#ml salt fic

[goggles-mcgee]

See as the topic of felinette was brought up? Got any Recs? ☺️

OH ABSOLUTELY I DO

Starting off strong we have:

Hey, Little Songbird by charlietheepic 7 on ao3!

It is one of my favorites! It has Canon Felix for the pairing (i.e. Felix Graham de Vanily) and it has salt for some flavoring!

Moving Forward by Dia_Moon on ao3!

It stars PV Felix i.e. Quantic Kid Felix: commonly known as Felix Culpa! This Felix is personally my favorite and it also has salt added for some flavoring!

New Friends by StarShine583 on ao3!

Felix Culpa but!!! He is Adrien’s cousin, he's friend's with Aurore, Luka, Kagami and Wayne! I love their friend group! Akumanette!!! And of course, salt added for flavoring :)

Fairy Circles by Mercurial_Rain on ao3!

It's a one-shot but very cute! Fae Felix! Baker Mari! Arranged marriage! Salt added for flavoring!

The Sad and The Broken by Dull_Rainbow on ao3!

It has the Quantic kids! As the author put in the notes "let it rain salt" lol. Adrien salt but he does get better eventually! It hasn't been updated in a while but it is still a fav to go and reread old chapters!

Begin Again by Kanzakura on ao3!

New school for Marinette! Quantic kids!!! SALT!!! Protective kwamis!!! LORE! I love it, it's on-going!

She Sits Alone by dandelionflower on ao3 but they are also here if I remember correctly. I can't remember if it's the same username though.

One of my absolute favorites! It's ongoing and full of salt! One reason it's a fav is because it is inspired by and kinda a rewrite of Haunted Mansion, and I'm a sucker for that! Quantic Kids are of course here and I love that! Honestly can't recommend it enough.

These are some of my favorites and I'm sure I'm missing some but! Here they are!

[starsfic]

Protective Rose

Rose was loving.

It was part of her nature. "I would think the world would end if you ever stopped loving," Juleka had said once, soft and gentle. Rose knew that if one of her friends asked, she would try her best to snuff out the sun or rearrange the stars. It was silly and ridiculous, but Rose loved.

She loved Juleka. She loved her friends.

That was why she didn't say anything when Alya brought Adrien to the modeling shoot. She loved Adrien and Marinette, and both of them deserved good things. Would it be bad if that good thing was each other?

Then she had looked at Marinette's face.

Marinette couldn't hide the stress the moment Adrien appeared. Rose wasn't sure when it started, but at that moment, the time limit was being presented, and she had a feeling that she was looking at ancient stress. Stress that couldn't be easily scraped away.

The modeling shoot was fun, but Alya's behavior wasn't. Even though this shoot had been for Juleka to start modeling, Alya shoved Marinette in front of the camera. Even as she plastered on a smile, the stress never faded from her eyes.

Rose had looked at the others behind Alya's back. Mylene looked uncertain, Alix had looked so annoyed that she was honestly surprised she didn't throw something, and Juleka was gone. The next few minutes, the akuma and sentimonster had appeared and Rose was left to scramble.

Thankfully, Lady Noire and Mister Bug had saved Juleka. Rose had figured things would be better now. Marinette apologized for Juleka for ruining her first modeling shoot, even though it wasn't really her fault. Rose waited for Alya to apologize too.

And waited. And waited. And waited.

Alya never apologized. As Rose waited, she started to think.

Alya was the catalyst for Marinette to start reaching out again. The rest of the class tried their best to avoid Chloe's attention, meaning she had retreated into herself. Before Alya came, Rose could count the times that all the girls had hung out together on one hand. She had Alya to thank.

But...Alya never really let them talk. Not unless it was about getting Marinette and Adrien together. To be fair, Rose liked the idea of Marinette and Adrien getting together. They were so sweet, with sunshine pouring from them, and Rose knew they would be happy together. But, no matter what the conversation started as Alya would divert it back to Adrien.

They tried to talk about more than Adrien. Marinette tried the hardest of all. Alya didn't seem to care.

And Rose wondered if Alya's help was really just a deal with the devil.

She didn't notice the black butterfly settling onto the bracelet Marinette had made her, which matched Juleka's mirror. She did notice the familiar sensation of a hand reaching into her mind, prying it open.

"Roseheart, I am Shadowmoth..."

-_-

"CESAIRE!"

"What did you do to make her angry?"

"I have no idea!" Alya admitted, her voice nearly lost in the rush of wind. Ladybug held her tight, yoyoing from building to building, all trying to outpace the latest akuma.

Roseheart looked like a living rose, with green clothes leading into petal pink curls. Rose's usually friendly blue eyes were clouded with yellow, matching the roses blossoming on her vines and the roses her minions gave people. The person would be entranced with one smell of the flower, accepting more flowers to hand out. That, at least, meant that only Roseheart was actually chasing Alya.

"Are you sure?" Ladybug landed on a roof, yanking Alya out of sight. "I'm not saying I don't believe you, but your friend Rose seems willing to bottle things up. Can you think of anything?"

Alya scrunched her face up in thought, trying to think. "Ugh, no," she finally said. "Last time I saw Rose, she was happy. The girls in our class were planning a sleepover to make a plan to help my best friend confess to her crush."

Okay, so Alya was willing to talk about Adrien to Ladybug. Good to know.

"AAAAAAALLLLLYYYAAAA!" Roseheart's screech interrupted her thoughts. "COME OUT! YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE!"

"For what?!" Alya's screech was just a touch too loud. In the next second, Ladybug found herself knocked off her feet as the chimney exploded, revealing Roseheart. The heroine landed on her feet on the other end of the roof, looking in time to see Alya scooting away from Rose. "Whatever I did, Rose, I am so sorry, okay? But I need to know what I did wrong before I do!"

Roseheart's already furious expression darkened further. "You don't know what you did?" she growled. Alya, realizing that her words might've not been the best, shook her head slowly. The akuma raised her hand above her head. Vines started to collect and grow, creating a makeshift club. "You hurt Juleka, you put Adrien above us, and you don't know what you did?"

Hurt Juleka? Put Adrien above?

Was she talking about when Juleka got akumatized during that first modeling session? That had been months ago, to the point that Ladybug had almost forgotten that it happened. Based on Alya's blank stare, so did she.

"Marinette apologized," Roseheart growled out, lifting the club higher. "But it wasn't her fault. It was yours. You were the one to push Juleka out, even though that modeling session was for her. And..." Bigger. "...you..." Bigger. "...never..." Big.

Ladybug yanked out her yo-yo.

"APOLOGIZED!"

Before the club could slam into Alya, her yo-yo wrapped around her best friend's waist and yanked her back. As Roseheart struggled to lift up her club, she scooped up Alya and made a run for it.

"I guess that explains that!"

"...yeah..."

If she looked down, she would've seen Alya's eyes widen, thinking. Right now, however, her focus was on running.

[nana-mizu-shiki]

It good. Read. Kudo. Do it.

[sturchling]

I have a request. How about Lila’s mom comes to school because Lila forgot something. And she comes to class only to see them screaming at marinette to stop being “jealous” and stop “bullying” because of another lie Lila told. Lila’s mom also sees mrs. Bustier not doing anything to stop it. So she steps in and Lila pales at the sight of her mom. Then she sets things straight and goes off on Lila for lying again. In the end Lila and the class get punished. And lila gets held back a year.

Mrs. Rossi was already in an annoyed mood. She had already been running late this morning, and needed to get to work. But right as she went to leave, she saw that Lila had left her homework binder on the counter.

She was irritated with her daughter for being so irresponsible. Part of her considered just leaving it there and letting Lila face the consequences. She left it, she can take the bad grade. But then Mrs Rossi remembered that this assignment was worth a lot and if Lila got a bad grade, it would really affect her overall grade.

Mrs Rossi decided to just take it to the school, and she would deal with her daughter later. Little did Mrs Rossi know, Lila would wish her mother had left it alone. She had left the binder on purpose. Lila had planned to blame Marinette for the missing assignment, saying that the girl had wanted Lila to fail so she stole the assignment from her on the way to school.

Mrs Rossi strode into the school and up the stairs to her daughters class, texting on her phone to try and explain to her boss why she is late. Her focus was glued to her phone, that is until she heard the yelling. When she looked up, Mrs Rossi saw the entirety of her daughter’s class, standing and yelling at one girl in the back of the class. They were yelling at her for “bullying Lila” and “stealing her homework” so this girl would have a better than Lila.

But none of this made sense. Lila’s homework wasn’t stolen, Mrs Rossi had it in her hand. Why did the class think this girl stole it? And why wasn’t her daughter correcting them? Surely she knew about her homework, so this girl couldn’t have stolen it. Mrs Rossi felt her stomach twist. She had seen her daughter finally, and she was smiling maliciously.

Then Mrs Rossi understood. Her daughter was lying again. She had done this at every school in Italy. She always lied to everyone, about everything. Fake conditions, fake achievements, anything she could think of. And she had also previously used those lies to target specific students and make them miserable. She had been expelled from several schools for this behavior, but Lila had seemed better since moving to Paris. Reticently, Mrs Rossi realized that Lila had seemed better, because Mrs Rossi had been willfully ignoring it. Now the lack of the communication from the school, and several “school closures” seemed way more troubling.

She glanced at the teacher, Bustier, but Bustier wasn’t doing anything. She was just watching the chaos, like it was some twisted show. Mrs Rossi couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Well, if she wasn’t going to stop this, Mrs Rossi absolutely would. Her daughter wasn’t going to ruin another girl’s life.

Mrs Rossi stormed into the classroom, yelling, “LILA ROSSI”. The entire class whipped around at the sudden intrusion and stared at her. Most looked confused, but Lila didn’t. She looked terrified, and paled almost instantly upon seeing her mother.

“Mom… what are you doing here?” Lila glanced around the room, completely panicked. Especially when she spotted a certain binder in her mother’s arms.

“It doesn’t matter why I’m here. What matters is you are lying again! You told your class that this girl stole your homework? You know good and well that you left it at the house. It’s right here! I thought you had gotten over this lying phase of yours, but clearly not!” Mrs Rossi threw down the binder on the sad excuse of a teacher’s desk, angry beyond measure.

Lila was stuttering, trying to think of someway out of this, as she felt the stares of her class on her. This was very bad, Lila had intended for this lie to fully turn the class against Marinette. She hadn’t expected her mother to see the binder and bring it to the school. “Mom it’s not what you think, Marinette, she… she threatened me. Told me not to bring my homework or I’d be sorr-”

Lila couldn’t even finish her lie, her mother’s anger growing with every word until she exploded. “ENOUGH! You did this in every school you went to in Italy, and I thought I got the lesson through your head this time! Clearly not! I didn’t warn this school because you seemed to understand it this time, I guess that was my own naivety. Get up, you are coming with me to the principals office! I’m willing to bet he has some interesting stories to tell me of what you’ve been up to! I wonder if you have that lying disease again, or the one about saving some random celebrity pet. It’s the same nonsense every time and I’m sick of it!”

Lila tried to stammer out protests, she really did not want her mom to talk to Damocles. But deep down, she knew it was pointless, her mom was furious and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She felt the betrayed looks from the class on her back, as they realized Marinette had been telling the truth. Lila was a habitual liar, and her own mother was confirming it right in front of them, even referencing specific stories Lila had told them.

Lila reluctantly left the classroom with her mother, dreading this conversation and the after effects to come.

And man the after effects were more brutal than Lila expected. She wasn’t expelled exactly, but she almost wishes she was. But her mother had advocated against expulsion, but not for the sake of her daughter. She did it so her daughter couldn’t pull this again at another school.

Instead, Lila was suspended for the rest of the year and as a result would be held back a year and need to repeat it. When she was allowed back, she would be closely monitored by teachers, to make sure she couldn’t get away with anything or trying to bully any students. And a note was placed in her permanent record, so that if she ever did have to transfer for some reason, her next school would be warned.

As for the rest of the class and Bustier, they didn’t escape unscathed either. Most of the class was suspended as well, just for shorter periods of time. The school was a bit more lenient with them, since their actions were based on manipulation and lies, so they wouldn’t be suspended long enough that they would need to repeat the year, but they would be suspended for a few weeks and when they got back, they would have detention for the remainder of the year.

Finally, Bustier was also given an unpaid suspension. To come back to work, she had to complete several hours of retraining on class management, anti bullying tactics, and a wide range of other subjects. Her class got a long term sub in the meantime.

Mrs Rossi may have been annoyed about bringing that binder, but she is glad she did. It opened her eyes to her daughters continuing lies. She was able to put a stop to it this time, and she would make sure her daughter would never be able to pull this nonsense again. 

[mcheang]

Reality

As Nino lays out his plan for targeting Gabriel, Alya points out one thing. “Sure I know Ladybug can fix the mess an akuma causes. But Gabriel will still be mad. He already doesn’t like you, Nino. Don’t push it. For all we know, Gabriel might threaten to transfer Adrien to a different school. Remember, he totally lost it when Adrien lost his book?”

Nino: oh…right. I didn’t think of that. Then, who do we target?

Marinette grins sneakily. “I know someone who can get upset very easily.”

Adrien: really, who?

Marinette: i don’t want to spoil the surprise.

Later, as the parent-teacher meeting commenced, Marinette bursts in, “Oh, I’m so sorry to barge in like this. But I forgot I needed Mrs Rossi’s signature for Lila’s trip to Achu.”

Caline: Marinette, can’t this wait?

Mrs Rossi: what trip to Achu?

Caline and Marinette look at her. “You know, the trip she’s taking to join Prince Ali in teaching children for free. It’s such a shame that she won’t be able to attend the school’s weeklong camping trip but it’s for a good cause.

Mrs Rossi stands up. “My daughter is doing what?”

Caline: why are you so surprised, Mrs Rossi? Lila went to Achu for months less than a week after she joined Dupont.

Mrs Rossi: she told me the school was shut down from akuma attacks!

Marinette pretended to look faint. “Oh no, was it because of her special lying disease?”

Mr Cesaire looked skeptical. “A lying disease…? Do you mean compulsive lying?”

Gabriel almost regretted not being able to akumatize Mrs Rossi, if only to make up for losing Lila Rossi as a spy since clearly Alliance can no longer use her. Oh well, there’s always the fallout when her sheep find out.

Alya and Nino were recording this with open mouths. Adrien wasn’t so bothered by this after seeing more of Lila’s hateful personality.

Needless to say, the parent-teacher conference was delayed as Sabine then angrily wanted justice for her daughter if she was indeed framed by a liar. Gabriel had to admit the teaching faculty here was lousy to fall for Lila’s reception, but that’s what makes this place so prime for his akumas! Why did he send Adrien here again? Oh right, it’s the most prestigious school and he’ll never hear the end of it from Andre because Chloe would never accept his perfect son being in another school away from her.

