#until they gave something for marinette to sleep...

[potassiumprincess]

when adrien and marinette eventually move in together, i can see adrien trying really hard to enjoy sleeping in on the weekends. it's his chance to do nothing but snuggle up next to his favourite person in the world, and it's not like he ever liked waking up at the crack of dawn for photoshoots or other obligations

but...he's just not wired for it. he'll toss and turn. sometimes he gets up and tries to do something, often making marinette breakfast. but then she's still sleeping, and he doesn't want to wake her, and soon the coffee's cold and he still doesn't know what to do

he tries different ways to pass the time. he doesn't hate any of them, but god, he just doesn't like spending his mornings alone

so when they have kids eventually he loves hearing their little feet race into the room at 6am, loves the way marinette groans every time and he just laughs and kisses her forehead and lets tiny hands pull him down the stairs

and he knows this won't last forever. that one day they'll grow up and move out and he'll be back to lonely mornings that always bother him just a little more than he thinks they should

but there will always be that splatter on the ceiling from when the kids got a little too excited with the crepe batter that one day. or the coffee stain on the curtains that he and marinette kept forgetting to replace until eventually they gave up

and maybe the memory of a space filled with laughter is enough to keep him company after all

[miharuki]

Hi, could I request luka couffaine x reader fic please?

Reader is Adrien's twin sister, and she likes luka, and luka feels the same way, but the reader is worried about what Gabriel will think and doesn't want to hurt luka :)

Thank you very much ahead of time ♡

Firstly, sorry about my English cousin, secondly I think I'm going to do part 2, the text was long (2000) words

(fluff at the beginning, angst at the end, gabriel and asshole, secrets)

𝕺𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖀𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝖆 𝕿𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖆 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊

Once upon a time… A couple, a loving wife who gave up everything for her true love, and her devoted husband who loved her enough to defy reality for her, even if it meant bringing her back to life, and finally waking her from her precious slumber, like a beautiful Sleeping Beauty. Even if it meant making their own children the unhappiest people just for his selfishness, that was Gabriel Agreste, father of Adrien and you, Agreste, twin children born from the same feather but completely different.

Adrien gained total attention from people when he became a model for his father's collections, not only he, but you too. However, you felt lonely in that mansion with no one to talk to, even though you went to school, you felt empty. Why? you wondered.

Until… when your brother introduced him, a friend of his and an ex of one of his friends, Luka Couffaine, a sweet name with a lovely meaning, "luminous." And now you understand why. Since you met him, Luka has proven to be a calm and kind person, always listening and helping others, a light in people's lives when they need it, an admirable person.

"Hello to you too, [Name]!" Luka said as he waved and approached slowly, smiling warmly as you greeted him in return, unaware that someone was watching your interaction. Adrien smiled when he noticed that his sister was opening up more to her friends, and he also noticed how kind Luka was being to his dear sister, making him a friend to Adrien as well.

While for Adrien, it was just a friendly interaction between his friend and his twin sister, someone else saw it as something more: Juleka. Unlike Adrien or anyone else, she noticed the subtle change in her twin brother's attitude, realizing how Luka had started to light up in her presence—not just a friendly kind of happiness. Juleka saw that her brother was looking at you the way he looked at Marinette the first time, a look of love. She was hoping that this time their relationship wouldn't end up like the one with Marinette.

And it didn't. Juleka remembers how her friends began to notice how Luka was acting around you, how he smiled affectionately every time he was with you, or how his eyes took on a dreamy gaze whenever something reminded him of you.

"Luka has a big crush on Adrien's little sister, and it's just so obvious," Ayla commented while chatting with her group of friends, discussing the moment when you and your brother had arrived together on the Liberty boat.

"I bet she won't take long to realize!" Marinette said confidently, giving Luka a thumbs-up as if to say he was doing things right, and indeed he was. It didn't take long for you to develop feelings for the blue-haired musician.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go for a ride, maybe relax…" Luka asked while on his bike, making you smile at his kindness, something you had admired about him since you first met. But he seemed especially bright that day. When you sat on his bike, you felt nervous, which was unusual, especially when Luka turned to ask if you were ready.

"Y-yeah!" you stammered, finding it strange that you were stuttering, which quickly turned into embarrassment for stuttering. Your face turned slightly red with embarrassment as you looked at the back of the boy, riding through the tranquil landscapes of Paris.

And before you knew it, you were in a relationship, an almost secret one, if not for the flushed and blushing faces every time you encountered each other. It was always him you looked forward to seeing when leaving school, wanting to stay a little longer instead of going home. The moments you spent in parks and on the streets, watching the sunset together while enjoying each other's company. You memorized every song he composed, especially the ones where he declared his feelings for you. Your relationship was so healthy that it was impossible not to feel envious of your strong connection. It was impossible not to see the true love that both of you seemed to share.

"I knew it! They were meant to be together!" Rose exclaimed as she hugged Juleka, who blushed at her girlfriend's action but was happy to see her brother in the distance, looking so happy with you, [Name] Agreste, Adrien Agreste's twin sister, a friend, and the object of affection for one of their friends.

"If Luka managed to make Adrien's sister fall for him, I think you can make Adrien fall for you too, Marinette," Ayla teased, elbowing her friend who was now stammering and blushing, while everyone laughed at Marinette's attempt to say something without stuttering.

But the perfect romance can never last forever, not even in a fairy tale. In this case, you couldn't stay with your prince charming. Imagine the surprise when you came home after another date with your boyfriend and saw your father standing there on the stairs. Something told you that something was wrong, especially when your father said in a stern and authoritative tone:

"I heard you've been going out a lot…"

"Well, of course! I've been hanging out with my friends…" you said as you approached your father slowly, stopping at the bottom of the stairs and looking at him with closed eyes.

"Especially with your friend Luka Couffaine?" Your heart stopped. He knew? But you had been so careful. No one else knew that you and Luka were dating; everyone just thought you were still friends, but friends who liked each other. That's what they thought, right? You remember that day vividly.

"…I want to be with you, [Name]. You're the only song playing in my heart and in my mind. I can't stop…" Luka said as he held your hand, the other tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. With a flushed face and a racing heart, you wanted to say yes and pull him into a hug, to tell him how much you loved him. But… what would your father think?

"I would like to… but…" A smile appeared on Luka's face before fading as you continued, "…I don't want the media to hound you. I just don't want to burden you… I'd be a weight…"

Luka smiled softly, realizing that you were just trying to protect him, and he found it endearing. He held your hands and gently moved his face to look at you. He smiled and leaned in.

"So, let's keep it a secret!" The confused look on your face disappeared as he continued, bringing his face closer to yours. "We won't let anyone know. If that puts you at ease, we can love each other even if it's in secret. That way, I won't have photographers hounding me, and you won't have to worry about it. So, what do you think?"

With his face close to yours, lips almost touching, you smiled. A secret, yes, it was perfect. That way, no one could question, and you wouldn't have to worry about the true reason – your father. You were happy and laughed in joy, finally sealing your relationship with the blue-haired musician. "I'd love that."

"You'll have more rehearsals from now on, maybe this way you can focus on your career…" Gabriel said as he turned, scrolling through his tablet and checking the news about his children. When he went up to his room, he placed his backpack on the chair and sat on the bed, grabbing his phone and sending a message to his boyfriend, letting him know that they would have more rehearsals, so their time together would be shorter.

