#chat noir needs a hug too

[moonlit-orchid]

These two lines in the movie make me the most mentally unwell.

"I should have been the one to go. You needed your mother more than you needed me."

The amount of layers to this, oh my god. He's blaming himself for being alive. He probably wants to die. He genuinely thinks Adrian needs Emilie more.

And it's been YEARS since Emilie's passed away. Look how tiny Adrian is over there, he only just about comes about the bedpost. Gabriel still looks like he did in the pictures of when Adrian was little. It's been literal years. It could have literally been a full decade ago.

And Gabriel breaks the narrative here. He's supposed to be telling a story, he's supposed to be saying what happened in the past. But at this point, he doesn't say "your mother was taken from us" or anything like that referencing Emilie's passing. The story breaks, he's using a statement. I should have been the one to go. It's completely out of the story, because he isn't saying what he felt then, there's no "I felt like I should have been the one to go". It's just "I should have been."

Because he still thinks this. It's been about a decade, and his opinion, his feelings about this, is still "I should have died". It interrupts his storytelling because of how strongly he feels this way, almost like it's a fact to him.

And then he follows it with "You needed your mother more than you needed me." Again, he says this like it's a fact, like Adrian actually did need his mother more. Because he believes it himself. And this could be because of so many things. It could be because of the way people consider the mother to be the one supposed to care for the children much more than the father, or it could be that Gabriel himself didn't see how much Adrian needed him, or even that Gabriel didn't see himself as useful to Adrian. Especially because he said he should have been the one to die. He's essentially saying he was useless. That he was expendable but Emilie wasn't. He literally is implying he doesn't see any worth in himself regarding being a father.

And then it's not just his grief, it's Adrian's grief that has him desperate to bring Emilie back. He literally doesn't care about himself, he wants his son to be happy and doesn't see himself as able to do that. He loves him to the point of being suicidal and self-sacrificing if it would give Adrian what he need, all while simultaneously not seeing himself as what Adrian needs because he doesn't think he has that much worth regarding him.

[drtwit]

Miraculous Ladybug - Miraculous Menaces AU: Trojan

Miraculous Menaces AU

Chapter Summary:

Chloe continues to abhor Nino, Adrien and Alya make introductions and Mayura's perfect plan has a perfect interruption

An AU where Chat becomes Hawkmoth's partner in crime. At first, Adrien thought that the day he found out that his father was the supervillain terrorizing the people of Paris was the worst day of his life, but in retrospect, it might have been the one change needed to save his family. Because it was also the day that both of them realized that, when they don't need to be Adrien and Gabriel Agreste, they're both fucking goobers. Follow the adventures of Hawkmoth, Chat Noir, and their reluctant assistant who doesn't get paid enough, Nathalie, as they try to navigate life as a supervillain family. And pray for Ladybug's sanity as she suffers their antics.

[that-one-fandom-girl]

For real! Besides, didn’t the sand that shows people their worst nightmares fly over him before he said that? He was affected by the sand and I think it tells a little bit more about their friendship and how close they are if right after the nightmare-inducing stuff falls on him, Adrien fears for Plagg in addition to fearing for his freedom. Plagg didn’t even have to be mentioned, but Adrien was in full distress and turned to his best friend, only to be scared some more when his best friend, who was supposed to be sleeping, (right?), seemed to have something bad happen to him.

People give Adrien too much flack for believing plagg turned into a sock. Be real, if you lived in hawkmoth's Paris that's what you would think happened. You wouldn't immediately think your best friend ran away and left a sock puppet in thier place.

[donat-senpai]

Can you please write a platonic Yandere Adrien with (best) friend reader. Reader also has a miraculous, Adrien finds out. Kinda like a scenario

Please don't read this if you are uncomfortable with the yandere!

Pairing: Yandere! Adrien x Reader

tw: platonic obsession, stealing other people's things

Adrian sighs heavily. Lately, too many problems have been piling up on him. He didn't get a moment's peace at school. His father was constantly demanding something. And Hawk Moth seemed to never sleep. He added work for the heroes at the most inconvenient times. During a recent attack on the city, another person joined the famous hero duo. A little later, Adrian (or Chat Noir, to be precise) learned that Ladybug had nothing to do with it. This made him worry. Who is this person? Can they be trusted? And where did another Miraculous come from that doesn't belong to the guardian of the box? Too many questions filled the blond's head.

———

You greet Adrien with a joyful hug. The boy finally relaxes and forgets all his worries. In your presence, he feels calm. You excitedly start telling him about a new game and make him promise to play it with you this weekend. Adrien looks around the classroom. Every classmate is busy with their own thing. Once (when he had just started going to school) they used to tease you with jokes about being long-lost sibling. You two had just become friends too quickly and easily. Adrien sometimes joked himself that you were actually an Agreste. A bright glint distracts Adrien from his memories, and he notices a new pendant on your chest.

"What’s that?" Adrien asks.

You don't immediately understand what he's talking about. But when you catch his gaze, you start to stammer.

"Oh… Umm… just a piece of jewelry," you answer awkwardly.

"I’ve never seen you wear it before."

"I found it recently in a shop. Just some junk. Doesn't matter," you laugh nervously and change the subject.

Adrien raises an eyebrow in surprise. You've never behaved like this before. So… strange. It's like you're hiding something.

———

The villain throws Chat Noir into some trash cans and moves further into the city center, leading Ladybug away. Cat Noir groans in pain and tries to stand up, not very gracefully. A new hero lands softly next to him and extends a hand.

"I thought cats always land on their feet."

"Ha. Very funny," Chat Noir grumbles, but accepts the help. Chat Noir's gaze stops at the new hero's Miraculous. It's a pendant. The jewelry reminds him of something, but he can't remember what exactly.

"Let's deal with this quickly. I still need to make it to the book fair," the hero heads towards the noise, not waiting for his partner.

Chat Noir freezes. There’s only one fair in the city today. And Adrien was already planning to go there with you. A strange feeling washes over him. Now that he knows the new hero will be there too, he’s not so sure if he should go. Although there will be hundreds of people. The chance of revealing someone's identity is practically zero. Even if he accidentally starts scanning the crowd.

———

Ladybug was delayed. The heroes found themselves in a disadvantageous position. They barely escaped. Chat Noir was in a panic. He admitted that he hadn’t come up with the best plan. But the idea was reliable if they wanted to throw the villain’s minions off their trail. The minions ability will not allow them to find specific heroes if the heroes exchange Miraculouses and become new heroes. They needed to buy time until Ladybug showed up. That was what Adrien thought as he handed his ring to his partner behind the door.

He shuddered at the thought that if they wanted to betray him and reveal their connection to Hawk Moth, now would be the perfect moment. But they obediently handed him their pendant. Adrien almost thanked them but restrained himself. It was best not to talk too much without the magic of the Miraculouses. After all, Adrien was a famous model and it wasn’t hard to recognize his voice.

He finally looked at the other’s Miraculous and felt a shock. In his fingers lay a very familiar object. He couldn’t help but recognize your pendant. He had looked at it too often since he first noticed it. You were the new hero. Adrien panicked, wondering if you would recognize his ring. You rarely paid close attention to his hands. The hero (it can’t be… it’s you!) knocked on the door and asked him to hurry. Adrien decided to put his inner turmoil aside. The city needed saving right now.

———

The next day, Adrien watches you more closely than ever. You act as usual, which leads him to think that you haven't figured out Chat Noir's identity. A whirlwind of emotions overwhelms him. He's angry that you haven't told him anything. He understands you because he kept his secret the same way. And he's scared. What if one day you can't handle a villain? What if Hawk Moth finds out too? What if all of Paris learns your identity? Adrien starts to have a small panic attack. Nino jumps up and tries to help. Adrien is gasping for breath and can't explain anything.

-------

Adrien sneaks into the empty locker room while you and the class are swimming in the pool. It's one of the rare moments when you take off your pendant. It turns out that not all Miraculouses are as convenient as his ring or Ladybug's earrings. He never thought about how lucky he was before. He quickly finds your locker and breaks into it. The lock is so flimsy that Adrien feels a bit ashamed of how easily he was able to open it. He grabs the pendant and goes to hide it in his bag.

Adrien mentally prepares himself to comfort you. If he lost his Miraculous, he would be horrified. He thinks about what words he could say to console you. Adrien wonders if you would tell him your secret if you had nothing left to lose. He wants this. This will prove your trust in him.

Adrien thinks about what to do with your Miraculous now. He would like to use it sometimes along with his ring. But that would completely ruin your opinion of Chat Noir. Maybe he should bury the Miraculous in the forest or throw it into the sea so that no one could find it.

Now, you don't have to worry about the villains. And Adrien doesn't have to worry about your safety. Protecting Paris is no longer your job. Ladybug and Chat Noir will handle it together.

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 31. Perfect Dichotomy (Midnight Rendezvous, Part A)

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Description below the cut

Chat Noir attempts to sit on the rolling chair by Marinette’s computer, but Ladybug pulls his tail and points at the chaise lounge instead.

Ladybug: Over here.  We can sit on the chaise lounge together.

Chat Noir: Oh?  You want me to be closer?

Chat exaggeratedly sprawls out onto Ladybug’s lap, arching his back and flinging his arms above his head.  Ladybug looks down at him with a teasing grin.

Chat Noir: How about this close?

Ladybug: A cat lying on my lap, huh?  That sounds...

Ladybug scratches the top of Chat’s head as he grins with deep pleasure.

