#i meant to draw more of it but rex with fangs okay trust

[phibsies]

lego movie stuff i drew today because they are rotting my mind so bad

also this because i was trying to prove to a friend that i hate rex (i love him with my whole heart)

[beccalovesdarling]

Unexpected Chapter 4 Night 1

His headache had been absent since he’d been around Marinette--Ladybug!—and Plagg had said his own unease had settled. However, once Adrien found himself face to face with his imposter, the unease, headache, and nausea came back full force. His head and heart pounded painfully and his vision was spotty. He snarled down at the man, his gaze never leaving the man’s cocky smirk. He wore a leather suit like his own. The armor was perhaps thicker in certain areas and the claws of his gloves were sharp enough to slice Marinette’s gentle skin like butter. A baton was secured at his waist, but he did not draw it. Leather cat ears were perched atop his unruly hair that was pulled back into a bun except for his bangs. Fangs glinted from his smirk in the sunlight that streamed in behind Chat. A light beard covered his chin and cheeks to give him a Star Lord look as his black mask protected his identity.

“Marinette, stay back!” He demanded of the girl.

The imposter rolled his cat eyes. “Like I would hurt her, kid.” The nickname brought forth another snarl and the man chuckled.

Chat pounced down and the man seemed to expect it. He gracefully rolled off Marinette’s bed and stood, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. “Down, kitty. I can explain.”

Chat scrambled down the loft to stand protectively in front of his Lady. “Did he hurt you, Princess?”

Marinette moved closer behind him; her soft, trembling front nearly flush to his sold, tense back and her delicate hand curling over his shoulder. Her touch eased him and kept at bay his sickness. He assumed she might have shaken her head from the slight brushing against his hair, but he refused to take his eyes off the other man. “No,” she verified.

The man jumped down to stand before them and Chat nudged Marinette with his hand as he reached for his baton. The two stepped back as Chat extended it. Chat immediately began to formulate an exit plan. If they rushed downstairs, her family would be in danger. Yet, if Chat scooped her up and jumped from the window behind them, there was still the chance the man would stay and hurt Sabine and Tom instead of hunting them down. If he did follow them, there was no way he could focus on fighting if Marinette was around. That thought caused him to pause. Hadn’t he always fought with her near? He’d seen her jump into a t-rex’s mouth! She wasn’t just sweet, kind, and small Marinette anymore. She was brave, confident, and fierce Ladybug. And yet, her hand trembled on his shoulder.

She was scared.

Adrien’s lips curled back in a snarl; the sound ripping from his throat and chest. The man merely blinked at him as if Chat was a tiny kitten learning his way. His tail lifted backwards and wrapped protectively around Marinette’s waist. His knuckles cracked as he flexed his fingers and flashed his dangerous claws. Everything about Chat’s stance screamed that Marinette was his. Adrien allowed his feline persona to completely capture him; it felt it well and burn inside him like an akuma.

The man tilted to the side to glance at Marinette behind him. Chat moved to block him. “Princess, call him off. You know I won’t hurt you.” The older cat’s voice was soft and alluring like a siren.

“No,” Chat barked. “You’re not getting near her. She’s mine!” The declaration startled Adrien enough to ease his muscles. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. But now that he knew his Lady was right there, he was not letting her slip away. And he certainly wasn’t letting some other stray pluck her away from him. She was his Lady. His princess.

Imposter Chat’s eyes flashed before darkening. “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” he muttered. Pain cracked across his face and it flabbergasted Adrien. The man shook his head seemingly to clear the thoughts that wounded him.

“What do you want?” Marinette’s tinkling voice called from behind him. Chat’s right cat ear twitched backward towards her. She was not demanding or frightened. She was curious. Her hand slipped from his shoulder and his tail tightened around her.

“That’s a tough question, Princess,” he grumbled while slinking down to his haunches on the floor. He flicked his head back and forth to crack a few joints. “I’m actually not sure I can answer that right now. Timey-wimey and all that.” He grinned. “I’ll cut to the chase. I’m Chat Noir and I’m from the future.” Older Chat waggled his brows beneath his mask. “Come with me if you want to live.” He deepened his voice in a terrible impression of a particular Austrian-American actor.

