#kwami's heartbeat

[mymiraclebox]

A Kwami's Heartbeat

Kwamis don't have a heart.

They don't have blood or bones, no true physical body, just a physical form they temporary inhabit. Not bound to flesh and blood, but to artifacts and magic.

When they first came to earth, the many nuances of the human language confused them. It was hard to understand how mortals saw blood as life, and heart as emotion. It was connections to things they did not have. With time, however, they came accustomed to these metaphors, and adopted them into their own speech.

They also found ways to make these sayings their own.

A Heartbeat is something not all kwamis have experienced, and something those who have are convinced they'll never have again. To an immortal being the time with their Heartbeat feels as if it is only a moment, a burst of life and emotion that they will not find elsewhere. A single instance they will treasure forever.

The word Heartbeat is a term kwamis use to describe a human companion, a holder like no other. Not just a human they love or are close to, but one that becomes a part of them in a way no other could. Kwamis struggle describing it to other beings; phases like "brother", "other half", "soulmate", "kindred spirit" and many others have been used, but it does not truly describe what these companions are to them.

When a kwami loses their Heartbeat, it can truly wound them. It is a pain they will always carry with them. They did not just lose a friend, they lost a part of themselves.

For thousands of years it was thought that Alpha kwamis could not have a Heartbeat, that such a role was always filled by their other half, but this was proven false when Graay found his Heartbeat in India. This did not happen again with any other Alpha until many years later, when Plagg met his Heartbeat in France.

[ggomos-maribat]

A Real One for Christmas

Cross posted from AO3

You know, when I said I was ready to return the favor,

I didn't expect it to be like this

Pleaseeee? 🥺🥺🥺

It's just for one Christmas dinner

EVERYONE has their own boyfriend or girlfriend now

And Ma and Pa's been asking when I'm getting together with someone

you're overlooking something here

your best friend knows me

how do we explain that to them?

we just tell them the truth

we met online and hit it off

uh huh

he won't ask questions in front of the family

i think

i can think of a million reasons how this can go wrong

it won't🙂

wow that smiling face is really assuring

that's good ^ _^

seriously?

another question..

am I supposed to know about your powers?

that's the fun part

if they know you're a 'civilian'

they'll be fighting to hide their powers

and/or tech

thru the whole dinner

you're actually evil

haha

this is me getting back at them

so i'll fly you on the 20th?

i can't fly with you

you need to book me a flight, im in Paris

France

Europe

Or else they'll be suspicious

Right

I'll ask Dad to help get you one

What about HM?

I'll make a prediction here and say that he won't be attacking a few days before christmas

cause he'll do it on christmas

but just in case, I can bring Kaalki or you can fly me

or I can ask Chat to cover for me

okay

see you :3

hey, this makes YOU owe me a favor

but this is your return

this isnt equal to what u did

it is :3

Marinette sighed and flopped on her bed as she threw her phone to her side. Meeting Jon Kent had been both luck and misfortune for her. One day, he was just a cute stranger she met after a boredom-filled night and then the next, they had accidentally found each others' identities when Superboy happened to pass by Paris.

She dragged out a groan. What on earth was Jon even thinking with that charade? They were facing a family of Kryptonians and detectives for crying out loud. 

"What's the matter, Marinette?" Tikki flew in munching on her last cookie crumb. 

"That was a very regretful groan." 

She screamed when she saw her partner's head pop through her open skylight. A pillow was instinctively thrown at Chat, who dodged it effortlessly. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" she glanced warily at her trapdoor, hoping her parents wouldn't come rushing in. 

Chat dropped down on her bed and stretched. "Meowch. Can't I visit my dearest friend every now and then?" 

"I think Marinette has a predicament," Tikki tattled as she nestled on top of Chat's head. 

"Oooh, what predicament? Do share, M'lady." 

Seven pieces of cookies, two more woeful groans and a story later, Chat was laughing out loud. 

"You think this is funny?" Marinette scowled. 

"I'm sorry," Chat wheezed, not at all sounding remorseful. "But you and I have read enough fanfiction to know where this is going." 

"But this is not fanfiction. This is real life." 

"And in real life," the black-clad hero sang, "Jon Kent likes you."  

Marinette scoffed. It wasn't that easy of course. Jon was one charming smile after another, targeting her unsuspecting feelings while not knowing anything.  

"So?"  

"So. . .?" Chat cocked his head.  

"What about Hawkmoth?"  

"Him? I can take care of the city while you're out," he replied. "You go enjoy your little Christmas getaway while I—"  

"Should we exchange our Miraculouses?" Marinette asked her kwami.  

Tikki gave a half shrug, "I don't mind joining Adrien for a while."  

"Yes! Two days with no cheese smell!"  

---

The flight to America was uneventful, but the car ride to Kents' was. Jon had reminded her before and after her trip that he and Conner were picking her up. She'd lied to him over text, saying that she wasn't nervous at all, but her rapid-beating heart was betraying her.  

And Plagg wouldn't shut up about it. And asking her for a charcuterie board at dinner.  

She could only make a futile attempt to control her heartbeat in the old farm truck with two Superboys.  

"Marinette, was it?" Conner smiled at her through the rearview mirror.  

"Uh . . . Yeah." She squirmed. Jon squeezed her hand. She squirmed some more.  

"By the way, Dad wanted to pick you up instead of Conner but he has dinner duties," Jon explained, "He told me to tell you."  

"It's okay. I'm thankful he paid for the flight and everything."  

"Jon told me you met online," Conner pressed, earning a frown from Jon. "He wouldn't elaborate."  

"We just started off as chat buddies and the next thing I know we were getting closer and he asked me out."  

"Hm that's interesting." A slight smirk popped up on Conner's lips. "Jon's never mentioned you before." 

"This is exactly why," Jon pouted. "You'll scare her off."  

A fake gasp. "Moi? I'm just a guy from Smallville. No one too special."  

"Eyes on the road, Kon. And don't go too fast, this isn't your motorcycle."  

"So how did Lois react when she found out?" 

Marinette saw Jon shudder under his holiday sweater. "She was furious."  

She paled. "Your mom got mad?"  

"I should've seen that coming anyway, because I never told them." Jon raised his hands. "Not your fault, though! Mom's excited to meet you."  

"How exactly did you meet?"  

"Kon. Questions later. Focus on driving, jeez."  

Marinette swallowed. If they had to pull off the act in front of Jon's family, she had to step up. "It's okay, Jon." She touched his arm. "We met in an online chatroom and we've been talking ever since." 

"Tinder? Grindr?"  

"Kon!" Jon's cheeks turned into a deep shade of red. "Can we talk about something else? What about you and Tim? Talk about that."  

"Me and Tim?" Conner smiled widely, almost evilly. "You want to talk about us? Tonight we're going to make lo—"  

"Okay, okay! Not that!" Jon raised his voice. He turned to Marinette. "Sorry."  

She squeezed the side of her bag which was starting to shake from Plagg's giggles. "It's okay. I promise."  

"You shouldn't have come—" 

"Hey, no, we already agreed to this, didn't we?" Marinette smiled shyly. "We're doing this dinner."  

Withholding a smirk, she laughed. "And it's not like I can fly back to France in a minute." 

And to this, Conner's eyes widened as the car swerved sharply to another lane.  

----

Lois Lane was first to tackle her as soon as she stepped through the front door. She stumbled back a bit, but managed to return the tight hug.  

"Marinette! I'm happy you can make it." She turned her head briefly to the commotion behind her. "I have to apologize—we're not yet done with the preparations."  

Marinette could see half of the Wayne family staring at her curiously from the kitchen. She pretended not to notice as Jon took her coat. "It's alright, Ms. Lane. If there's anything I can help with—"  

"No, you're our guest! You can sit here first and the table will be set in a few minutes." The reporter hurried her to a comfy couch in the living area. "And please, call me Lois."  

"Thank you . . . Lois."  

Jon leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Dad needs me to help with a few things. Will you be okay on your own?"  

She took his hand gently. "Of course. Go."  

He gave her one charming smile before going. At the same time, others came filing in . . .  

. . . And an arrow sailed past her head and into the wall.  

"ROY!"  

"That is my new—ow!"  

A blue-eyed man snatched the small contraption from the archer, glaring at him pointedly. 

"We have a guest, idiot." Another man strolled into the room.  

Dick Grayson, Roy Harper, Jason Todd, Marinette made her guesses. Jon had already told her all about them, even going as far as to share their quirks and personalities. Nightwing, Arsenal, Red Hood.  

"I am so sorry!" Roy's eyes went wide. "It was for my . . . Er—archery competition!"  

Jason smacked him.  

"Didn't we already tell you about this?" Dick hissed while pulling out the arrow from the wall.  

Roy mumbled a response that Marinette couldn't make out.  

"Really really sorry for that." Dick turned to her. "Are you hurt anywhere?"  

"I'm good!" Marinette assured before their arguments worsened. "It didn't hit me."  

"Good." Dick glared at Roy again. "I'm Dick, and these are Roy and Jason."  

"It's nice to meet you," she smiled sheepishly.  

"Guys, you're crowding around the poor girl." A woman in a wheelchair entered, and the others gave her space.  

"Hi, I'm Barbara, you can call me Babs." The woman offered a welcoming smile which Marinette returned. At that moment, more people were ushered into the living room, by the Wayne's butler who was brandishing a spatula and muttering about banning them from the kitchen.  

Marinette felt a chill down her spine.  

There, at the corner of her eye, he was staring at her. Calculatingly.  

Crap, he definitely recognizes me.  

She pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to Jon.  

---

The Kents and Waynes (read: Alfred) didn't disappoint with the food. Marinette realized how hungry she was when she gazed at the dining table.  

"You have to try Ma's apple pie," Jon whispered next to her. "I bet your bakery can't compare."  

"I'll be the judge of that," Marinette rolled her eyes. She settled next to Jon, across from Clark and Lois. Damian was diagonal from her, making it more difficult to avert her gaze.  

After the setting of the table, passing of bowls, picking up of servings, Clark made small talk within the light chatter.  

"So Marinette, what do you like to do?" Clark asked.  

"Art. Designing," she replied, "Helping my parents bake."  

"Oh come on," said Jon, "Marinette is a prodigy. She's been recognized by Gabriel Agreste and Audrey Bourgeois gave her an offer once."  

"Big names in fashion," Bruce Wayne commented, sending Marinette into a blush, "That's impressive."  

Jon piped up again before she could kick him under the table. "Her designs are amazing. And Jagged Stone regularly commissions her for concert pieces."  

"Wagged Shtone?" 

"Master Timothy, please don't talk while eating."  

"You know Jagged Stone?!" Tim gaped at her after swallowing down his food.  

"Jon's exaggerating." Marinette tucked her hair behind her ear, "It was just a few pieces for his concert."  

"Don't downplay it, Mars, you're talented," Jon smiled gently.  

"Looks like you're very proud of Marinette," said Lois.  

"O—of course I am! She's my girlfriend after all."  

"Well, I'm happy Jon brought a wonderful girl home," Ma Kent beamed, handing Marinette another piece of baked lasagna.  

"Can you get me an autograph from Jagged?" Roy asked.  

"Me first!" Tim cut in.  

"I'd like one too," Kara joined in.  

Marinette laughed nervously, "I'm sure I can get one for everyone." She glanced to her side. "Umm . . . Conner are you okay?"  

He continued rubbing his shoulder. "Yeah, someone threw a tree at me too hard while we were collecting firewood."  

An invisible tension (which Marinette purposefully ignored) swept across the room. Beside her, Jon spoke up. "Hey, I said I was sorry!"  