Ladybug: Purr-fect.

Chat turns over and hugs Ladybug’s shin while she gives Chat more head scritches and rubs his back.

Ladybug: So… wanna tell me what's got you so spooked about Mayura?

Chat Noir: She and Catwalker… talked.  About me.  She mentioned some things that not many people would know.

Flashback to “Glaciator”: Marinette and Chat Noir rest on the railing of the balcony and look at each other as the moon shines over the city.

Ladybug (voiceover): But Marinette knows?  I suppose you have visited her a fair bit.  It's not all that surprising that you've shared some personal things with her...

Chat looks up at Ladybug and holds his finger and thumb an inch apart.

Chat Noir: It’s a bit more complicated than that.  Though I suppose I am missing some key details...

Ladybug puts her fist on her chin in contemplation (Her other hand continues giving Chat scritches).

Ladybug: So Catwalker’s been hiding things from you too...?

Chat Noir: More like Mayura was being extra cryptic—or lying.  All I really know for sure is that she’s looking for me.

Ladybug: I still don't understand why she cares so much...

Chat holds his hands out in a self-satisfied ‘Oh well!’ gesture.  (Ladybug stops giving him scritches).

Chat Noir: I like getting on villains' nerves, what can I say? I'll just have to keep frustrating her in our little game of 'Cat and Mouse'.

Ladybug pulls out the pillow from under her leg and ‘bonks’ Chat Noir on the head with it as he tries to placate her with a large grin.

Ladybug: Why do you make it sound like you’ve been doing something really stupid?

Chat Noir: Just because my methods are ridiculous, it doesn’t mean they don’t work!

Ladybug: That is not reassuring.

Chat leans against the chaise lounge next to Ladybug, hands clasped.

Chat Noir: Don’t worry, LB.  I’ve got it handled. I think the bigger problem is what prompted you to bring me here.  Wanna tell me what's wrong?

Chat kneels a leg next to Ladybug and places one hand on her arm and the other on her back.

Ladybug: I'm not sure how to explain...

Chat Noir: Start anywhere.  I think I can keep up.

Ladybug closes her eyes and holds her head in her hands with an expression of longing.

Ladybug: It's... Catwalker.  He's too perfect.

Chat Noir: ...You lost me.

A series of flashbacks with events shown pretty much as they occurred:

Flashback to “Kuro Neko”: Catwalker peeks around the corner at Kuro Neko, while Ladybug leans forward, catching her breath.

Ladybug (voiceover): He notices things that I'm too blind to see.

Catwalker (flashback): If that was Chat Noir, don't you think he'd talk to you?

Flashback to Part 6: View of Catwalker and Ladybug from below as they travel across the sky.

Catwalker (flashback): I can’t rule that out, but… my gut says that’s not it.

Ladybug (voiceover): His instincts about akumas are much better than mine.

Flashback to “Kuro Neko”: Ladybug looks at Catwalker as they kneel on a rooftop.

Ladybug (voiceover): It's like he already knows the answer I need.

Catwalker (flashback): Cats sometimes eat grass, it helps them spit out their hairballs.

Flashback to Part 8: A close-up of Ladybug looking right next to a close-up of Catwalker looking left.

Catwalker (flashback): You still have a multitude of people who can help you.

Ladybug (voiceover): And he's just nudging me to think of it myself.

Flashback to Part 18: Ladybug, still falling, throws her yo-yo through one of the holes in the lower conical barrier.  In the cone above, Catwalker places his hand against its barrier.  Both barriers begin to disintegrate.

Ladybug (voiceover): He always finds the right moment to use his powers.

Catwalker (flashback): Cataclysm!

Flashback to Part 26: Ladybug uses her yo-yo to flee as Oni-Chan lunges towards her.  But behind Oni-Chan, Catwalker has backflipped into the room behind her, his finger touching the amok with his Cataclysm.

Ladybug (voiceover): But I just ruin the opportunities he gives me because I never expect him to live up to you.

Flashback to Part 15: Ladybug turns back to looking down at the city below.  Catwalker holds up a hand to offer a friendly suggestion.

Catwalker (flashback): If you’d like to talk about anything, I’d be happy to stay and listen.

Ladybug (voiceover): And even when I can't do anything, he still acts so unbelievably kind...

Flashback to “Kuro Neko”: Catwalker, illuminated by the moon, reaches his hand before him for Ladybug to hold.

Ladybug (voiceover): He's just so... perfect.

Catwalker (flashback): Now I want to take care of you.

Ladybug (voiceover): But then I learned the truth:

Another series of flashbacks, with events depicted slightly off from what actually happened and Catwalker showing more malice.

Flashback to Part 12: Catwalker almost pointedly looks towards Carapace, who looks away guiltily.

Ladybug (voiceover): He lies and bends the truth with ease.

Catwalker (flashback): We only assume Adrien wants to be found.

Flashback to Part 17: Catwalker looks down towards Ladybug, the hand in front of him leaning on one of the barriers between them.

Catwalker (flashback): If he was dead, no one would know.

Ladybug (voiceover): And his lies lead to people suffering.

Flashback to Part 19: Catwalker steps forward, his hands palm upward in front of him, trying to explain himself.

Ladybug (voiceover): He'll use his heroic duty as an excuse to hold back.

Catwalker (flashback): I can't be as lax as Chat Noir was.

Flashback to Part 14: Catwalker grabs the end of Rena’s flute and pulls up the phone screen. Embedded flashback bubble from Part 20: Alya looks away and rubs the back of her neck.

Alya (flashback): He stole my phone number from my flute.

Ladybug (voiceover): But he crosses boundaries he shouldn't with no excuse.

Flashback to “Kuro Neko”: Catwalker pauses as he leaves Ladybug to finish everything on her own.

Ladybug (voiceover): He pretends to do what I want.

Catwalker (flashback): I won't make another move.

Flashback to Part 28: Astrowalker, wrapped tightly in yo-yo string (even his wings have been folded in on themselves and bound), hangs upside-down as Cosmobug points angrily at his face.

Catwalker (flashback): I followed you in case I needed to stay in your way.

Ladybug (voiceover): But he goes rogue once I'm not watching.

Flashback to Part 8: Catwalker lays on his side next to Emilie, reaching away from her.  Embedded flashback bubble from Part 20: Marinette clenches her fists in front of her, looking haunted.

Ladybug (voiceover): I can only guess at what other awful things he's hidden beneath my nose.

Marinette (flashback): What if he used his powers on his mom?

Flashback to Part 4: Catwalker grins at Ladybug with perfect posture, his hands on his lap.

Ladybug (voiceover): His perfection is an illusion.

Catwalker (flashback): I considered what I needed in order to be your 'ideal' partner.

Ladybug (voiceover): And I don't know what prices were paid to uphold his illusion.

Flashbacks end. Chat Noir kneels next to Ladybug on the chaise lounge as they embrace.

Chat Noir: I'm sorry, m'Lady. It's unfair that you've had to go through all of this.  If Catwalker is so wrong... would it be better if I was your Chat Noir again?

Ladybug: I wish I could let you. But I can't let Mayura target you.  Even if you were careful, she'd probably go after your loved ones in retaliation.  I won't let that happen.

Chat Noir: Alright.  Then what's the best way for me to support you?

Ladybug: Tell me how to fix everything?  *sob* I'm sorry, I don't think there's anything you can do.

Chat Noir: You're underestimating me.  And I think that you're underestimating him.  You're right that he's not perfect.  But I do think he's trying to be good.

Ladybug: I wish I had your ability to believe in people.  But Catwalker is too good of a liar.  I can't really know if he cares about anyone.  But I have to keep him as my partner.  I just have no idea how.

Chat Noir stands and rubs his chin in thought as Ladybug looks on.

Chat Noir: What if... What if I showed you the truth about Catwalker?

Ladybug: The... 'truth'?  You don't mean his identity, do you?

Chat Noir: No, of course not.  But this could fundamentally change how you see him—you wouldn't even need his name to trust him again.

Chat smiles down and touches his chest with both hands.

Ladybug: I can't see how that's remotely possible.

Chat Noir: You trust me even though you don't know who I am, don’t you?

Ladybug: Because I know you.

Chat Noir: Because you got to know me.  And if you knew the truth, you could know him too.

Chat scratches his head sheepishly and holds up a finger.  Ladybug turns away with hands raised, exasperated.

Chat Noir: There's just one itty-bitty catch.

Ladybug: Of course there's a catch...

Chat looks away, rubbing his arm.

Chat Noir: If I share this with you...?  My identity would make it dangerously easy to figure out who he is.  And a part of me was kinda hoping that I could show you who I am tonight.

Ladybug’s eyes widen in astonishment.

Ladybug: You wanted to share identities?

Chat Noir: Just mine.  I know his identity, so I shouldn't risk learning yours too anytime soon.

Chat leans down to touch Ladybug’s shoulder and holds up his fist encouragingly.

Chat Noir: But if you want to be absolutely certain of Catwalker's loyalties?  To understand the person who is hiding behind the mask?  I'd need to keep my identity from you a little while longer.

Chat Noir raises both hands to offer two options.  Above his right hand is the image of Catwalker.  Above his left is the image of Adrien Agreste.

Chat Noir: But it’s your choice, Ladybug: Learn the underlying truth about your new partner?  Or learn the civilian identity of your old partner?