Later, after Marinette received an apology from Mrs Rossi, she agreed to bring Lila up. Alya and Nino looked apologetic. “We’re so sorry we didn’t believe you.”

Marinette looked behind her. “It’s ok. Keep recording. If Mrs Rossi isn’t angry enough to attract an akuma, her daughter will be. Nothing akumatizes Lila like being caught.”

Lila was immediately suspicious when Marinette of all people came to get her, however it was subdued by Marinette’s poorly hidden dislike and the fact that it was Gabriel who asked her to come.

Certain that Mr Agreste wanted her help against a stupid boy’s resistance team, she agreed.

Boy was Lila surprised to see Sabine and her mother standing in front of the classroom instead of Mr Agreste, who looked disappointed in her.

Uh oh. Now Lila could see Marinette’s triumphant face and could see what had happened. Her one consolation was that the team’s plan to anger a parent into akumatization had failed. Though she was also irked she couldn’t get akumatized and make that loser suffer for exposing her like this. This is worse than Ladybug’s exposing her in front of Adrien!

As Lila was dragged by her mother to the principal’s office, Caline tried to resume the parent-teacher conference though it was clear all now felt disheartened by her incompetence.

The resistance was confused. Angry Rossis and disappointed parents were around. Where was the akuma?

Eventually they had to give up. What a waste of free period.

Not entirely a waste though since Lila was now exposed. Alya sent the recording to the whole class as the parents left.

Outraged gasps were heard everywhere.

Nino: why didn’t you wait till class was about to start? Then we could prepare to record the akumatization.

Adrien: if Monarch didn’t come out for Mrs Rossi and Lila, I doubt he’ll come for-

Reverser promptly swooped by, ready to turn Lila nice and honest.

Adrien: never mind.

Marc was deakumatized and the class apologized to Marinette for not believing her.

Lila returned to class, sulky in her forced apology, not really bothered by their angry reactions now that she was expelled. Only Marinette’s smug attitude infuriated her. Having been forced honest by Reverser, she had confessed to having duped two other women into being her mothers and had initially planned on running away to join one of them. Her mother now has their numbers. It was a nightmare.

Alya: who else can we akumatize for the greater good? Mayor Bourgeois?

Marinette: I don’t think our plan works if we our expected target isn’t even akumatized. We’ll have to think of something else.

Monarch is disappointed he won’t get to akumatize the akuma class again for a while. Ah well, it can be a favor to Adrien.

[charlietheepicwriter7]

Pomegranate Seeds

Chapter 1 - AO3

A/N: After this chapter, this story will be posted exclusively on AO3.

The glares of his new classmates burned Felix as he exchanged pleasantries with Mme. Bustier.

If there was any doubt Adrien had already explained the… situation he caused with his impersonation, it faded under the strength of their looks. It was only two weeks after the anniversary of his aunt’s disappearance after all; no doubt the wounds he caused trying to defame Adrien were still fresh.

Particularly the wounds of the three girls who ended up getting akumatized because of his actions. He’d have to avoid them in the future in case they wanted revenge on him.

Mme. Bustier instructed Felix to sit in the back next to the black-haired girl who had confessed to Adrien in her video. It was both good and bad: good, because it kept him out of eye-sight from most of his classmates, bad because there was little doubt in his mind that the black-haired girl would try to get revenge for his cousin.

Typical Adrien, always ready to let others do his dirty work for him.

Felix nimbly dodged a kick from Lady Wifi on his way up. He’d researched his class before insisting to his mother that he should attend school in Paris, specifically in his cousin’s school with his cousin’s class. He’d found Lady Wifi’s blog—he didn’t care enough to remember her real name—early in his research, but it was only useful about discussing her classmates’ akumatizations. The rest was trashy articles about the Parisian heroes love lives.

And the false exploits of another one of his classmates, but that was blackmail for another time.

Meeting the weight of Lady Wifi’s glare with a glower of his own, he smirked when she flinched away from him. Amateur. Was she even trying to be intimidating? Felix was a cold-blooded blue-blood; he’d stared down the most intimidating members of the fashion and movie industry and held his own. One teenage girl was nothing compared to famous photographers, directors who thought they could order him like an intern, Audrey Bourgeois, or his uncle.

He slid into his seat by the black-haired girl. From the back, he could look out over the rest of the class. He had full view over everything: the cutesy posters on the walls, the top of Bustier’s desk, his classmates whispering and passing notes. All was visible under his eye. The windows behind him were good too, reflecting all the light the room needed onto his desk and back, keeping him warm despite the winter weather.

He watched the others calm slightly once he left their immediate sight, turning their attention back to the liar he’d learned about last night. Bafflingly, they listened with rapt attention to her story about convincing some prince to forgive convicted criminals. She spared an obvious look behind her, locking eyes with him, as she mentioned that everyone deserves a second chance.

How despicable of her, using his own unpopularity to make herself look better.

He was almost impressed.

Almost.

He glared at her and she gasped, folding in on herself so everyone else would take pity and comfort her. Her acting wasn’t even that good; she couldn’t cry on command and her shoulders shook, not like repressed sobs, but like she was violently shrugging. He directed children who were better actors.

But despite the girl’s bad acting, her seatmate rushed to comfort her, rubbing her hand over her back and murmuring in her ear. Their surrounding classmates, excluding Adrien who did his best to ignore Felix, glared back at him.

He couldn’t help himself. He smirked.

“Excuse me.”

At the stern words, Felix turned his attention to a new problem: the black-haired girl. Out of the entire medley of videos Adrien had received on the anniversary of Aunt Emilie’s disappearance (a month after his father’s death, for which he’d received no word from Adrien, not even a text of condolence—), her video had memorable. She’d confessed her love to Adrien, sappy and heartfelt and so genuine that he couldn’t help but pity her. Adrien wasn’t a good person to fall in love with; he was more likely to string her along to ‘keep the peace’ than reject her outright.

But that was then, and this was now. And now, she was an enemy with close access to both his person and personal items. Who knew what she could do—

“My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” she continued, a light tilt to her head. “I’m the class president, so feel free to ask if you need something. However, I must ask you not to start anything with the rest of the class.”

He sneered. “I assure you, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng—I am not here to start anything. That won’t stop me from finishing it though.”

“That’s fine,” she agreed. Felix blinked in surprise. “Self-defense is self-defense. But I would make sure you have evidence that you weren’t the one in the wrong. Certain members of staff tend to victim blame.” Her eyes flicked to the front of the class, where Mme. Bustier was trying to bring the class to order.

“That’s absurd.”

“That’s reality. I just thought you ought to be warned, considering how everyone already hates you.”

“Oh? You noticed that, didn’t you?” Voice dripping with sarcasm and a curled lip, Felix looked down at her. “And you’re different, right? You’re willing to be on my side, defend me from your bad classmates, comfort me when your friends bully me?” He scoffed. “Save it.”

She sighed. “Think whatever you like, but I’m not trying to use you. I’m not a liar. Besides, I doubt they consider me their friend anymore. If they harass you, then they’ll harass me too.”

He studied her for a moment. She looked tired: dark bruises hung under her blue eyes and little strands of hair stuck out of her pigtails, like she hadn’t bothered to properly dress her hair. “…You’re not in the back out of choice, are you?” He already knew the answer.

“That’s right.”

“You said that you’re not a liar. You were referring to the Volpina girl?”

Her eyes widened. “Her name’s Lila Rossi. You know she’s a liar?”

Felix rolled his eyes, promptly forgetting the name before it stuck. He didn’t want to remember anyone. “I can do basic research, yes.”

“You shouldn’t bring it up to the others then.”

“What? You don’t think they deserve to know—”

He watched warily as her frame trembled and her fists clenched. “Of course they deserve to know; they just won’t listen! They’re so trapped in the lie that Lila’s an amazing person who needs their help and that she’ll help them fulfill their dreams that they can’t listen to reason.” She calmed herself down, breathing deeply. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. But they hate me because I tried to tell them the truth. Don’t give them another reason to hate you.”

He scoffed. “And I’m supposed to assume you don’t hate me? I saw your little video, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. I know how you feel about my cousin. And I was the one who tried to ruin his reputation.” So show your true colors, went unsaid.

“I don’t hate you, M. Graham de Vanily.” He scoffed again. “I don’t! I’m angry at you, yes, but… I would like to give you a chance. I don’t know the circumstances that led to your… behavior two weeks ago, but regardless, I’m willing to give you a chance at friendship… provided that you don’t do something so cruel again.” She looked away, her cheeks ruddy. “If you want.”

His eyes narrowed. Pretty words from a pretty girl, but did she mean them? “Do you always forgive so easily?”

“I try to.”

“That’s a good way to get stabbed in the back.”

She smiled, close-lipped and bitter. “That has been happening a lot lately. It’s alright though; I’m willing to risk another stab wound.”

He hadn’t expected that. What on earth had been happening in Adrien’s class? They seemed close before, from what he saw online and through their videos, but to isolate and hurt one girl to the point that she’d be willing to risk friendship with him out of all people…

Before he could think of a response, Mme. Bustier finally called the class to order as they started their lesson for the day.

Taglist: @graduatedmelon @novicevoice@dur55@kris-pines04@18-fandoms-unite-08@moonlightstar64@bee-a-garbage-shipper@sol-o-shade@kittyotakunoir666@tinyterror333@allieoftheenemy@marichat00@xgxmxtx@two-faced-biatch@feliciakainzofspades@evil-cricket@emilytopaz@spicybelladonna@chocolateherringtacofan@user00000003@wannajointhecrabcult@happymonster-pants @duquesapincarrasca  @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen  @sxltinette @kittydemon9000 @thetrashypanda423 @unoriginalmessess @toodaloo-kangaroo @troycattribunny

[howhow326]

RING THE ALARM

Miraculous Ladybug: season 4 Alya sugar fic (based on the Alya exposes Lila's secrets prompt that I made)

Alya pov

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"... Anansi has been rigging her wrestling matches! It's the only reason why she's made it as far as she has." was the only thing Alya needed to hear to send off alarm bells throughout her whole body. Why would Lila say something that wasn't true? Alya tried to correct her friend, thinking it had to be some type of mistake. At first, Lila was surpised her latest gossip target had a sister, but held fast to the truthfulness of her 'sources'. Alya tried to correct her again, and Lila got defensive over her friend 'attacking' her. Alya tried to fact check Lila one last time, then the green eyed monster finnally retaliated. All she had to claim was Alya harassing her and Kim, Nino, and Ms. Bustier swiftly came to her defence.

Within the blink of an eye, Alya landed in detention. Alone in her punishment, but togather with Marinette who had been a recent victim of the lying new girl. As her real friend comforted her, Alya finnaly realized her real mistake... how could Lila be friends with Maribug if she met her the same time as me? Alya finnaly gleaned the truth that Marinette had been warnning her for so long, and despite Marinette's affirmations of her being guiltless, Alya couldn't help but feel that this whole mess was her fault. What kind of journalist am I to be fooled by a school girl...

That's when a Light bulb appeared above her head. Alya is exactly the kind of journalist to solve this mess, and she will if it's the last thing she does. As soon as she got home, Alya began scowering the internet for every and any truth of Lila's claims. As she took more and more notes, she began to learn Lila's real specialty: half truths. All the photos she wowed the class of her meeting with Jagged Stone and traveling the world were real, but the "special connections" she claimed to have were all as fake as her hair. That was the real reason why Lila asked everyone to keep some of the things she said between classmates, it stopped anyone from reaching the truth. As Alya started getting ready for bed, Trixx whispered a devious plan into her ear. Normally, Alya would never agree to using the miraculous to spread a falsehood, but this mirage might be just what she needs to reveal the truth...

The next day at school was much the same; Ms. Bustier was forcing the class to write an eassy analyzing the theme of love in the popular children's book series, Hubert Porter, written by JC Bowling. Because of some of the research Alya did last night, she knew that Bustier and Bowling were the same person. She gussed that it isn't a crime to teach a class based on a book you wrote, but it was starting to get suspicious when Bustier did it three times in a row and ended each class by giving extra credit to the students who donated to the charity of her choice, a conservative group located in Florida of U.S.A.

"... and just the other day, Jagged Stone asked me to come with him on his latest tour! He got so sad when I had to tell him no!" Lila lied. Alya was almost impressed with how good the Italian was at doing it; Jagged went on tour just three days ago, but Alya was sure that he never asked Lila to come with him. Now's the time, Alya thought to herself. She go out of her seat and confronted Lila.

"Do you have any proof that Jagged Stone asked you to come with him on his tour" Alya flatly asked. Marinette got up to reel her back, but Alya gave her a look that said she has everything under control. Of course, Lila pulled her usual: she claimed that Alya was bullying her and that she just wanted to be friends. Kim jumped to her defence, as Lila filled the void that Chloe left when she went on extended vacation with her grandmother. That void being "evil chick that he can make googoo eyes at". Nino, who had started to hang out with Lila more then he was around Alya by the day, also jumped to the Italian's defense. He lectured Alya on all the ways he was "disappointed in her" and the like. Just as Ms. Bustier was about to send Alya to detention, she pulled out her trump card. "Lila's lying, and she admitted to it here!" Alta pulled out a voice recorder and pressed play. "If course I'm lying, and you can't do anything about it!" Lila's voice vindictively said.

And just like that, the class erupted into chaos. Nino got re-akumatized into Rocketear and targeted Lila for "breaking my heart". When it was over, the class all sang their swan songs to Marinette and Alya for believing some new girl over them. Except Nino, who seemed to think he was entitled to his girlfriend's forgiveness. Yeah no, their relationship is on hold and Alya is going to be too busy to come to the phone rifht now, but Nino was welcomed to leave a message. And he did. Like a lot. Alya regretted even making that suggestion. As usual, Ms. Bustier was the last person to get the hint and tried to punish Alya for (???) but this time Marinette came prepared. She discovered their lovesick teacher had fled Britain from a little too many taxes, and that was all that was needed to get her fired. After Alya learned that her choice of charity was a Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist organization, she considered it good riddance.

And as for Lila, she quitely disappeared like she usually did with no sign of coming back. Good, Alya thought to herself, no one messes with my friends and gets away with it. To make sure no one forgot, Alya posted her experience onto the Ladyblog, where the truth would be known for years to come.

I challenged myself to use less dialogue in this fic and I hope you enjoy it!