"I don't mind as long as I can be with you, even if it's for a short time! ❤️" You smiled at the message and blushed as you lay down, looking at it with love. You felt happy to have someone like Luka as your boyfriend, embracing your phone with affection.

Even with the short time you had, you were happy to skip some rehearsals to be with your Blueberry, always meeting in secret, embracing each other and enjoying each other's company. That was until Lila arrived, not only lying to Kagami but also destroying your relationship. It was one of those moments when Lila left after the confrontation with Kagami following the akumatization that she saw your figure running somewhere. What were you, [Name] Agreste, Adrien Agreste's twin sister and Gabriel Agreste's daughter, doing running randomly?

It was when she realized that something might be going on that she followed you, watching where you were heading. She noticed that you entered a distant park and slipped into a thicket. Crouching down, she peered through the leaves and saw something surprising: you and a blue-haired boy, embracing. You? With a boy? Acting strangely? So, that's what you were running for.

That's what she thought as she grabbed her phone and took a picture without you two noticing, perhaps a way to hit Gabriel in another way. And that way turned out to be the worst. But everything came crashing down when, in the midst of a photoshoot session, during a break, you looked at your phone and saw a message from your brother.

"Luka is leaving, come quickly!!" This message made your heart race. What do you mean Luka is leaving? And so you ran, apologizing to the photographer as you rushed to get to your boyfriend's house as fast as you could, not caring about the confused onlookers.

"Luka!" Your shouts were heard as everyone turned to look at you, running to catch up with the boy. When he turned his head in surprise to see you sprinting toward him, just as he was about to get into the car, he simply gave up and ran towards you. Your friends watched as both of you ran. "Luka!" you yelled as you approached.

"(Name)!" The boy also shouted as he ran and embraced you, both of you breathing heavily from the sprint. Tears streamed down both of your faces, a rare sight.

"Are you really leaving?" you asked as you looked at him. The boy simply placed his hand on your face, wiping away the tears.

"It's for your own good," he said, trying not to cry, but a few tears were falling on his pale face. He sighed sadly.

"Can we meet again?" you asked, holding onto the hand he placed on your face. "I promise we'll meet again… I promise, my love." And so, for the first time, everyone witnessed the love between Luka Couffaine and [Name] Agreste, sealing their promise with a kiss, a moment that all could witness.

"They just did!?…" Marinette exclaimed in shock while smiling with her mouth wide open. Adrien, it could be said, was also surprised by the turn of events. Ayla took the opportunity to snap a photo of the moment, the last moment they could witness as their friends had just declared their love and made it official.

But soon, Adrien noticed a familiar car approaching Jacket Stone's car and their friends. It was his chauffeur's car, which stopped right behind. From there, Nathalie emerged, adjusting her glasses and immediately grabbing her tablet. She walked toward the couple, who were embracing again, and sighed. Nathalie then got the attention of everyone, including Adrien and Luka.

"Nathalie?" Adrien asked in shock as he looked at his father's assistant. What was strange was that she was here when she's usually always by his father's side. This worried him, especially since she could report directly to his father.

"Miss [Name] Agreste! Leaving your rehearsal abruptly and not responding to any of my calls, you two are in trouble!" Nathalie scolded.

And so, when you separated from Luka's embrace and looked at Nathalie, Jacket Stone, seeing the tension escalating, intervened to put his hand on Luka's shoulder and wake him from the situation. Nathalie had already grabbed your hand and was dragging you toward the car, while Jacket was also directing Luka to get in the car. Before getting into the car, Luka saw you smile at him, and he smiled back before entering his own car.

Adrien noticed Nathalie taking out her phone, and she looked at him, saying, "Don't forget to come home at 6:00 PM; your father only allowed you a few more hours." With that, she got into the car, and Adrien could see her sad expression through the window as the car drove away. Jacket watched with the children, observing your girlfriend's car disappear, just as they were about to leave as well.

"Dating?! Who gave you permission to date this boy?" Gabriel said, keeping his hands behind his back. He sighed in disappointment and pinched his nose. "I knew allowing you too much freedom could end up being a distraction, especially this boy, this Luka Couffaine. He was just a distraction!"

"But father, I—"

"But nothing, [Name]! Leaving after your rehearsals to meet with this boy?! Skipping a photoshoot just for this boy?! What do you think you're doing?! Do you really want to ruin our reputation? I think you deserve more than just a week of punishment! Go to your room now!"

Gabriel said as he fiddled with his ring behind his back. You simply accepted it sadly, walking up the stairs and glancing back to see your father looking at his tablet, viewing a photo from one of your meetings with Luka. You wondered who could have done this.

"Nathalie, make sure [Name] doesn't contact her 'friends' anymore. I don't want any more distractions," your father said before you entered your room, no longer hearing anything else, only the familiar tears returning.

"Luka…"

:(

part 2

[jennrypan]

PLAGG AND TIKKI CONVO: Happens right after the events of the London Special are fixed and Marinette and the Kwami can go back to sleep.

Plagg could be called a lot of things; A loose canon, childish, mean, chaotic..all of those things that would be expected from a god of destruction. 

But what he wasn't was disloyal. Never in all his years of having holders did he once thing of abandoning them..leaving them in the dust as soon as he got the chance- in fact he was happy to form bonds with his holders..meant they'd wield his power more efficiently, meant theyd have someone in their corner if no one else was. 

This didn't change when he met Adrien, not even a little bit..because he was the youngest holder hes had, the kindest soul to own the ring- Plagg was his and he was Plaggs and he cared for the kid more than he cared to admit. Maybe thats why it hurt him everytime Adrien felt as if Chat wasn't needed or wanted..it devasted him to see his holder so defeated- so upset that he'd willingly give up the one freedom he had. 

Plagg hated seeing him like that..maybe the breaking point was something he deemed as the..Cat Walker incident. He regretted encouraging Adrien to act like anyone but himself but..it was the only way he'd get the kid to willingly take the miraculous back..it was no surprise Ladybug was so head over heels for that version- completely fumbling at every turn because she loved Adrien..well, loved the perfecr version anyways. 

That left a nasty taste in the kwamis mouth whenever he came to that conclusion- like processed cheese it left his face scrunching..didnt like it one little bit, but he'd keep them to himself- he could offer Marinette some grace..she was the same age as his holder after all, he could swallow down his annoyance whenever she brushed off Chat just to head out a kwami like a cheese on a fire sale..he could brush past her fumbling over herself whenever she put Adrien on this pedastal that showed she liked him as he was on the commercials..maybe there was something more to her feelings, maybe she did geniunely love his holder- maybe he was beginning to see that, so he never opened his mouth. 

Which is why it was so staggering..so confusing when Ladybug broke his and Tikkis unification in order to give Gabriel Agreste the benefit of doubt- after everything, after that man constantly dismissed and brushed off Adriens feelings until only recently- he couldn't yell fast enough. 

“No! Don't trust him!”  

Plagg near shrieked in objection just as he was pulled from the ring because no matter the sob story that Gabriel uttered out, he was still the same man that neglected his holder..still the same man thay terrorized all of Paris and the kwami- his friends. 

And Ladybug let her guard slip, allowed him to make that wish. 

Ladybug found out Adriens father was Hawkmoth or Monarch..whatever name thag fiend gave himself, she found out..and she agreed to lie to Adrien about it- agreed to keep him in the dark. 