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

[ninadove]

AO3 reading year in review 📚

Tagged by @teafig! Here’s a fraction of the fics I enjoyed this year! 💖

JANUARY: Of Wishes and Feathers by @trishacollins {Miraculous 🦚}

Little Felix spends an afternoon being entertained by his aunt.

Trisha wrote this for me because I am the most spoiled girl in the world! 💜 We need more Felix and Emilie in the world urgently. Someone make it your 2025 resolution. I demand it

FEBRUARY: my wings and my eyes by @bittersweetresilience {Honkai: Star Rail 🚂}

Jing Yuan is tired, but he has been tired for a long time now.

Sunny gets February for no reason other than it is Official Shipping Month and its prose single-handedly got me into Renjing. This fic in particular is so loving and tender… 🥺 There is nothing Sunny cannot write and these two idiots have helped prove it time and time again!

MARCH: I miss you more than anything by @sillyangstfic {Miraculous 🦚}

Felix reaches out to Adrien a few months after his mother's death to see if he would like to come visit. Adrien thinks that this is a great idea! Gabriel, not so much.

This was not yet published in March but WHO CARES THE VIBES FIT. Felix cares so much and the Adrien/Dandelion angst is, as the youth say, fire 🔥

APRIL: thirteen by @anna-scribbles {Miraculous 🦚}

The house was never something that belonged to him, and it still isn’t, no matter how many documents boast his name in bold print. Adrien has always belonged to it, though, like a dog tethered to a chain, like a ghost to its unfinished business.

//

The end of the world began on the day Adrien Agreste turned thirteen years old.

What can I say about thirteen that hasn’t already been said? I picked it for April because reasons, but it’s been a highlight of my entire winter and spring. The Adrien Fic Ever 🌼

MAY: love thorns all over this rose by @thevioletthread {Miraculous 🦚}

there's a boy knocking on her window. she lets him in.

[Doodles a tiny heart on your window]

[Kisses you in front of the sunrise]

[Gets down on one knee]

Alexandria, will you raise a hamster with me? 💜🦚❤️🐉

JUNE: Of Broken Bones and Promises by @bright-thehawksflight {Cyrano de Bergerac 🪶}

Christian had a leg amputated, and the two loves of his life manage to simultaneously save his life, plan for the tough times to come, and pine all over the Arras battlefield.

Lisa is the reference when it comes to Cyrano and Greek mythology fanfics. I think about the amputation-hug scene three times per week 🥺

JULY: Candle In The Wind by @phieillydinyia {Miraculous 🦚}

Someone was screaming. A horrific, guttural sound that infected the entire night with sorrow. He wondered if it was the ghosts of the people he'd just killed. He wondered if they'd come back to haunt him, to follow his every waking move, to never let him forget the way he'd demolished them into dust.c

The sound pounded through his head, threatening to burst open his eardrums, determined to push him to a breaking point. Collapsing to his knees, Chat Noir had to pause to draw in a deep breath.

It was only then that he realized the person screaming was him.

The highlight of my summer! A role reversal AU of the movie that includes the songs. How cool is that. (The answer is very cool. Mwah 💖)

AUGUST: If I hold you too close by @bbutterflies {Miraculous 🦚}

Paris didn’t come to a screeching halt for akumas anymore. They were so commonplace, so frequent, no one stopped their lives unless they were in danger. They trusted the heroes to fix everything if something did go wrong, save them if they got hurt. Adrien was still fighting the urge to find Plagg and go running into battle.

Plagg wasn’t here, though.

ADRINO ANGST MGRRRGRRRRR

SEPTEMBER: Luminous strike by @faiirygrahamdevanily {Miraculous 🦚}

Orders controlled the younger twin

Like a bird with a clipped wing

Silver metal out of his hand

The peacock at the monster's command

MY BIRTHDAY GIFT!!!! THAT CAME WITH ITS OWN MOODBOARD!!!! HELL YEAH!!!! 🎂💜🎉

Everyone should check Clara’s works out!!! The Sentikids are great for exploring themes of otherness and rarer forms of fanworks, and she does it extremely well! ❤️💜💚

OCTOBER: the monster who loves you by @purplecatghostposts {Miraculous 🦚}

Mum nods, clapping her hands together. “Your brother is finally feeling better and is coming home today! Isn’t that so exciting?”

Félix pauses mid-bite, processing her words. Mum waits expectantly, as if expecting him to jump for joy, or his equivalent of it.

But… Félix doesn’t have a brother.

(Or Félix’s brother is a monster, but only in the most literal sense. Félix’s father is a monster despite being very, very human. He learns to navigate the world through these two truths.)

SOAP SOAP SOAP SOAP I am eating you. I am eating you forever. You spontaneously appeared in the tags one day and literally haven’t stopped blessing us since but THIS FIC IN PARTICULAR. OH GOSH. OH WOW. THIS ONE IS MY ROMAN EMPIRE. You know how much I love Adrien being cast as the monster (rawr rawr rawr 🦖)

NOVEMBER: Emmy Altava and the Situationship from Hell by @drowsybadger {Professor Layton 🎩}

Or: Clive, Janice and Their Mutual Ex. Or: Emmy Altava and the Great Year that started off really, really, awful. Or: How To Overcome Your Past Mistakes

Basically, 22K words of people fixing their past mistakes and being lovingly awful to each other. Also, Clive is single-handedly responsible for London rent prices actually being affordable for the next half-century in this universe.

Drowsy infected me with the Clivejan QPR bug… My life has never been the same since…

DECEMBER: Me and You, We're Roses of Blue by @adastra-rising {Miraculous 🦚}

For centuries, the blue rose has represented mystery, royalty, and that which is unobtainable.

Why?

Because the blue rose is artificial. Unnatural. So close to being real, but not quite. The unfortunate, disappointing result of humanity daring to challenge the natural order.

And for some reason, Felix Graham De Vanily can't stop thinking about it.

Meanwhile Kagami Tsurugi, despite everything, thinks they are wonderful.

And Adrien Agreste, who prefers his roses red, is just here for a good time.

(A story in which Felix reflects on his childhood, his relationships, and the nature of what's artificial and what's real.)

(Alternatively, a story where the ideal date is destroying a dead man's property in the name of art, and two cousins who are actually brothers' bond over one truly terrible joke.)

Because excellent characterisation and flower imagery are always a gift! 🌹

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Aka works that didn’t quite fit but that I really wanted to feature:

Icarus by @dragongutsixofficial {Dumas Cinematic Universe ⚔️}

The year is 1630. The Cardinal of Richelieu won. Mme de Fargis is banned and has to leave the Court.

She has a few people to say her goodbyes to.

DRAGON STARTED WRITING AGAIN THIS YEAR AND I COULDN’T BE PROUDER. They have a real talent for emulating Dumas’ style while making the story uniquely theirs! 💖

time marches back by @asukiess {Miraculous 🦚}

The Loveybug AU was one of the highlights of 2023-2024, and this fic? This fic. It’s great, man. Definitely won’t break your heart or anything.

Everything in The Félix Zine! I have a particularly soft spot for @mostmagical’s Bridges and @nemaliwrites’ A Graphite Heart, but everyone slayed so incredibly hard! Please also contemplate our amazing artists’ pieces! 💜🦚

@beezonia’s Miraculous Mons AU. Bee, you know it, I’m the target audience for this universe. I love your ficlets, your team line-ups, your designs, everything! 💙🩵🧡

cringe origional works collection by @isdisorigionalenoughforyou

The kind of poetry that will haunt you. Discovered by accident after reading their Aroace Analysis of Jayvik, which you should also check out! 🦋

And my beloved AO3 collections (recs + my own works):

Felix | Adrien | Kagami | Senticousins | Feligami | Clive | Literature and mythology

Tagging… anyone who wants to do this, because I forgot who was and wasn’t tagged by my fellow writer friends. Go wild.

Happy 2025, everyone! May it be kind and filled with excellent stories for us to share! 💚💜❤️

[redtippedfox]

Deserved

(Hi! This is writing practice! I wanted to practice writing emotions and dialogue so enjoy this snippet I wrote!)

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

The rain was beating down hard on Carapace's suit the droplets sliding off gently as he stood strong in the rain his gaze hard as he held his ground. He gritted his teeth trying his best to keep the shell-ter standing. The beast caught inside thrashed about in pure uncaged rage. Chat Blanc even with his hands magically restrained by Rooster Bolds power was too powerful as he beat against the force field, throwing his body against it while hissing. 

“NO! LET ME OUT! NO!” Chat Blanc screamed, his voice so filled with rage that it made Carapace shiver. Carapace bit back a grunt as Chat Blanc slammed against the shell-ter again but with more force. 

Behind Carapace was his team, and an unconscious adult Ladybug who had collapsed mid-battle, her nose and eyes bleeding from the overuse amount of Miraculous magic. Master Fu was by her side with the grimoire open trying his best to find a cure, next to him was younger Ladybug and an extremely worried younger Chat Noir. Rena Rouge was crying as the bleeding continued and Ladybug wasn’t responding to her calls.

“NO! SHE’S MINE! MARINETTE IS MINE!” he demands, his emotions raw and powerful in his scream. Carapace stared concerned as Chat Blanc thrashed in his cage. His cries and shouts were like something Nino had never heard before they seemed angry and desperate.

“LET ME OUT! PLEASE! LET ME SEE HER!” he slams into the shield again, but this time it’s weak. “PLEASE! MARINETTE! PLEASE…please I need to see her…” In disbelief, Carapace sees Chat Blanc slowly stop thrashing as he falls to his knees his hair a mess from all his thrashing around. 