[starlit-dreaming]

[ch5] élémentaire

Fandom: MLB Main Ship: Felinette Side Ships: MarcNath, Julerose, eventual Chlogami, past Lukanette TL;DR: HBIC Marinette + Rich Marinette + ML Salt Fic + Canon Divergence

Main Fic: élémentaire 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | [5] | 6

Side Fics: J'adore — 1/2 | 2/2

Summary:

There once was a school called "École primaire d'élite de Notre Dame" — Notre Dame’s Elite Elementary School. It was ruled by three people and divided into three factions. A fair Emperor named Félix known for his calculating intellect, a charming Queen known as Chloé known for her cruel reign of terror, and a mirthful Majesty called Marinette known for her uplifting smiles and genuine kindness. They were called "Les Trois Primaires" — The Three Primaries.

Tag List:

@jjmjjktth @smolplantmum @always-on-a-sugar-high @fan-written @vixen-uchiha @fanfics-and-fangirling @marvel--unsolved @starlightshield @lady-bee-fechin @draco-kasai @weirdo-with-no-beardo @idontwannaexistsopleasekillme @blep-23

————————————————————

v. muguet blanc

————————————————————

Reunions are the worst.

Alix would rather sit through another romcom slumber party with the girls in the class (and yes, even if it included Lila, who gave her headaches since she did nothing but breathe lies and tall tales) than sit at the same table with Félix Graham de Vanily and Chloé Bourgeois of all people. Unfortunately, it wasn’t her choice in the matter, neither was it Marinette’s.

No, this meeting was completely in Chloé’s control.

How annoying.

She doesn’t bother hiding her displeasure — she could be subtle, she could pretend that the sight of them doesn’t piss her off, but she doesn’t. Marinette and Rose could deal with the social niceties because Alix has had more than enough of dealing with that sort of crap at family gatherings and parties.

“What a pleasant surprise,” Marinette said with a smile. It was not a kind smile, nor was this surprise pleasant at all. If Alix wasn’t so annoyed with the situation, she probably would’ve snorted at that — Marinette had always hated lies, and yet here she was, straight up lying just to keep up with appearances and everyone at this table knew it. “Have you been planning on this for a while, Félix?”

“Something like that,” Félix responded back with an equally fake smile as he took his seat beside her and Claude. “You look well, Marinette.”

Alix side-eyed him before looking back over to Marinette as if it were the world’s most riveting back and forth.

“Did you think I wouldn’t be?” she asked, eyes narrowing at him.

If Alix knew Marinette just as well as she used to, it seemed almost challenging.

“Last time, you were rather different,” he politely said. “The difference is astoundingly obvious, so naturally, I was taken aback.”

“Well. Maybe if you hadn’t decided to impersonate a certain famous person we all know and antagonized everyone in my class, including me, and instead chose to meet us properly, things wouldn’t have been so drastically different,” Marinette practically seethed behind her smile.

Even Alix could tell that she was still angry… or maybe just annoyed and frustrated, and a bit embarrassed from what happened. She knew that Marinette confessed to Adrien during the incident, and yet Adrien was as oblivious as always. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what happened between Marinette and Félix. Not to mention all those rude videos with Adrien’s face…

“Perhaps I would’ve reconsidered if—”

Chloé interrupted, making her displeasure loud and known, “Ugh, you’re being ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous! Stop being so dramatic and just get straight to the point,” she rolled her eyes before looking at her nails. “Do us all a favour and stop wasting our time.”

“Oh, I do apologize, Your Highness,” Félix drawled as he gave Chloé an unamused glance. “Forgive me for wasting your time, when you haven’t deigned to give me a single explanation as to why this meeting was arranged to begin with.” And for wasting my time, but that part went unsaid and was simply and heavily implied by his tone of voice.

Alix didn’t know if that should’ve been surprising or not. Or maybe this was just some sort of scheme between Chloé and Félix to bother Marinette, considering that they weren’t very happy about Marinette’s disbandment in the first place. Granted, Félix had no choice with his moving, but he did have Claude who unofficially handled things as always — their information network was as strong as ever if not better, even if no one verbally acknowledged it, and some of his influence involved multiple schools. Meanwhile, Chloé was more or less bored without anyone challenging her authority as time went on, and her faction somewhat crumbled away without her interest (granted, that didn’t change the fact that she still had followers who adored her cruelty). Sabrina was the only one still keeping tabs on the faction, but nothing more.

Not that Alix didn’t do anything in the time between the disbandment and now, but she couldn’t do everything on her own. Besides, Marinette highly valued friendships (and that involved their class), while the other leaders had their own values that didn’t rely on building up amicable friendships.

Without Marinette at the heart of things, it just never felt the same.

That’s not to say that the other leaders didn’t have friends of their own. She’s damn sure that without Claude’s cheerful and charismatic personality, Félix wouldn’t consider the Quantic Kids as friends to begin with. As for Chloé, she was the type who regularly acted rude to hide her fondness for some (case in point: Sabrina), and she’s half-certain that Adrien was pushed into being her friend.

“Chloé won, I lost, that’s all,” Marinette flatly stated, dropping the false pretense and getting straight to the point. This was the faction leader that she missed seeing — straight to the point and no roundabout words, with an attitude that screamed that she was in charge. “I plan on reviving my faction, since yours and Chloé’s are still around.”

And now comes the unwanted thoughts and opinions from people that Alix would much rather go without hearing from for nearly a decade:

“That’s a surprise,” Félix commented, resting his chin against the palm of his hand as he looked at Marinette with a thoughtful stare. “I was starting to suspect that this day would never come. Naturally, I suppose congratulations are in order, even if it initially results in a loss on your behalf. You truly are a fortunate person, Marinette, because Claude informed me that you still have quite the following despite the disbandment.”

…

Um… what?

Was he… being civil with her?

And did he compliment her in some way? Maybe she was reading too much into that.

Alix blinked, dumbfounded as she glanced over to the others in the room. Sabrina also looked taken aback, while Claude was rubbing his head as if he had a headache. Chloé didn’t seem interested in the conversation anymore, with how she was now on her phone.

She knew that Félix and Marinette were on… okay-ish? Familiar? Friendly? Terms. At least, compared with Chloé, but that wasn’t a competition. Marinette used to have a crush on him and wanted to be close to him, while Félix treated her like a business partner and nothing more. Still, Alix was certain that he was going to be insufferable at least, and it certainly seemed like he was until Chloé spoke up after getting fed up with it.

With how they acted towards Marinette back then, and especially with how Félix acted with the uh… Adrien incident a few months back, she was expecting a verbal showdown.

Not… whatever this was.

“Well. The day’s here,” Marinette flatly stated. “If you have an issue with my faction’s revival, I’d rather hear it now than later.”

“Hmm…” Félix smiled, and Alix couldn’t help but feel goosebumps at how strange he was acting compared to the boy in her memories because she was starting to think that maybe he’s been scheming something this whole time. Fucking rich elite kids and their fake ass attitudes. “Truthfully, this works out quite nicely. I’ve been hoping to reach a compromise about this today, actually.”

What the fuck?

Chloé scowled at that, finally looking at him, “Excuse me? You wanted nothing to do with this meeting until literally an hour ago!”

“People change,” Félix stated amicably. “And circumstances call for it. And again, if I must remind you, you told me nothing.”

Chloé wrinkled her nose, seeming to loathe this random change of heart wholeheartedly. Alix, unfortunately, agreed with her — that sounded like absolute bullshit.

It was then that Alix noticed the look of disbelief on Claude’s face. Clearly, he was just as skeptical as everyone in the room.

If even Claude, his right-hand man, didn’t know, then something must be going on.

What was he planning?

“…really now,” Marinette raised a brow. “Considering how you mocked me the last time we… met. I’m surprised that you’re so willing to move past it.”

“Sometimes shock can bring out an unpleasant side of us,” he says calmly. “I admit that I was being rather… petty. Particularly to Adrien, as he showed no remorse for not being there for me in the time of my grief when I was there for him when his mother went missing, and I felt spiteful. You and everyone else just happened to get caught in the crossfire.”

“You tried to ruin his reputation and friendships,” Alix finally spoke up, incredulous. “That’s not something to just go “sorry dude, my bad” and expect people to forgive you.”

“And?” Félix raised a brow, an annoyed look shot in her direction. Now he’s the asshole from her memories — he never did like Alix, and it’s possible that the fact never changed. “Where exactly did I imply that I expected forgiveness when I’ve done nothing for it? Frankly speaking, I don’t care if your classmates loathe me for it. In fact, I would welcome their blatant disregard because if they so easily believe a fake, then naturally they are not worth a moment of my time to begin with.”

“Then… I guess that’ll be it for now,” Marinette said, calm as she wryly smiled. “When are you going back to the UK?”

“No need to worry,” Félix smiled. “I will be moving back to Paris, and will be transferring to your school in an official capacity.”

What.

——————————

The Dupain-Cheng living room was as warm as Nino remembers it. He can smell the baked bread and treats coming from the downstairs bakery, and Monsieur Dupain stood in the kitchen, warming something up on the stove.

Nino hadn’t spoken yet from his seat on the sofa, and he finally stopped crying (something that’s been going on since he first arrived at the Dupain-Cheng bakery). It was Madame Cheng who ushered him into the bakery’s kitchen, and it was Monsieur Dupain who immediately gave him a warm and big hug before bringing him to the living room, wrapping a comforting weighted blanket around his shoulders, and told him that he’ll be back in a moment and—

And yeah, Nino remembers why he loves the Dupain-Cheng Family as if they were a second home. They were there for him when his parents divorced, they were there for him when his brother was born, and he ended up upset because all of his mom’s free time was spent on a little brother he didn’t want back then, and now here they were, there for him again. Madame Cheng only gave him a single glance to know that something was wrong and Monsieur Dupain gave the best hugs that could remedy the stress even if it was temporary.

Maybe that was it. Maybe he was just… worried that they weren’t a permanent fixture in his life. That they weren’t going to be there for him if he dated someone other than Marinette. Maybe that was why he stopped regularly visiting, maybe that was why he fell for Marinette years ago, maybe, maybe—

“Hot cocoa?” Monsieur Dupain smiled gently, interrupting the guilty thoughts and holding the cup for him.

He blinks away the leftover tears with little success as he takes the warm cup into his hands. It’s warm to the touch, but not scalding hot — it’s… comforting.

And it’s, well, it’s not quiet. There’s the distant hustle from the bakery downstairs, muffled voices and clattering noises of kitchen equipment from the part-timers. He’s not alone, either, and he feels warm, and as he takes a sip of his drink, the tears start to fall once again.

He places the cup onto the coffee table, and he feels like a little kid again, crying to Monsieur Dupain again just like he did when Chloé started picking on him back then and Marinette had brought him to her house for the first time. Just like he did the first time he fell off his bike in the nearby park, and Monsieur Dupain helped him disinfect his scraped knee. Just like he did, when it was Father’s Day and Marinette urged him to make a Father’s Day card for Monsieur Dupain who accepted it with a warm hug, a bright smile, and teary eyes.

Just like back then, when his parents were arguing back and forth so he’d run to Marinette’s home. And the time when Olivier packed his bags, left papers on the table for his mom, and never came back home.

And the time when his parents finalized the divorce, and he was at Marinette’s house more than being at home with his always working mom and later a baby Chris.

Why did he start dating Alya to begin with? Sure, she’s great and the most stubborn yet confident girl he’s ever known, and she’s one of the prettiest people in his life, but romantic relationships suck. His own family was proof of that! He chose to take a chance, thinking that him and Alya could handle whatever came their way, that they could overcome every challenge together.

Maybe Marinette’s fairytale hopes and dreams started to affect him somewhere along the way. Maybe it was because he wanted to believe that love actually existed, because his feelings for Alya were so strong that it was a nice thought, that maybe it was true.

But this was reality. He’s just another kid with a broken heart who just wants to be left alone.

Monsieur Dupain is patient and kind as he brings over a tissue box and a small mesh wastebasket. Nino reaches for the tissues, blowing out his nose as his eyes burn from crying.

“We broke up,” he says, feeling all choked up as he tosses the tissue into the wastebasket. He tugs on the sleeve of his hoodie, wiping his tear-stained face with it and tries not to feel so small like the kid he used to be. “And—and she called me a—”

A cheater.

She called him a cheater.

And it’s then, at that moment of anguish, that he realizes why the statement hurts more than anything.

Because Olivier is a cheater, and Nino had sworn to himself that he would never grow up to be that type of man no matter how much he starts to look like him as he gets older. He cuts his hair, covering it with his red cap just for being the same colour, hell, he first started wearing glasses just because his grandmother once commented that he has Olivier’s eye shape!

When he became a teen, his mom always told him that he should never cheat on anyone. Don’t break a girl’s heart just to have them cry over you, don’t trust a girl if she tells you not to worry about someone.

Don’t be like your father, she would often say.

On and on, he would hear those things throughout his life. Would his mom even trust him, if he told her that Alya accused him of cheating?

He’s scared that she wouldn’t.

She liked Alya and she always suggested inviting her over for dinner. His mom treated his ex like a daughter she always wanted, and that was a good thing.

Until now. Would his mom still love him for breaking up with Alya? What if she can’t bear to look at him, like back then when he actually tried to grow his hair out for just a little? Would she look at him and see Olivier in him?

He never cheated on Alya, but the accusation was too painful.

“She called me a cheater.”

The words come out quiet and hushed, almost a scathing curse. His mom would always worry if she was raising him and Chris right, or if they’d end up like Olivier — he knows the hushed conversations that she had with granny when she thought they were asleep.

“She—Al—” he chokes, his voice unwilling to cooperate as he pushes through with wavering tones. “She didn’t believe me.”

And it’s then, that Monsieur Dupain pulls him in for a big, warm hug. His tears burn anew, and he hugs back, holding on for dear life.

He stomps down the urge to voice out his thoughts aloud: “Why did Alya believe Lila over me?” “Why did Adrien have to fall for a two-faced girl?” “Why couldn’t Olivier be more like you?” “Why did Lila have to transfer into our class back then? Why, why, why — the questions flood his mind.

“I know you would never do something like that, Nino,” Monsieur Dupain reassured, voice calm and soothing and filled with so much concern that Nino feels like he’s drowning in his feelings. “You’ve grown up to be an outstanding young man. I look at you, and I see a bright soul who cherishes his family and would do whatever he can to help them. I see a young man who focuses on what’s important, who feels guilt so deeply when he’s wronged someone, and does whatever possible to make amends.”

“R-really…?”

“One hundred percent. You are so much stronger than you think, filled with so much love and loyalty in your heart,” he sniffs. “I’m sorry that she couldn’t see it, but we all do.”

“D-do you really think so…?” comes the muffled question.