Plagg could only flash back to Cat Walker..could only think back to the times Adrien wanted to give him up because he was kept in the dark one too many times and this was way worse than that- Ladybug was agreeing to lie about his father..lie to all of Paris and claim Gabriel as a hero..the same man that refused to spend time with Adrien until he was practically on his death bed. 

She and Natalie couldn't say they loved Adrien more than Gabriel after this. 

They just couldn't!

“Sugar cube..this isn't right.” 

Plaggs mumble was uncharacteristically quiet- staring down at the black ring on Marinettes desk, his whiskers twitching. The young girl was fast asleep along side the other kwami but him and Tikki remained wide awake. “I..know but-” 

Bright green eyes quickly flicked towards Tikki who seemed just as perplexed as him, “But? But what? Adriens dad is-was- Hawkmoth! And we're gonna just lie? This..this has bad idea written all over it!” He exclaimed, his little arms flailing as he gestured around. 

“This is hard for Marinette but shes trying to do what she thinks is right..its a really hard choice.”

Tikki's response caused him to huff pointedly- eyes squinting. 

“You know this decision sucks worse than..than Casu Marzu!- Dont give me that look, trust me, that cheese is super bad! Believe me!” Plagg exclaimed- only to quickly quiet himself down when he realized it wasn't just the two of them in a secluded area but an entire room full of Kwami and one sleeping girl. Tikki on the other hand just gave him a sideways glance..buzzing around- even after all these centuries of being by her side he still found it hard to read her thoughts every now and again but he knew she was just as conflicted but..like him, she was protective and loyal to her holder. 

“Well even if it..sucks like whatever that is, Marinette made the call..and its not our job to overstep. Trust me, it'll only do more good to tell him.” 

“And what if he finds out from someone else?”

“Who?”

“I dunno! Ladybugs been super careless lately!”

“Watch it.”

Bright green eyes narrowed into slits upon hearing Tikkis warning tone which just caused Plagg to scoff in response..small arms crossing over his chest as he glanced around. “Adrien must be confused..angry, upset..and..and alone.” He mumbled, voice dropping low as his ears slowly flattened to his round head. 

“I can't let him be lied to like this..not after almost losing him so many times. This? If the kid found out by some third party..he'd- well I can't even say what'll happen cuz thats not a future I wanna live through, its not right.” Plagg continued, putting emphasize on the last word..he knew Marinette loved Adrien, that was obvious but..she didn't love him enough to break the news and maybe the course of action he was planning on taking would only complicate things further but his holder came first and he'd do his best to enforce that. 

“..Im gonna tell him.”

Plagg stated- voice far more level and firm than usual..steadfast in his decision and he watched as the red and black polka dotted kwami whirled on him in shock. “You can't-!” 

Her shrill shriek caused a small chorus of 'Shhh's to be mumbled from various corners in the pink room while Marinette just mumbled in protest to herself on her bed above them..the mattress creaking as she turned over. 

Tikki froze for a moment, blinking repeatedly before in a quieter tone, she spoke; “You can't tell Adrien about another holders identity.” She hissed out which just caused him to huff, rolling his eyes. 

“Well duh! I can't say a name..but I can say exactly what happened. If Marinette won't, I will.” The black kwami stated, “You didn't see how that guy treated the kid..always brushing him off as if hes some expired, processed cheese! Him and that assistant of his..they kept Nooroo and Dusuu for who knows how long, using them to terrorize Paris. They never put his needs before their own..especially Gabriel..I..” 

This is probably the most serious Plagg has spoken in ages and by all the gods did he hate it but the mistreatment of his holder had him fired up! Tikkis brow furrowed as she watched him but Plagg paid no heed as he continued. 

“If I don't tell Adrien..and he ever found out by some other person who won't bother giving him a shoulder to cry on..I don't think he'll be move on from that.” He continued with a solemn shake of his head. 

“Thats if he ever found out! You could..what if this wreck the balance of our holders?” Tikki pressed, gesturing towards Marinettes sleeping form.

“The balance as been wrecked for a while, sugar cube.” He stated, floating towards ring that sat on Marinettes desk, scooping it up in his tiny paws as he lifted it from the wooden surface while Tikki just watched with growing frustration.

“Im telling him and if you or Marinette try and stop me, Ill be on you like holes in swiss cheese.” 

His statement was final- he wasn't backing down from this and Tikki could only scowl..he knew she wasn't exactly mad at him after he wasn't exhibiting new behavior, but he knew this situation wasn't any easier on her either..even so, he didn't waver. 

“If you do this..youll divide them like never before.” Tikki pointed out as if it was a warning and Plagg's ear just twitched in acknowledgement as he floated towards the sun roof. 

“It won't be me that did it.” 

Was the only sentence he uttered before he whisked away into the nighr- not bothering to give Marinette a farewell..he was sure Tikki would relay the message back to her anyway but he couldn't be worried that now. 

He had a holder to reunit with.

[starwarsmum]

For @tree-reads, based on a prompt @boldlyanxious found on here 🙃

“Aaahh!” 

The shriek resounded through the halls of Wayne Manor and everyone in the kitchen winced. There weren't many of them - Tim and Duke were chatting over coffee, and Damian was reading an article - but they had been growing accustomed to their new housemate.

Marinette flew into the kitchen and grabbed a cup to fill with coffee. She was half dressed, smart trousers on the lower half and a lounge hoodie over the top. As soon as the mug was full she flew back out and they could hear her leaping the stairs.

“She needs to arrange her sleep schedule better,” Damian remarked after the noise had faded. Duke nodded in agreement but Tim frowned at them both.

“Listen, she's a creative genius,” he said defensively. Since Marinette had moved into the manor - Bruce had seen the black hair and blue eyes, heard that she had no family (in the US), and had done everything short of adopting her - they had gotten used to chaotic mornings. Tim and Jason had been staunch defenders of her habits but nearly everyone else thought she needed to find some chill.

“Yeah, but she also stayed up for sixty eight hours straight last week,” Duke said. Their conversation was interrupted when Marinette stormed back in. 

“Oh god, I can't find everything I need for this meeting,” she moaned, upending her handbag and sending her belongings skittering across it. “Right…there's my wallet…my keys are- the games room!”

It took well over ten minutes and innumerable exits and entrances before she threw everything into her bag. She was patting down her pockets and mumbling to herself frantically. She had mentioned the day before that Jagged had requested another meeting for a new commission and clearly she had woken late.

“What am I forgetting?” She asked fretfully as she stood just past Damian's chair.

“You've got your keys? Wallet? Phone?” Tim asked, giving her time to confirm each one. 

“Kiss?” Duke said cheekily, obviously hoping to lighten the mood.

“Oh, right, of course,” she said distractedly, before swooping down and pressing her lips to Damian's. The three bat boys froze but she didn't seem to notice. “Okay, that has to be everyth- my sketchbook!”

She didn't pause as she blew out of the room again, leaving all three of them completely speechless. Duke's mouth was hanging open, Tim was jabbing a thumb into a bruise, and Damian's cheeks were blazing red.

_ _ _

Marinette was exhausted as she stepped through the manor front door. Alfred offered to take her coat and she gratefully accepted. He said something about dinner and she nodded, steering herself in the direction of the dining room.

She didn't notice that the conversation stopped as she entered, nor that whispers started when she sat down. She only really became aware of anything when she knocked over her glass.

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry,” she exclaimed, leaping up and running to fetch a towel. It certainly gave her a jolt of adrenaline and when she returned she finally took note of who she had spilled her drink all over - and promptly died of mortification.