“Marinette…My lady…I need to see her.” He begged, and his head, which the tyrant had held so high minutes before, hung heavy again. His snow-white hair covered his face as he quietly begged.

Caracpace felt his heart ache at the sight but remained concentrated, he couldn’t allow Chat Blanc to get anywhere near Ladybug. 

“Please…Nino, PLEASE! Let me out! Let me go! She needs me!”

Carapace’s fist tightens, he needs to stay focused, and he needs to concentrate.

“Please…PLEASE I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT HER! MARINETTE!””

Focus!

“Please I love her! I can’t lose her! I can’t lose her…not again. Nino, please! PLEASE! LET ME OUT!”

Carapace froze, Chat Blanc looked up at him with begging eyes full of fear, tears raining from his eyes so endlessly. It was hard to see this as the same crazed man who was destroying Paris minutes ago. His face was a pitiful one, with saddened worried eyes that looked so traumatized and empty but also filled with longing for the woman he had been in love with for 12 years.

“Nino…she’ll die. Please I beg you, let me out, she needs me…If she dies then I have no reason to LIVE!” he screams.

Caracpace slips, he had never understood how deeply Chat Noir loved Ladybug, like everyone else he thought it was cute but now he had the full picture. Chat Noir was so undyingly in love with Ladybug, in love with Marinette that he would beg and lose any dignity he had for her.

 That he was willing to wait 12 years, even longer till he could finally be with her. How hard it must have been to ignore the loneliness and the desire he had for her, how painful it must have been to be alone for so many years when the one he loved wanted him just as much but couldn’t be with him. How heartbreaking it must have been to see her every day and not be able to love her, to not know who his love was, and to have to endure that for years.

Nino couldn’t imagine not being able to love Alya like that, to be forced to love her in the shadows in fear of losing her. To not be able to kiss her, or hug her, or even tell her how much he loved her. 

Nino was sure he would have rather died than have that fate.

But Chat Noir did have that fate…and so did Marinette.

“Nino…I can’t lose her, she’s my world, my life, she’s my love. Please…please…let me go to her.”

Carapace breaks, the shield falls and the only thing he sees is Chat Blanc running past him.

For a second Nino thinks, perhaps he was wrong. Adrien didn’t deserve Marinette, Chat Noir did.

Chat Noir had always been the right pick for Marinette.

[ilikekidsshows]

I've recently watched the ML London special and had to think about your words several times. Mostly about Maribug's pity party and coddling.

My negative coddling highlight (which also made me laugh in disbelief) was when Marinette questioned her decision to keep Adrien in the dark to "protect him" and she "had no choice" so Tikki tells her she isn't the Kwami of Truth (???) and Marinette should "stop thinking and take some rest". What the heck. That felt like they wanted to show a worried, sympathetic Marinette, but quickly brushed aside anything else. A simple "we don't know" of the Kwamis would have felt more natural, too, instead that cryptic Kwami of Truth nonsense. Plagg apparently doesn't care much about Adrien anymore now that he's under Marinette's wings, he has shown no emotions or opinion about Adrien's wellbeing. Sad, very sad.

Also, seeing the whole conversation in which Marinette decides that Nathalie has to be Adrien's surrogate mother, while Nathalie was not convinced of that but was ready to go to jail instead....wow. Forced motherhood onto a woman who clearly didn't feel called for that position and who rather atone for her very real crimes... feels kinda sexist to me. Why is Marinette the one to decide that for Nathalie and Adrien? And Marinette and Nathalie suddenly having a bond strong enough for hugging and that shit? Where did that come from? Everything for coddling Marinette, apparently, everyone but the new villain is on her side.

The only scene that felt worthwile to me was the very short moment in which Adrien lashes out at Bug Noire. He finally felt alive and as his own person for the first time in forever (S5 essentially), even going as far as - gasp - making Ladybug uncomfortable. Chat Noir also was completly forgotten the whole special, only to come back into existance for that empty Ladynoir scene at the end in which he has to spout his obligatory "you and me against the world" speech.

I did like the background music, though, and the fighting choreography, which actually made me realize that Ladybug never before has fought hand-on-hand that long on her own. Which, of course, she had to here, since there was no Chat Noir to do it for her this time. I couldn't not think about your "Chat Noir fighter" post then.

Sorry for the wall of text. I just wanted to let you know that I had to think several times about your posts and answers during the special.

---

Thanks for the peer review, Anon! In media analysis, someone watching or reading the work and finding the analysis a good match for the source material is a clear indicator that the analyst has hit a resonant reading.

I think what we have in the Nathalie example is a writers' crutch becoming obvious. I can point several instances where Marinette gets instant or near instant support as soon as she needs it, but the Nathalie situation is extra glaring in how little in-universe sense it makes. Cat Noir propping her up in ‘Origins’, ‘Miracle Queen’ and several other times makes sense; he’s her superhero partner. Alya makes sense, she's her best friend. In ‘Love Hunter’ Luka almost magically drove past and happened to notice she was upset and could drop whatever else he was doing to tend to her instead as soon as she needed someone to cry against. That one is a bit ridiculous, but it was used to set up them getting together later so it feels organic after the fact.

The notoriously stoic Nathalie, who has zero bond with Marinette up until now suddenly holding her more gently than she's ever held Adrien while she cries happens only because no one more appropriate was around to do it instead. It's an escalation. Luka’s super timing was stretching believability so much people started to joke he had actual empathy-based superpowers. With Nathalie, it's completely out of nowhere, but the stans ignore it because the show has made it a staple that someone will always prioritize Marinette, and because they're just so glad Marinette has someone to comfort her because she's such a miserable wretch who never gets enough support. Finally, there's an adult she can count on! Except, Nathalie also starts immediately taking marching orders from Marinette, so it's just even weirder.

It's not that Nathalie is actually being set up as a confidant to make up for her past misdeeds, she's just instantly a Marinette groupie because the writers needed someone to prioritize Marinette's feelings. It functions as a way to make it clear to the audience that this is what they should worry about: how Marinette is feeling. And it worked; just as Adrien started voicing his own emotions, he got shut down by our lead and a big part of the fandom was more concerned about Marinette being upsette than Adrien, who is infinitely worse off than Marinette.

[miabrown007]

post-Representation reveal for @ladyofthenoodle and @asukiess <3

Time stops when Chat Noir plummets from Marinette’s skylight. She stops in her tracks and stares at him, eyes blown wide behind the polka-dotted mask that sits snug over the mascara streaks on her face. Her heart skips to her throat, because she doesn’t understand. She doesn’t understand what Chat Noir is doing at Marinette’s right now, in this break of dawn, when she was just about to head out to purify the Akuma he and Alya captured. He has even left her a voicemail to cheer her up—he always had an innate talent to know when she needed some cheering up—and he sounded so calm and collected then— Face buried in her mattress, he sniffles now. And Marinette knows that her identity is at stake here, that she’s incapable of explaining away Ladybug’s puffy eyes staring at him from the end of Marinette’s bed, but Chat Noir’s crying. He came to her because something so devastating happened to him that he’s crying.  If there’s one thing Marinette knows, it’s that they have sacrificed enough. She gave up love and gave up her friends for the mighty cause, and in the end, it was her friends and their love that saved the world.  She won’t give up her partner. Never again.

She reaches out, stroking her fingers through his hair gently. “Marinette, I need to tell you that—” he starts, then looks up and his eyes go wide. She smiles down at him. “It’s okay, Chaton. I’m here for you.” His bottom lip trembles, and several beats pass until he finds the voice to whisper, “I love you, Marinette. I’ll never let anyone separate us.” And maybe that should feel like a surprise. Maybe his arms around her and his lips on hers should wreck her world. Maybe, once, they would have.  Now, they feel like a small sound of ‘oh’ at the back of her mind.  Of course, it’s him.  Of course, he’s hers.  Of course, it’s them until the end of the world. She cups his face and smooths the messy hair out of his eyes, kissing away the tears spilling over his black mask. “I love you, too, Adrien. I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again.” And if he cries harder and buries his face in the crook of her neck, that’s alright too. She hugs him, rubbing his back and peppering kisses all over his face—his nose, his forehead, his crown and his little cat ears—and holds him until he needs her to. She would be his Atlas and hold him until the end of the world, but slowly, his breathing calms and Adrien draws away, wiping at his eye with the palm of his hand. “I need to— I’ll need to go back,” he stutters over a swallow. Marinette shakes her head firmly and holds him tighter. “You are not going back.” His face softens. “My lady,” he begs, and she thinks her heart might give in from the way he says her name alone. “You know I have to before he discovers I’m missing, otherwise—” She cuts him off with a kiss before he gets to finish that train of thought. It’s an option she isn’t willing to entertain. “Your cousin owes me big time. You are not going back. Never ever,” she confirms.  If the surprised fervour and gratitude he dives back in for a kiss with is of any indication, he believes her. Marinette isn’t delusional enough to think Félix would do her a solid as an apology for his theater kid nonsense, but she suspects a chance to be closer to Kagami in place of Adrien will do it. She laces her fingers with Adrien’s, as if gluing them together, but he doesn’t seem to mind. She smiles against his lips with confidence only his support can grant her. “Okay, Chaton. Here’s the plan.”

[gale-gentlepenguin]

ML What if:

(What if Emilie, was Betterfly/Hesperia in the Paris special?)

-The theme song at the start would be different, with it speaking from Emilie’s perspective. Allowing the viewer to hear Emilie outside of memories and videos for the first time.

