#ml salt fic

[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.

[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!

[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!

[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

[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

[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!

[starsfic]

Hope you don't mind!

-_-

Gabriel Agreste was a busy man.

At least, that’s what he claimed to the public. It was a reasonable excuse to keep them from drawing certain…connections. Most of the time, he was up in his lair, awaiting the pings of anger or grief, just waiting for a lovely akuma to come in. Most other times, he was tending to Emilie’s chamber, letting her know about his day and making sure everything was in order. Sometimes, however, he was actually working on his fashion.

Like now.

Milan’s Fashion Week was coming up, and he had to make sure every design was perfect. So when the door opened with a “Sir,” he raised a hand, not bothering to look up from the screen. Something was off with this skirt. “Not now Nathalie.”

“Sir, I got a call from the school. They need to meet with you.”

“Then you can go and I’ll video call if they really need me.” Honestly, most of the time, Francois-Dupont just needed an adult for whatever issues were going on with Adrien. Nathalie had signed off on many absences without questins.

“Gabriel.” Her tone was tight, so tight that he had to look up. Nathalie stared at him as though he was a stranger. 

“What?” His heart was already squeezing though.

She didn’t say what his first fear was. Although, this was probably worse.

“Adrien assaulted another student.”

-_-

As he guessed, the moment that the nurse was receiving Marinette Dupain-Cheng, escorted by Alya Cesiare and himself, with fingerprint-shaped bruises, two calls were made out. As Marinette sat in the principal’s office with Cesaire as support, Felix made another call before stepping inside.

Marinette’s parents were already there, sitting across from Damocles. Her father was a looming wall with pure anger shimmering off him. Her mother…Felix wasn’t sure what to call the look on her face as she held Marinette’s hand, staring at those bruises. The nurse had insisted on photographing them first as evidence before icing them. A few minutes with ice had done a good job, but they were still there.

Still visible.

The door opened. “Principal Damocles, you wanted to-” Adrien must’ve seen them, because his face went visibly pale, which only showed Marinette’s handiwork better. Felix could practically hear the wood creak under Alya’s fingers as she released Marinette’s shoulder to grip the back of her chair instead. “What’s going on?”

“Ah, Mr. Agreste,” Damocles was clearly sweating as he gestured for the seat next to Mr. Dupain. Agreste, to his credit, decided to sit in the chair at the far end. Marinette’s father started to take a step, but Ms. Cheng raised a hand and, with a sigh, he sat down. “This is…standard procedure after an incident like this.” The principal glanced down at his desk, awkwardly shuffling papers. “The nurse has a duty to report any incidents like this to your parents and to myself.”

Felix could barely contain an eye-roll. Marinette didn’t even try.

Where had this duty been when Lila was “pushed” down the stairs?

“So, I called a meeting with Ms. Dupain-Cheng’s parents,” Mr. Dupain growled. “And your father to sort this out.”

“And discuss punishment.” Felix was not a subjective person, prone to flights of fancy, but he swore the room dropped several degrees at Ms. Cheng’s voice. Damocles opened his mouth, most likely to argue. “And discuss punishment.” Much like the eye-roll, Felix found himself fighting back a rare smile as Damocles shut his mouth and shrank in his seat a bit.

He wished he had that power.

“For…Marinette?” Agreste said weakly. “Because she hit me?” He straightened up. “Look, Marinette has issues, I know, but-” Mr. Dupain growled again and, paired with Damocles’s cold glare, Agreste shut his mouth again.

“No, Adrien. For you. First, we are waiting for your father to arrive so we can explain the situation to him.” Adrien paled even more. And, in what Felix could only describe as perfect timing, the door opened and Gabriel Agreste marched inside.

The fashion designer looked around. His eyes first landed on the handprint on his son’s face. His shocked breath was not enough to dispel the ice in the room. Then he turned to the Dupain-Cheng family and friends. Felix had the pleasure of watching his eyes go wide at the sight of fingerprint-shaped bruises on Marinette’s skin. They were a touch faded, yes, but still there.

Gabriel stared. And stared.