Marinette furrowed her eyebrows, resisting a laugh when she saw the semi-panicked faces of the others. "Jon threw a tree at you?"  

Tim conspicuously kicked Conner's leg below the table.  

"A tree! Yeah!" Conner's eyes widened. "We collect tiny trees for firewood! Really tiny ones!"  

"Oh. . .?"  

"Please ignore him." Tim kicked his boyfriend again. "Mari, tell us about Paris!"  

---

"Chilly night, huh?" 

Marinette could've sworn she jumped to the ceiling as she yelped at the voice. She'd step out into the front porch to get some air as the families cleaned up after dinner inside. She didn't expect the girl who Damian had brought to come approach her. 

"Yeah, really cold," Marinette saw her breath fog up. She hugged herself, feeling Rachel stare directly at her. 

Rachel had been quiet during dinnertime, but she wasn't a forgettable presence. Marinette knew about her as well (even before she knew about the Kents) because of a mission (more accurately, a snooping errand) assigned to her in the past. 

"Aren't you cold too?" Marinette rubbed her palms together. 

"I do well with the cold," the girl replied. "Damian's been looking at you the whole night." 

Yeah, I noticed that too. 

"Really?" Marinette chuckled nervously, gazing elsewhere. 

"Yes. It seems like he knows you." 

"He must be mistaken . . ." 

"He isn't." Rachel shook her head. "I'm not sure why he's suspicious but I trust you." 

"Trust---huh?" 

"I can feel that you're good. Lucky even." A light smile was on her lips. "You're good for Jon." 

I thought the smell of cheese would've masked whatever luck Tikki gives me. "Thanks?" 

"I'm coming back inside. You?" 

"Uhh . . . I think I'll stay here for a bit." 

With a nod, Rachel walked back into the warm house. Marinette released a sigh of relief. Confirming that Damian did recognize and remember her brought back memories.  

She wasn't proud of her time in the League, but it wasn't something she can turn her back to either. Especially since she still had to be loyal to its heir. She let out another heavy sigh and— 

"AHH!" In a surge of alarm, Marinette threw whoever was behind her over her shoulder. She was suddenly met with familiar green eyes.  

"Oh . . . Amir . . . I'm so sorry!"  

"It's good to know you still have your reflexes." 

She winced as she helped Damian stand back up. 

"I will go straight to the point. What are you doing here?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"Did my mother send you? Is the League looking for me?" 

Marinette huffed. "Okay, first of all, that is an insult to Lady Talia. If she wanted to see you, she'd do it herself. Not send me to go undercover in a Christmas dinner." 

Damian raised an eyebrow. 

"Secondly, I'm not here for anything but Jon. Because I'm his girlfriend," she emphasized. "It's just a coincidence and I even hoped you wouldn't try to talk to me." 

"So you have no business involving me?"  

"I don't." She glanced warily through the window of the house, wondering if Jon (or any of the Supers) was listening. "Jon is . . . he's really important to me. I like him." 

"Does that mean you know about . . .?"  

"Yeah, all of it." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "But don't tell anyone. Jon and I are waiting to see how long we can mess with them."  

"I see." Damian pursed his lips, putting on an expression that she knew meant that he was thinking deeply. "If Kent hurts you in any way, I have a stock of kryptonite." 

"Uhm . . . Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"  

"No." A tight smile. "I . . . Apologize for misunderstanding. I just haven't seen you since the League fell."  

"I'm just in Paris, Amir." Her shoulders sagged. "Trying to live normally. Sorry I haven't reached out."  

"We should go back inside. You're shivering."  

Marinette followed Damian into the house just as her phone rang. She sucked in a breath, read the message and met Jon's eyes from across the room.  

He immediately went towards her and pulled her to the stairs, yelling, "We'll be in my bedroom, don't listen to us, okay, bye!"  

---

Jon had offered to take her at first, but she declined to protect their cover. She had taken the Horse Miraculous and rushed back to the Kents' using the space power-up. On a day when she thought Hawkmoth wouldn't strike, he akumatized poor August again. 

Marinette had exchanged Miraculouses with Chat during the battle. She sat on Jon's windowsill in her Cosmobug suit as she caught her breath.  

"I'm really sorry," she breathed out. "Did they ask questions?"  

"They think we're still locked up here so it's okay. How was the battle? Did you get hurt?" Jon scanned her for injuries.  

She held his shoulders. "I'm okay. It was a quick fight but I was worried I wouldn't make it back in time."  

He pulled her into a tight hug, eliciting another blush. "Sorry I made you stressed out."  

"Hey, it's me returning the favor, remember?"  

The first time they had met in person, Superboy was in Paris, encountered an akuma battle and accidentally found her identity. She'd made him promise not to tell anyone about what was happening in the city, but he promised to collect the debt.  

"And I really enjoyed tonight. Everyone was nice." Marinette grinned. "If not a bit too obvious with their identities."  

"Let me guess. Conner and Roy were the most careless."  

She giggled. "No, I saw Bruce pocketing a Batarang and Clark reheating the chicken with his heat vision."  

Jon laughed along with her, still not letting go from the hug. Marinette buried her face on his chest. I wish it would always be like this.  

"I wish it could always be like this," said Jon.  

"Hm?"  

Her earrings started beeping but she paid them no mind.  

"Like . . . Bringing you over. Spending time together," he mumbled. "but we can't. You're not . . . We're not . . ."  

She swallowed. "Do you want it to be real?"  

He pulled away a little, to look at her properly. "Do you?"  

Marinette bit her lip. It wasn't the best time. It could strain their friendship. We'll never talk again!  

"Yes, I want it to be real," she confessed. "I've . . . I've liked you for a while now." 

His eyes turned bright and the corners of his lips lifted.  "Really? Are you sure? Because I was scared you won't feel the same and I made it weird . . ."  

Her arms looped around his neck as she mirrored the elated look. "Nope." Her lips lightly touched his cheek. "I like you a lot, Jon."  

He was practically buzzing with excitement, which made her want to laugh. "Really? Like really, really?" He held her more tightly. "You want to be my real girlfriend?"  

"Of course I do—"  

The door clicked open. "MARINETTE! WE GOT YOU PRESENTS—!"  

A wave of light flashed and Marinette felt her transformation wear off and a drowsy Tikki floating at her side. Conner, Tim, Dick and Kara were staring slack-jawed at them, crowded around the door.  

Jon helped her down the windowsill. "Umm, we can explain?"  

[familyagrestefanblog]

How the heck did I forget to comment on that?? Tomoe apparently has supernatural abilities, she was able to hear Gabriel's hurt heartbeat while he called her from his lair and she was (presumably) at home.

This also explains why Gabriel "showed" her his black arm in "Protection", she has abilities, we just don't know how many and what kind exactly.

I suppose this also puts into perspective that Tomoe's technology is used this season to keep the Kwamis locked up, use them and transfer them and their powers over the Alliance rings and the healing process for Gabriel in "Pretention"

Good gosh, who is this woman she's a whole different league!

[maestro04yayyy]

I have been kinda dead to the world for a few weeks but I'm pretty sure I'm on the mend. I'm on a roadtrip to get a boat and for some reason am now thinking of the antivillain au (and my kwami swap au, but that one doesn't have much to think about cause I dropped it forever ago). So random question time (specifically antivillain related). (I didn't want to spam your askbox so I'm just compiling them in one.)

(I'm pretty sure already said this, but I forgor) When does Chloe go and get the miraculous?

If Chloe were to get another miraculous (either taken one as The HEN or possibly given one as Chloe), which one would it be? And would she unify or use them separately?

If Chloe's rage got out of hand in civilian mode, would there be any miraculous side effects (especially after using it awhile), and if so what would they be like?

(Kinda related) What's your opinion on miraculous side effects? (I like them until people start talking about things like anise or catnip, then it can kinda be a red flag)

Thats all for now, my service is on and off so it might be a min if I have more asks.

So chloe get her miraculous in the usa, during a family trip i set somewhere at the start of season 4(zoe is already here) also the only changes in the story is that after style queen chloe hate audrey, miracle queen didn't happen and marinette didn't tell alya her identity

So I think I want to give chloe other priginal miraculous, like I wanted to compleat the set of the main emotions, so fear, sadness, disgust and happines.

Happines kinda exist(the pig) and Rose had it, which would fit this au very well.

But I think those miraculous chloe would give them to her friends/kids to form her own team.

While for canon miraculous it would be cool to have her have pollen or dusuu!! And I think she would try to combine one of them with Free, but it is exausting for her to do so and she can't combine pollen with dusuu since they are both major miraculous, she can only do a major miraculous with a minor one(the hen) and even that just because she has goo affinity with them.

Uhhh i love side effects!!!! But yeah some are a little ridiculous/red flags, unless it's like in a short crack fic, but in a long one a catnip problem can be a little jarrying.

As for chloe, I remeber you giving me some interesting fact about hens, that will become side effect like liking salt, fast heartbeat, but she will also be able to smell anger(that mostly because I hc that she has a sense of smell very sensible) but when she get really angry her eyes will turn red and I think I might give her a slight phisical boost but I am not too sure about that, oh and also it will be a lot harder for her to restrain her anger(not that she was ever good at it, besides towards her kids) So she might lash out easier and even towards people she doesn't want to after a while(like said children)

Also I hope you are feeling better now!!!! And don't worry about spamming my ask box, I love it!!!!

[justrandomfanfictionskh]

A Blue Brid and a Black Cat pt 14

(Selina decides that Marinette would be better as the Cat than Adrien. Five years, later Dick is very confused about this Lady Noire)

ao3 Beginning Previous

Raven was an empath. Which meant that she was constantly feeling not only her own emotions, but everyone else’s. It could be confusing. It could be overwhelming. It could be extraordinarily annoying, especially when she was meditating and the boys were having a video game tournament. But most importantly, it could be dangerous. Her powers walked a precarious balance between darkness and light, demonic and ethereal, and her emotions could threaten to tip that balance at any moment. Releasing her asshole father into the world thus bringing about the apocalypse. It was not fun.

Yet she no longer hated what she was. In fact, She was slowly learning to embrace and find joy in her powers and the home and family they had given her. It had been a long hard road, but she was finally moving forward, to a place and a person that was no longer repulsive every time she looked in the mirror. And then she had met Ladybug. Otherwise known as the greatest day of her life.

The legend of the Miraculous had always been her favorite growing up in Azarath. The idea of both light and dark working together to create good had been a blanket of hope for the little shadow living in the dimension of light. When in Hell with Trigon, remembering that there were cosmic beings actively working to undo her father’s evil, had brought her peace when she was surrounded by suffering. For as long as she could remember, Raven had always wanted to meet the holders of the Ladybug and the Black Cat. She had always wanted to see a kwami, and thank them for fighting Trigon’s evil. And now she had!

She had met the Ladybug. The Grand Guardian of the Miraculous! The Keeper of Balance! The Embodiment of Order, and the counterpoint of Chaos! Words could not express the joy that was coursing through her veins. She was so happy that she almost lost control of her magic. Still it was easily, the best day of her life! Even thinking about the memory three days later, brought a small smile to the stoic girl’s lips. Ladybug had been everything she had imagined. Elegant, refined, dignified, controlled…

“Hey Little Shadow!”

Raven froze. She had just opened the door to her room, and there lounging on her bed, was a woman dressed head to toe in a magical black suit and black pauldrons with green lining. Her slitted green eyes were completely engrossed in the spell book she was reading, but her black cat ears flicked in amusement at Raven, who was frozen in absolute terror.