-Aside from that, the begining events are the same, except with Emilie/Betterfly

-Betterfly ends up in Ladybug’s dimension, but instead of being freaked out that it might be monarch, Marinette is simply more confused on who this mysterious holder is.

-Betterfly takes Marinette and goes. Saying that she is safe and she will go handle Shadybug and Claw noir.

-Ladybug of course joins in, after learning about the multiverse from Tikki. (Somewhat)

-Chat noir arrives and is confused on who this butterfly woman is, but feels that something familiar about her.

-chat noir gets Kamikotized and becomes Celestecat. They fly off and escape.

-Now we start to have Ladybug and chat noir think that Shadybug and Claw noir are similar to them (their alt versions) but aren’t sure since this butterfly user is different.

-Betterfly tells them about the supreme, and how her husband took two of the miraculous from the supreme… but instead of her death, Gabriel died protecting her.

-Chat noir hears the name, and feels a twinge… Gabriel?

-Ladybug doesn’t think much about the name, but Chat noir does. But realizes now is not the time for that.

-Shadybug and Claw noir still do what they’re doing before, even finding out about the wish. They meet and make a deal with Monarch.

-the heroes moved to London so that Monarch couldn’t spy on them to make a plan.

-Unlike in canon where Betterfly goes out of view, this Betterfly doesn’t see the need to hide her identity. As she detransforms, Chat noir freezes. Ladybug does believe the woman looks kind of Familar.

-Emilie assures them that they will have time for pleasantries later. And they go forward with the plan. Chat noir does ask that they talk when the matter is settled.

-the plan ends up going the exact same way as it does in canon.

-With the heroes split off fighting their alternate counterparts, but while Ladybug’s is being handled the same. Chat noir is slightly different.

-With Chat noir saying that he lost his mother, not his father… which causes claw noir to stumble. Chat noir tells him that he understands the pain of losing a parent, how distant they can be, but that they aren’t alone. They can be happy once again.

-“Your mother does love you, she may seem distant, but she is also hurting too. Reach out to her, I promise she understands your pain.”

-this helped stop claw noir. Ending with his redemption.

-Shadybug and claw noir eventually go and change to Ladybug and Paw noir.

-Monarch tries to pull the multiverse bs But Ladybuquity kicks his butt in every universe he visits.

-Paw noir and Ladybug head back to their own dimensions,

-before Betterfly leaves, chat noir hugs her.

-“I know you aren’t my dimensions mom… but I really miss you.”

-Emilie felt her heart ache at that. She understood. Hugging the boy back.

-“I love you in every dimension. Always remember that.” She says softly.

-Chat noir smiles as tears roll down his eyes. Betterfly leaves.

-Ladybug asks what he told Betterfly.

-“I’ll tell you one day.”

[princess-of-the-corner]

Random fic snip:

“Why were you locking yourself away in your room for a week? You didn't deserve it.” Adrien matches her energy. They have been around each other for hours every day for weeks. He understands what needs to be said.

“Why are you running away from all your problems? Hiding in my company won't solve them!” Chloe screams back, pulling off the cucumbers over her eyes to look at Adrien.

“It's because I'm scared to lose anyone. Like I lost my mom and dad!” Adrien screams back. “That's why I'm always visiting you. If I keep an eye on you. I can't lose you too.” Adrien lets her in. Chloe takes a moment to register what he said, the honesty in the words.

“It's because I deserve this punishment. I am a defective product, that's why I break everything I touch. I bring trouble everywhere I go.” Chloe is equally as honest back to him. “You know you're not responsible for what happened to your dad? Chat Noir or not you were just a kid. Hawkmoth was a bad manipulative man, who took advantage of children and people alike.” Chloe repeats some of the rhetoric her therapist tells her.

“You’re not defective, Chloe. You didn't break me. You have always brought more to my life.” Adrien says, holding her hand.

“Now, I know you're just saying that.” Chloe rolls her eyes.

“No, it's true. You were my first friend. You are the reason I got to go to school. And that's how I met everyone, that's how it became Cat Noir. All because you annoyed your father into convincing my dad.” Adrien pulls Chloe into a hug. “Thank you. I would have truly been lonely without you. I only wish I could have given you what you gave me.”

GOD let them be friends and also get therapy

[cardiac-agreste]

normally i write people in pain, but i really wanted to get in on the loveybug action

I doff my hat to @blur0se, @asukiess, and @pisoprano for giving us this precious jewel, and then I'll return to making Sabine Cheng cry.

---

He’d told his new partner that the Arc de Triomphe would be an excellent regular meeting place for them to talk and recuperate. It had a broad, flat top for laying down. It was centrally located. It was also a tall landmark, which gave them the security of high ground. He’d presented his case, but given how much Ladybug had enjoyed the Iron Lady and Notre Dame, he underestimated how easy it would be to convince her replacement.

She had been effusive in her praise.

“A brilliant idea, Catwalker! It’s so energetic!” She flitted around the perimeter, drinking in the views from every corner as he stood behind, marveling at her passion.

“Shhh, listen to the cars.” She closed her eyes and swayed. Then she popped like a firework. “I love this city!!” she said as she threw her fist in the air in celebration.

When he landed atop their spot after a rough day with his father, he was bursting with joy. He got to see her again! And she wanted to see him, too! He rarely had people—

“My lord, you’re already here!”

Catwalker spun on his heel. She’d snuck up on him again! His eyes rolled up from the ground to her face, and his breath hitched. She, a being of pure light. She, zipping through space without a sound. She, illuminating everything in her path. A figure of tulle, of chiffon, of organza.

She skipped toward him and threw her arms wide for a hug. She leapt at him with a broad grin on her face. “I missed you!” she screamed right into his chest as he teetered back, whether from the force of her body or her joy. Her muffled voice vibrated as she nuzzled against him. He remembered a song he’d spent a summer playing on repeat, fantasizing about exactly this kind of girl. Careening through the universe, your axis on a tilt.

She danced back out of his reach and twirled on her heel, leaving a wisp of nutmeg and cloves behind. A hint of allspice. He could be all spice; could she? Settle down.

She took a deep breath and screamed to match the honking horns of evening traffic. “I feel alive!”

Loveybug, Loveybug, Loveybug.

When he’d met Ladybug, all knots and tangles and grit, he thought he understood what Keats meant by a steadfast, bright star. He thought she was his future. He thought many things. But she rejected him, and then she rejected him, and then she disappeared. Then so did he.

He’d met Loveybug as Chat Noir. She seemed happy to be around him, but starstruck, too. It was time for Chat Noir to fade away and pass on the mantle. Catwalker would mourn Chat Noir (and possibly Paris would!), but he needed a reset. He owed it to her, who entranced him effortlessly and shared her heart with him.

So here they were, beneath a night sky full of her blue eyes on a curtain of her black tresses. He spread his dreams beneath her feet and she came to him, treading softly. She lay her cheek against his chest. He rested his chin atop her head. And together they hummed a lullabye to old partners, and together they murmured a sonnet to new ones, and together they were together.

[literaphobe]

sorry i was feeling things lol um: ladynoir drabble post s5

those first few patrols sail smoother than the big shiny statue of his newly dead father.

ladybug doesn't know that chat noir's father is dead. or, to be more accurate, she knows who he is, but doesn't know chat noir has to mourn him.

or not. wasn't it such a celebration? that his father died and took monarch with him? and everyone clapped and sang praises, but not a single tear was shed?

he doesn't blame any of them. he didn't shed a tear either.

well, not at first.

at every patrol, many new things came to pass. every kwami has a permanent holder now. this doesn't bother him the way it would have torn him to shreds months ago. it all happens too fast for him to feel it happening anyway.

until her ever so present smile cracks, shattering apart, and the facade falls.

ladybug collapses into his chest one lucky day of patrol, one of those where they find someplace quiet, someplace empty. somewhere to stare at the sky.

he can only thank the stars; no one else tagged along.

today, the sky looks pale. they match her cheeks, not in color, but in feeling. empty. all of it's very empty.

he lets her sob. he can barely feel his bones, and he fears her wailing will torture him for weeks to come. she doesn't stop for a moment, not to breathe, not to explain. she's just in pain, and she can't hold it together anymore, has lost her footing, and the only thing she can do is cling onto him, like he's the only thing that matters. like he's the only one who can fix it.

chat noir hasn't fixed much in life. he's far better acquainted with the breaking and ruining of everything. perhaps this power was match-made for him, his soul.

and as long as it lasts, it suddenly stops. everything comes to a halt, and she's looking at him again.

she's devastating, and perhaps a bit too beautiful for her own good, and he's a little too used to finding her beautiful. even if its so wrong to think it right now, he does.

"i needed you there," is the only thing she says, and she's spoken so little of that day, and this gives no more details than before, but... he understands.

he knows. without knowing anything at the same time. and it all builds and builds and builds in him, until his eyes match her own, so blurry and painful. his heart swells and swells until he wants to die, matching corpses with the father he can no longer resent, because there isn't a torso to punch, a face to yell at, arms to dive into. he can't hate him for leaving because he isn't here to hate.

so he cries too. because it's appropriate now. because she's in agony, and he wants to join her. because she hugs him back, holds him close, lets his brewing storm rage and rumble.

there are things she can't tell him. there are things he can't tell her. they both know better by now not to ask or second-guess.

and in the face of all these questions that might go unanswered for a long time, they settle. because today, this is enough.

it has to be.