And finally he managed out a few words.

“Adrien, what did you do?”

What If - Adrien Rejection in Felix Culpa

Making this its separate post as well for those who don’t want to have to scroll to the cut to see it.

Continuation of this.

(Eyes salt shaker…)

(Drops a full shaker of salt into the mix)

She slapped him.

Marinette had actually—

“It’s been said that everyone has their limits of how much they can take.” Came a voice, and Adrien turned to see Felix staring down at him with what had to be the coldest he’d ever seen him. “I never thought out of everyone it would be you to push Dupain-Cheng to hers.“

“I didn’t!” He insisted. “I just…I was just trying to keep the peace.”

“No, you were trying to maintain complacency. There is a difference. Your assurances of being in her corner ring hollow from the other side of the room.” He closed his eyes and released a breath. “But that’s hardly far from the norm for you.”

Adrien’s growled in frustration. Of course Felix would jump on him, but he wasn’t in the wrong here! “She was being cruel. There was no reason to try to out Lila when she wasn’t hurting anyone!”

The older male sighed.

“I know I’ve called you an idiot before, but that was by no means an invitation to prove me right.”

That actually got his attention. He looked up at the other in confusion. “Felix?”

But the other blond simply walked past him without even glancing his way.

“Do us all a favor, Agreste. If you aren’t going to honor your word, then kindly say nothing.”

With that, Felix was gone, leaving the confused and ignorant child behind.

He had someone more important to see to.

When he found her, she was seated on a park bench, sobbing and unaware of her surroundings. It made for a sorrowful image, and though Felix struggled with emotional interaction, he wanted to intervene.

And so he approached, slowly and cautiously. Not like she was a scared rabbit who would flee at the first sign of danger, but so she could have the time to regain her bearings and be aware of his approach.

“Felix? What are you…” She paused, cutting herself off as she realized. “Oh. You saw, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I was the only one, fortunately.” He had made well sure of that, as his very presence seemed to be enough to deter most people from trying to linger. And he was glad he had, as the last thing anyone needed was for someone to be around and potentially overhear the commotion.

Marinette nodded in thanks, but didn’t speak.

Something in him ached as her tears continued to fall.

“I apologize.” He stated, making her look up at him in surprise. “I want to help you, but I’m not the most…proficient with comfort or emotional support.”

She wiped away a tear. “Are you going to call me a bully?”

“No.”

She gave a small bitter smile. “Then you’re already doing a better job than Adrien.”

It was a joke, he was sure. But it wasn’t funny. And neither of them felt up to laughing.

“May I sit with you?”

She nodded, and he settled next to her. Enough distance to offer her space, but close enough that she could lean on him for comfort if she so chose.

The two simply sat in silence for a few minutes. He didn’t bother asking if she was okay—that was a stupid question, as clearly she wasn’t. And he wasn’t going to force her to talk just to start up a conversation.

This…Marinette needed to regain some control. He needed to let her speak at her own time. So he simply sat and waited.

A silent comfort.

Until finally…

“It’s just…this isn’t how I was expecting it to go.”

He tilted his head, curiously.

“I knew he might not feel the same. I mean, he’d been calling me his ‘good friend’ since forever. But…for THAT? Just…does he even see what’s going on?”

“He does seem to have a propensity to blindness.” Felix remarked, dryly.

She chuckled at that. That may have been some sign of progress.

“It’s just…what was I supposed to do? Sit there and do nothing? While she insulted me? Insulted my—my family? And everyone just let her. HE even did…”

Felix still regretted not being present for that particular altercation. By the time he arrived, Adrien was trying to play peacemaker, but only seemed to be playing more into Lila’s hands the further things went. He managed to help bring it to an end, but not before Marinette was left feeling deeply hurt and Lila had another pity party that the class attempted to cater to.

And still that little fool did nothing.

He grimaced and looked at his hands, noting the way his fists were clenched.

“I should have stayed out of it like you have. I should have just let it go. Let Lila lie and manipulate everyone. At least then…” She shook her head. “I was so stupid.”