The woman on her bed was radiating so much pure chaos magic that it was practically stifling. Raven felt her demon powers stir uncomfortably, hungry for the pure destruction this woman held. It was all Raven could do to not start blasting the woman out of sheer panic. But she also knew that if she did, she would be dead in a heartbeat. She was powerful. Her magic was ancient and permeating and…

And she was like Ladybug. But where Ladybug’s magic had soothed and calmed Raven’s demons, this woman excited them. It was the exact, polar opposite. There was only one person she could be.

“Lady Noire,” Raven said attempting to kneel.

“Now none of that,” Lady Noire said, rolling off the bed before sauntering over to Raven. “You can bow and scrape for Ladybug and the Guardian. But I’m chaos kid, you don’t need to put on airs with me.”

“Of course,” Raven said straightening. She entered her room and closed the door behind her. She looked back at the Black Cat user, the embodiment of chaos, as an awkward silence fell over the room. Lady Noire said nothing only regarding Raven with a self-satisfied smirk, as her ridiculously long braid flicked like the cat’s tail it was meant to imitate. Still despite the awkwardness, the terror, and confusion, Raven couldn’t deny it…she was ecstatic!   

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Raven said calming herself as best she could. “But why are you here Lady Noire?”

“Hm,” Lady Noire said sitting back down on Raven’s bed. “Why am I here? Well, I guess you can say that I’m curious.”

“About?” Raven asked with her practiced calm stoicism. It was not the hard stoicism, like Batman, just calm compliance at her situation. As if this was all completely ordinary, a completely normal and predictable experience. Internally of course she was freaking out squealing like a little girl, while fighting her powers from taking control, and ignoring her father’s nagging voice. But you would never know any of that by just looking at her.

“A few things actually,” Lady Noire said, completely oblivious to what she was doing to the poor girl. “First, the Guardian wants to know if you felt it?”

Raven blinked and furrowed her brow. “Felt what?”

“The Warning, the Call, whatever those geezers at the Temple call it. Ladybug, the Guardian, and I all felt it roughly four days ago. A chill in your bones, that told you something was coming. Something ancient was stirring, and it’s almost here. Did you feel it?”

Raven shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not. Ever since I took over guarding Trigon’s prison, my ability to sense the universe's warnings is somewhat dampened. The only way I would feel anything like that is if it was more powerful than him.”

“Well,” Lady Noire said with a slight smile, “That’s comforting. Whatever is coming is less dangerous than Trigon, for the moment. Although that doesn’t really narrow it down, or lessen the danger. There are a lot of dangerous things out there that are lesser than him.”

Raven nodded her agreement, but remained silent, as Lady Noire sighed and said, “Anyway, the next thing I wanted to talk to you about actually comes from Ladybug.”

“I’d be honored to help her and you in anyway I can,” Raven said with a small bow of her head.

“Great! How do you feel about taking on a Miraculous?”

Raven’s mouth dropped, as everything within her stilled, even the annoying gem on her forehead was silent. “Forgive me Lady, but what?”

“A Miraculous?” Lady Noire said with complete nonchalance. “You want one?”

“But…but I’m the Daughter of Darkness!” Raven exclaimed. “The Daughter of Trigon, The Destroyer of Azarath, the Harbinger—”

“You,” Lady Noire declared, “Are Rachel ‘Raven’ Roth. The Prison of Trigon. The Last Vestige of Azarath. A Titan of Earth. A hero. You’re a hero, Raven. You do know that don’t you?”

Raven’s breath hitched as she looked into Lady Noire’s eyes. It was there. The same thing she saw in Kori’s eyes, in Dick’s, in Damian’s, in all of the Titans. It was pure unconditional love and acceptance. The woman brokered no argument. She had measured Raven’s worth and found her a hero.

 And who was Raven to argue with a being who held the balance of the universe within their hands? No one. She was a half demon of middling power compared to this woman, and still she found her worthy. It was enough to make the Titan cry for joy. But she held back her tears, and numbly nodded her acceptance of the titles.  But even she could not stop the small grin forming on her lips, but to be honest, she didn’t even try.

Lady Noire just smiled at her gently, and warmly as she continued, “You’re a hero. You’re a powerful magic user. You’re an empath. You’re a dual soul, and you maintain the balance between the two perfectly.”

“It’s not perfect,” Raven said bowing her head to hide her faint blush.

“Perhaps not,” Lady Noire said, “But you’re getting there. Besides, a kwami has already decided that they like you. So, what do you say, Raven of the Titans. Do you want a Miraculous, and help me fight against the great evil that’s on our doorstep?”

Raven took a deep grounding breath, and then squared her shoulders. She lifted her head and summoned every last bit of resolve she had, and faltered, “What about Trigon? Will his prison be affected by this?”

Lady Noire shook her head fondly, “No, I checked. According to the kwami, even the Lords of Hell must bow before the Cosmic Forces. And since they are the embodiments of those forces, and the holders are their vessels, if anything you’re old man’s prison should be reinforced even further against his escape.”

Raven allowed herself a small vindictive grin, as Trigon began to pitch a fit. Needless to say, he did not like this idea, which only made Raven want to do it more. “Alright,” she said, “Which Miraculous did Ladybug have in mind?”

“We’ll come back to that,” Lady Noire said dismissively as she crossed the room to put, the spell book back on the shelf. Raven was a little startled by the abruptness of the topic, but she figured this was probably par for the course for the Vessel of pure cosmic Chaos, misfortune, and destruction. So she waited patiently until Lady Noire said,

“You can discuss all the details with Ladybug, but first I need to know something.”

“What is it?” Raven said a little wary.

Lady Noire turned back towards her with a slight stiffness to her too relaxed posture. Raven blinked as she sensed it. Lady Noire was nervous? But that didn’t make sense. What did she want to know?

Lady Noire cleared her throat. “Well, you see,” she said haltingly, “I want to know how you do it.”

Raven furrowed her brow confused. “How do I do what?”

“You’re a dual soul,” Lady Noire stated. “Demonic, and Ethereal. How do you…maintain the two without...splitting?”

“Oh…um…” Raven said moving to her desk a little thrown by the question. “I…I don’t really know what you mean.”

Lady Noire sighed as she ran a hand down her face. “Why can’t this ever be easy?”

“I’m sorry—”

“No don’t apologize…I just…” Lady Noire sighed and then tried again, “Ok, so you know about personas, alter egos right?”

“Of course,” Raven said a little wary about where this was going.

“So…did you ever use them to help you…separate your magic, to you know control it?”

Raven’s brow furrowed against the gemstone in her forehead. “No, I mean, I understand the concept, and I know some magic users who learned that way. But on Azarath we were taught that our magic was apart of our very essence. That it was a part of our identity. Even when I am White, I am still a half demon, and that dark magic is still within me. It is the same when I am full Demon and when I am as you see me now. Just because I transform when I use one over the other, does not mean that I essentially change. They are both me and excepting that was the first step in true control over my abilities. Why do you ask?”

Lady Noire groaned as she slumped against the window, the bed in between them. “Yeah, you see, this is why I have issues. I was never taught that!”

Raven blinked, stunned. “Excuse me, but…that is the first lesson of even the most basic magics, and your—”

“I know!” Lady Noire cried, “It’s ridiculous. But basically, the old Guardian was, GAH! It’s so hard to say anything against him, given everything that he sacrificed for me. But seriously, what was he thinking! He just handed me and my partner our miraculous, and basically threw us in the deep end of a cosmic magic war and told us to swim! What was he thinking?!”

Raven’s mouth opened and closed a few times trying to process that. It was insane! What kind of idiot was this old Guardian? Didn’t he even know the basic tenants of magic? The inherent risks of madness, death, and other general unpleasantness should the practitioner be unprepared? Raven’s respect for Ladybug and Lady Noire instantly increased tenfold, after learning that they were basically self-taught, and had still managed to be one of the most powerful beings on the planet. But how had they not gone insane? Unless…

“Lady Noire,” Raven said as something niggled at her brain, “Earlier, you referred to Ladybug and the Grand Guardian as two separate people. But it is well known in the magic community that they are the same person.”

Lady Noire turned to her and smirked, “Caught that did you? Oh well I guess you should know. If you agree to all of this, I’m going to be needing your help. Like a lot.”

Raven nodded and waited. Lady Noire dropped her transformation and Raven’s jaw dropped. The clock by her bed exploded. When Lady Noire transformed, the chaos magic was instantly cut in half, but the power in the room did not diminish. Instead, it was transformed, until a being of perfect Order and Chaos stood before her. She wore a red blazer, and slim crimson pants with a black scope neck shirt. Her hair had shortened to just below her shoulders, and her eyes had gone from a soul searing green, to a bright, piercing blue.

Just being in her presence had Raven’s own magics singing. Both of them. They drowned out Trigon’s ramblings, as the wonder of what she was seeing fully registered in her mind. The grand Guardian of the Miraculous was a fluid soul balanced between Order and Chaos. Ladybug was pure Order. Lady Noire, pure Chaos. They were completely different, in every possible way. But there was no denying it. There was no other way that it was possible. They were the same person, and she was standing in her room. Smiling as if she had just cracked the grandest joke and was waiting for Raven to laugh.

Raven just stared dumbfounded.

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

“Well that went well,” Marinette said as she stepped out of the portal and back into Harley and Ivy’s building.

“What went well kitten?” Selina asked as Marinette took off the Horse Miraculous.

“Oh, nothing important,” Marinette said as she plopped down on the couch next to Selina. Her mentor had a glass of wine in her hand and papers scattered everywhere. On the floor, the coffee table, Marinette was pretty sure she was sitting on some, but she was too tired to care. She had been jumping all around the world the last four days, alternating between the Cat and the Bug trying to find Miraculous Holders. On top of that she also had Selina’s wedding dress to finish, the Wayne’s attire, and Harley’s and Ivy’s dresses. Not to mention her own. She groaned as she rubbed her temples.

“You’ve been working too hard, Kitten,” Selina mused as she handed her protégé her wine.

“I know it’s just…mmggmgmgm!”

Selina chuckled at that as she picked up a new page and began to study it diligently. Marinette scanned it as she sipped the wine. “Flower orders?” she asked, “I thought Ivy was doing the flowers.”

“She is,” Selina mused. “This is a forgery to make sure the press don’t ask to many questions. Considering how private we’re keeping the ceremony, their bound to ask too many questions as is. Best keep them pointed in the wrong direction, right?”

Marinette hummed as she sipped her wine. She sighed, as she thought over her conversation with Raven. It had been…interesting. She didn’t know if it would be helpful, but the young teen was incredible. Bright, powerful, kind, shy, but still passionate and stronger and more mature than many adults she knew. But she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, had been for a long time. Marinette knew what that felt like. And while Raven was obviously in a better place than she had been, her struggles were not done.

Marinette wanted to help her. She wanted to wave her hand and make all of her troubles disappear. But…Marinette sighed, “Selina?”

“Hmm?”

“How can you tell the real you from the mask?”

Selina set down her page and looked at Marinette. This was not the first time she had asked this question. And every time she had, Selina had done her best to answer it. But that didn’t mean Marinette had understood her answer. That didn’t mean Marinette didn’t still struggle. And as long as she struggled, she would keep asking the same questions over, and over again. But Selina would always do her best to answer them.

“Well,” Selina said gently while running her fingers through Marinette’s silky black hair. “For me it’s different than it is for you Mari. I consciously put on a mask that is separate from me. You put on masks that are a part of you. But even then, even when I am playing a person that is the complete opposite of everything that I am, there are always elements that are genuine. I try to find where they overlap. How they connect, and how they blend. That’s how I find the real me.”

“Hmm,” Marinette hummed into her wine. “I think…I don’t know. But I think I’m starting to get it. But…but how do I connect them? How do I get them to be one face?”