[starwarsmum]

Time for the aftermath of day 8 ❤️ I decided to move a later prompt forward so you get Buddy Holly as the prompt today

@maribat-calendar-events

“I need you not to tell anyone until I can talk to the rest of the team,” Ladybug said in a low voice to the others before they exited the aircraft. She had apparently already informed the team that they needed to have an emergency meeting. “Obviously none of you needs to be there for it. It might be easier if you're not; having you all there except for…well, it would make it obvious before I can tell them.”

“I'll come with you, LB,” Rena said softly, nodding to the others. Tim was impressed again by their trust in each other and the fact that a death of one of their own hadn't destroyed that.

“Bunnyx, before any of that, can I have a word?”

Tim winced at the guilty and distraught look on Bunnyx’s face, even as she nodded and followed Ladybug over to a more secluded spot. He could see from Ladybug's face that she believed Bunnyx had known what would happen to Viperion.

Marinette listened as Alix told her in a choked voice that Older Bunnyx had visited her the night before and explained that there was no way to save Luka. She couldn't change who was in which team, couldn't insist on going with them, couldn't do anything without altering the course of the future to a more dangerous path.

“I know, Bunnyx,” Marinette said gently once the other woman had finally gone silent. “I didn't call you over here to blame you - if you could have changed things, you would have. I asked you to come here so I could see how you were doing. Knowing things like this ahead of time can't be easy but you need to know that it's not your fault.”

Alix burst into tears and Marinette pulled her into a tight hug, letting her cry it out. Eventually Alix pulled away and Marinette gave her a sad smile before bracing herself for the inevitable chaos of the next meeting. 

Alya sidled silently up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist in a supportive hug as they walked towards the room they'd had Chat Noir book for them. They reached the room far too soon, the weight of what Marinette had to do pressing in on her.

“Can you…will you ask Tigress to come out here first? And then bring Pigella to the meeting room down the hall but wait outside?” She whispered, and thanked her lucky stars that Alya didn't question her. As much as Alya was a journalist, she was also a heroine and she was damned good at separating the two these days.

When Tigress - Juleka, Luka's twin sister - did come out, Marinette almost crumpled again. She looked so curious, so bright, and Marinette was about to destroy that. Not daring to say a word, Marinette wordlessly gestured for Juleka to follow her to the second meeting room she'd had booked.

“Tigress…I- there's no easy way for me to tell you this,” Marinette said, wincing at the way Juleka’s face scrunched in confusion. Swallowing hard, she held up her hand and forced it to uncurl from around the Snake Miraculous. “Viperion, he…he's gone. The mission we went on, there was rubble and I- he saved me but then he- he couldn't-”

Marinette stumbled through the explanation, trying to find the right way to explain it so that she could get through to her friend. She saw the way her eyes widened, the tremors that ran through her as she shook her head. Juleka's hand covered her mouth while her arm wrapped around her stomach and Marinette couldn't do anything but keep going, desperately wishing she could stop but knowing she owed it to both of the Couffaine twins to do it.

“I'm so- I'm so sorry,” she whispered at last, reaching out to hug her. She tried to ignore the lancing pain that came when Juleka flinched away from her, because she understood. As far as Juleka was concerned, Ladybug had just traded her own life for Luka’s. 

Instead, she turned to the door and gave a quick explanation to Rose. Alya had stepped away as soon as the door had opened to give them more privacy. To Rose's credit, she didn't hesitate before running into the room to be with Juleka and that left Marinette with the final task of speaking with the rest of the team.

“Girl, you know I can do this for you,” Alya said as they approached the meeting room again. “You don't have to do this all alone.”

“I owe it to him to tell them myself,” she replied, hating how hoarse her voice was. Alya made a sound of denial but Marinette waved a hand. “It's one more time telling the team. After that…everyone who needs bereavement leave will have it.”

The room dropped to silence as she stepped in, the curious murmurs changing to a charged anticipation. She tried to look them in the eye as she braced herself to tell them all what had happened but faltered when Nino looked at her with concern plain on his face. Alya didn't move from her side and she was grateful for the supporting weight of her best friend's hand on her shoulder.

“I'm sure you all want to know why we're having a team meeting after some of us went on a more secretive mission with the Bats,” she began, watching her friends nod or agree. “I…I have some news, and it's going to be hard. Anyone who needs to take a leave of absence after this will be granted it and if anyone wishes to discuss things in more detail, I'll be available.

“The mission went badly, at least from our standpoint. V-Viperion was killed in action,” she choked out, trying to ignore the collective gasp that went through the room. “Th-there was nothing we could do. He died fighting an enemy and saving lives - doing the right thing - something that he believed in strongly. 

“It was a risk we all knew we were taking when we joined the League. But it's one thing to know it's a possibility and another to have it happen to one of our own. I'm not going to tell you how it happened but if you wish to know, the file for this mission will be updated and I'll ensure that my recount of events is made available to you all.

“In regards to leave, please come and see me if you wish to take an absence from the League. If you wish to remove yourself from the League entirely, I understand and will make sure that you can continue operating in Paris. If you wish to retire completely…there is no shame in wanting to live your life free from this. You've given more than enough of yourselves to this life and I will personally fight anyone who says differently.

“I'm sure you all need time to process this, and I have a mission report to write, so if any of you need me, please don't hesitate to come and find me. I'll have my yoyo to hand so you can just message me too.”

She had promised Alya that she wouldn't have to do any more explanations but she also knew that she had two more people to tell. She swallowed and strode towards a Zeta Tube, heart heavy as she planned what to tell Anarka and Jagged.

_ _ _

Tim wrote up his mission notes, frowning when he saw that Ladybug's still weren't available. He knew she had to tell her team but he also knew that if she took too long it would be infinitely harder.

Once he was finished, he decided to hunt her down to make sure she was doing okay. He couldn't find her in any of the rooms but stumbled across her coming back into the Tower through the Zeta Tube. Her eyes were red rimmed and she attempted a watery half smile before her shoulders slumped in on her.

“I kn-know it's my job, as the leader, to t-tell the family when it h-happens,” she said after a minute and he felt his heart squeeze. “But I hope I never have to do that again.”

Tim didn't know what to say so he stayed quiet, putting a hand on her shoulder to try and convey his sympathy. 

He didn't know how long they stood there but he refused to leave her alone with her thoughts.

[flightfoot]

Hi, I'd be interested in some fanfictions that center around Nino (all ships welcome, bonus points if it's the core four hanging out).

Most fics that have him tagged don't focus on him. If you have any recs lmk, feel free to take as long as you need! Have a nice day

I'm on it! So long as you're fine with ships that also revolve around couples anyway, otherwise this would be rather sparse. I'm gonna go ahead and limit it to completed fics. Oh, and if you wonder why some of these have commentary and some don't, it's because the ones with commentary are from previous reclists I made.

(Edit: I'd said that I'd only include complete fics, but I accidentally included Withered Wings anyway, because I kinda forgot that. It's pretty close to finished at any rate, and it's good and long so I'm keeping it.)

Within Your Heart by Inkyibis

It’s Valentine’s Day and Ladybug just wants to her superhero partner to find his love. And what she wants, the Lucky Charm will create. If only she could remember what it is she did last night.

Adrino fic here! Marinette’s drunk and feeling awful that her superhero partner is alone on Valentine’s (she’s in a loving and committed relationship with Alya), so she creates a Lucky Charm to help Chat find love! In this universe, Ladybug’s Lucky Charms have the power to create new rules for the universe to follow, such as making one that demands that if you have any magic in you, you have to tell the truth or else you’ll freeze. Or in Adrien’s case, that he has to wake up in the arms of his true love every day XD. It’s very sweet and I love both Adrien’s and Nino’s relationship, and the relationship between the rest of the Miracuteam members as well, even though that’s not the focus.

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I’ll give myself a name (something stupid and pretentious) by @bbutterflies

Nino looked at the number and didn’t recognize it. Usually he wouldn’t answer, but he had nothing better to do – and could still really use a distraction – so he did. “Hello?”

“Hey, Nino.”

Nino stood up quickly, chest tightening. He knew that voice. He’d been waiting to hear it again for over two years. “Adrien?” he whispered.

“Yeah. It’s me."

-

When Monarch is defeated (and revealed to be Gabriel Agreste), Chat Noir immediately goes missing. Adrien disappears not long after. When Adrien finally shows up in Paris again, Nino would do anything to make sure he doesn't disappear again.

Ah this is lovely, Adrien’s been in a lot of emotional turmoil since Monarch’s defeat, convinced that everyone would hate him, SHOULD hate him, for not realizing that his father was the villain, and should hate him even more for disappearing like he does. But slowly Marinette and Nino get through to him, convince him that they just want him back. 

And also Adrien and Nino smooch. Multiple times. So that’s a bonus XD.

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Would Trust You With Everything by @kasienda

Nino breaks off, tears streaking down his face. Adrien wishes he was here as himself instead of Chat so he could offer a hug.

“It’s not like I don’t think she deserved her privacy. It’s just it felt like I was her last priority. And if I knew why, then maybe we could overcome it. But when I don’t, I’m not willing to be her last thought. You know? I always put her first.”

“Yeah,” Chat agrees, able to relate too well. He always put Ladybug first too, and he’s not sure it has ever been the same for her. “I’m sorry you’ve been so alone through this."

“I haven’t been totally alone,” Nino disagrees, holding up his phone. “My best friend has been keeping me company virtually most of the day.”

“Yeah? It helped?”