Damian was sitting ramrod straight in his seat, scowl on his face and anger colouring his cheeks. He had been courteous to her since she had arrived and, the more she learned about him, she found her mind wandering to him frequently. 

She started trying to help him towel off but he snapped out that he was ‘perfectly capable’ and she relinquished the towel. Someone started giggling from across the table and her eyes snapped up to meet Duke's. She gave him a frown but it only seemed to make him giggle harder.

“I'm really sorry, Damian,” she said, wincing when he stood abruptly.

“I am going to change,” he said, face still a dangerously dark colour. She managed to wait until he was out of the room before moaning and burying her face in her hands. 

“God, he hates me,” she whined, too tired to feel overly embarrassed by her words. Her eyes snapped up when Tim made a strange noise. “What?”

“He doesn't hate you for spilling water on him, Pixie,” Jason said from across the table. He sounded amused and she pouted at him, which only made him chuckle. “Do you remember anything from this morning? Or were you as sleep deprived as you normally are?”

“What does this morning have to do with anything?” She asked, baffled, as she tried to relive the events mentally. “Were you even there?”

“No, but Duke and Tim have filled us all in,” he chortled, raising an eyebrow at the men in question. Tim grimaced and Duke gave another giggle.

“You were kind of in a rush this morning and Duke decided to tease you,” Tim said when it became clear that Duke wasn't going to. “But, uh, it didn't go the way he thought it would. Damian's probably mad because you kissed him this morning.”

Every thought in her head screeched to a halt and a high pitched whine started up in their place. It took several seconds to realise that the whine was actually coming out of her. But now that they'd reminded her, she did remember the exchange. It had been such a small thing, something she had thought about doing before, obviously. It was impossible to be in Damian's general vicinity and not want to kiss him, but she had been fairly confident that she could conceal that particular urge.

“I- you- what-” she spluttered, horror spreading through her. She leaped back to her feet and scrambled out of the same door as Damian while several people started laughing behind her.

She made it across the foyer and to the hallway at the top of the stairs before spotting him. She flushed again but made her way over to him, determined to apologise. He seemed to freeze when he saw her, his face colouring again, and she winced. He didn't often get annoyed with her but he was obviously very angry with her this time. Not that she blamed him.

“Damian, I'm so so so sorry for this morning,” she blurted as soon as she was within a reasonable distance of him. The colour in his cheeks deepened further and she felt panic grip her. “I swear, I didn't mean to- I was so tired this morning, and worried about being late, I didn't even realise that I'd- I'd k-ki-”

“Yes, well, there's nothing we can do to change past events,” he said in a strained voice. He wasn't looking at her and she felt her heart plummet into her stomach. They had been on friendly enough terms before this, she was crushed that this could have ruined that.

“That doesn't mean I shouldn't apologise to you,” she said softly, wringing her hands. “I don't want you to be angry with me, though you're entitled to it.”

“I'm not…angry,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. It was distractingly attractive and she almost missed what he said next. “I just don't understand why I was the one…”

“Oh, um, well,” she stammered, trying to think of something, anything, to say except the whole truth that wasn't an outright lie. “I-I guess that's because…you were…the person sitting closest to me?”

“Is that the only reason?” He asked in a low voice, stepping closer to her, brows furrowed. Her brain short circuited at their proximity and she shook her head without thinking. 

Damian almost couldn't breathe, so sudden was the change in the energy between them. It was now charged with possibilities and he hardly dared believe it. He had been intrigued by the woman from the moment she had arrived in Gotham and it had only grown since she had begun living in the manor with them.

“Okay, time to woman up,” she muttered, her eyes finally coming up to meet his own. As always, the blueness of them made his stomach tighten and he definitely held his breath when she bit her lip before continuing. “I guess I kissed you because it's something I've been thinking about for a while. So when I was distracted and panicking my brain went on autopilot. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable and I can be moved out in a week if you-”

He hadn't planned on kissing her. He'd been thinking about it all day, it was impossible not to, given what had happened that morning, but he didn't dare think it was actually a possibility. She'd shown him no particular preference over his siblings before now and he had resigned himself to never acting upon his impulses.

But hearing her say that she'd been thinking about it too? That this morning was a result of thinking about it so often that her automatic response when absent minded was that? It overrode any thought to the contrary and he had leaned down before he was conscious of any thought of it.

She made a soft noise of surprise but didn't pull away. In fact, her hands grabbed hold of his shirt with surprising strength and she pulled herself up to kiss him back with such vigour that they almost toppled. He pulled her closer, hands on her waist and let himself just enjoy the sensation of her lips on his own.

He wasn't sure how long they stood there before they broke apart but he was breathing hard when they did. He felt a surge of approval when he saw just how red her lips now were, a heady feeling that had his head tilting back towards her. She met him eagerly, hands moving up into his hair and tilting his head slightly further.

He traced her lip with his tongue, tentatively, and was rewarded when she opened to him. The kiss deepened and he focused wholly on exploring her. He hardly noticed when he gripped her hips and lifted her, a surprised but pleased sigh from her encouraging him.

When they finally broke apart again he was dizzy with desire and her legs were wrapped around his waist. A distant part of him noted that he wasn't really supporting her - she must have an incredible amount of strength to hold herself up like that - but most of his attention was on the way she rested her head against his own.

“If you'd told me this morning that this is how I would be spending my evening, I'd have assumed I was still sleeping,” she said breathlessly after several moments. He hummed in agreement before allowing her to slip back to her feet, but not releasing her entirely. 

“I'm not entirely convinced that I'm not,” he murmured, ridiculously pleased by the flush that spread across her face. “But just in case this is real, may I be presumptuous and ask you to join me tomorrow for dinner? Somewhere without my family?”

“I would love to,” she said back, a bright and besotted smile aimed up at him.

[queerinette]

i got a PhD in always running away

hey @carelisswriting. i'm your way-past-christmas @mlsecretsanta. hope you're hungry...

They make it a pattern. 

They see each other, whether on the streets or a club or just at a clothing boutique because their patterns and lives have become mirrors from years of falling in and out of love. Marinette will smile at Chloé, walk over and greet her as if it hasn’t been mere months since they yelled at each other. Chloé will run her eyes over the shape of Marinette, from the slope of her nose to the curve of her lips, the shadow of her eyelashes and the gentle motions of her hand. 

An offer to grab a coffee leads them to Marinette’s bedroom—always Marinette’s bedroom—and then they’ll be memorizing each other’s bodies and swallowing the gasps of the other as if it wasn’t just weeks ago that they were yelling and cursing out each other’s names. They’ll spend 24 hours like that, talking in the spaces between to catch the other up. They’ll mold themselves together again, foolishly believing that this time it’ll be permanent, this time they won’t begin to breed hate in their hearts.

They’ll grab dinner three nights a week, buy each other scarves and hats and bracelets, giggle and call each other “girlfriend” with a flirtatious twist. Their friends will roll their eyes and ignore them constantly grabbing each other whenever they’re in public, will avoid bringing up their disheveled hair and clothing whenever they disappear together. Most days they’ll spend their nights together, make everything that belongs to one belong to the other too, as if this time they’ll last. 

And then the beginning of the end will come. A few months in, Chloé will start distancing herself, and Marinette will throw herself into designing. Their friend group will be split into two, with one half listening to Chloé complain about Marinette not giving her the time of day, and the other half listening to Marinette vent about Chloé shutting her out. They won’t talk to each other at all, will never acknowledge that if they don’t talk they’ll be shouting, have never thought to break their habit of resorting to resentment. 