“I know so,” the baker’s statement comes with a gentle squeeze — warm and reassuring and present. “I’ve watched you grow up since you were a child, growing into the young man you are today.” It had to be true, with how certain he sounded. “And I’m so proud of you, son. We love you, and you will always be deserving of that love.”

It’s a sudden relief that crashes into him, setting his tears pouring even harder than he thought possible, burying his head into the baker’s black apron and he just… cries. He lets out all the tears from the stress of the past several hours. The years of tears, the years of guilt.

He can’t speak, hoping that his hug conveys his gratitude at those words as he cries and cries.

And Thomas Dupain lets him, as if it’s okay to feel heartbroken.

That it’s okay to have that reassurance.

For weeks, the guilt of choosing Alya over Marinette had haunted him to this very day. The guilt for still caring about his now ex-girlfriend, despite the pain she’s inflicted on him remained. The guilt of hiding behind his shell, when he knows that he’s better than this, that he did what was right. He’s sad, and it hurts, it hurts, and it hurts.

And despite being granted a second chance, he’s still scared to face Marinette. He’s scared that she’ll question his choices, that the years of trust they have is gone after what he’s done. That she won’t treat him like a friend anymore.

(But the biggest thing that makes him feel guilty, is the relief in knowing that Thomas Dupain will always be his dad, despite all of Nino’s mistakes.)

——————————

The living room is quiet as Sabine Cheng climbs up into the living room and kitchen.

There, she finds her husband gently shuffling over to lay Nino’s head against the sofa’s pillows. His red baseball cap and glasses resting on the table next to an abandoned cup of cocoa. Tom tucks Nino in, and he moves to take the drink and heads to the kitchen, quickly dimming the lights that shined on Nino’s face.

Sabine softly breathes. She tries not to feel angry and upset at seeing the track of tears on Nino’s face.

She tried, but she feels upset anyways.

Tom brings the cup to the sink, his eyes a bit watery with a sad expression on his face. Her husband was always the more empathetic person between the two of them, but he tended to cry whenever it came down to her and their daughter. He cried when Sabine proposed to him, he cried at their wedding, he cried when Marinette was born, he cried when Marinette said her first “I love you’s” to them. Then, there were times when they couldn’t do much about a few kids teasing their daughter about her Asian heritage, when they both realized that they were failing Marinette as parents for not realizing the stress caused by all her responsibilities when she was only twelve and in sixième, and now, he was crying for Nino, their godson.

Sabine walks up to him, her footsteps a pitter patter against the wood floorings. He turns to look at her, and she smiles at him, holding out her arms for a hug to which he immediately goes for.

Tom sighed, a sad smile on his face as he wrapped her in his arms, shoulders untensing as he rested his chin atop her head. He doesn’t say anything, but she can imagine quite easily that his eyes are closed, and he sighs again. Even if he says nothing, she knows that there’s just so much on his mind, and a hug alone helps even a tiniest bit.

He and Marinette shared that in common — both of them can get rather stuck in their thoughts.

“You know,” she softly says, patting Tom’s back. “There’s a saying that sighing drives away happiness and good fortune. It’s considered very bad luck.”

“And I recall hearing my lovely wife respond to that with: According to who? I think sighing is a good thing as we breathe away the stress, worries, and bad thoughts in our bodies.”

Even if she couldn’t see his face, she knew he was smiling just from the way he said it. A win in her book for the time being.

“How is he?” Sabine softly asks, pulling back just enough to see Tom’s weary face.

“Better than before,” Tom frowned, glancing over to Nino who was fast asleep, “He hasn’t said much, but he said enough.” His voice drops to a whisper, not wanting to even risk the chance of being heard if Nino was half-asleep. “Alya broke up with him. She thinks he cheated on her.”

What.

Sabine blinked, looking up at her husband who gave her a knowing look paired with a wry smile.

Nino Lahiffe, a cheater? Their Nino? Nino of all people!

“I know,” Tom grimly nodded. “Obviously, we know it’s impossible. Sophia raised him better than that. We raised him better than that.”

“But it’s still devastating for him to hear it,” she nodded, pursing her lips. “Should I tell Sophia? Maybe we should ask her to let him stay the night. Or, we could keep an eye on Chris for her so she can focus on Nino?”

“I think you should only tell her he’s staying for dinner for now, maybe mention that he’s upset about his breakup,” Tom brushed a strand of her hair before tucking it behind her ear. “We can ask Nino if he wants us to talk to her instead about what happened, or if he wants to do it by himself. He might need a bit of time; he’s scared to tell her.”

“Why would he be scared to talk to her? Sophia would understand what he’s going through.”

“From what I can tell, he thinks she won’t believe him.”

“I can’t imagine that she wouldn’t trust him — Nino’s never given any of us a reason to think otherwise,” she wrinkles her nose, pausing as she takes in the sight of Tom frowning, with his brows still pinched with concern in his eyes. “Is there something else?”

“I’m not sure if everything’s entirely okay between him and Marinette now that he’s broken up with Alya. I know he’s been hanging out with Marinette again, but…”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Sabine rubbed his arm, giving him a reassuring smile. “When I dropped off her laundry the other day, I noticed that she’s been redecorating her room lately — there’s a lot of pictures taken down from her wall, most of them being Adrien, but some being Alya. And, if Alya did talk to her, claiming he cheated, I doubt Marinette would accept that accusation without question.”

“You’re right,” he presses a kiss to her head and smiles, shoulders untensing as he speaks fondly. “She’s always been our little miracle, always finding solutions to a problem since she was in élémentaire.”

“I’m just relieved that she’s out of her detective phase and wants to make clothes instead of delving into those dreadful conspiracy theories and solving cold cases to keep up her thinking process,” Sabine said with a huff. “She was always running around trying to get creative with her problem-solving and Detective Sauveterre still asks me if Marinette wants to apprentice under him whenever he stops by for his weekly sweets.”

Tom raised a brow, amused.

“Oh, hush, you know what I mean,” Sabine huffed, giving his shoulder a small pat.

“Our petite fleur is still the same as ever, Sabine. The difference is that she’s not coming home with glitter on her hands and hiding a thick binder in her school bag. In fact, I think she’s trying to help the heroes locate Papillon.”

“I don’t doubt that,” she sighed. “Nadja called the other day, telling me that Ladybug’s been regularly seen in our neighbourhood. Marinette still has that I-know-something-but-its-a-secret stutter and it’s always when a hero was involved.”

“Should we upgrade the security system in the bakery?” he suggested. “If Nadja heard about it, then that might invite nosy fans.”

“Maybe for the entrance to the house; we can revisit the rest later. We might need to talk to Marinette about us locking the bakery entryway down during work hours. Well, I’m going to go let Sophia know that Nino’s staying with us; will you be making dinner?”

“Yeah, it would be better for me to stay up here with Nino. He’ll need some comfort food after what happened, and I don’t want to leave him alone right now,” Tom kissed the top of Sabine’s head. “We should tell Marinette that he’s here.”

“Got it,” Sabine nodded. “Is Marinette still out? Or is she in her room right now?”

“She said she’ll be back by dinner.”

——————————

“Worst meeting of my life,” Alix groaned, roller skating backwards to look at Marinette as they walk down the hotel’s halls. “Now what?”

“As planned, we’ll set up a meeting with Félix and his faction to enlist their help in the near future, most likely when Félix gets settled down after his move.”

“…do we actually need their help?”

“No, but they’re the best choice for the least damage to everyone,” Marinette sighed. “I don’t want to go scorched earth on this. There’s no reason to. I just want to expose her and ensure that her mother learns the truth, and everyone else can rebuild what she destroyed.”

That was fair, but Alix had her suspicions that maybe Lila was worse than they thought. How else was she able to turn the class against Marinette in the beginning? Sure, Marinette had been a lot more passive than she thought, but her reputation was changed with a snap. When Alix finally got her shit together in the aftermath of Lila’s accusations against Marinette, she had been so easily convinced of Marinette’s jealousy before then. It was planned out, event after event, and it didn’t help that Lila could easily turn on the waterworks.

Overall, it was sloppy work when compared to Marinette and Félix, but that’s only in hindsight. Honestly, Alix was kind of hoping for scorched earth just because it’d be quite a show.

“Rose wants to,” she recalled, absent-minded as she thinks back to Rose and her fake smiles. Rose isn’t as passive as everyone assumed her to be.

At that, Marinette winced. “Juleka’s been affected, so Rose is compromising in order to prioritize her girlfriend. We both want Lila dealt with, and ideally, I don’t want Lila in Paris anymore while Papillon is still here. I especially don’t want to ruin lives just because of some girl who thinks of herself as a queen.”

“Rose won’t be happy about that,” Alix said thoughtfully. It was an obvious statement. In fact, the fact that Juleka was hurt would be even more of a reason for Rose to do something.

“No. She wouldn’t be,” Marinette nodded. “But there is a chance that she’ll get what she wants, it just depends on how people react. If something major goes wrong and I have to readjust some of my plans—” her phone chimes, causing her to stop and blink as she takes it out to read a text message. “Hm,” she frowned.

“Did something happen?”

“Nino and Alya broke up,” and that made her heart twist. They were both adorable together, and Marinette had hoped that their relationship would manage to pull through, but… Alya was firmly in Lila’s corner, and Nino was back on Marinette’s side despite all his guilt. She was thoroughly entranced by her, and Nino can be a bit too timid when it came to confrontations.

At least, it depended on the confrontation. He can stand up to parents, but never their peers.

“Oh. Bummer,” Alix awkwardly shifted. She wasn’t the most interested in romance compared to everyone, but that didn’t mean she was oblivious to the effects it had on people. “I kinda expected him to be quiet and lay low for a while. What did he text you, anyway?”

“It wasn’t him. Maman told me,” Marinette clarified. “He must’ve spoken to Alya first.”

Starting with Alya was surprising. She expected him to confide in Adrien, in hopes to enlist his help in convincing Alya. Adrien knows that Lila’s lying, and Marinette had no patience to try and explain why that was harmful to her and their class as a whole, and the whiplash between wanting to rage and wanting to forgive was a headache to deal with. Nino, on the other hand, has that endless patience among her close friends, and he doesn’t let infatuation play a part. This meant that Nino was the best person to explain to Adrien why the high road didn’t apply to this situation, although this was also part of Marinette’s own vindication.

Even if Alya was still being fed lies directly by Lila, having both Adrien and Nino taking the initiative to talk to her would plant a seed of doubt, and their odds of convincing her would be better. Marinette wouldn’t have any involvement in the matter, and Alya would want to get back at Lila for lying to her. The fallout between the two was a gamble, but Alya can be quite vindicated.

Still, it was Marinette’s oversight. She should’ve spoken to Nino on who to go to first, and now he’s been hurt by her own inaction.

Alix didn’t say anything in response to that. Truthfully, everyone in their inner circle knew how much Nino adored Marinette’s parents. Out of everyone, he had the closest relationship with Thomas Dupain, and with the lack of a father in his life, it was fairly obvious that he was projecting what relationship he wished that he had.

If Nino was at Marinette’s house, however, that meant some things had gone wrong.

“We might end up having an Akuma later today,” Marinette sighed. “Alya would definitely throw a wrench into our timeline.”

“Will we need to change up the plan?”

“I hope not,” Marinette tilted her head in consideration. “I put so much planning into something that would work out for everyone in the class. If Alya blows up before the birthday party, it’ll be an absolute disaster and she’ll probably face a defamation lawsuit if she posts a little too much on her blog. It’s going to be a headache to rework everything, not to mention that it’d have to be on the fly.”

Alix shoved her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, “Well, I guess Rose might get what she wants after all, then.”

Marinette felt a twinge of pity for their classmates who were hoodwinked by Lila. She wanted to make sure they would be able to get back up on their feet when the lies were revealed. Rose didn’t care — love can be blinding, and Rose was very angry at what Juleka experienced. Maybe she’ll calm down with time, but Rose could hold onto grudges for so long.

They both reach a halt in front of the elevator.

“For now, we’ll play it by ear,” Marinette stated as Alix pressed the button for the elevator.

“Marinette,” Félix calmly called out, taking slow strides as he approached them. “May I have a moment of your time?”

Alix made eye contact with Marinette, who blinked dumbfoundedly at the sudden request. As Marinette processed the words, Alix weighed the pros and cons of stepping away or staying.

On one hand, Alix was going to need to leave anyway to avoid being seen in public with Marinette. An elevator ride should be more than enough time to put in some distance, especially if Alix roller skated away while Marinette got on the elevator. On the other hand, Alix wanted to know what was going to be said verbatim, especially considering that Marinette used to like Félix, but that wasn’t a good enough excuse for either of them. Marinette would give her a bunch of displeased looks, but she’ll forgive her.

Félix, however, might scheme to make some things difficult or unpleasant for her. He could probably throw a family party and specifically invite Alix and her mother, and then Alix would be expected to play nice and dress up in a dress because it’s a Graham de Vanily party.

It would be more of a hassle than it’s worth…

And, judging by the brief frown on Marinette’s face, she thought so, too.

“You can go ahead, Alix,” Marinette said, speaking calmly without a hint of displeasure as the elevator doors opened up. “I needed to talk to him, anyway.”

Alix nodded, taking a glance back to Félix — Claude wasn’t with him — and promptly stepped onto the elevator.

What the hell was with that smug smile on his face?

[thesaltyoceanwaves]

The Blue Skies Ch. 11 (Final)

Ao3

And with this, "The One to Make It Stay" has been concluded (besides some AU chapters that I hope to get to soon). Thanks to everyone for reading for the past four years!

[decaffeinatedpeacetragedy]

Looking for a fic HAS BEEN FOUND!

The fic is where the class thinks marinette is Ladybugs spy. She makes them outfits to let them know they can't be heros. I think it's after miracle queen. It was really good.

[sayuricorner]

Rage-Jin - A Miraculous Ladybug X Magic Kaito story: Part 2

Part 1

Warning: English is not my first language so sorry if it’s confusing.

Warning 2: This one-shot content salt don’t like don’t read!

Part 2 of the ML / Magic Kaito crossover one-shot!!! ^^ for @lupsss1412

“-I can’t believe he got away! And with the gem no less!”

If a word could describe Marinette’s mood right now, “frustrated” would be the best choice.

Chat Noir and her had been so close, SO CLOSE! To stop Kaito Kid and arrest him but of course of all the night Hawkmoth had to choose to akumatize someone it has to be this night.

Yes! Fighting akumas was Chat’s and her main priority, she even told Chat herself… 

But thinking about all what happen last night:

-The thief stealing the gem despite the security organized by the police.

-Chat Noir having been unbearable, again, during the whole thing despite her telling him more than once to take this seriously and not lower his guard.