“I don’t know if any of the stuff he sent helped, but like, given what I know he’s up to, he totally had to move heaven and earth to talk to me so much, and that really helped. You know, just knowing that someone was thinking of me.”

“I’m glad,” Chat Noir said. “I wish he could be there in person for you.”

Nino sighs. “Yeah, me too, but at least you’re here."

...

Season 4 au - canon divergent from Rocketear Rocketear led to DJWiFi breakup.

Ahh, Adrino my beloved XD. I love the identity shenanigans in this one with Adrien being around Nino as both Adrien and Chat Noir, and both of them vaguely describing their situations to each other. It takes Adrien a bit to figure out that he has a crush on Nino, but once he does...

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The moment I knew (I’d no choice but to love you) by @bbutterflies

“He’s dating me,” Nino said, taking Adrien’s hand in his own.

Adrien could only stare back at him in shock.

“How dare you all force him to come out?” Nino continued, glaring at the reporters. “That was disgusting.” He pulled Adrien over to the car, guided him in, and shut the door behind them.

In the relative quiet and privacy of the backseat, Adrien finally processed what had just happened. “So… when were you going to tell me we were dating?”

This Adrino fic is delicious XD. Reporters keep hounding Adrien about his love life, so Nino finally gets them off Adrien’s back by fake-dating him. Problem is, Adrien’s actually been madly in love with Nino for years but has never been able to tell him. And now as they’re spending more time together, Nino’s beginning to find that he’s enjoying all these “couple” activities more than maybe he ought to if it’s entirely platonic...

If you want to see Adrien and Nino PINING for each other while “fake” dating (is it really fake if both parties want it to be real?) then you’ve come to the right fic!

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Chemistry With Him by @bbutterflies

It kind of sucked Nino was taking chemistry, but classes had filled up fast and he needed to take something and his advisor had said the credits would, somehow, count towards his major. It really sucked he was taking it first thing on a Monday morning (and Wednesdays, and Fridays, unfortunately). But he could get through it. He knew he could.

So no more boys. No distractions. He could do this all on his own.

“Is anyone sitting here?”

Nino looked up to find the source of the voice. A blond, green-eyed, absolutely beautiful someone.

Okay. Maybe one distraction.

Ah, adorable Adrino. This is a universe where Adrien never went to public school, so while Chat Noir, Ladybug, Carapace, and Rena Rouge all know each other (and Marinette, Alya, and Nino all know each other’s identities) they’re unaware that they are all already friends with Adrien. I loved seeing Chat and Carapace excitedly tell each other about their awesome crush/boyfriend, not knowing they were talking about each other XD.

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Strangely Familiar by @sunfoxfic

Alya Césaire’s life is perfect. Indeed, between the success of the Ladyblog, how well she’s doing in school, and the fact that she’s a superhero who has never bore the weight of a crisis of epic proportions, her life almost couldn’t be better. Almost.

But Alya has always been a go-getter, and so she’ll chase after that perfect life if it kills her. Which is how she ends up rushing to move out of her father’s apartment and in with Marinette, Adrien, and a complete stranger: Nino Lahiffe. And in fact, her life does seem perfect — she and Nino are fast friends. They spend a lot of time together and get to know each other really well.

But in the end, fortunate situations will bear unfortunate truths, and she learns things about herself that aren’t quite comfortable. Like I said, though: Alya has always been a go-getter, and she won’t let new feelings deter her from chasing after her perfect life.

This is the single longest DJWifi-centric fic on AO3 (which is a travesty) and it is GLORIOUS. Alya and Nino are both well fleshed-out here, with their own problems and baggage they’re dealing with, but it’s easier together.

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Shelltering Others by @rosie-b:

When Ladybug wakes Nino up in the middle of the night to scold him for revealing his identity, he thinks his career as a Miraculous holder is over. But instead, Ladybug gives him the opportunity to prove himself by becoming Chat Noir’s confidant and learning his secret identity through a scavenger hunt of sorts. Will Nino pass Ladybug and Chat Noir’s test, or will he fail to put the pieces together in time?

Quick disclaimer here: the first chapter looks kinda salty towards Nino, with Ladybug laying into him for revealing his and Alya’s secret identities to Adrien and Marinette. She’s mostly just trying to scare him into taking them seriously, though, since she herself has just proposed that Nino become Chat’s secret-keeper, and he can’t afford to be lackadaisical with that identity. I highly recommend getting through at least chapter 2 of the fic when giving it a shot, because this had some great character development and introspection for Nino, on Chat Noir, Adrien, Ladybug, and himself. 

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run boy run by tinuviel_tinuviel

Nino was sprawled on the floor of his room with Alya when his phone chimed, in the quiet of a premature autumnal sunset. It was one of those lazy evenings that had become rare lately. Contrary to popular belief, he and Alya could get studying done when in the same room, and he was elbows-deep in late assignments, which meant his phone was on Do Not Disturb, which meant the notification could only have come from one person.

ADRIEN 🐈: cmoe ove rnow ADRIEN 🐈: like riggt now ADRIEN 🐈: plag NINO: that is literally incomprehensible NINO: wait is that you plagg ADRIEN 🐈: mov faster

So this is a “Adrien finds out that his father is Hawkmoth and consults with Nino about what to do” fic, with Nino throwing Hawkmoth off Adrien’s track, though inadvertently at his own expense. Love Nino’s perspective here, and I always enjoy a good Hawkmoth-takedown fic!

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Best Friend and Boyfriends by @kasienda

“Someone’s in a good mood,” Nino commented when Adrien slid into the seat next to him in the student lounge during the mutual gap they both had between their university classes. Adrien turned his grin towards his best friend. “Yeah,” he agreed. Nino grinned back. “I haven’t seen you in this good of a mood in months. Were you hanging with your mystery lady?” The question caught Adrien completely off guard. Was Nino seriously comparing his feelings for Carapace with his feelings for Ladybug? Sure, Carapace had become one of his favorite people. Adrien currently coveted every moment spent in Carapace’s company. He walked away from talking to him for hours feeling like he was floating on a cloud. And he was anticipating their next patrol like a giddy child waiting for Christmas morning. Holy shit! “You okay, dude?” Nino asked. He totally had feelings for Carapace. When had that even happened?

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Withered Wings by @11jj11

Nino wasn’t sure if anyone had ever willingly took the akuma butterfly before him, but with his mind completely open to this apparent son of Hawk Moth he knew that he couldn’t turn him away. Not someone that was so afraid, not someone who would be left at the mercy of Hawk Moth.

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5 times Adrien, the person, helps Nino aka Chat Noir and one time Adrien, the turtle themed hero (still not the fragrance) does it by DearLittleRobin

Adrien is a cool guy that needs more friends Nino is a good friend (and he's also Chat Noir)

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Turtle-y Awesome by chattonne-rousse

Hugo Dupain-Cheng loves turtles, and by extension, he loves Carapace, his favorite superhero of them all. He doesn't know yet that his idol is also his Uncle Nino, and Nino hasn't yet seen the Carapace shrine that is Hugo's bedroom. But the little man is turning five and has just two wishes - a Carapace-themed party with friends and family, and the latest, greatest Carapace play set. This is a story of best friends, laughter, good kids and even better parents, and a whole lot of turtles.

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I hope the worst isn't over by thescuttlebug

Falling is exactly like flying right up until you stop. Like, assuming the kind of flying you’re used to involves busted steering and useless panic, Nino guesses. “GO LIMP!” a voice shouts, and Nino catches a glimpse of black something-like-leather and the twin flashes of a golden bell and silver staff streaking through the air. “Are you kidding me, dude?!” he shrieks.

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Foxy Lady by WizardlyMagik

In which Nino finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Rena Rouge, tries and fails to tell his friends and get some advice, and desperately attempts to hide it from his girlfriend. (Who in fact, is planning to use it to her advantage)

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Won't Tell A Soul by @thelastpilot

Nino accidentally runs head long into the biggest most stressful secret he can imagine, but now that he knows the truth about Marinette he is determined to help her in any way he can.

[nullsleepy]

Infection 2.0

Chapter 1: Betrayal

Chapter 1(HERE), Chapter 2(TBA)

Summary:

Marinette has had enough. Enough of all their jeers, their bullying, their outright assault on her entire being. After piling up all her emotions, she can barely find it in her to breathe anymore. When Chat Noir gives up his ring for selfish reasons, she loses it. She and Plagg are going to bring a ruin to Paris, one infection at a time.

The cold breeze stung against the warmth of her flushed skin, her eyes unfocused as she gazed at the streets below. She leaned her bare forearms on the smooth marble of her balcony, shivering at how cool the material was. Marinette’s light pink nightgown pressed against her body, flapping as the wind got harsher. She did her best to ignore the chill of the outdoors, wanting to take a break from it all. As she continued to stare down at the streets, looking at nothing in particular, the memory of the other night began to taunt her.

“Chat…” Marinette whispered, her warm breath materializing from the freezing temperature. Her heart ached, her mind ached. How could he do that to her? After everything they had been through? Marinette couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it. She denied it even as she stared down at the metal ring on her finger. The Chat Noir she knew would never do something like this, would never give up on her, on them.

“Think happy thoughts, Marinette, think happy thoughts,” she bit the inside of her mouth, trying to stay calm. She focused on the sounds of busy streets, of the people laughing down below. She thought of her own family, when they were playing games and baking. She thought of her friends and when they would plan surprise parties for each other. But then… then she started remembering how her life is currently. Of how her parents barely talked to each other or to her. Of how her friends had begun sticking gum to her seat and stealing her sketchbooks. Of how Lila Rossi tipped her entire life out of balance. Of how Chat Noir-

NO!