There’s no more sitting in the back making out in movie theaters, no more silly fashion shows where the pièce de résistance is something completely ridiculous like a left sock or Marinette’s freckles or Chloé’s left forefinger nail. It’s empty silences and passive-aggressively setting their keys down on the counter. It’s sleeping alone in their own places, inhaling each others’ scent left on the bedding. They never think to themselves I can fix it, never say I should reach out. They leave that responsibility to the other, always have, blaming each other and pointing fingers the way they used to when they were younger. 

Marinette will swipe away the house key she gave to Chloé, and then show up a week later to find her tearing at all of Marinette’s gifts. They’ll yell and scream, shouting insecurities until all that’s left is shattered glass disguising their heart. Marinette will collect herself, set down the key she has to Chloé’s place and walk out. Chloé always waits three hours after Marinette leaves before breaking down, letting herself feel numb until the tears making their way down her face burn. 

And then they’ll avoid each other, go out of their way to stay away from the others’ favorite places until enough time has passed that they’re not worried about things being awkward. 

Then they run into each other, and the clock starts all over again.

find the rest on ao3

[mochegato]

Even the Losers

Chapter 39

Chapter 1 Chapter 38

um… if bad parenting and borderline stalking are triggers, this might not be the chapter for you.  Also TW for dissociation

The feeling was freeing, or rather free.  Marinette felt like she was floating, completely free from any tethers; to the ground, to a person, to her emotions, to reality.  She was free from responsibility, free from expectations, free from worry, free from anxiety, free from pain.  It was warm and embracing and above all, comforting.  The temperature was perfect, just the right side of warm.  There was a low-lying white noise that was just loud enough to let her know something was there without intruding on her peace.

She could float away forever and be completely content.  There wasn’t a single reason she could think of not to just let it happen.  She could just…

Her euphoria was brutally interrupted by a weight dropping around her body bringing her consciousness crashing down to reality.  She blinked once, twice, and a few more times until the scene in front of her came into focus, or, more accurately, the person in front of her.

She narrowed her eyes as her brow furrowed trying to make sense of what she was seeing.  The utopic scenery had been replaced by something decidedly more mundane and darker, and a man crouching in front of her.  “Jason?”

“Hey there Pixie Pop,” he said quietly, or maybe it wasn’t so quiet.  Her ears were still adjusting, the white noise from before now sounding like a constant buzzing, like live wires surrounding her, sometimes humming quietly in the distance, sometimes sizzling so loudly she had the instinct to cover her ears.  His eyes darted to the side in a harsh, judgmental glare in time with one of the louder bursts, but returned to her with a soft look.  “I thought we lost you for a second there,” he continued so gently, it was like he was speaking to a sleeping baby.  “Thought you might have gone somewhere we couldn’t track you.”

His lips curled up in a soft smile, but her eyes were locked on his eyes.  They were filled with concern, but searching, waiting, a bit of relief easing into them the longer she looked, the more clearheaded she became.  He raised his hand, fingers seemingly reaching toward her, but it froze almost instantly, his fingers clenching instead before he lowered his hand resentfully.  “How you doing?”

“Fine.  Thank you,” she answered instantly.  The response wasn’t even a conscious decision, more like reflex.  Instead, she focused on trying to orient herself absent of the buoyant feeling she had just been torn away from and allow her body to properly register her current environmental input, which was significantly harder than it should have been.

At a loud sound from him, her eyes snapped back to him from wherever they had wandered while her mind was doing the same.  If anything, the scoff he had let out helped ground her into reality, gave her a familiar warm feeling.  It was the normal response she got to that answer.  Whether it was Alya or Nino or Adrien…  She froze, the reality hitting her like an akuma's blast.

Adrien.

She looked around wildly, the heavy blanket she hadn’t noticed before falling from her shoulders, not noticing the panic start to set in to Jason's eyes as he watched her sudden, frantic movements nor the way his entire body tensed and he bobbed in place, like his body wanted to lurch toward her but his mind was keeping him in place.

She searched for a few seconds before letting out an indignant growl at remembering her phone was still where she had left it the night before; in her purse at Max’s apartment.  Now, she had no way to know how Adrien was doing or check on him.  She almost hissed at the incessant white noise that refused to go away and prevented her from being able to focus, but it stopped when her eyes caught on Roy’s phone, and she lunged for it.  She wouldn’t be able to open it, but she’d at least been able to see if there were any messages.

There was only one message, Chloe warning them Bruce found out she wasn’t there and had left the hospital.  Nothing important and hardly helpful at this point.  Nothing about Adrien.  She checked the time it had come in.  Forty-five minutes ago.  She pressed her lips into a thin line.  Surely, if there had been anything to worry about, she would have sent that as well…  But that was forty-five minutes ago, and anything could have happened in that time and she had no way to find out.  She couldn’t even open his phone to actually respond and demand… request an update.

She huffed and tossed it back on the coffee table glaring at it like it was the root of her misfortunes.  She yanked at her shirt, her fingers instantly finding the burl in her hem and aggressively rubbing her finger and thumb over it.

“Hey,” Jason interrupted softly but firmly, easing into her personal space to make sure she was hearing him.  “It’s okay.  There’s no update on Adrien.  He’s still doing okay… strong.  His vitals are strong,” he assured her with the confidence of a man who had a direct link to his monitors, which he definitely did not have.  However, if there had been any change Bruce, Dick, and Damian would have known about it before they left, and they would have notified everyone.  Since they didn’t say anything about that, just that Marinette wasn’t there, he was positive Adrien was fine.

There was no way they wouldn’t have said something.

Almost no way…

It was unlikely they would allow themselves to be distra…

He sighed heavily and hung his head.  “Tell you what, Pixie Pop, I’ll have Duke check now and let us know just to verify.”

She watched him intently for a few seconds, studying him like she was trying to determine if she trusted him.  “He’s still there?”   Her voice broke slightly midway through the sentence.  Her fingers let go of her hem and eyes dropped for just a moment when he nodded.  When they returned to him, they had transitioned from suspicious to wary.  “Markov will have better knowledge,” she finally advised quietly.

“Ahh, but I don’t know Markov’s phone number,” Jason shrugged, purposefully injecting levity into his tone.

Instead of lightening her mood as he’d hoped, she shrunk away from him again.  It was a slight thing, but with him watching her as carefully as he was, he noted it, internally cursing himself for misplaying his hand.  “Tell Duke to have Markov call you,” she suggested curtly.

“Yeah,” he agreed quickly.  “I’ll have him give Markov my number as well.”

“You don’t have to,” she shrugged.  To his relief, she seemed to have relaxed at least back to the level she had been at before his earlier joke.

Jason raised an eyebrow at her.  “My number is unlisted.”

She scoffed.  “That really isn’t relevant.  He’s gotten the CIA director’s number before… allegedly!” she added quickly.

He blinked at her again.  There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, but it really didn’t seem like the right time.  He opened his mouth regardless but before he could ask… he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to ask, a roaring voice put an end to their conversation, both of their heads whipping toward the sound.

“…didn’t even realize she wasn’t in the hospital for what?  Hours?” Roy screamed.  “And now you’re declaring some divine right to her?”