-Climatica attacked when they were about to capture Kaito Kid giving the thief the opportunity to get away.

-And most of all Chat Noir thinking that attempting to capture a thief for his ego was more important than fighting an akuma who would have more than certainly hurt a lot of innocents, leaving her to face the akuma all alone before he finally decided at one point to let Kaito Kid go and help her.

All those accumulations of misadventures in one night just added frustration to Marinette, she was angry, at Kaito Kid for having stole the gem, at Chat Noir for having complicated things, at Hawkmoth for having akumatized Aurore that night and more importantly at herself for not having been able to handle the situation better.

If she actually handled the situation then maybe she would have captured Kaito Kid before he even left the museum, maybe she’d have been able to be a better partner with Chat Noir they would have been able to work as a team…

And maybe this whole night wouldn’t have been a mess…

“-Oh Marinette!” Her kwami told softly, looking at her with sad eyes.” Please don’t be so hard on yourself! Sure this thief got away but you had to do what’s important as Ladybug: to fight the akumas and protect the innocents! And it wasn’t a failure, you did defeat Climatica and saved Aurore before things turned worse and this is what matters so please don’t say such things about yourself!”

Ah… She didn’t notice her speaking her thoughts…

She knows Tikki was right, defeating akumas and protecting civilians from them were her top priority, if an akuma is on a rampage she must go take them down, even if it means letting a petty thief escape into the night.

But still, she wishes she could have caught Kaito Kid and taken back the gem in addition to desakumatizing Aurore.

Speaking of her, apparently, the reason for her akumatization was because she was under a lot of stress lately at KIDZ+ and Alec unintentionally made her stress worse to the point she had a breakdown last night.

“-I know Tikki, stopping akumas is my priority as Ladybug, as a miraculous holder, heck that what I was telling Chat over and over again, but… with everything which happened last night, not to mention Chat’s behavior during the whole fiasco… The fact is that I let everything get out of hand and I wasn’t able to manage the situation… It’s just so frustrating…”

“-I understand, but sulking about it and beating yourself over it will not do anything! And maybe you’ll have another occasion to catch Kaito Kid? Who knows, maybe he will still be in Paris for a time and you’ll get a new opportunity to catch him and this time without an akuma attacking with a bit of luck!”

Honestly Marinette wasn’t really sure about the last part, for all the “lucky moments” she could have, having a day without akumas or not having an attack at the worst times weren’t a part of them, there wasn’t a day nor a moment without Hawkmoth creating an akuma.

Really, one wonders what kind of creepy shut in Hawkmoth must be to have so much free time to be able to send akumas everyday whenever he wants. Maybe he was one of those strange rich guys that are secluded in their mansions and his real wish was to cause chaos just because he could.

But on the other hand Tikki does have a point, sulking will not change anything all she can do right now is making sure Kaito Kid wouldn’t steal in Paris again, keep on fighting the akumas, and try to had a word with Chat Noir if there’s an opportunity, and like she said, maybe she will be able to catch the thief before he leaves the town! Who knows? Anything could happen!

“-You’re right Tikki, thanks!” Marinette told her kwami with a little smile.

The tiny goddess happily nobbed at her but quickly realized something and turned her gaze toward Marinette’s alarm clock before turning back to Marinette nervously.

 “-Hum… Marinette, aren't you supposed to join Kaito and Aoko at the park this afternoon?”

Her eyes wide, the young girl quickly looked at her alarm clock before panicking and quickly grabbing her purse, in which Tikki fled.

“-OhmygoshIcompletelyforgotthankyouTikki!” Marinette quickly said before sprinting out of her room.

(Time skip)

After a hasty departure Marinette gets, thankfully, at the park on time to meet up with Kaito and Aoko.

The day was sunny and no akuma was rampaging the city, a perfect day for hanging out at the park in Marinette’s opinion.

“And hopefully, this outing will go smoothly and peacefully!” The bluenette thought, hoping no one and nothing will come and ruin this day, whatever it would be an akuma, her classmates or even Lila, she lives very close to the park after all.

She found the two Japanese students on a bench near the fountain and without wasting any time joined them.

They spent a long time talking about everything and nothing.

Until the subject of Kaito Kid’s last heist was put on the table, which Aoko profited from to rant about the thief.

Turns out Kaito Kid and Aoko’s father had a sort of “history”, and the latter dedicated his life into trying to arrest Kaito Kid.

“-People back in Japan may see him as a japanese Arsène Lupin and look up at him but honestly he is nothing more than an obnoxious petty thief, he even makes my dad’s life hard with his crimes!”

Marinette couldn’t help but agree with Aoko’s rant, from what she saw during her “encounter” with Kaito Kid, the infamous thief was indeed very obnoxious and his flirting which remind her way too much of Chat Noir’s flirting didn’t help to make her think otherwise.

Kaito, Marinette noticed, was silent and looking at them with a strange smirk on his face…

As if he was laughing at them in his mind or something.

“-Eeeh… I agree, he is not bad at magic and all but we know who is way cooler than him right Aoko?” Kaito asked his childhood friend, his smirk still on his face.

This only makes Aoko roll her eyes in annoyance.

“-Oh please, don’t flatter yourself you’re both equally annoying Bakaito!”

“-Oh?”

Kaito stood suddenly in front of Aoko, looking at her with a smiling face and suddenly his head began to shake before twisting around in a way which is impossible for any human.

“-What.. Is… The… Color… Today?” Kaito asked in a weird automatic voice.

Then suddenly, Kaito’s head popped up out of his body and landed in Aoko’s hand before throwing serpentines out of “his” mouth to an exasperated Aoko.

Marinette looked at the scene dumbfounded, a robot? What? How?

Her confusion was interrupted by Kaito’s voice, which strangely seemed to come from the robot’s legs.

“-Ah-ha! It’s pink!”

“-KYYAAAAH!”

Here upside down was Kaito’s head between his legs and looking right under Aoko’s skirt.

Laughing at Aoko’s reaction, Kaito standed up revealing that his body was in fact upside down this whole time and hid it with a very good disguise.

Marinette was torn up between being dumbfounded and amazed, just how in the Kwamis’s names Kaito managed to stay upside down on his hands this long?

“-A feminine color uh? You know that putting on you feminine things will not make you look more sweet or cute right “Ahoko”? Kaito teased his embarrassed friend.

“-I should have known… THAT YOU WOULDN’T BEHAVE FOR VERY LONG!!!” Aoko screamed angrily before beginning running after Kaito, the latter running away and avoiding any punch and kick from Aoko, keeping on teasing her at the same time.

“-See? Just like I said: no matter how many cute things you use you’re violent as always!~”

“-SHUT UP BAKAITO!!!”

Meanwhile, Marinette could do nothing but staring at the two japanese students with a deadpan expression, any other person would be surprised and puzzled by the exchange student's behavior but in Marinette’s case, let’s just say that after having spend times with them ever since they get to know each other, she end up to be used to their particular “lover quarrels”.

… This and the akumas attacks may have made her immune to the oddities she witnessed in her daily life.

  Kaito suddenly stopped moving, making Aoko stop in her tracks and looking at her childhood friend in confusion.

“-Now now Aoko, you know I’m just teasing you! No need to act like an enraged ape!”

“-Why you-”

“-Ooh! Look at that! Looks like there’s something behind your ear!” Kaito interrupted her.

The young man moved his hand to the confused girl’s ear and with a snap of his fingers, a little lighted candle appeared.

Still smiling, Kaito took the candle in front of Aoko.

“-One… Two… Three!”

Realizing what was going on, Aoko quickly blew out the candle as soon as Kaito finished counting and to her and Marinette’s surprise, the candle exploded into a little gift box.

“-Ta-da here you go!” Kaito told Aoko while giving her the gift.

Curious, Aoko opened the gift and was amazed to find a beautiful pair of earrings inside.

“-Kaito they’re amazing!”

“-He he I know! See this as a little apology gift!” Kaito responded to her while winking at her.

Marinette looked at the duo with a tender smile, despite all their fights, arguments and shenanigans it was easy to see that Kaito and Aoko genuinely cared for each other and had each other’s back despite their flaws.

A series of beeps were heard, bringing Kaito’s intention and making him take out his cell and looking at what seemed to be a notification, his eyes widened a little before he quickly put away the cell in his pocket.

“-Welp! Sorry you two but I’m expected somewhere, see you later!”

And just like that, Kaito quickly left the park, leaving a puzzled Marinette and an exasperated Aoko at Kaito’s shenanigans.

“-Hum Aoko, if it’s okay to ask, where is Kaito going like that?” Asked a still confused Marinette.

“-Ah! That's right, you’re not aware! Remember when we told you about Kaito’s mother traveling around the world? Well currently she’s in Paris and when she learned that Kaito and I were going to be in Paris at the same time as her, she arranged with Kaito a moment to meet up and spend time together!” Aoko explained.

Ah, yes she remembers the two japanese students talking about Kaito’s mother’s travels to her in a conversation during which they were getting to know each other better.

The notification in Kaito’s cell was most probably to remind him of his meet up with his mother then.

Meanwhile, Kaito walked through Paris’s streets, after a while he got to his destination which was a little café.

Looking at the occupied tables, he spotted a brown short haired woman, who happily waved her hand at him when she noticed Kaito.

Smiling, the young man got to the table and took a seat.

“-Heya mom!”

“-Kaito! It’s so good to see you!” Chikage tells her son with a smile. “How are you and Aoko doing? How is your stay in Paris going so far?”

“-We’re both good as usual! Paris is not bad so far, of course if you don’t count those akumas.”

“-Ah yes! I heard about them, luckily I wasn’t in the area whenever an attack happened! Oh by the way, when I got to Paris a few weeks ago I met an old friend I haven’t seen in ages!”

This sparks Kaito’s curiosity.

“-An old friend?” 

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marinette carelessly threw herself on her bed while sighing happily, today has been a good one, no akuma, no Lila, no nosy classmates, just a nice peaceful day she spent with Aoko and Kaito.

It felt so good to spend a simple and calm day, when was the last time she had a day like this?

She doesn’t really remember, most of the time her days were filled with akuma attacks or when Alya and the other girls roped her in another scheme to get her to confess to Adrien.

Others would have argued that she didn't seem to mind during those times and while she would agree that this was the case at the start, her pink stained glass mind even justified it by seeing those moments as her friends genuinely trying to help her.

But recently, ever since she began to hang out with Kaito and Aoko she couldn’t help but compare her relationship with them with her friendship with the class.

“ If you could really call it a friendship ” A little voice in her mind said, which she tried to ignore.

“-Something is on your mind Marinette?” Her thoughts got interrupted by Tikki.

“-Ah! Nothing, don't worry about it Tikki!" The young girl reassured her kwami."I was just thinking back about how today has been a peaceful one for a start!"

"-True! You looked like you had a lot of fun and were very relaxed!" Tikki agreed."It was even a relief to see you so at ease around some friends to be honest!"

This statement confused Marinette who stared at the tiny goddess.

"-What do you mean?"

"-Well…" Tikki hesitated."As you know us kwamis don't have a total understanding of human feelings so take what I say with a grain of salt but… I couldn't help but notice that you seem more comfortable around Kaito and Aoko than when you're with your friends from your class! And before you begin, I know Alya and the others aren't bad people and, normally, mean well, but… What I mean Marinette is… Even before Lila came you seemed tense and stressed around your class, always anxious to do something which could offend them or disappoint them while with Kaito and Aoko you're just being… you, relaxed and spending time with friends without being worried about anything…"

Marinette stared at her kwami thoughtful.

She knew Tikki wasn't wrong, she herself noticed it for some time now…

Before this seemed normal for her, the classmates were her friends after all, so it was normal to do favors for them…

It seemed normal for her to be constantly anxious about doing something which could disappoint them and losing them as friends, she was the class’s representative and their “everyday ladybug” she couldn’t let them down…

With Kaito and Aoko however, it was… Different… She wasn’t the “everyday ladybug” always ready to do favors without asking anything in return, she wasn’t the class representative who must be a model to the rest… Or even the center of a “Adrinette ship scheme”...

With the Japanese students she was just… Marinette…

A clumsy girl who loves fashion…

A simple middle school girl doing simple things like hanging out with friends…

A girl who lives her daily life without worrying about what her next step will be…

And she was… Feeling good about it…

When was the last time she actually felt that way with her class? When was the last time she actually spent time with her friends without involving favors or her crush on Adrien?   

 When was the last time she was around people who made her feel like she was just herself?

Just be Marinette?

“-I think I get what you mean Tikki… When I’m hanging out with Aoko and Kaito I feel great and don’t feel gnawed by my problems like Lila, the class, the akumas or the gem-...” 

Marinette stopped on track, her eyes widening in horror.

“-Oh kwamis the gem!” She whispered in horror.

How could she have forgotten about it?

“-How can I be there like that all relaxed when Kaito Kid still had the gem?!” She exclaimed in panic.

“-Marinette…” Tikki tried to call her without success.

“-What if he tried to leave the city with it? What if he tried to leave France with it? What if he decides to sell the gem to some shady people or something?”

“-Marinette!” The kwami tried again but the young girl was way too deep in her panic.

“-And… And with the powers the gem hides, who knows what he could do… Ooooh this is a disaster! I-I must transform and find Kaito Kid and take back the gem before-...”

“-MARINETTE!!!” The tiny god screamed startlingly at the dark haired girl who looked at her kwami with shocked wide eyes.

Sighing at her holder’s antics, Tikki looked at Marinette and spoked in a reassuring voice.

“-Marinette, we already talked about it: Don’t worry! You will catch Kaito Kid and take back the gem! It’s not very easy to leave a city or a country with something precious which was stolen, it takes time and a lot of organization so I’m sure this will give you enough time to find him! As for the risk of him using the gem’s “powers” you don’t have to worry about it either! He will not be able to do anything even if he wanted to!”

Okay, now Marinette was confused!

“-What do you mean?” Marinette asked her.

“-Well…” Tikki begin.

(Elsewhere)

“-So this confirms it then!” Kaito Kid said as he put away the still purple-ish gem from the moonlight.

“-This is not the pandora!” The magician thief concluded.

“-It unfortunately seems like it, master Kaito!” Jii confirmed with a sad sigh.

Kaito stared at the gem, a beautiful but ordinary gem, unlike what the media claimed.

While it was a bummer that, once again, he got the wrong gem, it was also a relief.

The gem not being Pandora, just a common precious gemstone, means that Kaito will not have to worry for the Black Organization to try to steal it, the obvious lack of magic in the gem even mean that the ones like Hawkmoth will not be interested in it.

Yes, while it was a shame he didn't get Pandora, the fact the gem is not magic will not get the intention of any potential threat.