“I don’t think that’s possible Mari,” Selina said.

“But—”

“Kitten,” Selina insisted, “This is the real me, right here with you. But do you think I’m like this with Bruce. I mean yes, I play with his hair too, and sometimes—”

“Let’s keep this PG,” Marinette said with a faint blush, “There are somethings I just don’t want to know ok?”

“Ok,” Selina said with a chuckle, “The point is. We are never the same person twice. I’m a different person with Bruce than I am with you. And I’m a different person with cops, and with Harls, and Ives. The only time I’m actually pretending to be someone I’m not is when I’m casing a job, or talking to overstuffed, money grubbing, pigs.” Marinette chuckled, so Selina continued, “The point is, it’s ok to not always be the same person. Variety is the spice of life. Besides, change is where chaos occurs.”

Marinette heaved a sigh but nodded all the same, “I know, I know. It’s just…they're so different.”

Selina nodded sagely continuing to stroke her hair, “You’ll figure it out kitten. And if you ever need to complain, I’m here to listen.”

“Thanks,” Marinette said with a smile, she paused with a furrowed brow, “But you know I think, I really am starting to get there”

“Oh?”

Marinette nodded, “My Lady Noire suit changed. Shoulder pauldrons that match my Ladybug armor. Nightwing noticed it the other night.”

“Really?” Selina said straightening, “That’s amazing Marinette! By the way did you ever figure out, why your Ladybug suit changed so drastically?”

“Mmhm,” Marinette said, “Tikki said that it is the traditional armor of the Ladybug. That wearing it means I’m perfectly in tuned with her miraculous and am in balance with it. Apparently, the more I heal and the longer I stay in balance, the more in tuned I will get with all of the miraculous.”

Selina beamed. “That’s incredible, Kitten, I’m so proud of you. And Nightwing was the one who noticed, hm?”

A slight blush tinged Marinette’s cheeks as she shook her head. “Yeah, and he subconsciously recognized me as Ladybug. He didn’t realize it. But he did…what am I supposed to do with that?”

“I don’t know,” Selina said slyly, although her tone made her opinion perfectly clear, “Perhaps you can answer that question at the wedding. Unless you join me for family brunch again, that is the next time you will see him out of mask.”

Marinette shook her head as she set down the empty glass, “No, I need to keep searching for more holders. Besides…Ladybug has a meeting with the Justice League tomorrow.”

Selina threw back her head and laughed.

Taglist @tails-and-scales @the-ghost-trader @kanamexzeroyaoifangirl @the-dumber-scaramouche @yoonjae20 @robyalix @seraphichana @iglowinggemma28 @taewinterbear95 @heretopasstimebi @littleblue5mcdork @quotesandanime @komatsuna-yuki @attractivemyfoot @deathssilentapproach-blog @vel-vee @vixen-uchiha @lady-bee-fechin @qualityhistorygamingwinner @its-maemain  @meira-3919 @raven-ette @doglover82 @plz-excuse-my-inner-gay @laurcad123 @crazylittlemunchkin @iamablinkmarvelarmy

[miscelanea-007]

Just a couple minutes more

"Come on, Plagg! Please!"

"I already told you yes! Why are you insisting?!" 

"Because you said only ten minutes! I need more than that!"

The black kwami sighs, shaking his head.

"You know ten minutes is usually what takes for your princess-"

"Queen," Adrien corrects him immediately, wincing at the unimpressed look Plagg sends his way. "Sorry..."

"Uh-huh. What it takes for your little queen to get bored of us," the God of destruction turns upside down where he floats in front of Adrien's face and points at his face with his fingerless paw. "Still, I might be willing to up it to twenty if you get me some good-" Adrien presents him with an extra big piece of Camembert and Plagg smirks. "Fine. Twenty minutes it is, lover boy." He takes the cheese and vigorously munches it, cheeks inflating while Adrien sparkles in front of his eyes. He is hopeless, Plagg thinks. Both are.

------

Chat Noir lands on the roof of The Grand Paris Hotel with the help of his staff and immediately clicks on the top, igniting the twenty-minute countdown.

"Okay, Tiger," Chat tells himself. "You've got this." Taking a deep breath, chest puffed out, he makes quick way down to the balcony of the one and only Chloé Bourgeois. 

Chat isn't expecting the glass doors to open wide for him before even having the chance to tap at them, yet it's exactly what happens.

"Go away," Chloé hisses at him, rim of her mesmerizing sky-blue eyes puffy and red. "I'm not entertaining you tonight."

"You're sick," Chat declares, leathered hand flying to the girl's forehead -as if he would be able to feel anything with the fabric as a barrier - just to be bat away after a heartbeat of surprise. Chloé squints at him, furious, and Chat has to fight against the very powerful urge to hug her and reveal to her who he is behind his mask. Instead, he takes a careful step back, tail wiggling ever so slightly behind him, pout on his lips. "Please let me stay. I can distract you this one time!"

"I don't need you to-"

"I know," Chat declares and Chloé sniffs loudly. He smiles and she growls. Trying not to laugh, Chat vows his head. "I promise I'll behave for you, queen of mine."

"Don't call me that," Chloé huffs. "You remind me of my boyfriend when you do," she adds in a murmur and Chat beams. He is her boyfriend! If only he could tell her... "Okay, fine," Chloé finally relents and takes a step to the side, allowing him entrance to her room. "You're lucky I'm bored and nobody is home, alley cat," she turns on her heels and marches inside her chambers. "Be quick before I change my mind!"

Giddy, Chat all but skips inside his girlfriend's room. 

-------

"And I told her 'No, Marinette, you can't not participate. You're the most talented designer there is! After my mother, of course.'" Chat hums, content with hearing Chloé ramble about anything and everything. "And do you know what she said?!"

Chat ponders about her question for a moment, as if Chloé was about to actually allow him to answer. Which she doesn't.

"Exactly!" She goes on. Chat grins, Chloé's attention on her fingernails that he's carefully painting a vibrant green. "She stuttered! I truly don't get her lack of confidence," she sighs, frustrated, cheeks getting slightly redder. She clears her throat. "Well, I do," she says. "Mrs Dupan-Cheng explained it to me," she looks up at his face and scrunches up her nose. Chat winks at her and Chloé rolls her eyes. "I'm not telling you, though."

"Don't you trust me?" Chat teases, giving the last details to Chloé's left thumbnail. "There," he declares and retreats his hands. "What do you think?"

Chloé inspects her hands, blowing on them, laser-focused on finding any mistake she can launch to critique Chat's work less than perfectly, yet she finds nothing. 

To Chat's surprise, she smirks at him. He immediately smirks back.

"You could make a living out of this if being a sidekick doesn't do it for you in the long run," she tells him and Chat can't be triggered faster. "I know," goes on, however. "You're no sidekick. You and Ladybug are equals and all that," she giggles and coughs softly. Chat's hands fly to her sides, pulling the covers up her middle a little tighter and sky-blue looks with a hint of amusement at emerald green. "I do. Trust you."

Chat leans closer, stopping only when a recently manicured hand gently touches his chest. He clears his throat, face on fire.

"I trust you a little less now," she declares, severe, but her eyes are still soft and Chat wishes he could kiss her and hold her.

Maybe if it's just her, Ladybug won't be too mad...

No, he can't. She'd be in danger. He can't afford that. Never. Not again. Not if he can avoid it, and he can.

"That's furr."

Chloé groans and Chat snickers, effectively breaking the mood. He stands up and spreads his hands in front of him.

"To regain my queen's trust, allow this loyal feline to get you a hot cup of chocolate."

"Get me a couple of marshmallows with that chocolate and I might consider it, Chat Noir."

"Deal!" Chat glows. "I'll be right back!" He marches to the door and opens it. "Don't miss me too meowch!"

"Hardly," Chloé deadpans.

With a wink and a last vow, Chat leaves the room, hurrying hall down. Just as he reaches the elevator, his staff alarm goes off and he swiftly turns it off.

"Sorry, Plagg," Adrien whispers. "Just a couple minutes more. My queen of hearts needs me. I'll make it up to you, I promise. All the cheese you want."

Leaving the elevator with quick feet, he makes his way to the kitchen, already fantasizing about the pretty smile and satisfied sigh Chloé would make once the chocolate touched her pretty lips.

[chaos-has-theories]

UM. I don't have a specific fic for the ask game so just answer as general questions abt ask ur fics I guess?? But

5. Is there any scene you're excited about writing?

10. If unpublished, can you show a sneak peek of what you've written?

13. Is there any unwritten/unpublished fics you haven't mentioned you're gonna do?

15. Do you have any unwritten scene that you think about a lot?

21. Is there any unwritten fic that you don't know if you ever will write?

BREATHING ROOM FINALLY time to answer some askssssss :D

5. Is there any scene you're excited about writing?

I mostly write the scenes I'm excited for immediately - if I don't, I'll just sit on the fic without ever getting past the first paragraph. But I am looking forward to writing the third scene to that Marcia & Silas oneshot I sent you, where Marcia is all IS THE PRINCESS OK and Silas is like ARE YOU OK and then they stare at each other for a minute.

10. If unpublished, can you show a sneak peek of what you've written?

Heh. Have a paragraph of Marcia in the Miraculous Ladybug AU?

Wayzz and Sass stayed quiet and out of sight while Marcia made her brooding way back across the walkways. Plagg, of course, had no such decency. "Of course Sugarcube gets to stay with Silas. Now him, he knows how to feed a cat. S'over a decade since I saw him - which is animal cruelty, just so you know - and he's still got my camembert stocked. Sass gets his mice and Pollen gets her honey but I have to live off butter and cream -" "You get plenty of cheese," Marcia said distractedly. She was getting a headache again. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to cut back on how many miraculouses she wore. "Oh, but nothing can ever surpass the taste of properly aged camembert. You know, when I-" "Quiet." Marcia stopped stock-still halfway to the great double doors to the tower. There was - something was wrong. Slowly, she started turning around, squinting far off. The place was deserted. No guard, she realized. She should probably have been pleased, but - There. The snowdrift must have slid off the pyramid all the way above, neatly burying the boy who just that morning had entertained himself - and Plagg, unknowingly - by trying and failing to hit the kwami's animal shape with a snow ball. "That wasn't me." Plagg's eyes were large and worried. "I think." "Nevermind that." Marcia clenched her jaw. She should have brought Orikko with her today. No matter - her hands would have to do. The boy's heartbeat was only getting slower.

13. Is there any unwritten/unpublished fics you haven't mentioned you're gonna do?

I... may have started writing a scene from your Timetravel AU? It was just supposed to be a warmup, but, well.

I won't post it anywhere without your permission, but I can send it to you sometime, if you want.

15. Do you have any unwritten scene that you think about a lot?

Recently it hasn't been a lot of SH, because that has been mostly oneshots and i either write them down or forget about them.

But - my TLT AU is still missing all of the important conversations between Gideon and Harrow, and those are going to be juicy. ("Who do you think paid for your commission?", and the pool scene, and)

Pretty much everything in the ML Daemon AU is angsty as hell, and I happen to be here for that. (LB and CN talking about grieving for their daemons. Nathalie severing herself, and the fallout from that. Gabriel's no good very bad decision making.)

And I'm always thinking about my modern Merlin AU. It's just so disorganized and huge that it feels impossible to work on anything specific in it right now. It's brilliant though. You'll just have to take my word for it.

21. Is there any unwritten fic that you don't know if you ever will write?

Puddyng. It's the most self-indulgent Sep Heap thing I could ever write, based on a years-old joke my neighbor reminded me of recently ("this is what book 7 is going to be called") and my own memories of my grandmothers. I might write it one day, but I'm pretty sure i'll be the only one getting much out of it.