“We didn’t realize she wasn’t there because we were told she was sleeping and she shouldn't be disturbed,” Bruce yelled back.  “So, we waited outside her room all night.  When we discovered it was Adrien’s room not hers, I came to see her for myself after being LIED to all night after MY DAUGHTER ALMOST DIED.”

“Jesus, Bruce.  Last night wasn’t about YOU!”  Roy took a step toward Bruce, but Dick stepped between them, holding his hands out toward both of their chests.  “When will you get that through your fucking titanium skull?  Everything isn’t about you.  This is about Marinette and Adrien, and what they need.”

“And what they need is to be safe!” Bruce thundered.  “And I needed to make sure she was, after a night where she wasn’t.  But I couldn’t because you were hiding her.  I didn’t know where she was and if she was safe.  As her father, I needed to make sure she was and act to make sure she was.”

Roy narrowed his eyes, studying him assiduously, taking his time before responding.  When he finally did, his voice had been lowered, but the tone was just as acidic.  “So, you had to break into my apartment to do that?  Into my room?  Come at Marinette?”

“We meant to just see if she was okay then leave,” Dick interjected calmly.  “We didn’t come at her.”

Roy looked at them critically, disgust curling his lips as he spoke.  “And it took four of you to do that?  And all invade her space?  While we were sleeping?  While she was sleeping?”

“Hey, I was trying to stop them,” Jason interjected.  “Don’t group me in with this shitshow.”

Bruce glared at him and took a breath before responding to Roy’s accusation, but it clearly did little to abate his anger, while his expression eased slightly after the action, his eyes stayed dark.  “We were worried,” he gritted out.

Roy narrowed his eyes at him.  “You’re smarter than that.  You all are.  You could have checked with anyone else.  You didn’t care to, because how she felt didn’t matter to you.  Only how you felt.”

Jason scoffed and turned back to Marinette, examining her expression and body language closely as everyone spoke around her.  “They could have tried.  I wouldn’t have answered.  They could have tracked me.”

“Yeah, don’t think we’re done talking about that,” Dick growled.  “You knew.  You knew and didn’t tell us.”

“No, I did not,” he touted proudly.  “And we definitely are done.  You can talk all you want about it.  I’m out.  You chose your side.  I chose mine.  Hers.”

“There are no sides here!” Dick thundered so loudly even Damian winced at the anger lacing the words.  “We are all trying to protect and supp…”

“How did you know where I was?” Marinette cut in.  Her words were quiet, emotionless, yet demanding more attention than all the angry yelling that had had been filling the room.  She realized she probably should have been paying attention and know what the yelling was about, but the niggling feeling in the back of her head was now a full on blaring trumpet in her ear.

“Huh?” Dick asked in the same overly innocent tone Etta and Ella would use when they had said more than they meant to and was hoping Marinette or Alya hadn’t heard it, but it was the way everyone froze at her question that confirmed her instinct more than anything else.

“What, sweetheart?” Bruce asked, his voice soft and tentative.

She stared at the phone like it was an escape room clue and if she stared long enough, it would provide the answer to everything while her mind whirled like the Flash on crack.  The longer her mind ran, the more things fell into place.  This was it, that niggling feeling that wouldn't go away for days before.  She was finally closing in on it.  It felt right.  This was it the final thing.  “Chloe texted Roy forty-five minutes ago.  It’s been forty-five minutes.  That’s not enough time.”

“Not enough time for what, sweetheart?” Bruce encouraged, keeping his voice at the same gentle tone.  He tried to edge closer to Marinette, but Roy’s glare kept him at a distance.

“Assume five to ten minutes to get to the car and out of the parking lot,” she started remotely.  Her eyes finally lifted, but rather than looking at any of the people in the room, it was to examine the completely intact, not broken-down door to Roy’s apartment.  “Five to ten minutes to get from the car and pick the lock to break into Roy’s apartment, at the quickest.  Most people would take ten to fifteen, but you were in a hurry.  You wouldn’t have taken the time to pick the lock if you didn’t think you could do it quickly.”  Her eyes drifted to the wreckage in the hallway.  “Five minutes for the fight, that leaves twenty to thirty minutes for the ride from the hospital and however long I’ve been…” her eyes dropped down, “distracted.”

Her eyes shot up to Bruce, her eyes narrowed in analysis.  “That leaves no time for doubt.  You knew where you were going.  How did you know?”  She quirked her head to the side a moment before her eyes drifted over to Jason then Roy and back to Bruce.  “Jason didn’t tell you.  Roy didn’t tell you.  My friends didn’t tell you… so, how did you know?”

Bruce and Dick glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes, both straightening up at the same time in a perfect example of nurture over nature, further highlighting their history, a history Marinette hadn’t been allowed.  “We traced your phone,” Bruce stated confidently.

Damian frowned at Bruce’s answer, his eyes darted between Dick and Bruce, both standing abnormally stiffly, not enough that it would be noticeable to anyone outside of the family, but after a decade of living in the League and years of living and fighting with his father and his team, their unease was blazingly clear, as though they had done something remorseful.  But they hadn’t.  There was no reason to lie.  His father hadn’t done anything that any other concerned father wouldn’t have done, anything that he hadn’t already done with the rest of his children.  Their reaction made no sense.

Marinette’s brow furrowed at his answer, the answer not fitting into her puzzle.  A red herring threatening to lure her away from the correct conclusion.  Her fingers found the burl in her hem as she absently rubbed it.  “My phone isn’t here,” she corrected slowly in sharp contrast to how quickly her thoughts were moving.  “I left it at Max’s apartment.  Chloe has Roy’s number in case something happened with Adrien.  If you’d traced my phone, it would have led you there.  But you didn’t go there.  You came straight here.  You knew.  There were so many possibilities, so many more likely possibilities, but you didn’t try any of those.  You knew where to go.  Where I was.  Without doubt.”  Her eyes narrowed further.  “And you don’t want me to know how you knew.”

“Marinette…” Bruce started weakly, desperately.

But it was Jason’s words that kept ringing in her ears.  Suddenly she froze, her fingers paused mid-stroke over the burl and her chest not even rising to take breaths.  The force of her realization snapped into place almost hard enough to leave an echo in the room.  Her eyes slowly panned down to her fingers for a moment before she shot up and unceremoniously yanked her shirt over her head, bending slightly to bring the fabric closer to her examination, as though just holding it wouldn’t get it close enough.  She didn’t need better taste in fabric, she needed better taste in who she trusted.

Everyone but Roy spun around as soon as she started lifting her shirt.  Roy, however, stared at her in morbid awe.  His eyes sweeping toward the breasts he’d been imagining since the day he met her, and cursing that the shirt was still in the way, especially with her body angled slightly away, for hardly a second before drifting to the dark bruise at her fully exposed ribs.  It wrapped around her body, darkening as it moved toward her back.  He stumbled forward, moving toward her, terrified of fully seeing her back but needing to do it regardless.

He gasped at the full extent of the damage she’d concealed.  She’d said the doctor cleared her.  She’d said she was fine.  He had known it was at least partially a lie, that she’d withheld some information, but he’d never imagined it was this bad.  The bruises on her face were nothing compared to the deep ones on her back.  They extended almost the entire breadth of her back, some so deep the blackish purple was mottled with maroon.  She had to have at least a few cracked ribs, possibly broken.  She should have never been allowed to leave the hospital.

She shouldn’t be able to stand, let alone have taken on some of the fiercest fighters on the planet.  Granted, they weren’t actually trying to fight her, but even breathing should make her sob in pain.  He didn’t know whether he should be impressed or horrified, but decided a combination of the two was the best option.