 "-Well, it's a shame!" Kaito said with a Fake sad sigh."But at least we will not have to worry about the organization coming to Paris!"

"-So what do we do now, Master Kaito?" Jii asked him.

"-Now?" The thief said as he turned toward the old Man with a smirk."Kaito Kid will find a perfect moment to give back the gem and After that Kaito Kuroba will profit from the rest of his stay in Paris!"

"-I understand Master Kaito!" Jii nodded in understanding."I will look out after the gem until you give it back!"

"-Good idea Jii-chan ! Welp, I should go now! If I don't come back soon Aoko will be wondering where I could be! Good night!" Kaito declared as he left.

"-Good night Master Kaito!"

—--------------------------

"-THE GEM IS NOT MAGIC?!"

Tikki stared at her holder in amusement.

"-Nope! No magic at all!" The kwami of creation confirmed."So rest assured when I'm telling you that the thief using the gem's so-called "powers" is the last of our worries!"

"-B-But the legends about it…" Marinette stuttered in confusion.

-"Marinette !" Tikki laughed."While many legends are true, that doesn't necessarily mean that ALL of them are real! You know how humans love to tell stories to create magic out of common things and to want to believe in those stories, this makes the Magic of those myths! You'd be surprised by how much of those stories exist compared to the number of actual magic beings and artifacts!"

"-So…" Marinette hesitated."The gem is truly not magic and we don't have to worry about Kaito Kid trying to do… kwamis know what, with it?"

"-Exactly!"

Marinette reflected on what she just learned, all this was… a relief to be honest.

With the gem being a normal gemstone, all Kaito Kid could get out of it would be money and the safest way to do that would be to get the gem out of the country to sell it on a black market in another country, which is not an easy task.

That means she still had time to have the occasion to stop Kaito Kid and take the gem back before he could even leave the city!

"-You know what Tikki?You're right! Worrying about the gem being used for magic is the last of our worries since it is not magic! And if Kaito Kid stole it because of the myths around it then he will more than certainly have a bad surprise which will give us time to bust him!" Marinette said with determination.

"-That the spirit Marinette !" Tikki cheered.

Smiling, the young girl looked at her kwami before turning a determined look at the starry Sky through her window.

Kaito Kid will be stopped and the gem will be retrieved, she as Ladybug will make sure of it.

—---------------------

The next day things were very agitated at Françoise-Dupont, only one thing was in the students’s and some teachers’s lips: the latest heist of Kaito Kid.

Miss Bustier’s class wasn’t excluded and were actively talking about the heist’s events.

While most of them were very excited, some were reacting differently.

Aoko’s face was wearing a scorn expression being, like usual, very annoyed at the mention of the magician thief.

Kaito was just sitting at his seat ignoring the whole ruckus and being completely indifferent to the whole thing.

One girl among Bustier’s students was trying her best to not make herself noticed in the form of Sabrina.

The young girl was keeping her head down and was as silent as a mouse feeling very uncomfortable at the mention of the heist, a feeling which is very understandable with the media having relayed how her father was played and ridiculed by Kaito Kid during the whole night.

Two students, however, were irritated and were trying to not show it.

Those two students were Marinette and Adrien.

Even with her newfound determination to catch Kaito Kid next time, the weight of the failure from the heist was still there in her and being reminded about the night during which she and Chat Noir failed to catch the thief wasn’t pleasant.

As for Adrien, he was fuming inside at the mention of Kaito Kid, he was still upset about the thief having flirted with Ladybug and pass him for a fool so let’s just say that Kaito Kid isn’t on his favorite persons list currently.

“-I’m still shocked that Ladybug and Chat Noir weren’t able to capture him!” Alya said to the classmates, her voice showing her obvious excitement.

“-Yeah! But on the other hand Kaito Kid had been stealing for years so he must had gained skills into escaping anyone who would try to catch him!” Max explained.

“-You know an uncle of mine had been a victim of Kaito Kid!” Lila exclaimed, not supporting that anything or anyone beside her get the class’s intention.

“-WAIT REALLY?!”

“-What happened?”

“-Nobody was hurt I hope!”

“-What did he stole?”

“-Oh my god! Girl you MUST tell us!”

Lila smirked, satisfied, the effect she wanted was immediate.

“-Well, it’s happened some times before I moved to Paris!” Lila begin to explain taking a fake soft uncertain voice.”I have an uncle in Italy who is the CEO of a successful company, the biggest in the country. In fact, he earned millions with his work! My uncle was also very sceptical about banks so he always kept his money in the most secured safecase in the world inside his mansion! But one night, Kaito Kid had broke in and begun to stole my uncle’s money after managing to open the safecase!”

Seeing that most of the class was captivated by her story, Lila kept going, adding a bit of sadness to keep her audience on her.

Marinette just ignored them and was focusing on her sketchbook and Adrien just shook his head.

“-He… My uncle tried to stop him and got into a fight… He fought as much as he could but things have gone really wrong and he… He… He was severely injured and Kaito Kid just left with the money and… Since then, my uncle has never been the same!” The liar sobbed while opening the waterworks.

“-Lila this is awful!” Alya said while comforting her.

“-I’m really sorry for your uncle!” Rose said with tears in her eyes.

“-What Kaito Kid has done is horrible! I hope someone will end up caught him so he could finally pay for what he had done!” Alix exclaimed in anger.

“-Yeah! He deserves to be in jail!” Kim agreed.

The class was now surrounding Lila, altering between comforting her and cursing Kaito Kid.

The liar couldn’t help it but smirk secretly in satisfaction, it's just so easy!

“-Oi! Did you finish your little act already?” Kaito’s annoyed voice interrupted the moment.

The class, Marinette and Adrien included, turned their intention toward him, he and Aoko looked extremely annoyed.

“-Hum… What do you mean?” Lila nervously asked, trying to feign confusion.

“-I mean your little drama queen acts as fake as your face!” Kaito said while staring at her clearly annoyed, and this time he wasn’t even going to bother and hide it under some poker face

“-Because there’s no way everything you just said is true as 1) It’s a worldwide known fact that Kaito Kid only stole gems, not money!”

“-2) In his whole career, he never intentionally injured anyone! In fact if something like that ever happened my father would have been one of the first informed since he is fixated on arresting him!” Aoko added annoyed as well, she might hate the thief but she could at least acknowledge he has morals. 

“-3)Kaito Kid NEVER had done heists in Italy! Outside of Singapore and Paris, he exclusively steal in Japan!” Katio finished, the last hit on the nail knowing that it would be something he could prove without exposing himself “since every single one of his heists have been announced before happening”

“-And finally 4) It's impossible that something like that happened and wasn't relayed at all by any kind of media, reporters, paparazzi or bloggers! A story like this would have been spread all around the world if it actually happened!” Both japanese students concluded, aoko nodding along with Kaito.

The whole class was silent, Marinette winced knowing about the storm which was about to burst out.

She know it will happen, she had been in this type of situation before after all.

"-And what do YOU know about it uh?" Alya asked Kaito and Aoko with an accusatory tone."How would you know this story is fake, which ISN'T the case, just because "no any type of media talked about it"? For all we know, Lila's uncle's story could have passed unnoticed. This kind of things Can happen!"

The other classmates nodded in agreement and stared angrily at the two japanese students while Lila was hiding a smirk.

Alya crossed her arms and frowned at Aoko and Kaito with defiance, thinking she had won the argument. Completely ignoring the predator’s gaze both teens were giving him.

"-One can't just spew any affirmations without proofs to back it up! So I'm waiting! Where's your proof, huh?" she pointed at them.

From her seat, Marinette was making the best she could to not groan in frustration. She couldn’t believe it was HER talking about getting proof.

Here we go again!

"-Whoa! The kettle calling the pot black aren't we? And didn't Rossi say her supposed uncle was the CEO of the most prestigious company in Italy? How the media couldn't had relayed that a very important CEO had been severely injured by Kaito Kid during a heist?" Kaito commented, unimpressed, irritating Alya even more.

Aoko then suddenly got up from her seat and walked toward Alya and the rest of the class and put in Alya's hands her phone, which was showing a bunch of tabs.

"-You wanted proof? Here's the proof!" The japanese girl announced coldly."Those are all the info websites, blogs and tabloids which had archived Kaito Kid's heists! ALL his heists are archived on those websites from his very first one many years ago in Paris to his latest one, again, in Paris! Even his most obscure and less known heists are archived, fans follow him just like a celebrity, so, if Lila's uncle's story actually happened it will be in one of those websites's archives!"

Shooting an angry stare at Aoko, Alya looked at the phone she was actively searching through the websites, but as the minutes passed, Alya’s face slowed and deflated in shock.

“-Nothing…” She said in a whisper, her eyes looked haunted the more she read

“-What?” Nino asked, worried.

“-There’s nothing about Lila’s uncle…” Alya said in shock “nothing about a sinlge heist in Italy either…”      

The class stared at her in shock, the young “reporter” then passed the phone to Max who looked and searched in silence.

No one said anything, staring in apprehension and after five good minutes, Max slowly left up his head and said in a whisper.

“-I can confirm… There’s no article about Kaito Kid stealing money nor about an italian CEO having been injured during one of Kaito Kid heist!”

The whole class was now silent, all of them turned their heads toward Lila, starring at her in shock and confusion waiting for a logical explanation.

The liar looked at them, her eyes wide in panic, trying to find an excuse, until she decided to play her last but most efficient card:

Opening the water broke.

"-I-I'm not lying! Why did you two persist on passing me for a liar? What did I ever done to you? Especially you Nadoko, I know you don't like me but do you had to go After me like this?" Lila asked as fake years were rolling down her cheeks.

The results were immediate as the other classmates began to glare at the two Japanese students.

"-She's right! You can't just talk to her like that!" Alya snapped as she was comforting Lila.

"-Yeah! What give you the right to act like this?"

"-Honestly Aoko that's not cool at all!"

Marinette just wanted to bang her head on her desk in frustration, it was like this everytime! Lila just had to cry and everyone turned into a Guard dog!

Aoko and Kaito, as for them, seemed completely unfazed.

"-Honestly, do you even hear yourself?" Kaito asked, annoyed.”We were just stating facts to correct what was obviously misinformations! No insults, no nasty remarks, just facts! We even showed you proofs to back up our statements, but you just choose to ignore all this and simply view this as a personal attack against your “precious Lila”! You want to do that? To paint us as the “bad guys” despite we just proved facts? Fine, be that way! But don’t expect to go far in life with this immature snowflake attitude!”

“-EXCUSE M-”

* Bang *

The sudden loud sound interrupted everyone in the classroom and made all of them, Marinette included, turning their intention toward the source of the noise which turned out to be Adrien who had clapped both his hands on his desk to get everyone’s attention.

The blond boy was looking at Kaito and Aoko with his usual “sunshine smile” despite the sudden and unusual action he had done a few seconds earlier.

“-Aoko, Kaito can I talk to you in private for a moment please?” Adrien asked them.

Both japanese students stared at him confused before nodding and following him.

From her desk, Marinette could only stare and sigh as she look Adrien, Kaito and Aoko get out of the class.

She knew exactly where this was going…

—---------------------

“-So, what did you want to talk to us about?” Aoko asked Adrien once she, Adrien and Kaito were in the corridor in front of the class’s door.

“-I wanted to ask you if you could just stop?” Adrien asked frowning.

“-Stop what?” Kaito asked, folding his arms.

“-Debunking Lila’s stories! You’re not helping anyone by doing that you just make things worse so stop it!” he said, exasperation on his tone and almost wanting nothing more than to scream.

“-Right! Because things weren’t already bad with all the lies she was already spewing!” Kaito told sarcastically.

“-Listen! Lila’s stories are just little tales! They’re not harming anyone so it’s better to just let it go, it’s better to avoid getting Lila akumatized because you would had upset her!”

“-Oh? So it’s very important to be aware of Rossi’s feelings but if others are getting akumatized it’s less important?” Aoko asked, narrowing her eyes at Adrien and frowning

“-I never said that!” Adrien said frustrated, relaizing he might have misjudged the situation thanks to his mind being clouded by last night’s events.

“-But you still implied it unintentionally or not! And you said those “tales” don’t harm anyone, but they are already causing harm! Not immediately, but the longer those idiots believe those lies, the bigger they will become and may end up becoming outright dangerous!” Kaito sais, anger in his tone as he rolled his eyes wanthign bothing more than to tell the blond just how stupid he was.

“-But Marinette and I know her stories aren’t true!” Adrien countered.”As long the both of us know it’s gonna be alright! Just like I told her times ago!”

“-Oh yeah, great advice! Too bad this doesn’t seem to work since Rossi keep on passing Marinette for a bully despite the fact she didn’t try to debunk her lies! Oh but silly me, since protecting Rossi’s feelings is so much important, Marinette’s well being and the risks of her getting akumatized probably matter even less right?” Aoko commented sarcastically, her eyes moist about to get overthown by frustrated tears.

“-Oh come on, Marinette is our everyday Ladybug she-”

“-Is a human just like you, me, Kaito and everyone else in this city!” Aoko cut him, now completely mad.”A human with feelings, fears and struggles! You can’t just expect her to just take everything this pest is throwing at her like she was her emotional punching ball while staying all happy and smiling! This kind of treatment had bad impact on anyone’s mental state, even the most happy, optimistic and kind one! Seriously, are you this egotistically blind that you would rather throw Marinette under the bus like a scapegoat and put your other friends safety at risk just to keep your so called “peaceful ambiance”?”

“-It’s not true! I care for my classmates and I care for Marinette’s well being!” Adrien encountered but even to his ears, that sounded fake and weak

“-Really? Because with how you seem to let Marinette face Rossi’s antics alone and how you stay silent everytime this liar spew a lie it doesn’t look like you do, you insensitive jerk!” Aoko screamed from the top of her lungs, Kaito immediately got on guard it had been very few times since he had seen Aoko lose it like that. 

Aoko was about to keep going when she felt a hand on her shoulder and noticed Kaito looked at her.

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Aoko calm down and nodded at Kaito who then turned his intention toward Adrien.

“-Agreste, while your “high road” logic is not a bad one in other circumstances, in this situation it doesn’t work!” Kaito explained with a serious tone.

“-What do you mean?” Adrien asked, confused.

“-What I mean is that your logic would have worked if EVERYONE in the class was aware that Rossi’s lies weren’t true! If this was the case, they would just listen but not give to those stories too much attention and by so those “tales” would stay tales! But here, outside of you, Marinette, Aoko and me, none of our “classmates” are aware that those tales are just tales and this is why it’s could be dangerous! With how most of the class believe her, this gave Rossi a feeling of power and confidence to tell more bigger lies and one day she will tell lies this serious and big that it will seriously harm them! Hell, it could also harm you! How would you feel if she tell a lie, for example, about someone very close to you?”