The plot would have been the kids visiting Aunt Zelda's after she's passed to hold a kind of memorial. Jenna refuses to make cabbage sandwiches in her honor, so they mess up the kitchen making pudding instead and having a lot of emotions about it. That's it.

Thanks for the ask!

[knifedancer]

Winds of Change - Dark Ending

You've selected the DARK ENDING!

Trigger Warning: major character death.

Go Back | Salt | Hope | Bittersweet

~~~~~~~

By the time the storm cleared, Marinette’s heartbeat had gone silent beneath his chilled fingers. He drew in a shaky breath and looked at the two gods curled on her chest for confirmation of his greatest fear. The kwami shared a solemn look before silently retreating into his pant pocket. He stifled a sob in his throat. Now was not the time. Felix carried her limp body, still cradled against his chest like a precious treasure, to the nearest hospital but there was nothing to be done. The sweet bluenette whom he had wanted to protect, whom he had grown to admire, was gone.

He felt numb as he meticulously cleaned the blood that marred her angelic face, not wanting Adrien to see her in such a state. When his cousin did arrive, harried and in a panic, Felix finally broke down in fresh tears from a well he thought had long run dry. He confessed that he had seen her injured and left out in the storm. How he carried her to shelter. How she saved him. How it should be him lying in that bed! Adrien enfolded him into an embrace as they both sobbed over the loss of the purest person either boy had ever known. The world was a darker place without her. Felix kept her hero identity to himself – it was not his secret to tell – her blood-spattered earrings burning a hole in his pocket.

Time flew by as the two boys returned to Paris on Gabriel’s personal jet and attended Marinette’s funeral – Adrien stood sentry beside her casket, Felix from the cover of shadows.

~~~ Chat’s POV: Two Weeks Later ~~~

Chat Noir spent another night desperately searching for Ladybug to no avail. She was not answering calls nor appearing for akuma fights. It was taking a toll on the city, half of the buildings lying in ruins and streets torn from explosions. He landed high up on the Eiffel Tower and looked out over the city with desperation in his eyes. “Where are you, LB? I need you…Paris needs you…”

A noise to his left caught his attention and he turned, quickly dropping into a fighting stance in case of an akuma. From the shadows emerged Argos, his face cast in shadow. Chat Noir narrowed his gaze, even though he had forgiven and grown closer to his cousin in recent weeks while mourning, he could not know what to expect from the peacock user that considered his hero persona an enemy. “What are you doing here, Argos?”

With a swish of cloth, he dropped his hood back and revealed his face. Silently he lifted his hand and a solemn kwami floated from his sleeve. Tikki! But that would mean…

“What have you done, Argos?! Where is Ladybug?!” Chat growled loudly, his claws extended and ready to rip his throat.

He watched as the blue clad teen raised his fan with his other hand, pulling out and brandishing a pointed silver hatpin from between the feathers. Argos’ magenta eyes glowed as they looked at the sharp tip glinting in the moonlight. Something dark and sinister swirled in their depths, as if the peacock holder was fighting demons that lingered deep beneath the surface. Chat broke into a defensive stance – anticipating an attack – when the other boy did something unpredictable… He tilted the pin towards himself and plunged it down into his earlobe with nothing more than a soft grunt. Chat flinched back as he watched the peacock villain repeat the action in his other ear before dropping the bloodied pin onto the beam beneath his feet with a sharp clatter. Argos pulled something from his pocket and affixed it to his ear. As he moved his hand away, the moonlight briefly caught on the red spotted earring that dripped with blood.

“What have you done? Where is she?!” demanded the cat hero, advancing a step towards the other boy, a cold shiver of dread slid down his back.

Instead of answering, Argos quietly declared, “Duusu, Tikki, unify.”

Chat shielded his eyes from the flash of red that followed, finally looking up with dawning horror at the teen before him. Where once stood the purple and blue villain, now stood Argos in military regalia. On his legs rose black jackboots that flared at the knee and matching gauntlets stopped at his elbows. His jacket had morphed into a coat that would not be out of place on an English royal attending the Trooping of the Color ceremony, the peacock brooch glittering on his raised gold collar. Around his waist rested a new yo-yo, tipped with blades that glistened like stars in the sky, alongside a fan tucked into its string. Across his chest, from hip to golden shoulder epaulette, was a blue and purple sash, decorated in black spots rather than metals. His hair had changed to a side swept undercut, the left side appearing shaved. Gone were the green colored locks, replaced by highlighted tips – red to blue to blond, like the intensified flame of a butane torch. Upon his face was a half venetian mask, jet-black except for the three red tears that trailed down beneath his right eye like dripping blood.

Chat sucked in a breath as Argos opened his eyes – glowing purple met toxic green. “Argos…what…”

“I tried to save her,” the red clad boy began, looking down at his hands with despair. “I did everything I could to keep her alive but…” He clenched a fist as if attempting to grasp the wind slipping through his fingers, “…she died in my arms.”

Chat’s eyes widened with rising horror at his words, his delicate mental state beginning to unravel as he connected the pieces. His heart felt as if someone had ripped it in two. ‘No…Ladybug was…Marinette, she…’ Chat choked on air, drowning in a new wave of grief that crashed over him. He collapsed to his knees, tears filling his eyes for the girl he loved – inside and outside the mask – but he dared not look away from his cousin’s new form. The murmured words somehow cut through the roar of blood in Chat’s ears.

“…I promised her that I would finish what she started,” stated red Argos, his face set in a resolute expression while his eyes burned with the fire of vengeance. “Until Monarch has been defeated and all the Miraculous have been retrieved, I am no longer Argos nor Felix.”

The vengeful teen turned his intense gaze out towards Paris, his eyes narrowing upon a point in the distance as if glaring down Monarch himself.