“Oh, Marinette,” he uttered in helpless horror.  He reached toward her to run his fingers over the bruises as if they might not be real and touching would make them disappear, but he dropped his hand before they could make contact and make it worse for her.  He dropped his eyes and forced himself to take several breaths before looking back up stopping when he saw his shirt haphazardly strewn over the back of the couch from the night before.  He grabbed it and gently pulled it over Marinette’s head, being extremely careful not to let the collar rub against her face.

He continued to help ease the shirt over her body and her arms through the sleeves even as Marinette’s head shot up, fire in her eyes and hand clenched around her shirt, the burl facing outward accusingly.  “You bugged me,” she screeched.  As soon as Roy got her hand through the sleeve, she launched her pajama shirt at Bruce, nailing him in the head.  She was pulling her pajama pants off before he’d even reacted to the hit.  “You tracked me!  You put a tracker on me like I was some kind of dog.”

She tossed her pants at him too, but the unbalanced weight distribution caused them to shift trajectory slightly, hitting Dick in the back of the head instead.  “Do I have to remove my underwear too?” she demanded.  “How many of my clothes have you violated?”

“No!  It’s not like that!”  Bruce whipped around to face her, eyes wide with panic, but immediately dropped them remembering why he’d turned in the first place.  “No Marinette no that's not...”

She lunged forward like she wanted to get into his face, but changed her mind, throwing her arms out with a tortured groan.  “You want to know who I am, make sure I'm safe, without actually having to talk to me?  Not actually having to interact with me.  Why is that such a horrifying thought to you?  Why is the idea of being near me such a nightmare?  What is it about me?”

“Marinette, you have to… please stop moving around so much,” Roy begged quietly.  “Your back…”  He reached out to encourage her to sit, but faltered again before he could make contact, not confident there was anywhere he could touch her that wouldn’t hurt her.

Finally registering the fact Marinette had been wearing a shirt, Bruce turned back to face her.  “No!  No, Marinette, that is not true.  Not in any way.”

But Marinette was beyond listening to him.  He’d made his feelings more than apparent.  With every interaction, he’d made his dislike clear.  She was fine to exist, but actually interacting with her?  Actually appreciating her as more than an accessory to parade out to the public?  That was too much.  Clearly.

God!  He hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge her.  He only did it because his hand was forced.  Why did she listen to his excuses?  Why was she so stupid?  How pathetic was she to grasp at the smoky whisps of attention he was allowing to waft in her direction and not demanding the entire fucking fire?

She backed away from him until her legs hit the couch, fighting the tears building up behind her eyes held in by nothing more than sheer fucking will power.  “Why is this so one-sided with you?  I have to push and push and try.  I try so fucking hard.  I have to open myself up and expose the rawest parts of me.  And you just keep looking for the easiest way out.  The laziest ways that you can know I'm okay without actually having to try.  Without putting any effort in.  Why is everything about you and nothing about me?  Why am I the only one showing that I care?  Why am I the only one trying?  Why am I the only one exposed?”  Her voice, which had been so strong and aggressive, bolstered by righteous indignation moments before was now broken, filled with frustration but most of all, pain.

“Marinette,” Dick whispered, now realizing it was safe to look at her, his voice intentionally as non-confrontational as possible to ease her ire, “Marinette, I promise it isn’t like that.”

“The fuck it isn’t,” she screamed, her voice back to the steel it had been before.

“I don’t understand,” Damian inserted.  “Trackers are common, especially when there are threats.  We all have them.  Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because I wasn’t consulted,” she screamed, her eyes staying on Bruce the entire time.  “Because I’m an adult, not a child.  Because it’s called autonomy over my own fucking life.  He’s getting more information about my life than I agreed to give.  Illegally I might add.  All so he didn’t have to actually speak to me.  So, he didn’t have to try.  Because it was done as an investment in his image, not a relationship with me.”

“That’s not fair!  I was trying to make sure you were safe,” Bruce assured her through gritted teeth, barely restrained frustration evident in his tone and tensed muscles.  “I do want you in my life.  As much as you will let me.  I love you!  I love you and I want you to be safe, but you’re not.  There had been threats, multiple threats.  Hell Marinette, you’d already been kidnapped once.  I needed to know that we could find you if it happened again.  That I could keep you safe next time.  I just needed to be able to find you.”

Jason straightened up and turned to glare at Bruce, standing as a protective barrier between Bruce and Marinette.  “You should have asked,” Jason said lowly.  “You said you would before you did it.  You told us you’d talk to her about safety before taking any measures.  You lied.  It’s not a surprise.  And that’s on me, on all of us.  We shouldn’t have believed he’d be better to her than he was for any of the rest of us.”

“Jason,” Dick hissed, focusing his anger at Jason.  How could he not understand he was making it all worse.  How could he not understand they needed to stand together or they were going to fall apart and he wasn’t sure if he could duct tape them back together again.  “We need to deescalate here.  You’re not helping.”

“No,” Jason growled back.  “I think we haven’t escalated enough before.  That’s how we got here.”

“I want you all to leave,” Marinette stated with a cold determination.  “Leave the apartment.  Leave my life.  I want you out.”

Dick gasped, but Bruce looked broken.  “Marinette, you don’t mean that.”

“I do,” she nodded resolutely.  “I’ve seen this play out.  I’ve seen this all throughout Adrien’s life.  The way his father controlled him in order to protect him,” she spit the words out like venom.  “All to keep him safe.”  She scoffed loudly and shook her head, the rage in her eyes transitioning slowly to disappointment and disgust.  “I’ve heard all the excuses.  At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if you turned out to be a supervillain too.”

Bruce choked very intentionally avoiding everyone’s eyes in the room.  “It is a parent’s job to protect their child.  I’ve failed you before.  I wasn’t about to let it happen again.  I won’t let it happen again.”

Marinette let out an unimpressed huff.  “No, you just found new and more creative ways to fail me.”  She almost softened when she saw the devastation her words reeked in Bruce, her words hitting their mark with far more accuracy and depth than she had anticipated.  But she refused to take them back.  They weren’t wrong and it was time he understood, felt a fraction of the pain she’d felt because of him, a fraction of the desolation, so he understood why she couldn’t let it continue.  She couldn’t survive in these circumstances the way Adrien had.  She wasn’t resilient the way he was.  “I want you gone.  I don’t want to see you.  I don’t want to talk to you.  I don’t want… you.”

“Marinette, we need to talk about this, talk this through,” Bruce pleaded, panic setting in for the first time.  “We’re a family.  We need to work through this like a family.”

She cocked her head to the side and puckered her lips as if in thought.  “If I understand our history correctly, that means I get to send you away when I’m tired of you, which I’m doing now.”

Bruce paled and Dick gasped, but Jason tilted his head to somewhat contain a bark of laughter.  “Damn.  Holy fuuuu…”

“That is not what happened, and you know it!” Bruce exclaimed, frustration back in his voice as he advanced toward Marinette.

Roy stepped forward, his hand held up to stop him.  “You heard her.  It’s time to get out.”

“Roy,” Bruce hissed threateningly.

“No.  She’s not ready to talk to you.  She needs time.  And you're not talking to her.  You’re not saying the things she needs to hear,” he stated in a frustrated growl, meaning more than Marinette understood.  “You need to give her space and time.  You need to leave.”