Marinette stood up from where she was leaning, clutching her head. Bad Marinette, bad! She had gotten too lost in her mind again, had taken off her rose tinted glasses for too long. She gripped her pigtails, strands of midnight blue hair sticking out of clenched hands. Marinette rushed forward into her room, slamming the glass door behind her closed. She drew the curtains, trying to hide in the dense darkness of her room.

“…Marinette” A low voice whispered next to her from where she sat in the middle of the room. She glanced over, noticing the glowing neon green eyes. The eyes of her chat, her kitty, her-

“Marinette, look at me.” Plagg stared at her, her chat nowhere to be seen. She saw the pity in those beautiful green eyes, saw the way they wavered as they looked at her.

“…Plagg…” Marinette’s voice was soft, like a scared little girl’s. “Why are you here? Where’s Chat Noir?”

“….” The pity in his eyes intensified. He flew up and onto her head, curling on top of it.

“Plagg? I asked you where Chat was! It’s dangerous if he doesn’t have his miraculous!” Marinette tried to look up at him, but it was impossible. He was on her head and wasn’t moving. “Don’t just ignore me, Plagg! Tell me where Chat Noir is!”

“…” No movement.

“Plagg! You have to go back to Adrien! He- no… I…” Marinette stopped, her eyes wide. She couldn’t know who he was, not unless- “NO! Chat wouldn’t do that to me! He wouldn’t!”

Marinette’s tears stained her flushed cheeks as she curled in on herself, shaking. “He wouldn’t! He wouldn’t! Chat Noir would never! He…”

Marinette felt a warm touch on her cheek. She took in the green glowing eyes of a creature that wasn’t her kitty, almost making her sob harshly once again.

“Plagg…” She reached over, hugging the small creature. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”

Her kitty hadn’t left just her but his kwami as well.

“Chat! I got your message, what do you need?” Ladybug swung in, landing on the rooftop her kitty was standing on. “Don’t tell me you have to miss patrol again! You know as well as I do that-”

“I quit.” The low hum of her partner’s voice startled her, causing her to look him in the eyes.

“What?” She couldn’t believe it, she had to have heard him wrong. There was no way-

“I quit.” Her cat stood there, his tail softly swinging below him. “I just can’t do this anymore, Ladybug. This isn’t a joke. I can’t take it anymore. It’s too much- too much on me and my life. I had a lot of fun with you, Ladybug, but I can’t force myself to be someone I’m not. I’m just… It’s better if I show you- Plagg, Claws out!”

There he was. There was the boy- the man who had worked beside her and made her day for years. He was…

“I'm just Adrien. I'm not a hero.” He stood there, swaying slightly. His stance was awkward with his hand on his neck.

“Adrien? No, no! Chat, please, turn back! I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything so-”

“No, Ladybug,” he held out the now purely silver ring to her. “I’m just Adrien now. Chat Noir is a nobody. He doesn’t exist.”

He looked at everything that wasn’t her as he grabbed her hand and shoved the ring into it. He turned and walked away before she could say anything.

“…idiot.” A voice beside her mumbled, causing her to almost fall over. She turned towards the voice with tears in her eyes. A small creature with cat-like features was floating beside her, looking at Adrien's back. “You idiot! If you do this- you can’t go back!”

“I’m sorry Plagg, but you know how this is. I’m not cut out for this anymore. There’s nothing keeping me from quitting anymore.” Adrien kept walking, reaching the door that would lead him into the building. “It’s too much responsibility on me. And.. It's not fun. It’s not something I can mess around doing. I’ve realized this now. Goodbye, Plagg, Ladybug.”

Marinette and Plagg stared at the closed door with wide, shaky eyes. The image of Adrien’s back was clear in their eyes, as if the door hadn’t separated them. As if he hadn’t cut off their connection forever…

Chat Noir wasn’t spotted after that night, ever again.

Plagg said nothing to the girl, his presence could only be felt by the warmth on a small spot on her head.

“I’m sorry.” She mumbled for what must have been the hundredth time this evening. She still denied what happened days ago at this very same hour. She couldn’t believe it. Her companion in this ordeal, in life, had abandoned her. She both understood and didn’t. So she denied what happened with everything she had.

Plagg continued to warm that spot on her head, almost calming Marinette down.

“It… It didn’t happen, okay, Plagg? It didn’t happen and you’re still with Adr- Chat. You’re still with Chat and we are going to meet up tomorrow night since tonight he’s busy. Yes, he’s just busy.” Marinette tried her best to convince herself, insanity almost leaking out of her voice.

Not a single sound could be heard above her head.

“Yes, yes- that’s exactly it! He’s just a little busy right now! He’ll be back for you soon. Yes, yes!” Marinette smiled, her eyes bloodshot from her hours of crying. Her smile felt forced, too large to be normal. She looked every bit insane as she sounded, with only one pigtail still left half-tied.

“Hehehehe, yes! My chat is just a litttttttttle busy right now! He’ll be back soon!” Marinette started giggling, smiling even bigger.

“Marinette.”

“Hmmmmmm…? What is Plagg…?” Marinette tilted her head up, forgetting he was on her. She looked up, seeing him peak out a bit on top of her forehead.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…For what Plagg? For what?” Marinette continued to smile inhumanly large, eyes wide.

“….”

“….You’re weird, Plagg! You don’t even finish your sentences.” Marinette giggled again, and again, and endless continued to giggle the night away.

Marinette’s eyes lazily left the board as she fiddled with her fingernails. Her eyes narrowed in on Adrien’s sunny blonde hair as he laughed at whatever Nino said. She couldn’t hear it from where she sat all the way from the back of the class, but she imagined his laugh sounded like angels singing. She reached into her jean pockets and pulled out the silver ring, playing with it under her desk.

“Dude, what happened to your silver ring?” She could make out Nino’s voice as she leaned over her desk, obviously staring at him.

“Uh, I just gave it away to a fan. I’m sure they needed it more than me.” Adrien smiled brightly, as if he was the sun himself. But his words hit Marinette hard. She physically flinched back, ring in hand.

“Oh, alright. Dude, you should get Lila to get you a new one! She knows a cool up and coming artisan who was like the great, great grandson to Da Vinci.”

“Maybe I’ll ask her later, I don’t want to bother her too much.” His smile strained just as Marinette’s eyes became shooting glares at the mentioned girl.

..Lila…

“Marinette…?” Her darling Adrien’s voice called out to her, making Marinette sit up from where she dozed.

“…Adrien? Adrien! Hi! What’s up?” She scrambled to sit up, a paper sticking to her face. She beamed at him as she took in his gaze.

“Could I talk to you outside?” His large green eyes overwhelmed her, entrancing her like a magical forest. His hair was the sun beaming down on the plants of life and his smile was the very air that life needed to breathe.

“Y-yeah! Sure! Let me just clean up, I’ll meet you outside!” Marinette crammed her papers into her bag, blushing brightly as she ripped a paper off her face. She shoved all the rest of her belongings in after it, rushing after Adrien who had just smiled and walked away.

“So! What’s up? Whatcha need, my good old pal-io?” Marinette internally cringed at herself, but continued to smile at him.

“I just… I know you have a way to contact Ladybug and…” HE’S GONNA ASK FOR THE RING BACK! HE’S GOING TO BE MY PARTNER AGAIN! “I just want you to tell her that I haven’t changed my mind. I’m never going back. I like my life now, and I’m just going to forget everything.”

He’s going to forget everything? Everything they’ve been through?

“Could you tell her that for me?”

“S-sure…” Marinette stared past him, not really sure what she had just heard.

He… he’s abandoning her. He’s abandoning everything they ever did together… them.

He’s abandoning them.

“Plagg…” Marinette slid her earrings into their case, ignoring Tikki’s call. Her eyes were even more bloodshot than before, but now she lacked any type of expression. “…I can’t do this anymore.”

The cold metal of the ring in her hand stung, as if it was trying to burn a hole in the middle of her palm. She stared down at it, the light from the window reflecting off of it. Her entire room was pitch dark aside from a peak in the window and the glare on the ring.

“I’m sorry…” She mumbled, a hand reaching down to fiddle with the lab coat she stole from her Chemistry class. She clenched the ring tightly with the other, the feeling of burning getting worse.

Her hair was still tied into a messy bun, with random pieces of hair sticking out. The circles under her eyes seemed to get worse every second as she continued to stare down at her closed hand.

Tears began to leak out from her swollen eyes, forcing her to close them. Her eyes ached painfully, the tear ducts abused from her hours of nonstop crying. The feeling was even worse than the time she got her wisdom teeth taken out without the use of anesthesia. She still continued to stand there, though, despite her pain. She didn’t even notice it, really. All she could feel was how the ring kept burning her hand.

A sudden warmth on her nose caused her to break out of the trance, making her look up with mostly unfocused eyes. A black blur stood floating in front of her, green eyes staring down at her.

“Plagg?” She stared at the green eyes as they changed to a bright yellow and the pitch black fur became green tinted. So confused by the image in front of her, she didn’t even notice as a certain black-purple butterfly flapped its wings and entered her lab coat.

Notes: Rewriting a fic I wrote in the past(still continuing that one, but I’m redoing things in this fic) anyways I’m obsessed with doing polls so poll time!

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