“You may call me…The Red Baron.”

~~~~~~~

Wanna see some fanart? @jheqiawrites drew The Red Baron! 💙 If you also feel inspired, please feel free to tag me, I would love to see The Red Baron in his terrifying glory!

Go Back | Salt | Hope | Bittersweet

[memethebum]

So I uh started writing a MLB fic like the traitorous mf I am

Summary: Marinette and Adrien both take on a summer job as Kwami mascots at the local carnival, which comes as a pleasant surprise to Adrien and a nightmare to Marinette. What they hadn’t expected was finding out how much they enjoy alone time together, all while Ladybug and Chat Noir finally discuss their certain appreciation for PDA and fighting against whatever Hawkmoth and college have in store for them

(Gonna put a preview for the latest chapter under here bc yk what I actually kinda like how it turned out that’s when things actually start moving along lol)

————————————————————————

“M’lady,” Chat Noir murmured before watching Ladybug crane her head in his direction and let out a hum in confusion.

“What happened to… that boy?” the hero then added in between a few bated breaths, only to hear his partner let out a slow sigh after he’d uttered out the question.

“Let’s just say he taught me that there isn’t only one way you can get to know…or love someone,” she explained while scooting closer towards him and placing her head onto his shoulder.

————————————————————

“It’s not funny Chat!” Ladybug shouted before taking a long sip from her glass.

“Ok ok I’m sorry Bugaboo, you’re just really cute when you get all angry,” Chat Noir added as he reached out to grab one of his partner’s hands and soothe the rage bubbling up within her.

“So you and your friend are in this embarrassing situation together, right?” he questioned, probing Ladybug to release a hum in agreement.

“Well that solves your problem right there! I’m sure this friend probably feels the same way about everything. Either that or they already feel comfortable enough around you in the situation, since you’re practically a fallen angel that’s blessed the earth with her beauty,” Chat Noir then hummed before feeling his lady vigorously ruffle her fingers through his unruly hair in agitation.

“I just wish…I knew they were comfortable with me. We’ve been friends for a while now so you’d expect me to pick up on these cues, but NOPE I’m a complete deer in headlights when it comes to them even now,” Ladybug added while sliding her wine glass to the side and flopping onto the rooftop they were perched upon.

Must be pretty serious if she can’t even get past her first mimosa Chat Noir noted as he thought back to the numerous times he’d have to stop Ladybug from stress drinking during their “after patrol rest breaks”.

“Hey,” he then whispered before laying down beside her, causing their faces to be a breath away from one another.

“If it counts as anything, I think you’re a great friend m’lady. You’ve just gotta remember that everyone has walls they might be putting up unconsciously and it takes a while to understand each one,” Chat Noir finished with a low sigh once realizing how many times he’d told Ladybug that his life outside of being a hero was mostly “putting up walls” in front of almost everyone he knew.

Great, now I just sound self-centered he grimaced before looking over at his partner.

However, the hero was met with her eyes gazing at him in a gentle flicker rather than the scowl he’d envisioned.

“You’re right Chaton, I’m just really…overthinking things when I’ve already helped my friend express themselves before,” Ladybug whispered as her fingers began to gently glide against Chat Noir’s burning cheeks.

“Uh-huh,” Chat Noir attempted to whisper, although his mind was completely immersed by how the moonlight allowed him to see the fervent blush that had made it’s way across his lady’s cheeks as well.

Everything soon grew increasingly quiet around the hero, leaving only his racing heartbeat as a telltale sign of what he wanted next from the current situation.

S-should I move my head closer? No, I don’t wanna pressure her into anything. But, what if she’s also nervous and is waiting on me to make the first move and-

“Y’know,” Ladybug murmured over Chat Noir’s internal monologue.

She then began to push herself upwards, causing him to grow even more tense before feeling her body flop ontop his own.

“We do this a lot ,” she exclaimed as Chat Noir let out an erratic chuckle.

“We-we really do. Did you…pin me down to do something about it Bugaboo?” he exclaimed in a desperate attempt to keep his cool while also relishing in the fact that Ladybug had him pinned down and ready for whatever she set her mind to.

“Maybe,” Ladybug then murmured before furrowing her brows together, immediately causing Chat Noir to reach out for one of her hands.

“Sorry, that sounded a little too direct. It’s ok if you’re not ready, I’m really nervous too and-“

“No no!” the other hero shouted, eliciting him to go completely still.

“I mean no Chat, I want this. I want you ,” Ladybug exclaimed before slowly pushing her head forwards.

Chat Noir shuddered in place until her lips were slightly touching his own, which served as all the bravado he needed to meld their lips together.

[leafweaverryn]

Rules: Pick any 10 of your fics, scroll somewhere to the midpoint, pick a line (or a few), and share it! Then tag people! (If you don't have 10, that's okee! Just post what you can! <3)

@writerriderdirtythirties tagged me, so it's my turn to unleash chaos and havoc!

@keentrigger, @asadweeghostie, @purrfectlypunny, @19thsentry-blog, @grimalkinsquill, @valiantlyjollynightmare

rolled mine using a discord bot! reader beware, most of my works are explicit. and a lot of my works are multi-chapter, so snippets are taken from chapter 1.

petit pain dans le four - (E, lukadrinette)

“Take one step, I dare you!” Chat Blanc roared at him before the snake could speak.

Viperion lifted his hands to try to calm him down. “Adrien, breathe, it's okay… You don’t have to hurt her… Please don’t hurt her…”

A rolling hiss burbled in Blanc’s throat. “How did you do it? How did you escape the time loop?!”

He gave a soft huff, grinning back at the white cat. “What? You thought I wouldn’t have bumped into this problem myself, after using the Snake Miraculous for years?” Viperion shook his head. “Time loops are easy to break out of. You just have to know the right moment. I’ve had practice, and Bunnyx has given me special training for it. All you have to do is know you’re in the loop and know what needs to change to create a ripple effect through the loop to break it.”

Chat Blanc blinked, relaxing his grip on Marinette. “Wait, really?”

Their boyfriend gave him a stern look through his eyebrows and mask, as if he were looking up at the corrupted hero through glasses. 

“Oh, right, sorry…” Blanc glared at him again, and the woman in his grip struggled against him. His eyes narrowed on Viperion. “I won’t do it, Luka! I won’t give up my Miraculous! Nothing you can say or do will make me surrender it!”

---

Kittens for Christmas - (E, lukadrinette)

"Go find somewhere else to sleep," Marinette whispered to her kwami. "Please…"

Sass whined, but obeyed. He gave her chin a gentle bonk and unraveled his tail, floating away to phase through a wall and disappear.

Chat Blanc visibly relaxed. He padded closer to her, near enough that he sat down on the floor beside her chair, making himself comfortable. His head went onto her lap, his eyes closing as he sighed heavily. The tears continued to fall silently, even as she combed her fingers through his hair in gentle strokes. He didn't purr. She tried to coax him, rubbing behind his ears and under his chin, but he didn't make a sound.

“Would you like me to sing to you?” Marinette offered, her hand not stopping, not going still for too long. She rubbed behind his ear, knowing that’s what her Chat preferred.

---

Swinging from the Gallows Pole - (T, felinette)

“You got a fine widow,” the hangman purred. “She brought a little silver, your cousin brought a little gold… But nothing would bring me more joy than to see you swinging from the gallows pole.”

Felix stared him down, saying nothing and only raising his chin in mute defiance.

For every heartbeat Felix said nothing, the hangman’s smirk twisted into a scowl. The blond huffed a wry smile. He’s used to begging and pleading. Last minute bribes and empty promises. Flattery and tears. Not today, sir. To prove his point, Felix turned away from him, facing the crowd. Not from me.  

His heart dropped. 

On the distant horizon, on the blue sea beyond the fort parapets and battlements were the black and green sails of the Liberty.

Luka… Felix closed his eyes. He’s leaving me… He huffed, smiling through his cracking heart. Any pirate who falls behind… stays behind…

---

From Ballroom to Bedroom - (E, lukadrinette)

“You were gonna ask me something, weren’t you?” Marinette asked in a whisper. “Before Alya interrupted us, you were going to ask me something. Please ask me…”

He smiled that shy half-smile that the photographers and paparazzi rarely saw as he nodded. “Yeah…” Adrien glanced over her shoulder as Luka came up to them. “Listen, I know this is sudden and we haven’t really introduced ourselves and all, but um… we were looking for… we were hoping, um…”

Luka chuckled, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. “What my tongue-tied boyfriend is trying to ask is if you would be willing to join us for a more… intimate, private dance in our hotel room.”

“You don’t have to say yes!” Adrien stammered. “If you say no, we totally understand. No harm, no foul, right? You just, um, you seemed really comfortable between us and -”

“Yes,” Marinette said before he could stutter himself further into a hole. She gave Luka’s hand a squeeze and smiled at Adrien. “You have no idea how much I was hoping that’s what you were going to ask me… and my answer is hell yes. A hundred thousand percent yes. I am totally okay with having a threesome with you two.”

---

By the Numbers - (E, lukanette)

The Miracle Box Bakery and Cafe was rather busy at three in the afternoon, so much so that Luka had to park several blocks down the street. But as he walked by the windows and through the door, he smiled at the quaint interior and displays of baked goods. The pictures didn’t do it justice, and as his gaze landed on the sole owner and employee, Luka decided very quickly that he’d need to talk to Felix about their freelance photographer.

She wasn’t just pretty.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was breathtakingly beautiful.

He stood among the throng of customers like a pilgrim having arrived at Mecca for the first time, awestruck. The photo of her was in black and white, grainy from zoom with a cheap camera. In the flesh and blood, she was bright and colorful, her smile like blooming peach blossoms that lit up the room with an eternal glow. He could write songs about the blues of her eyes or the music in her voice as she spoke with other customers. One said something that made her giggle, and he honest to God thought he was going to faint from the bell-like chime of her laughter.

Five minutes in and his mind was already made up.

Luka was going to do anything and everything he could to spare this woman and her sanctuary of confectionery delights from the jaws of the tax man.

---

Four Little Somethings - (T, feluka)

"Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon," Felix read out loud. 

His boyfriend could hardly contain his giddy grin. "Mmhm. I know romance and fantasy aren't your usual genres, but I thought you might like it."

"What is it about?" the blond asked as he flipped it over. He didn't know why he was looking. Backs of the books never had synopses anymore, and in my opinion, that marked the beginning of civilization's downfall… That and the loss of the slutty oil painting covers.

Luka's grin grew. His accent started to slip again, as if his voice knew he was going home, and that there was no longer a need for him to speak like a Frenchman. "It's about a British army nurse who travels to Scotland and steps through a stone circle that sends her back in time. There she meets and falls in love with a Scottish highlander."

He smiled through his blush. "Ah yes, another bodice ripper…"

"You'd be surprised, actually. This one goes pretty deep into history and gets more points right than other books and movies." His voice lowered to a grumble. "Don't even get me started on Braveheart… "  

---

Of Gowns and Gloves - (E, marigami)

Kagami cleared her throat as warning, shifting her weight on her feet a little more to open her legs and give her wife more room under her. Marinette had come racing and breathless to her minutes ago, begging for Kagami to hide her because she had stirred the bee’s nest and angered Chloe by insulting her golden dress. Lacking anywhere else for her to go, Kagami had lifted her skirts to let Marinette hide within her own creation. Champagne glass in hand, the fencer was left to stand in place, waiting and watching the others meander and mingle, trickling in and out of the dining hall to retrieve plates of canapes and fresh glasses of champagne. She was also grateful for her heels, which gave her an extra few inches. Her legs were spread to accommodate the young woman hiding under the layers of satin and cotton. 

Five more minutes, Kagami thought. We’ll wait five more minutes. Once we’re sure that Chloe has either calmed down or left the building, I can call a car and we can… somehow get to it without being spotted. Can I even walk with her between my legs like this?

She lifted her chin and tapped her foot three times to warn Marinette as Chloe came stomping towards her.

“Where is she?” Chloe demanded.

It took Kagami a moment to reign in the everything that wanted to gush out reflexively in response. Did I not once tell her to never touch me, never speak to me, never even look at me ever again? And now she’s somehow developed the audacious balls to come at me and demand that I oust my wife?!

Kagami rolled her tongue in her mouth to swallow back the building venom she wanted so very badly to spit. 

“She who?” Kagami asked in her fake-calmest voice she could muster. 

---

The Star-Pilot's Kiss - (E, lukanette)

Luka leveled a hard look at Alya, his face serious. “Keep her safe.” He grabbed his guitar bag and started to walk away.

“Where are you going?!” Alya shouted since Marinette was lost for words.

The musician didn’t reply, giving them only a smile as he walked towards one of the beams of light sweeping over the streets. He didn’t look back again as Marinette screamed his name, as Alya grabbed her by her arms, as Alya dragged her into the café. She struggled to free herself of her friend’s grasp as they ducked under the window, sitting up enough to watch. A beam of light hit Luka and turned red suddenly. An invisible force grabbed him and slowly lifted him off the ground. 

Marinette shrugged off her friend and broke free, sprinting for the door.

“Girl, where the fuck do you think you’re going?!” Alya hissed.

The fashion designer stopped at the door to glare at her friend. “I’m not letting aliens abduct the first decent date I’ve had!” 

---

The Sea Dragon's Pearl (E, marigami)

“If you pull me up, I’ll gut you before you lay a hand on me,” the woman snarled back.

