left their faces as they giggled while panting. She squeaked when Luka bent to hold her closer in a tight hug. She immediately reciprocated it happily. 

"I'm so happy," he whispered in her ear. 

She noticed her face felt flushed. "I'm very happy, too. The happiest." She nuzzled her face between his shoulder and his neck, hugging him even tighter. 

But then, a long minute later, after pulling apart, he reminded her, with a question, that they still had something left to deal with. "What should we do about Chat?"

Right. The damn cat. The cat who couldn't take a NO for an answer and who would keep trying until he succeeded… that cat. 

She sighed.

From previous experience, telling him they were dating wouldn't change a thing. Besides, it could compromise her secret identity. And he knew about Luka's superhero identity, too... 

"I think we should keep it a secret. At least until Hawkmoth is defeated," she said. "Besides, telling him would-"

"-compromise your secret identity, I get it." Gosh- she loved the way he could follow her way of thinking. "I think that's the wisest option, too."

"I'm glad you agree, even if it pains me…" She smiled, bittersweet. "At least we can hang out or even secretly date you as myself, while I can see you whenever you help us with superhero stuff. I can live with that."

"Having more excuses to hang out with my cute girlfriend? I can totally live with that, too." He winked with a teasing smile.

"Lukaaa!!" She blushed. "I'm still not used to it!" 

He chuckled at her cute reaction. "Let's get more and more used to it then?" He caressed her cheek again, his eyes begging her for a permission she happily granted. Their second kiss was as long and as perfect as their first. And their third. And their fourth. And their- they eventually had to stop due to their tardiness, the full moon over the Notre Dame served as a reminder for them of how it was past midnight and they had school tomorrow. 

After a few- "last one," "one more?" "Last one, I promise!" "One more…? Please..?" "I could kiss you forever…" "good night…" they shared a final short goodnight kiss before she eventually, and very reluctantly (the feeling was mutual), left.

Next morning, she was going to find a "good morning" message on her phone from her boyfriend (boyfriend!!), proof and relief enough for her that, to her delight, it hadn't been a dream. Somehow, though, she convinced herself and her boyfriend that she still needed more time (and kisses) to process it properly. He would gladly help with that.