“Yep. That’s definitely you, Chat,” Marinette deadpanned behind Adrien.

Adrien stuttered. “What, no!” He shook his head in denial; his hair flopping. “He’s gotta be an akuma!”

Older Chat tapped his forehead. “Try me. Ask me anything.”

Marinette scoffed. “I totally saw you reading my diary when I came in. That’s cheating.”

Adrien watched as Older Chat flashed Marinette the smirk Adrien used in his sexier modeling jobs as he ran a clawed hand down his chest. “It’s still nice to know you think my butt was cute in this suit.” He winked at Adrien and the younger boy’s jaw dropped open. “After five years of marriage, it’s still nice to hear your wife say you’re sexy.”

Adrien and Marinette stuttered together. “Marriage?”

Older Chat snickered with a Cheshire grin. “Yep. You finally got over your crush on Adrien Agreste.”

Adrien’s tail slipped from Marinette’s waist in shock. Marinette screeched in anger and frustration. “Give me your baton, Chat, I’m killing him.”

The doppelgänger rolled his eyes. “I doubt that, Mari.” He lithely uncurled himself and stood. “Seriously, I’m not going to hurt you,” his eyes met his younger self. “If I was, I would have done it last night when I first got here.”

Adrien stiffened as his earlier thoughts had been confirmed. “You were after Marinette.”

He shrugged. “More or less,” he nodded his head towards Marinette’s loft. “But right now, I need to talk to you. Alone.”

The hero pursed his lips. It was true that if he wanted to hurt Marinette, he would have done it last night. Adrien would have been completely oblivious that anything was wrong until this morning. He could have done anything to her and Adrien would never have known. Yet, who was to say it wasn’t a trap? Older Chat could have just been luring him away from Marinette to fight. While it would give Marinette enough time to transform, Chat doubted he could hold off someone with identical (or even stronger) powers that was at least double his size. He had obviously needed Ladybug’s help to fight Theo and they had been evenly matched.

In typical Ladybug fashion, Marinette decided for him. “Chat, just see what he wants,” she mumbled. “If he did want to hurt us, he would have done it already.”

The boy locked his jaw before nodding slowly. His double grinned before leaping onto Marinette’s loft and up her trapdoor. The second the door clicked behind him, Adrien whirled to face Marinette. Desperately, he gripped her upper warms. “Marinette, listen to me,” Chat’s voice was steely in his seriousness. “If you even think you hear something wrong, get out of here. Don’t come up there.” In a fight against him, Chat knew he needed Ladybug, but Marinette was Ladybug and she was so small and sweet. Marinette was delicate and fragile. Marinette tripped over air. Chat drew in a shuddering breath. “Promise me.”

The girl cocked her head and blinked at him. “I’ll be fine, Chat.” She smiled sweetly and nodded towards the hatch. “Just watch yourself, okay?”

Marinette cared for everyone. Marinette was gentle.

His thumbs stroked her arms. He wished his gloves and her jacket weren’t in the way. He wanted to feel how soft her skin was. He had never felt his Lady’s skin before. Not really, anyway. Just brushes against cheeks when they were tossed together during fights. He assumed she was soft like velvet.

Swallowing, he pulled himself away from her. “Cat’s honor,” he muttered before hoping after his doppelgänger.

The man stood against the wall of Marinette’s balcony. He found the corner with the most shadows and wedged himself there. His arms were folded as he leaned heavily against the wall and gazed down at his combat boots. Chat hovered near the trap door as a last line of defense to protect his princess. Logically, he should move. It was barely sunset and it would be strange if people saw Chat Noir hanging around Marinette’s place this late. She would not be pleased if photos ended up on the Ladyblog. Yet, Chat stood resolved and waited for the man to start because he wasn’t sure what to say. He had made his case clear in Marinette’s bedroom. But he still didn’t trust the man.

Especially when he said his name.

His real name.

“Adrien,” the man started. He finally glanced up at the boy with aged eyes. “You don’t trust me and that’s fine. But right now, Mari needs us to work together. My Mari is in danger.” Adrien’s insides squirmed at the thought of Marinette being in danger. (Marinette nearly falling from the Tower. Marinette running from the Gamer. Marinette fighting akuma.)