“Sure, you might kill one of us. But all of us?” Skinner tutted. “Besides, it wouldn’t be very ladylike or honorable,” he sneered the words, “for a woman to dirty her hands with killing, now would it? High time you learn your place! And it’s either on land or in the galley!”

“So that’s what this is about… You scoundrels can’t handle a woman in command?!”

“Oh, not only that, princess,” he hummed. “How much do you think she would pay to have you back in one piece? You may be a bitch, but you’re worth as much as a queen! And even if your mother doesn’t pay us, we still have her ship! Her cargo! Regardless, we’ll be living like kings by the week’s end!” 

The other sailors cheered.

Skinner held his sword to the rope. “Make your choice! Live or die!”

Kagami drew her own little tanto. “Let the sea decide my fate!”

She slashed the rope above her head before he could have the satisfaction of doing it.

---

pleurer en toi - (T, feluka)

Through closed eyes, he saw lightning.

Through the pounding of his heart and the screaming of his tears, he heard thunder.

But the patter on the roof next to him wasn’t rain.

It was boots.

Argos’s heart raced in panic, but he couldn’t move. Every limb of his body was heavy like lead, and isn’t this what I wanted? For someone to finish the job?

They wouldn’t.

They’re heroes.

I need a villain.

I need Monarch.

I need -

Whoever it was let out a soft grunt as they sat on the rooftop by Argos’s head. Hands grabbed him by his arms and moved him.

“C’mere, baby bird… Up you go…”  

---

whew... only broke the editor once, that feels like an accomplishment. thank you for reading!

[mymiraclebox]

Heartbeats interact with the powers of their Miraculouses differently than most holders, being directly linked to the kwamis. Heartbeats will always unlock all animal traits a Miraculous will grant, including the Crown Trait, often during the first transformation. This is the first clue a kwami has that they have a Heartbeat.

With time this bond with the kwami will grow, and kwamis and holders can manifest a telepathic connection with each other. This allows them to communicate directly with each other, even when not transformed. This connection with a kwami can grow so strong that in times of desperation the holder can call on their powers without being transformed, though it drains the kwamis as if they were. A Miraculous can never be forcefully taken from a Heartbeat as long as they are still alive.

[sxrrandomfanfics]

∞ Songs best suited for OCs?

... i'd need to actually find songs that fit certain OCs, but I think I have a few playlists. Not for ALL of them though. That'd be crazy.

Maw-sit-sit "But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine "He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine"

Sandra Bell "We perform, we rewrite the norm "The Chaos Heartbeat booming "From the void, the circus horns "Proclaim the power consuming"

Sixer "Sneaking in the pain, every truth becomes lie "I won't trust myself once I hear your call"

Hazel Nuss (Ex-Psychonaut AU) "Of the answers in my cigarette box "Yeah, the answer's in the second before the other shoe drops "And if you're blind to that "I am fine with that"

Droxy "And oh, you want to start talking "Fall together, I'm walking "Face the lie that I'm hawking "We can always fight "You can be the highlight "Pope is a rockstar"

The Princesses "Na-na-na-na-na-na-na "You can't risk falling off your throne "La-la-la-la-la-la-la, love "You don't even know"

Jade and Citrine "And I know you're going to need me here with you "But I'm losing myself, and I'm afraid you're gonna lose me too"

Hope Diamond "Go down to the ocean "The crystal tide is raising "Waters' gotten higher as the shore washes out"

Qauxcaj "In this town, "With well intentioned mothers "Starving daughters "Worried lovers "I swear to you, I'll never eat again."

Aryona "What's this passion burning? "Tell me, what's this yearning? "For the truth I know I'm meant to find "Cause in my mind "I can't help feeling that this time it's mine!"

Turquoise & Aquamarine (my transmasc SU OCs) "Well, it's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56 "'57, '58' 59' automobile "It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67 "'68, '69, '70 automobile"

J.J. "I might've saved a little trouble for the next girl "A-'cause the next time that he cheats "Oh, you know it won't be on me"

Cosmic Kwamis "Cause there’s a pain you can’t imagine "A little talk that keeps you wide awake "That somehow turns to bold determination "That you’ll never make the same mistake"

[ajwinter-is-a-nerd]

Le Chat et Le Serpent - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: While the Chat's Away

Please note that the entirety of this story is a ****TRIGGER WARNING***** - mentions of child abuse, graphic violence, alcohol use, mental health, suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm - basically a constant blow of pain towards the characters - as well as some "steamy" moments.

Chapter Summary:

Felix and Adrien cope with their isolation differently. They both just want to come to play.

Chapter 6: While the Chat's Away

A New Villain

Felix stood in the middle of a darkened room with Nooroo’s dark wing’s risen. The only light was a ray of sun that seeped through the 10 inch hole in the otherwise blackened window. A grin emerged as Felix peeked through the opening, basking in the rage of a young couple. Their anger echoed through the courtyard just beyond Felix’s lair. 

This will be the time. It’s so perfect. Their rage is so pure, so childish. This time I’ll successfully Akumatize someone. 

As the screams regarding the dirty dishes escalated, Felix held his hand over a white butterfly. His hands shook as he tried to evilize the small creature. Instead of purple flowing from his hands, an intense burning sensation ran up his fingers. 

“Ouch! Shit! Nooroo dark wings fall!” Felix shouted in rage. 

An exhausted Nooroo floated before Felix. “I’m sorry master.”

“WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING?” He shouted at the Kwami. Barkk was shaking at his violent tone; but after years with Gabriel, Nooroo sat in subdued silence. 

Felix’s scream echoed through the same courtyard as the couple. Their fight over dishes took a pause as they attempted to identify the voice’s holder. 

“Pfft,” the woman began, “sounds like someone else understands the irritation of someone not doing what they should.”

Any possibility of deduction regarding the existence of a new villain was quickly overshadowed by the reignition of their fight. 

Nooroo silently responded Felix, “Kwamis have certain attributes that connect them with their holders. We can’t say for certain what our own attributes are, but perhaps, but that may be correlated?” Though they spoke the truth, they had artfully left out a direct response. Barkk, who was nearly in a constant state of panic, nodded along with Nooroos words. 

“This is bullshit. What the hell do the others have that I don’t? What did my stupid uncle-,” Felix’s thoughts were cut off as his balance stumbled while a headache began to creep in. 

As he gripped his head, still collapsing to the floor, he began to regret sending Lila away. He couldn’t stand the thought of hearing her shrill voice on a daily basis. But, at least it would be better than this pain. Lila wanted so desperately to be loved, she would jump at the opportunity to be subjected to this constant agony. 

Passively watching, Nooroo considered how different this situation would have been with Gabriel. Back then, they would likely have been naive enough to tell Felix that there was slight damage to the Miraculous, brushed by Chat’s cataclysm in the battle. But Nooroo had spent too much time under the thumb of villains. 

They knew that, if the damaged Miraculous was not approached correctly, Felix could bring his own demise. That way Nooroo and Barkk could freely run back to their guardian. 

The possibility of Felix giving up also seemed more plausible every day. Beyond his consistent failure, the isolation was beginning to wear on Felix. His mental and physical health were declining rapidly from his confinement.  

Chat's Prison Break

Even at its most silent, the hospital always had a tune.

Metallic clinks as hospital beds change directions. 

Overlapping drumming of footsteps. 

Metronome of a neighbour's heartbeat. 

A choir of nurses voices. 

The tone was tolerable when his instruments had joined. The ticking of his IV, the electronic heartbeat, he knew to expect their rhythm. They also reminded him that there was a reason for his stay. That these instruments, and his hospital isolation, were required to free his own notes. But now his room was silent. 

They said he had improved. That his degree of recovery was on par with a miracle. But they needed to keep him under observation for a little longer. He ran his finger along his newest wound. 

Earlier, in his inability to sit still, Adrien started trying to regain his physical capabilities. His refusal to modify his push ups to his current condition resulted in three shaky pushes, and one firm interaction with the tiled floor. The situation was worsened by the fact that Nurse Jacquie was off sick that night, so the nurse that attended to him fawned over him. She couldn’t believe that the famous Adrien Agreste would mark his face on her shift! He only ported a slightly purple cheek with spots of red, but she acted as if he had given himself a Chelsea smile. If only she knew that amount of injuries he had nearly every photoshoot. Most were hidden under clothes, but many hid beneath a veneer of foundation. His make up artist would have breezed through this simple bump. 

Attempting to distract himself, he scrolled through his unread messages. Friends were asking him how he was doing and when he was getting out. He didn’t want to respond to their messages. Anything he could think to say was inauthentic or in the form of a complaint. He didn’t want to burden his friends. 

Luka was especially worried about him, wondering why he suddenly needed to be attended by a room of medical staff. But it was another question that Adrien didn’t know how to answer. Everyone was panicking, yet somehow, his health turned for the better in under five minutes. No one understood it. Unfortunately, that incident became another reason to justify Adrien’s prolonged stay. 

“Knock knock!” A nurse announced as she opened the door. 

What is the point of saying knock if you don’t knock or wait to come in? Adrien snidely thought to himself. 

“Let’s see how your vitals are doing Mr. Agreste,” she shone as she pulled cords out of machines. 

Normally, he would joke and flirt; but the amount of new nurses he was seeing, it started to feel like a waste of energy. He sat silently as she did her checks. 

“Still looking strong!” She cheerfully told him. 

“Good, can I go then?” His cool words stunned her. 

“You know we can’t do that.” She was clearly uncomfortable under his gaze. 

“See you in an hour.” Adrien observed her as she checked her watch. 

“Yes, of course. See you then, Mr. Agreste.” She bowed her head as she shuffled from the room. 

“Ouch, even I think that was cold,” Plagg floated beside him. 

“I needed to make sure she wouldn’t try to come early.” He flatly responded as he stood. “Plagg, Claws Out!” 

Plagg let out a slight yell as he was pulled into the ring, surprised at the transformation. Adrien knew that his time was limited, he couldn’t waste a second explaining himself. 

The hospital was designed so that people could not easily jump out, but it was no match for Chat Noir. The air therapeutically stung his face as he sped faster. The magical suit brought him the strength that he had lost. As he bounded towards the Eiffel Tower, a familiar sight on a rooftop caused him to veer. Ladybug was out. 

Softly landing on a roof, he switched to foot travel so that he would have the element of surprise. Exhilaration pounded through his veins as he flew between buildings. 

“Is that Chat Noir?” A voice gasped below him. He ignored him as he neared the destination roof; he had already been out for almost half an hour. Ladybug sat down in the time that he was racing forward. And she had a guest. 

His steps landed without noise as he paced towards the oblivious Ladybug and Viperion. 

“Thanks for always being here Viperion. You’re a lifesaver.” Ladybug sighed as she leaned on his shoulder. 

“Of course, Ladybug. We need people to know that we’re here. Has Su-Han had any progress in tracking the Miraculous?” Adrien had been in the hospital for over a month and the Miraculous still hadn’t been returned. When Viperion had gone to find Nathalie after visiting Adrien in the hospital, she had all but disappeared. 

“Same as us. As long as I hold an empty box, there’s not much more he can do.” Ladybug sighed. 

“We’ll get them back, I’m sure of it.” Viperion rested his cheek on Ladybug’s head. 

“When the cat is gone, the mice shall play, hey?” Chat Noir swayed as he stood behind them. 

Viperion sighed as he closed his eyes. Undoubtedly, Chat had gotten the wrong impression. 

Ladybug, however, pounced to her feet with her Yo-Yo spinning. “Who do you think you are?” She shouted to him, uncertain if he was the real Chat or not. Throwing her Yo-Yo, she entangled Chat. 

“I like to think I’m the cat's me-ow.” He responded, not lifting to fight the trap. 

“Is it safe for you to be out?” Viperion asked from his statued position. 

“What does that mean?” Ladybug swung her eyes from man to man. Both seemed eerily calm. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll go back soon,” Chat directed to Viperion as he started to free himself from Ladybug’s loosened grip. 

Ladybug wanted to know more. Viperion had said he was watching over Chat, but seemed to be out of the loop. Prior to this moment, she had seriously begun to wonder if Chat had passed the ring to Viperion, and he had been too afraid to tell her. “Go back where?” 

“Oh Bugaboo, you know I can’t tell you that.” 

“It seems like you can’t tell me anything. You suddenly disappear, leave me in the dark, don’t even send me a message! Plagg said you were exhausted, but for a MONTH?” She had begun with a cold indignation, but anger had grown within her tone with each syllable. 

“Hey, I’m back, isn’t that what matters?” Ladybug did not agree, pushing him from the roof. 

With Chat-like reflexes, he dropped his baton and propelled himself back onto the roof. “I’m sorry I left you M’Lady.” He softened his ears. 

“You should be!” Her voice cracked with tears. The overwhelming sensation of loss that she had been suppressing suddenly pushed to the front. 

Chat pulled her in. “I would have never left if I didn’t have to.” He leaned his chin on her head, fully enveloping her in a tight embrace. “Oh, talking about that, I gotta pounce! I’ll see you at the next fight!” 

“Chat! What about finding the Miraculous?!” She yelled after him as his baton struck the pavement. 

“I believe in you Bugaboo!” 

“The nerve of that guy! Does he seriously believe that he can just stop in for a hello and ignore everything else?” 

“I don’t know Ladybug.” Viperion responded, focusing on the side of the city that Chat was not occupying. 

“What has he said to you? Is he seriously just going to pop in and ignore everything else that comes with his duty?” She began to pace. 

“Maybe he has a good reason.”

“A reason that you were supposed to know! Why do you seem so surprised?” 