Adrien just stared at them in silence, not knowing what to answer.

“-Just think about what we told you, Agreste!” Kaito sighed as he pulled Aoko to his side making them go back in the classroom, leaving an extremely confused Adrien lost in his thoughts.

—-------------------------------

Aoko looked in the mirror in front of her with satisfaction at the dress she was wearing.

It was Saturday in the morning and Aoko wanted to profit from it by trying a clothes store nearby she and Kaito’s studio and that Marinette recommended to her.

She was wearing the earrings that Kaito gifted her and wanted to find a few dress which would go well with the earrings. She couldn0t help but smile whenever they glinted in the light.

So far she wasn’t disappointed and found some dresses which fit perfectly, the one she was wearing included.

But as she was about to go back to the dressing room, she got interrupted by an awfully annoying voice calling for her.

“-Akako! What a surprise, I didn’t expect to see you there!” an unfortunate known voice said with a sacharine tone making Aoko want to gag.

Here was Lila, coming right to her with a clearly fake friendly smile on her face.

“-I’m sorry but my name is Aoko Rossi-san…” Aoko gritted her teeths in annoyance but do as much as she could to remain polite, wanting nothing more than to get out of there.

“-Oops silly me! Sorry for not getting your name right!” The liar apologies still in a fake way, anyone would be able to see it ”I mean, let’s be honest, you’re not very noticeable and just… plain! No offence!”

“-Not at all!” Aoko said, a fake smile on her face trying to get away from the auburn girl

“-But of course you must be aware of it! Why then would you try so hard to make yourself pretty by buying from a store which is obviously way out of your league!”

Aoko felt her anger becoming bigger the more the liar was speaking, she needed to remain calm or else things will end very badly!

Must stay calm… Must stay calm…

“-And I must say, I really pity your friend Kaito! A boy as handsome as him should have by his side a true woman instead of a kid without any kind of femininity!”

Stay calm! Stay calm! Stay calm! Stay calm!

“-On the other hand I understand why Kaito even bothers to be your friend, you seem to be the loner type and he must pity you! That’s quite sad really!”

Calm!Calm!Calm!Calm!Calm!Calm!Calm!Calm!

“-Oh well, not that I don’t like our little conversation but I must go! Have a good day Nadoko!” Lila said still with a fake kindness.

“-Good day to you too Rossi-san…” Aoko answered calmly, doing her best to hide her distress.

As the italian girl left the store, Aoko stayed in front of the changing room shaking.

She knew everything Rossi said was not true, she knew she shouldn’t listen to her lies.

So why? Why does she seem so affected by her words?

—---------------------------

Marinette, as Ladybug, was on the roof of a building, waiting.

It was late in Paris and Ladybug was waiting for Chat Noir to come for their night patrol, she was also hoping they could profit from tonight patrol to find clues about where Kaito Kid could be hiding and , hopefully, take back the gem as quickly as possible.

“And with a bit of luck, no hiccup will happen and it will not end in a mess!” Ladybug thought.

Now if Chat could hold back on his antics just for tonight…

“-Good evening my Lady!~”

Welp, speaking of the devil!

Ladybug turned around to find Chat Noir a few steps behind her, his iconic smirk on his face.

She frowned in annoyance, she was still upset about Chat's attitude back at the heist’s night.

They’re going to need to had a serious talk once all this was over.

“-Chat Noir.” Ladybug greeted him with a neutral tone.

“-So, what’s the program for tonight’s patrol?”

“-Like usual: we patrol for any akuma activity! But we’re also on the look out for Kaito Kid! We must find and arrest him before he could leave Paris with the gem!”

“-Got it my Lady! Don’t worry about it, we’ll got him in no time!”

“-... Yeah… Hope so…”

Chat Noir frowned at the spotted hero’s tone.

“-Ladybug, what’s going on? Don’t tell me you’re still upset about Climatica’s attack when we were chasing the thief? It’s going to be okay, we’re going to catch him next time!” Chat tried to reason, optimism spewing from his words as he tried to lighten up the mood.

“-That’s not it Chat!” Ladybug answered irritated.”While I’m upset we didn’t managed to catch Kaito Kid I’m more upset about your attitude from that night!”

“-My attitude?! I was trying to catch Kaito Kid that what we were supposed to do right?”

“-Not when an akuma is attacking the city! I told you this that night and telling you it again: Akumas are our top priority! If there’s an attack we must intervene before the akuma do too much damages, which mean that even if we’re chasing a criminal we must fight the akuma when there’s an attack! And most of all, we must fight the akumas TOGETHER!” Ladybug raised her voice, annoyed about how little Chat seemed to care about what had been happening lately.

“-But everything ended well in the end! And beside, even if anything bad happened the cure would have brought everything back to normal again!” Chat said, trying to appease his lady, unfortunately it wasn’t really effective

“-Not in this situation! I was in a very dangerous position! A dangerous position which could have incapacitated me and could have made me unable to use the cure and all this because you decided to play solo for a matter of ego!” Ladybug screamed, now fed up with Chat’s antics

“-I was doing my hero job! And it’s rich to call me out on “playing solo” with all the secrets you hide from me!” Chat exploded, his anger taking the best of him.

“-... Okay, I give you that, we both need to work better on our team dynamic! But still, there's a big difference between not telling everything and leaving your partner to face an Akuma alone because of your ego!" Ladybug conceded, even if she knew that all of those secrets were to protect her partner.

“-Whoa! Aren’t you two a great team?” 

The heroic duo got startled and turned their attention toward the sudden sarcastic voice.

Right before them was standing Kaito Kid looking at them with his iconic smirk.

At the sight of the thief, both Ladybug and Chat Noir get into position, ready to fight at any moment.

"-Now, now! No need to be like that! I Come in peace!" Kaito Kid said in a playful tone.

"-What do you want?" Chat Noir demanded angrily, his baton pointed at the magician wanting nothing more than strike.

"-Oh, just coming for a friendly visit! I wanted to thanks you two for the show back at Le Louvre, despite the poor finale of "some people"!" He added while throwing a mocking stare at Chat Noir, who growled in anger."It's not everyone who manages to pursue me this long during a heist, very impressive! Especially you Ladybug! Brave, strong, intelligent and, in my opinion, very cute! Yes, you're truly up to your reputation!~"

Ladybug clenched her teeth in exasperation.

Nope! No way! Not now! Not tonight! Just. No!

As she was about to say something only to be beaten to it by Chat Noir who snapped angrily at Kaito Kid.

"-CUT IT OUT! JUST TELL US WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!!!" Chat growled, his eyes wseemed to glow a toxic green as he stared at the magician.

"-Chat is right!" Ladybug added, trying to hide her annoyance."Your little flattery will get you nowhere so how about just get straight up to the point? And can you PLEASE stop with the flirting? It's very annoying and I'm getting sick of it!"

The thief looked at the duo in silence for a few seconds before nodding in acknowledgement.

"-Very well, I'll stop then! It wasn't my intention to make you uncomfortable!"

This surprised Ladybug a bit, it was rare when someone actually listen to her and respected her requests for boundaries.

"-As for why I'm here…" Kaito Kid added as he walked toward Ladybug."It was to give you this!"

He handed his hand toward Ladybug, in the palm was a little purple gift box.

Looking simultaneously at the gift and Kaito with a lot of warryness, Ladybug ended up going ahead and opening the gift.

She barely removed the ribbon that the gift exploded in a little cloud of smoke and, to the heroic duo's surprise, revealed a beautiful purple rose. 

"-A little gift as a token of respect for your wonderful performance!" Kaito Kid playfully said as he offered the rose to Ladybug, who took the rose after moments of hesitation and looked at it uncertain.

If Ladybug was confused, Chat Noir, as for him, was getting more and more frustrated with the thief’s antics.

“-Okay! Cut it out! You better stop your little act, turn yourself in without any fuss and tell us where you hide the gem right now!” the cat hero screamed

To Chat Noir’s frustration, Kaito Kid smirked and had a little laugh at his outburst.

“-It would have been with pleasure but, unfortunately, I’m needed elsewhere! As for where the gem is, well, its location is closer than you think!”

On those cryptic words, Kaito Kid began to walk away toward the edge of the building, the heroic duo was about to go after him when the thief suddenly stopped.

“-You know Ladybug, I really meant what I said back at the museum!” Kaito Kid said with a serious tone much to Ladybug’s surprise.”And I think you deserve better for everything you are going through! Maybe you should begin to realize that too!”

He then jumped from the building, startling both Ladybug and Chat Noir who ran toward the edge but when they looked they saw no one, as if the thief disappeared in thin air.

“-Shoot! He got away!”Chat Noir cursed, frustrated.”Ladybug, you think we can find him?”

“-He may be out of our sight, but since he doesn’t have actual magic powers he must not be far away!” Ladybug nodded as Chat Noir ranted in his breath against Kaito Kid.” So if we go after him immediately and if we’re lucky enough we could manage to catch him!”

“-Uh Ladybug?” Chat suddenly interrupted her.”Look, the rose…”

Confused Ladybug looked at the rose in her hands and much to her shock the flower was suddenly losing all its petals.

But the most shocking was the presence of a shiny purple object inside of the flower once all the petals had fallen.

A shiny purple object which turned out to be the gem that Kaito Kid had stolen nights ago.

…

“-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!”

—---------------------------

̎ -Don't be bemused, it's just the news ! New update on the stolen gem’s case! We just received the news that the gem stolen by the infamous thief Kaito Kid nights ago, had just been found by Ladybug and Chat Noir! According to the two heroes, the gem was given to them by none other than Kaito Kid himself!

This isn't the first time Kaito Kid gave back a gem he had stolen as it's part of his modus operandi! Why he does this, however, is still a mystery to this day!

Currently, the gem has been brought back safely to Le Louvre, much to the researchers' delight who hope to be able to study it soon!

This was Najda Chamack reporting and now, back to the studios ! ̎

—----------------------------

Plagg stared at Adrien in annoyance as his holder walking back and from in his bedroom like a lion in a cage, which when you think about it and taking into account where the boy lives this doesn’t make the comparison too far-fetched.

Ever since they have gone back from last night’s patrol, Adrien have been ranting non-stop against the thief, Kaito Kid.

This have gone for hours and all Plagg could do was to go take a camembert and half-listening his holder’s ramblings.

Which bring to the current situation with the kwami of destruction still half-listening his holder’s rants as he was slowly eating his last piece of camembert with a bored expression.

“-And seriously who does he think he is to criticize my dynamic with Ladybug! Ha! As if some thief would know something about relationships or team work!”

“-Not to try to start an argument, kid.” Plagg interrupted Adrien, his mouth full of camembert.”But this Kaito Kid is not wrong you know?”

“-WHAT?” Adrien screamed, appalled Plagg had just agreed with a criminal

"-None offense, but it's true your behavior with Ladybug is not the best!" he exclaimed, it was too much from what he had seen whenever they would interact.

"-I don't behave badly toward Ladybug! I even show how much I care for her!" Adrien exclaimed, his arms moving around widely trying to understand just when everyone had turned on him

"-Uh, it's one thing to show affection toward your "lady" but there's times and places and that's the problem: it's the fact you flirt with Ladybug at the worst moments! And didn't Ladybug told you COUNTLESS OF TIMES to stop flirting with her anyway?" PLagg deadpanned, amused when he saw the shocked expression of his holder

"-I'm just showing my affection to and trying to make her see that we are perfect for each other, is this bad ?" Adrien asked, his voice low and barely more than a whisper.

"-This is how YOU feel and what YOU want, kid!” Plagg continued, flying around Adrien until he ended up infrot of him “But did you ever once think about how Ladybug actually wants and truly feels about it? Listen, I know being Chat Noir is the only way for you to be your true self and feeling free but that doesn't mean you can just put aside everyone else's feelings and safety to do so! You hate when your dad makes decisions for you without taking your opinion into consideration and acts as if he owns you, so why do the same thing to other's?"

At the silence of Adrien, Plagg just keeps going.

"-And it's not just in your hero life! That's also apply for your civilian life with how poorly you handle the "liar situation"!" Plagg continued to press, the kwami knew it wasn’t the best but he needed to make a point.

"-How many times do I have to explain? Lila's stories are harmless!" Adrien said annoyed.

"-Oh sure, totally harmless!" The Kwami of destruction answered sarcastically."So harmless that Pigtails and those two Japanese kids aren't victims of them!"

This only exasperated Adrien who let out a frustrated scream.

"-Oh come on! This is an exaggeration! You know it's important to avoid Lila to be akumatized again! Punishing her will not help her to be a better person and will only contribute to her akumatization! Things would be better for everyone if Marinette, Aoko and Kaito stopped taking this situation this seriously!" Adrien huffed, trying his best to make Plagg understand

"-Oh? So when those two Japanese kids explained to you how Lila's lies could become harmful to everyone, you included, they were exaggerating too?" Plagg asked with sarcasm.

Once again, Adrien became silent, looking at his Kwami in a very awkward silence at the reminder of his conversation with Kaito and Aoko.

Plagg just sighed and shaked his head.

"-Look kid! I know you mean well and you just want everyone to be happy! However, you must realize that not everything can be solved easily and be all sunshine and rainbows! And bending to everyone’s will and being a doormat will even less help! It's only making things worse and will truly hurt others! Heck, I wouldn’t be even surprised if Pigtails or one of the two japanese students end up akumatized because of that liar!" Plagg said, not wanting for it to happen but knowing it was a high possibility.

Adrien stayed silent as Plagg was speaking, his expression becoming incertain and thoughtful from what Plagg was telling him.

"-Just think about what I told you, okay?" the kwami sighed, knowing they were young but knowing that it was a time for everythig to change.

In those words, Plagg flew away to his sleeping spot, leaving Adrien alone in his thoughts.

To be continued

[goggles-mcgee]

Hi! I hope you’re doing well! Do you have any head canons about your felinette stories (Moving on, finding home; The haunted Bride, The not-so phantom…) and Marinette, the Rolling Stone? I love all of your stories, specially daminette 😈

Hi! Of course I do! But since you're grouping them for the Felinette, I will focus these headcanons on the felinette aspects a bit! Also I am so sorry for the very late reply. Motivation has been very low 😔

Moving On, Finding Home:

•As Marinette starts to work with Amelie, Amelie decided they should go out for lunch along with Felix, but when they got to the cafe she suddenly had some business to take care of and rushed off. Felix took this as an opportunity to really talk to Marinette and apologize for his behavior last time he was in Paris.