“How do you know my name?” Adrien whispered. Time travel wasn’t possible. Besides, he’d seen Doctor Who. Even if Adrien helped him with whatever mission, there was no guarantee the future would be changed. And Sailor Pluto said time travel was a taboo. How was it even possible?

Adult Adrien held up his hand in a stop fashion. “I’ve learned a trick or two, kitten. Ask Plagg.” He dropped his hand back to where his arms were folded across his chest and nodded towards Adrien’s Miraculous. Adrien frowned as he avoided the verbal question and seemed to answer his internal ones. Now he can read minds? “You need to get back home. The two of us have been too close together already. I must stay with Mari and Tikki tonight. I’ll be with the Guardian tomorrow; however long it takes me to find the spell I need.”

“I can’t leave her-“

“She’ll be ok, Adrien,” the man interrupted. “I remember what I thought when I was in your place.” He chuckled humorlessly. “It took me hours to finally put them together in my head.”

“In my place?” Adrien questioned. “What do you mean by that?”

The man inhaled and exhaled heavily through his nostrils. “When I was sixteen, I stood right where you are and experienced all of this. I knew what could happen to Mari and I tried so hard to stop it. Maybe I drew it out some, I don’t know.” He shuffled his hand through his shaggy bangs before dropping it to the side of his neck where he rubbed nervously. “I don’t know if you can change your future and I’m not sure if I should even tell you what happens,” he admitted. “My older self told me and everything I did to protect her failed. On the other hand, if I don’t warn you, there’s a possibility that it happens sooner.” His speech slurred as his nerves bled out.

Chat took a tentative step forward. His mind reeling from the only bomb that mattered. “What happens to Marinette?” His voice was soft against his numb lips. Another sigh from the older man was his answer. His anxiety began to swell up. His fear and protectiveness for the girl below raging within his chest causing an uncomfortable tightening to spread across his breast. “I can’t lose her.”

At those words, the time traveler’s gaze locked on his own. “I know,” he affirmed. The toxic eyes that mirrored his own hardened and Adrien was afraid. This man was stronger than him. He obviously had more power and could easily over take him. But, he did not. He had not once tried to harm him or Marinette.

“Hawk Moth nearly killed her.”

The energy seeped from Adrien’s body and the boy fell to his knees in anguish. “No…”

The man gazed on in pity. “She pulled through, but all magic comes with a price.” Adrien tilted his head up to look at the older clone. Tears freely fell from his cat eyes, his mask shinning in the dying rays of the sun. He continued with a hard edge to his voice. “Her body never fully recovered, but she fought to pursue her dreams. She continues to wield Tikki, but it’s too dangerous for her to fight. Not that there’s any akumas or anything. Honestly, Tikki’s magic is probably what’s keeping her alive.” His frown deepened. “But, even that has its limits. She’s…Marinette’s pregnant.”

His throat went dry. Ladybug was barely holding on and she was…

“Is it…” Adrien trailed off. He loved her more than anything. Marinette was more important that he was. Ladybug’s life was worth more than his own. Why would he…

The older Agreste nodded his confirmation. He smiled weakly. “Her name is Emma Agreste.” Adrien lurched to his feet. He scrambled towards the elder who reached for his staff. With practiced ease, the man swiped at the boy’s feet and knocked him back onto his rear. He grunted and glared daggers up at the man. “I don’t suggest touching me, kid. You don’t want to rip a hole in the universe, do you?” Adrien’s silence was his answer. “I’m here to find a spell to save her. I’ll be gone in two days and then you can go back to wooing her. I won’t reveal our identity.”

“Why didn’t you protect her?” The boy demanded.

The man’s frown deepened. “I ask myself that every day.”

XXX

Chat Noir dropped down Marinette’s skylight. The girl rushed towards him and crushed him to her chest in a relieved hug. “I heard shouting,” she whispered. Chat hugged the girl closer as his throat constricted and more tears pricked at his eyes. He nuzzled the girl’s hair. His older self may have failed them, but he swore he would never let Hawk Moth hurt her. They would be a family and she would be safe.

He wouldn’t lose her like his mother.