“I wasn’t his babysitter, Ladybug.” Irritation slipped through his lips. “He wasn’t well, so I told him I would take over while he was gone. He hasn’t exactly been sending me daily updates either.” 

“You’re the only one who knows how to contact him, Viperion! You should have been keeping up with him!” 

Viperion finally stood to his feet. “Don’t blame me for Chat’s decisions. He’s a grown man, Ladybug.” 

Ladybug went to respond, but Viperion was already leaving. 

[monpetitchattriste]

Here is a small fic based on this post!

@xhanisai here we go! 😊 I hope you love it!

Am I Alright?

Rating: Teen

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Additional Tags: hurt/comfort, angst, romance

Summary: After Chat is critically injured in an akuma attack, Ladybug seeks comfort in him.

Holding her broken arm close to her, Ladybug lightly tossed her Luckycharm into the air.

“Miraculous ladybug.” She sighed.

Her earrings flashed with a five-minute warning, but she didn't care. All she could think about was finding Chat.

As she walked through the streets, she called out his name.

They should have brought him back? What if the cure didn't work this time? Ladybug thought, as she panicked.

She could feel her heartbeat increase as she felt her anxiety rise. She couldn't do this without him. He had to come back.

Picking up her pace, Ladybug ran around looking for him.

Ladybug felt the warm tears slide down her as she rounded the corner. She laughed out a sigh of relief when she saw him standing in the alleyway. Ladybug rushed over to him. She stopped a few inches in front of him. She checked over every inch of his body, double-checking that the Miraculous cure and fixed everything.

Once she ensured he was okay, Ladybug threw her arms around him and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

Chat hesitated for a second before he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her even closer.

Ladybug felt his shoulders drop as he sighed with relief.

“That was a close one, M'lady.” Chat whispered into her ear. “Are you okay?” His voice was still strained from trying to catch his breath.

Ladybug nodded into his shoulder.

Breaking them apart, Chat ran his hand over her, making sure she didn't have even the most minor scratch on her. He swept back her bangs out of her eyes.

“Hey now, why are you crying then? Everything's okay. “ Chat used his thumb to wipe away the tears from her eyes.

Walking back, he spun in a circle and gestured to himself. “See, I'm paw-right.”

Ladybug choked back a sob as she punched his chest with her hand.

“I… I thought I lost you for real this time.” She cried out. With her hand still on his, she rested her head on him.

“Don't worry, this cat has nine lives.” Chat placed his hands on her shoulders pushing her back so he could see her face.

“Just please…” Ladybug paused for a moment to recover her breath. “Please just don't leave me. I can't lose you.”

Leaning towards him, she pressed her forehead against his. Their noses were barely touching. Ladybug reached up and placed her hand on the back of his hand, practically willing him to come closer to her.

“Please.” She whimpered. Closing her eyes tighter, she let the tears fall onto Chat's cheek.

Matching her movement, Chat's hand threaded through her half-undone pigtails, cupping the back of her head. She could feel his balmy breath tickling the bottom of her lip. She could sense how uneven and heavy his breathing was. Likewise, she knew hers was about the same as she proceeded to let her tears fall. There was nothing she could do to stop them. Chat continued to whisper words of comfort to calm her down.

Both flinched as their Miraculous let out a final beep. Warning them, they only had a minute before they would de-transform.

“Shh, it's okay.” Chat murmured as he ran his other hand down her arm, trying to console her. His heart felt like it was being torn apart, seeing her like this.” We have to go, we're about to de-transform.”

"I don't care. I just want to stay right here for another minute. No one can see us.” Ladybug ran her hands through his hair, tenderly grabbing a handful to keep him in place. “Just keep your eyes closed.”

Within seconds, the alley was lit with a mix of pink and green light. They both remained still as the magic washed away from them.

Without breaking too much contact with each other, they both grabbed snacks for the Kwamis and gave it to them. Once the treats were taken from them, Marinette and Adrien both returned their hands back to where they were placed.

Marinette felt a warm drop of water hit her cheek.

“Chaton, why are you crying?” Marinette racked her hands through his hair, trying to comfort him as he was comforting her.

“I just realized I could have lost you, too. Without me, that akuma could've killed you too.” Chat pulled her ever so slightly closer.

“I'm okay,” Marinette muttered, her lips somewhat brushing against his. “We are both okay.”

Maybe it was the heat of the moment, or perhaps the desire to be even closer, but Adrien didn't care. He couldn't take it anymore. Carefully, he, with still closed eyes, captured her mouth with his.

Marinette let out a small gasp as she felt his lips meet hers. It took her a split second to realize what was happening. Tightening her grip on his hair, she kissed him harder. She could taste the salt of their tears as her tongue grazed the bottom of his lip, begging for entrance.

Adrien smirked as he nipped the top of her lip before he swept his tongue into her mouth.

With careful steps he pushed her against the brick wall, deepening their kiss even more.

He pulled away before he kissed her again with a ferocity that left Marinette more breathless than before.

Slowly they broke apart, their foreheads still pressed together as they both gasped for breath. Neither dared to open their eyes.

“Please, never leave me, Chaton.'' Marinette started as she brushed her lips against him.

“Never, M'lady,” Adrien whispered as he ran his finger over her mouth, before placing his on her again.

[inevitableconfusion]

part one (here) | part two | part three

@sabertoothwalrus‘s “all left” AU has me feeling some sort of way, and the resulting art/fanart has been haunting me for days. I had to get this out of my system, y’all.

Warning: violence, gore, trauma

Read on ao3

There’s a flash of green light, and all he feels is pain.

Horrible, stabbing, aching, searing pain. He can’t think. He can’t breathe. Ladybug is screaming, but he can barely hear it over his thundering heartbeat. His left hand raises and grips at his right arm… or, where his arm should be.

But it’s not.

His fingers are sticky and warm with blood. And all he can do is stare. His arm is on the floor. Not part of him. Lying on the floor, the white sleeve of his shirt torn and soaking in a pool of red.

Hawkmoth rushes forward in a panic, dropping his transformation, and it’s his father, his father, his FATHER –

Adrien stumbles backwards, tripping over his unsteady feet and falling hard. Fear floods through him, drowning out the pain for a brief moment. His father is Hawkmoth. His father just cut his arm off.

“Don’t touch him!”

Ladybug’s yo-yo wraps around Gabriel and yanks him away with a force Adrien has never seen before. His father skids across the floor until he hits the opposite wall with a grunt. There’s a blur of red and black, and Ladybug is crouched in front of him in a protective stance. She shoots him a look over her shoulder. Her eyes are wide – horrified, distressed, anxious – and there are tears collecting on her eyelashes. Her expression morphs into something he’s never seen before and she whips back around to face his father.

“How could you?! You… you…”

“I’m sorry!” Gabriel is laying on the floor, still bound by Ladybug’s yo-yo. “I’m sorry! I didn’t think… I –”

“You were willing to go this far? We’re just kids!” Her voice breaks, and Gabriel curls in on himself. “He’s your son!”

Adrien feels cold. His vision is getting hazy and he wants to throw up. He thinks he might be in shock.

“Please,” his father groans, voice hoarse, “Please, nothing matters anymore. Just save him. Just save him!”

Ladybug looks at him again, but he can’t make out her expression anymore. She rakes her hands through her hair. “Think, c’mon, think!” She straightens up and glances around frantically, eyes landing on the lucky charm abandoned in the corner of the room. She moves so fast that it makes him dizzy, and he leans on his good arm for support. She grabs the lucky charm and throws it in the air, summoning the miraculous cure with a desperate call. He closes his eyes as the ladybugs rush around him, and then disappear.

But nothing changes. His skin still feels clammy. His head is still spinning. His jeans are still stained with blood.

His arm is still gone.

“No, no, no!” Ladybug fills his vision, kneeling in front of him, hands running over his face, his shoulders, his torso. “That was supposed to work! Why didn’t…”

Adrien lists to one side and Ladybug wraps her arms around him tightly, shifting so he’s laying in her lap. He wants to protest that she’ll get blood on her, or maybe crack a joke to break the tension, but his tongue feels like lead.

But then she calls off her transformation, and in a flash of pink light, his world shifts for a third time that night.

Marinette…

“Tikki, I don’t understand, why didn’t that work?!” Her voice is approaching hysterical, at this point. She starts ripping the bottom of her shirt into a long strip. A red blob floats into his vision. “The cure is supposed to fix everything!”

Marinette… is Ladybug?

“I-I’m not sure,” Tikki responds, concern lacing her voice. Marinette ties her shirt around his upper arm in her best attempt at a tourniquet, but she can’t get the bleeding to completely stop.

Marinette…

“-rinette,” he chokes out, lifting his hand to her cheek. Marinette is Ladybug. Ladybug is Marinette. The last puzzle piece clicks into place. “Mari.”

She lets out a sob, covering his bloody hand with hers and pressing it against her cheek. “Adrien.”

Suddenly his father is leaning over him as well, a purple blob hovering above his head. He tries not to react, but he can’t hold back a wince.

“I’ve called an ambulance. My son, I’m so sorry…”

He’s never seen his father cry, not even at his mother’s funeral. But tears are rolling down his chin and dripping onto Adrien’s face, and he doesn’t know how to feel.

Why? He tries to ask, but the words don’t make it out. His mouth is too dry. Their faces are blurring in and out of focus above him, and god, he’s so tired.

Gabriel’s jaw clenches, and he glances at Marinette. “The wish.”

She looks up, alarmed. Adrien’s hand slips off her cheek, but she keeps it firm in her grasp. She’s determined not to let go of him. “What?”

“We can use the miraculous to help him.”

No! Adrien tries to protest, but his strength is gone, so all that comes out is a groan. His eyes close, despite his best efforts. It’s taking all of his energy just to stay conscious, now.

Marinette squeezes his hand harder and is quiet for a moment. Adrien waits for the kwamis to shoot down the idea, but it doesn’t come. Then, softly, “Tikki, you said there’s a price when someone makes a wish. Do… do you know what it would be?”

Adrien can’t breathe. He can’t breathe.

“The universe needs to stay in balance. So, to save his life, the person who makes the wish would lose theirs.”

No. No!

The last thing he hears is Marinette telling him everything will be alright, and then his world goes dark.

[lycorogue]

Another “Deleted” Scene? Adrien Realizing His Feelings For Marinette

So, I’m still poking around with what turned out to be a slow-burn, mostly-foreplay and flirting, MariChat smut story. The concept is that Chat Noir is tired of Marinette (now both 19yo) acting like he’s not attractive or “sexy” enough to win over Ladybug. So he decided to demonstrate his new flirting techniques on her. Problem is: they worked. Before she realized what she was doing, Marinette was swooning. This thoroughly freaked them both out and Chat Noir sprinted home before anything more happens. (Now Marinette has to deal with the fact that she’s just discovered that she IS very much sexually attracted to Chat Noir (who is already one of her besties), and Adrien has to deal with the fact that he found Marinette getting turned on by him a big turn-on itself)

Which brings me to this scene. It was originally Adrien’s initial reaction, but I felt it came too soon in the story, so I reworked it. Not sure if I’ll find a way of bringing this bad-boy back later in the story, but I figured, if it’s deleted completely from the main work, I could at least have it still see the light of day.

The opening line is Adrien - in his bathroom - reflecting back on the wording he used as Chat Noir while flirting with Marinette.

Enjoy.

“You know how I feel about you-”

It was role-play. He was pretending he was talking to Ladybug. He was addressing Ladybug. Right?

“Yes!” he shouted to his reflection. “Yes, I'm in love with Ladybug, and I was practicing telling all of that to Ladybug.”

“Say something?” Plagg called from the other room.

“Nothing. Never mind.” Adrien's mouth still felt dry, and his face warm, but he meandered back to his bed. Maybe he could sleep this whole thing off and forget the can of worms he might have opened up.

Plagg had a cheeky grin as he drifted over to meet Adrien, and floated beside him on the teen's stroll back to his bed. “Thinking about Marinette still?”

“Shut up.” Adrien lazily swatted at Plagg, not actually intending to hit his kwami. The tiny black cat easily dodged it.

“Ya know, instead of trying to convince Ladybug to give up on her crush, you could always try moving on yourself. Marinette did seem pretty game tonight.”

Adrien's blush deepened again. “Shut up, Plagg!”

“You've felt a connection too. Don't think I didn't notice.”

Adrien's throat closed slightly. “It's not like that! She's-”

“Just a friend?” Plagg finished. “You are seriously still holding onto that lie?”

“Lie? N-no. No, it's not a lie. She is. There's nothing there. Not- you know, not romantically.”

“Okay, sure. Nothing there 'romantically' but what about-?” Plagg clicked his tongue twice.

“Plagg!” Adrien batted at him with his pillow.

“Fine! Fine. I'm just saying. I can sense your heartbeat while you're suited up, ya know.” Plagg shrugged and tucked himself against a corner of the sofa, turning the TV on and flipping through channels.

Adrien flopped back onto his bed. No. It wasn't true. Marinette was his friend. He wasn't in love with her. He was in love with Ladybug. He also wasn't attracted to her. Although she was quite attractive. With that silky hair. And gorgeous blue eyes. And adorable freckles that just lightly peppered her nose. And those strong legs that went on for days. Her firm butt that she wiggled in the most adorable way when she was excited about something. She was like a Welsh corgi trying to wag her tail.

As Adrien pictured all the things that made Marinette attractive (and extremely adorable), a wave of heat rippled through him. His throat and chest tightened slightly, but not in an unpleasant way. His lips were dry and begging for him to lick them. He became acutely aware of his underwear pressing against him (or the other way around).

Shit! Maybe he was attracted to Marinette in a way that definitely wasn't platonic friendship.