He frowned at that. His reasons for his responses were his own. But while he had thought her actions foolish, that didn’t make her wrong.

“I stayed out of it because I have little attachment to those involved.” He told her. “I’m not close to anyone else in that class, so I can’t say it is of any interest to me if they decide to be particularly stupid.”

She frowned and looked down. He wasn’t having it though.

“Marinette,” He said, using her name for once and causing her to glance up at him in surprise. “You spoke up because these are your friends and their wellbeing matters to you. Don’t belittle yourself for caring about others.”

She stared. Feeling he had her attention, he continued.

“I stay silent because I don’t believe it’s my responsibility to attempt to save people from their own stupidity. If they are so desperate to allow themselves to be fooled, then it isn’t worth my time or energy to attempt to stop them.”

He looked to her.

“But since I’ve met you, you’ve always been someone who would act if you knew something was wrong. You have a sense of righteousness that is…admirable, for all that it may be troublesome at times. You stand up for others. It isn’t wrong to stand up for yourself as well.”

She shook at that, giving another sob even as she finally start to smile more genuinely.

“I’m not…good…with this sort of thing.” Felix admitted. “I don’t know the right thing to say or the best way to offer comfort. But I can listen.”

Marinette bit her lip and looked away, uncertain.

“Feelings—especially strong ones—need to be acknowledged. I can let you vent. Give you a chance to process them safely.”

If nothing else, he could do that.

Fortunately, Marinette seemed to agree. And soon enough, the entire encounter was spilling from her lips. He had been there for part of it, at least. But this gave her a chance to put everything out there for herself, in her own words.

A chance to speak in a way she may not be able to otherwise.

And the more he heard, the more he felt that a simple slap was less than Adrien Agreste had deserved

“He kept saying we were in this together. But we weren’t. It was just me. On my own. Because ‘it’s not like she’s hurting anyone’, right? Like—like she wasn’t still being hurtful. Like she wasn’t hurting me.”

He nodded, all too aware of the depths of Lila’s attacks. Especially with the way the others were trailing after her, following her every word. What would it take before they would start echoing her statements about Marinette and her family? How many times would they hear it before they would let it cloud the truth and allow such good things to be spoiled?

“And for him to keep saying he’s on my side only to turn around and defend her? Like SHE is the victim? What am I supposed to think? How am I supposed to believe his claims that he’s with me when he’s standing at her side with everyone else.”

Out of everything, that had been one of the things he disliked about the other model. How he would try to enforce his silly notion of “peace” between unfriendly parties in a horribly one-sided manner. How often, he wondered, had Agreste lectured a victim while ignoring or even condoning the behavior of their offender? There was little doubt at this point that Marinette had been on the receiving end of that judgmental attitude more than once.

Agreste was an enabler. Pure and simple.

“I could accept it if he just didn’t feel the same for me. But for it to be BECAUSE of her? Because trying to stop her from hurting others is somehow worse than what she’s been doing? That’s just…too much.”

He nodded in agreement. That was what infuriated Felix the most about the situation. He could not begrudge Agreste his feelings, even if he felt his obvious obsession with Ladybug was foolish and pointless. But Agreste had used the situation as a sort of springboard to force his view on Marinette, and completely disregarded her feelings in the process.

“And what does it say when he knows full well what she’s doing but is admonishing me like I’m the bad guy?” She laughed bitterly before looking up at Felix, eyes teary like she was about to cry once more. “Did you know he called me the bully?”

He was aware. He had been there for that unfortunate part.

She shuddered and hugged herself. “He…he even grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Just to get a promise that would protect HER. He knows what she’s doing. He knows how I feel. Does he just not care?”

Felix reached out and placed an arm around her, drawing her to him in something akin to a hug.

“He said he was supporting me, but all he cared about was defending her. He called me the bully when I’m the one she’s been hurting.”

“You tried to tell him.”

“I did! I pointed out how it was unfair!” She said, voice raised in anger. “But no! He’s only worried about Lila being akumatized if she feels bad. Doesn’t he even care about how all this is making me feel?”

“If it’s any consolation,” Felix said, “I believe it may be due to his trust of your strength of will and capability to not be akumatized.”