•At first she's skeptical but as he went into detail about why he did it, she feels for him. He told her about the loss of his father and that he knew it wasn't an excuse but he had been hurt and angry. Especially at Adrien and his Uncle. He was surprised when she didn't immediately jump to Adrien’s defense.

•Since he was so willing to be vulnerable and he seemed genuine in wanting to start over with her, Marinette told him everything that had happened at school. At first she had just wanted to explain that her and Adrien weren't friends anymore but once she started talking she couldn't stop.

•After this talk, things work a lot smoother, and Felix actually tags along with his mother when she goes to meet Marinette. Somehow them having lunch became a routine as well, but neither teen complains.

•Amelie adores Marinette and has a hard time not spoiling the girl but she can't help that her love language is gift giving and look...if Marinette is going to be taking on as big a project as she is then of course she needs a new design desk...and tablet since her old one had a chip on the corner...and a new mattress because her little designer needs the best sleep to dream up wonderful designs!

•Felix does try to reign her in, but it's hopeless.

•Tom and Amelie are two peas in a protective-parent-pod. They love talking to each other about their respective child and all they do in the name of that love, like the time Tom threw Marinette’s birthday cake in the trash several times in a panic because he didn't want to spoil the surprise. Tom and Amelie basically become bestie with a fond Sabine watching over.

•Amelie being a Petty Betty and allowing paparazzi to take pictures of her, Felix and Marinette when they are out together (with permission, of course) all so she could show off how cute Felix and Marinette are together but also to rub it in the face of her brother-in-law that she nabbed the very talented designer before him.

•Felix does become the new Chat Noir, but he changes his name to Grimalkin and Adrien, who starts not-so-vague posting on his Chat Noir account on social media that the name sucks and nitpicks about everything of the new Cat Hero.

•The class start to think the reason Marinette has "changed" so much is because of Felix, and they start trying to include her in things again in an attempt to lure her away from the "problem" Lila hates this and tries to intervene but it never works out for her.

•Gabriel is having a rough month, what with Lila Rossi being herself, the Dupain-Cheng girl getting snatched up by his dreadful sister-in-law right before he was going to open an early-experience type of internship so he could keep her close and figure out how to akumatize her but also she did have great talent and it would be a waste if he let her slip through his fingers, then Adrien reveals he and Mlle Dupain-Cheng aren't on speaking terms and to top it all off!!! There is a new cat hero who is actually competent, and that is making being a super villain very hard.

The Haunted Bride:

•Marinette had for as long as she remembers, been obsessed with the Culpa Mansion. Her parents thought it was cute and funny at first, but when she still spoke about it and even spoke about details, she couldn't have possibly known, but when she overheard her parents talking about taking her to a professional or something she stopped talking so in depth about it.

•But she dreamt of it almost every night and keeps a dream journal where she drew a lot of things from her dreams. She has it locked and hidden because she fears if anyone found it, they would think she was crazy, especially her parents.

•Hawkmoth is defeated and in jail, but Adrien did somehow get through it all without being suspected of aiding his father. Nathalie is the one taking care of Adrien since Gabriel took the fall for everything.

•Marinette as Ladybug, decided against Ladybug and Chat Noir revealing their identities to each other. Something just told her not too but she did promise that if Chat found her, she would let him know. Her and Adrien dating kind of happened out of nowhere to her, but then he kept making cat puns here and there, and well Marinette came to the conclusion he was Chat and hat found her. So she made her own subtle references.

•Adrien does not know that she is Ladybug, but she thinks he does. He just started dating her because she reminded him of Ladybug, and while he did start to like her, he was still very much in "love" with Ladybug.

•Marinette starts to realize he actually doesn't know who she is, and it kind of opens her eyes to how he tries to manipulate her. She doesn't think he is doing it maliciously or anything, but she can see how much he values the class and keeping things happy, and she sees that he's doing it kind of subconsciously so he can keep his perceived normal and happiness. It's why he never breaks the peace, even if it's the right thing to do.

•When she wins the trip to the Mansion, Marinette actually exchanges letters with the owner of the Mansion, who happens to be her age, and she thinks that's cool. They become pen-pals and friends, and Marinette is just so happy to get to rant to someone just as obsessed with the mansion as much as her.

•When she and her class go to the mansion, she is already trying to break up with Adrien but that's kind of hard to do when he won't spend any time alone with her like a boyfriend should. She finds out that Lila is the one manipulating him in hopes that he would be charmed by her and fall for her. The girl squad (some of them) are helping her.

•Marinette is almost always somehow left alone, and during those times, she meets with Felix, and they just have a fun time hanging out, and Marinette finds herself falling for him. She only ever meets him at night though but it's when she's with him that she feels the happiest and most clear headed. He keeps her grounded.

•But while staying in the mansion, her dreams come back in such vividity that she starts having trouble determining what reality is and what is a dream.

The Not-So Phantom of the Théâtre du Châtelet:

•Felix is not scarred, nor does he live underneath the theater. The Phantom is a character he plays to manipulate and scare those who seek to hurt the theater and the owner, his mother. He doesn't mind the rumor. He plays into it in the name of protecting his mother and the theater she loves. He also does not care nor mind hurting others to do so.

•He works as a permanent stage hand and sometimes a stage manager since he knows the theater better than anyone. Yes, he did build hidden trap doors and such to help with his time as the Phantom.

•But what started as him protecting his mother and their theater kind of morphed into punishing those he thinks deserves it and if you're thinking his mother would not approve of this or not know what her son is doing, nah. She knows and supports her troubled little man.

•When he first meets Marinette, he immediately realizes what potential she has and is charmed by her almost immediately. They become friends as costume designer and stage hand. But when he sees the treatment of her from her ex-boyfriend and the lead actress, he will do anything to protect her.

•Marinette didn't believe in the Phantom until all these strange events started happening, and she keeps getting roses left in her workshop. She doesn't know how she feels about everything and thinks that makes her an awful person.

•She does have a crush on Felix, and they connect so well, but she also can't help but be drawn to the Phantom when they keep having encounters.

Marinette The Rolling-Stone:

•Marinette meets Felix after her big move to London when she goes to her new private school. Yes, Jagged and Penny enrolled her in a private academy because they feared what people would do if she were in a public school, given all that happened and what was televised.

•It's a school that allows her to work from home sometimes. The excuse that was given was that it was due to her adopted father's work schedule, but in actuality, it was because Marinette told Jagged and Penny about being Ladybug and the Guardian and they agreed she could home-school on days she needed to be in Paris.

•She got adopted into the Quantic Kids group by surprisingly Felix. He just felt like she needed friends, and she reminded him of himself before he became friends with his friends.

•It takes a while for her to trust them, but when she does, she cries over how much happier she is. When she starts getting feelings for Felix she's scared but Jagged and Penny help her through it.

•Felix doesn't know when he fell for Marinette, but contrary to what his friends think, he didn't freak out or get angry or anything like that. To him, it made sense, she made sense...they made sense. So no, he isn't scared of his feelings and is more than determined to prove himself to Marinette.

•Her friends find out she is Ladybug and convince her to let them help. Of course, she doesn't want to, but things are getting worse, and she needs people she can trust. Jagged and Penny are also there to help as well.

•Felix, of course, becomes the new Cat Miraculous Holder and becomes known as Carbonel!

[trashyangelic]

Is there another way to read this from? I can't seem to get to the next chapter...

The fic I was talking about was "Permanent Replacements by miraculous-saltybug" it doesn't seem to let me continue reading from chapter 2 and 3. I only read from chapter one.

Do any of you know where I can read this fully?

[nana-mizu-shiki]

Another extravagant fic I shall bless upon thou.

Raise yourselves up (We’re done)

Two prompts in one; let’s do this. I tweaked the ideas a bit though.

It was Bustier who broke the news to Marinette and Chloe, and she did it once again the most inappropriate fashion, “-And so the class feels it would be best if both of you were excluded from the class trip at the end of the year.” She finished. The class was just about to let out and she told the two girls in front of them all.

There were mean snickers and smug looks from the other students. The ones who just avoid the girls’ gazes; Adrien, Juleka, and Rose. The three had decided to stay out of it and just side with the majority. Marinette and Chloe had become best friends after Lila had gotten her hooks into class the year before. She turned all of Marinette’s dearest friends to ex-friends and turned them into bullies. That was fine with Marinette. She was done with two-faced people; done with turn-coats, and cowards. Marinette didn’t need them. Or want them. Chloe at least had the guts to stand on her own two feet and for what she believed in. It was a new year and a new Marinette.

Neither blond nor bluenette blinked.

Keep reading

[mcheang]

Bully has got a point

As the students protest for the return of Principal Damocles and Miss Bustier, Lila feeds Chloe lines to make them look incompetent in front of the camera, her revenge against them for expelling her

Chloe: right, you want me to re-hire the man who leaves during school hours just to do community services, modified public property to become his own playground headquarters and didn’t even hear out your case Dupain-Cheng before expelling you when Lila framed you

Marinette: you framed me too!

Chloe: that was Vanisher remember? And as Ladybug said, akumas don’t deserved to be punished while being under Monarch’s thrall. Oh, and you want Miss Fairytale to return. Does no one find it odd how our studies are centered on fairy tales instead of actual literature? I may not like you Dupain-Cheng but surely even you notice how it is strange for a teacher to judge and sentence first before learning the real cause. Didn’t Miss Bustier scold you in private after you lashed out over my silly prank, but was all for accusing you of cheating in public? Isn’t that why Stoneheart was even in school in the first place? And to love our enemies instead of punishing them, I suppose if she had it her way, we would be trying to reach out to Monarch and Lila and welcoming them to a forgiveness party.

The reporters exchange glances.

Caline and Damocles ducked their heads under the public lashing.

Alya: and since when have you cared about Marinette, Chloe?

Chloe: since I heard that the rest of you actually tried to get Gabriel akumatized. The man was trying to be better and closer to Adrien, but thanks to you all, he’s decided to send Adri-traitor back to London where he can be free from all of your bad influence

Nadja: Marinette, is this true?

Marinette: it’s not true! I mean it is, but we were trying to find out how Monarch gave miraculous abilities to akumas.

Chloe: by antagonising a man still mourning his wife. What an excellent idea. Do you still think the school system was so perfect before?

Marinette belatedly realized what Chloe said and looked to Adrien in horror. “Adrien, is this true, you’re moving?”

Chloe: aw he didn’t tell you yet. You should have, Adri-traitor. We both know your dad might decide to bump your flight earlier at any time

Adrien: it’s true. I didn’t say anything because I’ve been trying to find a way to stop him

Chloe: and since his dad’s decision is based on all your ideas, that’s why he decided to go solo here

Adrien: no, it’s not

Nino: what have I done?

Chloe clapped her hands. “Anyway, that’s enough loitering. Security, escort the two fired people from my school or else they will be sent to detention for trespassing. Everyone else, back to class. You can strike if you want, but just remember your parents will be notified of your naughty behavior, both present and past. Oh, and you’ll all still get detention for disrupting other classes with your noise.”

[howhow326]

Nino salt prompt: What if Rocketear had consequences

Basically, everything that happens in Rocketear happens the exact same way (Nino assuming the worst of Alya, Nino assuming Chat Noir is Ariana Grande, Nino breaking Ladybug's AND Alya's trust at the same time by revealing his/Alya's identity to Adrien, Nino slut shaming Adrien to his face on accident) except the very end of the episode, where Alya tells Nino she is now Rena Furtive.

Instead, Alya tries to reassure Nino that she will always love him no matter what, while lightly asking him "hey, you followed me to my house without permission and took a video of me without my knowledge, wtf?!"

Nino then proceeds to show his ass like usual ("I needed to protect you from that homewreaker!" "I'm your boyfriend so it's perfectly okay for me to stalk you!!").

Alya really dosen't like this side of Nino, so she asks if their relationship can go on break for a bit (and Nino tries to manipulate her more with his "you don't love me!!!" Shtick)

The next day at school, Adrien pulls Alya aside and jokingly asks her "hey, are you Rena Rouge haha lol".

Alya is horrified.

Adrien then gives Alya the full story: Nino wanted to convince Adrien that Chat Nior had seduced Alya and revealed their identities as proof that Alya was only now kerping secrets. Adrien wanted to forget he heard anything, but he decided to ask Alya anyway because he knew what Nino had done wasn't right.

Alya is now infuriated. She can't believe Nino had the gall to be upset about her secrets only for him to go behind her back and violate her privacy this way. Especially since what Nino just did puts his identity at risk!

Alya thanks Adrien for being honest with her. After school, she marches straight to Marinette's house and tells her everything. Alya thought her best friend would be even angrier than she had been.

Marinette is heartbroken when she hears the scoop. How could someone she trusts do that, especially after what happened with Chloe. Marinette decides that Nino news a new secret identity since Carapace has been compromised, but Alya orders her to cut him loose. Nino can't be trusted.

When Ladybug pulls Nino aside and tells him he can't be Carapace anymore because he revealed his identity, the only thing he feels is surpise. The boy really didn't think this was a possibility.

The realization eventually sets in and he gets akumatized. He becomes Shell Shocker and goes after Adrien for "ruining his relationships!" Adrien tries to encourage Nino to give up the akuma, but then Nino reveals he willingly accepted Hawkmoths deal... this is who he really is.

Ladybug, whith some assistance from Rena Furtive, takes him down. Nino tries to play it off, "oh uh, i was akumatized??? Thanks for saving me Ladybug!" But Adrien shuts him down right quick, "He's lying! He willingly accepted the akuma just to get back at his girlfriend!" Adrien calling him out like that takes Nino by surpise, but it's the least of his worries.

Alya secretly recorded the whole fight and posted it onto the Ladyblog. Everybody in Paris now knows who Nino truly is. All of his friendships are destroyed; Marinette and Adrien cut him off for good; and Alya finnaly dumps him. His family decides to leave Paris for his own good.

At the airport, Nino has a chance encounter with Chloe. "Well well well, if it isn't the loser who got exposed for working with Hawkmoth! Even when I did that fashion victim a favor, I made sure that nobody in Paris could see I made a deal with him. You're ridiculous, Lahiffe, utterly ridiculous!"

"Sh-shut up Chloe!" Nino stutters out.

"Waaa, shut up! God, even your insults are basic, bitch. Well, before you go, I have a new scoop for you Nino... News flash! Alya dosen't love you anymore, and it's all your fault!!! It's hilarious, utterly hilarious!"

When Nino finnaly gets to his new bedroom, he cries himself to sleep realizing that he ruined his own life because didn't think there would be consequences...

Edit: optional shipping: Nino x Lila, Alya x Marinette, Alya x Adrien, Marinette x Alya x Adrien