He pressed a kiss to her hair and the girl stiffened. He pulled away and tilted her chin back with his fingertips. “I have to go now, Princess. But, I’ll be back in the morning.” He had to tell her tomorrow. They would find some way to stop the future. She was far too precious to risk.

“No, Chat,” she whispered. “Meet me at the Eiffel Tower at ten o’clock. You can wear a disguise, but please, we have to talk about this.” She gripped his hands closer to her chin with a desperate plea in her voice and eyes. Marinette nibbled her lip in nervousness before continuing. “I mean, not that you have to, because it’s risky and you probably don’t want to hang out with some random girl-“

Adrien chuckled. It was so enduring to hear her ramble when he was Chat. She’d never done it before but now that they knew one day they would be married, she obviously found herself nervous. He tapped his index claw against her lips. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Princess.” His Princess; His Lady.

But, it was too soon to drop that bombshell on her. He would ease it on her tomorrow on their…date? He laughed joyfully. Marinette glanced up at him in confusion with her brow cocked. He shook his head and gently pulled his hands away from hers. “I’ll tell you the joke tomorrow.” Ladybug always said she’d never date Chat Noir. And here they were.

That determined look crossed her face. “It’s not what you think, Chat Noir! This isn’t a date or anything! We just have to talk about…this!” She wildly flapped her arms to gesture to the two of them.

A deeper chuckle rang out from behind them and Adrien frowned. He turned and sure enough his older self was sprawled seductively on Marinette’s bed. “Don’t worry, Mari. He just thinks you’re a really great friend.”

The choice of words was lost on Adrien and he shook his head before turning back to Marinette. “If he does anything creepy, call me.” He strode over to her desk and grabbed a sheet of paper with math scribbles obviously left over from homework. He scrawled out his number and briskly shoved the paper in her hands. “That’s my number.”

The girl blinked at it with her mouth hanging open. “Is this…ok?”

The man leapt from her bed and ripped the paper from her hands. “Gonna be a hard no.” He unzipped a pocket and slid the folded sheet inside. “That reveal needs to come on your little date tomorrow. Now, shoo.” He flicked his hands at Adrien. “Run along now, kitten. You’ve had your time with her.”

Reluctantly, Adrien made his exit after a few longing looks back at Marinette. Once they were alone, the man stretched. “Alone at last,” he chirped. His chipper tone belied his nervousness. He had no memory of how this night occurred because he was now living it for the first time. He prowled towards her chaise and plopped down. Marinette stood awkwardly in the middle of her room watching him curiously.

“Alright, Bug. You can let Tikki out. Obviously, since we’re married I know who you are. But, I’m not going to reveal myself tonight.” He nodded towards the sky light. “I’ll let him do that tomorrow.”

The creation goddess zipped from Marinette’s purse as she eased it off her shoulder. Tikki hovered before him to glare at Chat. “How irresponsible, Chat Noir! How could you and Plagg do this?”

He sighed. “Tikki, give me a break. I know the risks, but the probable outcome is worth it and I’ll pay whatever price I have to.” He waved his hand dismissively.

Her glare hardened. “What did you do? Where’s Marinette? Is she ok?”

Chat glanced around the little goddess to peak at the girl for a moment before he returned Tikki’s glare. “You don’t know how badly I want to detransform so you and Plagg can talk this out, but I’m not revealing myself. I’m not taking that moment away from them. And I’m not giving away what’s going on in the future because I know you two and you’ll try so hard to stop it. I can’t let that happen.” He frowned deeply at Tikki. “You’re not the only one who loves her.”

The girl’s breathing shuddered. “You mean…”

He nodded as he glanced around Tikki to observe Marinette. He wasn’t actually sure which part she was focusing on, but it was true either way. “Yeah. And believe me, Princess, it’s taking every ounce of willpower to not take this mask off and hug you.” He scrubbed his neck with a paw. “Or kiss you.”

Marinette slowly approached him. “You don’t…have to take off the mask, kitty.” Her face was painted a pretty pink and his breathing stopped. He forgot just how adorable she was back then. Here, now, however it worked. What mattered was that he loved her across all times and she wanted him.

He opened his arms and the tiny girl curled up beside him and rested her head upon his chest. He held the girl close as Tikki buzzed off in a huff.