She chuckled a little at that, but still bitterly. “Just because I CAN fend off an akuma doesn’t mean I should have to.”

“No.” He agreed. “You shouldn’t.”

She hiccuped.

“It’s not fair.”

“Unreasonable expectations often are. While it speaks well of you that he sees you as someone who can act better in the face of adversity, it rings hollow when he seems more inclined to force you to meet standards he doesn’t require from anyone else.”

She sniffled at that, leaning into him and speaking hollowly. “Because if it’s just me, it’s not like it matters, right?”

He stayed silent. He knew the answer already.

“I’ve liked Adrien. Like-liked him for a really long time.” She wilted. “But if Adrien is going to do that…say he’s there with me only to turn on me while excusing what she does…then he’s just as much of a liar as she is. He isn’t…he’s not the good person I thought he was.”

Felix hummed for a moment, thoughtfully.

“Agreste had every right to reject you.” He finally said, making her look up at him in surprise. “His feelings are his own and he cannot force them. But the way he attempted to use those feelings against you…that was wrong.”

Felix stared her in the eyes.

“HE was wrong.”

She felt her vision go blurry again and she blinked quickly in an attempt to try to stop the tears from forming.

“He twisted his rejection to make it about you—how you were lacking, and how you needed to change to be agreeable to him. He tried to use his rejection of you to push his own agenda. He tried to pressure your compliance with something that was hurting you—first through his feelings and then through force. That…what he tried to do was emotionally manipulate you. His judgement of you. His calling you a bully when it is clearly the other way around…”

Marinette gaped.

“That is what a bully does. That is what he is.”

“He’s not—”

“Even if he’s not a bully, he is still at best an enabler. He wishes to keep the status quo so much that he would try to force you to hold to it regardless of its effects on you or anyone else for that matter. That…” He shook his head, unable to find any other way to say it. “That isn’t healthy. That is horribly unhealthy and I think…for all that it may hurt you to hear it, I think you’re better off for this.”

Her breath hitched at that.

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been around him. How much you’ve done just to try to talk to him. How much it takes out of you. And…what concerns me is how time and time again, you only seem more miserable for doing so. This is something that time and again only seems to hurt you. And it is something that time and again, he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.”

She wanted to argue. Really, she did.

But how could she argue that? After everything that had just happened. She reached a hand to her arm—wincing at the lingering pain that reminded her of how Adrien had grabbed it in his previous attempt to force his way. Felix took her hand in his own, much to her surprise, before he then released it and instead rested his hand gently on the slowly fading marks.

“If his priority has been Lila all this time, then it’s safe to assume that she will remain his bigger concern regardless.”

She winced.

“And if he is going to prioritize the well being of someone who would willfully harm others over someone more deserving…” Over you,went unsaid, “then you are healthier without him.”

She let loose the tears she had been trying to hold back and sobbed.

“But I’m not happier.”

He hesitated, but finally gave in to the impulse and hugged her fully. She leaned into him fully, accepting the comfort.

“Not yet.” He admitted, solemn and apologietic, but somehow, it sounded like a promise.

“Not yet.”

But soon…

He stayed there and let her cry it out for what felt like hours, but he didn’t begrudge her. And when her tears finally slowed and her breathing calmed, only then did he ease his hold. But he didn’t release her—not fully. Instead, he remained a stable support at her side as he led her home and to the comfort of those who loved her.

Neither noticed the silent intruder who was the only witness to their discussion. He did nothing but watch and listen, helpless to act in the growing evidence of his own guilt.

[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

[thesaltyoceanwaves]

Post "Blue Skies" Storylines: Adrien and Felix

Just a rough idea of how the storylines and characters would continue after "The Blue Skies and Your Eyes". If you haven't finished it yet, there's spoilers ahead! The full series is here.

First, we'll start with Adrien and Felix after leaving Paris and heading to London.

Adrien

-> Adrien is getting the therapy he needs while in London. He's able to unpack the issues he had with his father, the grief over losing his mother, and repair his relationship with Felix (who occasionally joins him for sessions). I also imagine him getting some social skills training to supplement the therapy. He's a bit hesitant at first, but is encouraged by his Aunt so he can better understand how healthy relationships work.

-> It takes some time for him to settle into London, but once he does, he starts exploring various interests and hobbies he didn't get to before. I've written a post addressing this before, but to reiterate, I imagine him getting into tricking (combination of martial arts and gymnastics that combines kicks and flips), baking, and romance fiction. To add on to that, I also see him joining a book and/or anime club at his school, or starting one outside of it. And since he's into tricking, I think I'd just have him join a martial arts school while we're at it (a glance at the wiki says that he does karate and kung-fu, so whatever school offers one of those is where he's enrolling).

(For those who need a visual reference of what tricking looks like).

-> His friend group consists of some members of the club he joins, people he regularly tricks with, students at his martial arts school, and some normal people at school. And of course, Felix, once the two have addressed the issues between them.

-> He still keeps in touch with Nino and Kagami, and occasionally Alya too. After doing some soul searching and healing, I could see him reaching out to Marinette and Chloe as well. Adrien and Chloe repairing their relationship helps her quite a bit as she's trying to adjust to New York.

-> Admittedly, he shies away from superhero fiction. Oftentimes, he thinks back to when Miracle Queen took the ring from him, and he can get defensive about it. He's aware of his behavior, but it takes him some time to really let go of it.

-> He is still a romantic at heart, but holds off on dating until a year or so has gone by. He wishes to avoid the fumbles he made with Kagami and Maribug, so he focuses on healing and self-improvement first. His first relationship ends up being someone from his tricking circle.

-> Down the road, I eventually see him becoming a romance author. However, he takes a pen name in order to disassociate himself from the Agreste name. He may also change his name legally for this reason.

Felix

-> While he does put effort into repairing his relationship with Adrien, Felix is well aware that he can never tell him about becoming the Guardian. Over time, he starts to feel a bit guilty about this, but never peeps or hints at it.

-> There were two things I thought of including for him originally in the main story, but never got to address properly: the first was another layer to why he was so hard on Alya. Initially, he was supposed to be a big fan of the Ladyblog, and even develop a small crush on Alya. However, he felt betrayed when he realized she wasn't entirely being truthful on there. The storyline would have focused on their rivalry, and him rekindling his crush on her, but letting go as she was happy with Nino.

-> The other main beat focused on why he was so interested in unraveling mysteries and secrets, which ties back to his own family history. The idea was that every male member on his father's side of the family died relatively young. This would make him concerned over his own mortality, and he would get into investigating the cause of it, since the circumstances were unusual. He would go around involving himself in situations he had no business in, simply to test his own skills.

-> Well, to tie into this new storyline, he'd balance his Guardian duties with finding the answer to this mysterious question. He refuses to admit it, but he's worried about his own mortality, if his own life will end shortly, and if so, by what means. This may cause him to take rash actions and to be called out by various people (Marinette, Luka, Fu, Adrien, etc.) It takes him some time to realize that he needs to practice self-care if he wants to prolong his life.

-> He ends up becoming a beta reader for Alya's autobiography. As they end up having to communicate a lot, I could see him developing a small crush on her, but choosing not to pursue it since she's with Nino. I think she's more observant at this point and picks up on it, but doesn't say anything.

-> You'll often find him spending time in the library doing research or studying for his Guardian duties. He earns the top grades in his class and seems to do so effortlessly. He only joins clubs if it benefits his investigations, with maybe debate team being an exception.

-> He develops a rapport with Marinette and Luka over time, as he continues his Guardian duties. He refuses to call them his friends, but it becomes pretty clear that he's fond of them.

-> In general, he's slow to make new friends. He often meets people when doing his investigations, or if his mom asks Adrien to drag him to one of his events, but they really only stand out to him if they're a person of interest.

-> One person decides to become his rival (for some reason), challenging him to various things, and often losing. When Felix declares that they aren't really friends, this person becomes really competitive... about making Felix his friend. And that's how Felix gains his confidant/sidekick.