“She’s our sister, our family!” Dick bellowed.

Roy turned his glare to Dick.  “I’m not the one that needs to remember that.”

Dick stalked forward, eyes solely for Roy, trying to tower over him despite being slightly smaller than Roy.  “You’re really doing this right now?”

Roy squared up against him, ready to take whatever Dick was going to dish out without backing down.  He wouldn’t let Marinette down when she needed him the most.  His promise to protect her might have been facetious… kind of… mostly, but he had every intention of keeping it.  Even if it was against her family.  Fuck, from his experience, families usually were what people needed the most protection from.  “You once told me you’d choose her over me, and I said I’d do the same.  The difference is, I wasn’t lying.”

Dick’s glare somehow got even colder.  “Are there any…” he paused taking a moment to find a way to phrase his thoughts without revealing their identities, “women associated with us that you haven’t fucked and left?  And now you’re playing the big, bad protector?  You’re hardly a knight in shining armor.”

Roy snorted so hard, he almost doubled over.  “You’re going to try to call me out on that?  You?  You have no room to judge, buddy.”  Roy’s glare turned colder than Dick’s had been, colder than they had seen him give them before. "You've done enough damage for today.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s the only thing you’ve done today.  It’s time for you to leave before you make it worse."

Everyone continued to stare at each other like their glares could intimidate each other into submission, hostility rolling off Bruce, Dick, Jason, and Roy thick enough it seemed to obscure the air itself.  But Damian?  Damian watched Marinette.  The night had clearly not gone the way any of them had expected, but it had definitely hit Marinette harder than anyone else.

She stood tall, projected strength and determination in both her body and eyes, but the longer he looked, the more he could see the cracks in the façade.  Her muscles were shaking from the strain of keeping her body so rigid, it was almost imperceptible, if he hadn’t been watching her so intently, he would have missed it.

But it was her eyes that gave everything away.  The fire was there, but once you looked past the flames, there was devastation.  The scorched remains of any faith or hope she once had for them, maybe for the world as a whole.  He’d seen that look before.  He’d had that look before and he knew how dangerous it was, not for the people around him… although, yeah, in his case it had been dangerous to the people around him, but because of how it had threatened to destroy him.  They needed to leave before they salted the earth and lost any chance of regrowing their razed relationship with Marinette.

Damian laid his hand on Dick’s arm, waiting until he sensed Dick had shifted his attention to him before allowing himself to take his gaze from Marinette to meet Dick’s eyes determinedly and shook his head curtly.

Dick furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to argue, but Damian looked over at her pointedly and Dick followed his gaze, his shoulders slumping at the sight.  He was right.  She seemed like she was positioned aggressively, but from personal experience he knew that position was meant to protect herself more than attack.  It was like an injured kitten puffing out her fur to look more intimidating to scare her opponent out of fighting.  The harder they tried to look scary, the worse the hurt, and she was trying awfully hard to look scary.  She was weak and hurt and viewed them as the enemy.

He took a breath and glanced at Roy who was still standing like a rampart before Marinette, refusing to let any danger touch her.  What Marinette needed was loved ones protecting her, making her feel safe.  Ideally, that would be them, her family, there for her no matter what.  However, regardless of how they felt about her, she still didn’t see them as family.  There was no trust, and maybe that was justified after what Bruce had done.  And trust and comfort were not things they could shove down her throat and make her feel.

“Okay,” Dick announced, clear and loud.  “We’ll go…”

“The Hell we will,” Bruce seethed.

Dick turned toward Bruce, knowing better than to attempt to touch him at that moment, instead standing with purpose in front of him.  “We will go,” he repeated definitively.  “We will go because she asked us to.  We will go because that is what she needs right now.”

He chanced taking a step closer to Bruce and lowered his voice so only he would hear.  “It’s too much, Bruce.  It’s too much all at once.  She’s shutdown.  If we stay it will only drive her further away.”

“She’s…” Bruce roared motioning violently toward Marinette.

“Safe,” Dick finished for him.  “She’s safe.”

“And she sure as fuck doesn’t feel that with you,” Jason added stepping up behind Dick.

“Not helping,” Dick hissed.

Jason shot him an unimpressed look but didn’t say more. 

Damian stepped toward Marinette and faltered on the second step, ultimately deciding to set his foot back down.  “If you need anything, please let me, us, know,” he stated, voice only slightly wavering.  “I’m willing to… I’ll do whatever you need.”

However, when Marinette showed no signs of having heard him, her disappointed glare never leaving Bruce despite all the commotion around her, he nodded and left, trusting Dick and Jason to remove his father, but he couldn’t be there any longer.  He couldn’t watch her pain and know he had a hand in it.  He needed an escape just as much as she needed space.

“Fine,” Bruce growled.  He leveled his gaze on Marinette and there may have been an attempt to soften his glare, but if there was, it didn’t translate to his eyes.  “We’ll go, but this isn’t over.  You are my daughter.  I’m not giving up on us.”  He waited a beat before stomping out of the apartment.  Dick opened his mouth, but closed it slowly and nodded to them instead before following Bruce out.

Jason glared at the door for a few moments then turned to watch Marinette hoping to gage how much damage had been done, and the sight was beyond concerning.  He started toward her but Roy stepped in his way, not even backing off when Jason leveled him with his deadliest glare.  “Sorry man.  I know.  I do.  But…” he took a long breath and looked back at Marinette, “you didn’t see the way she reacted to you last night… or maybe you did.”  He turned back to Jason, eyes pleading.  “She doesn’t know who to trust and I know it sucks and it isn’t fair, but…”

Jason groaned and dropped his head then glared at the door again.  “And I’m linked to them.  Fuck.”  He breathed heavily for a while, pushing deep, rough breaths through his nose before he shook his head.  “He just can’t stop fucking me over.  I’m not even… fuck.”  He took another breath and nodded, fixing Roy with a pointed look, “But you make sure she knows I’m here if she needs me.  Anything, and I mean anything and I will drop anything for her.”

Roy nodded and patted him on the shoulder.  “And let me know when you think she can have me around.”  He waited until Roy nodded again before making his way toward the door pausing and looking back at him just before reaching it.  “And if she needs a hug, I’ll give her the longest, warmest hug she’s ever gotten.  Make sure you tell her that.”  He nodded again and opened the door but paused again before closing it behind him.  “And tell her I love her.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Roy promised quietly before closing the door and turning back to Marinette ready to comfort her again if she needed to break down or offer her things to break if she needed a safe way to vent her anger, whichever way she needed to respond to the messed up situation Bruce had put them in.

But instead of the overwhelming wash of emotions he’d expected, she was like a statue, body frozen and eyes blank as they faced toward the door Jason and the rest of her family had disappeared through.  There wasn’t a trace in her face of the justified hurt or anger that should be there, that would be there if it were him.  Hell, if it had been him, at least a quarter of the room would already be destroyed.  But Marinette?  If he couldn’t see the slight flutter of his shirt as her chest moved with far too shallow breaths, he would have thought she had been replaced by a statue.

“Hey, Fire Flower,” he cooed gently.  He approached her tentatively like she was a skittish animal, but she didn’t react.  His shirt fluttering was the only sign of life even as he moved into her eyesight, just inches from her face.  He stroked her hair gently, hoping to pull her out of herself like he had earlier, and gently prodded her to sit, but unlike before she didn’t react to his touch.

“Baby, I… how are you feeling?”  He waited in front of her for a full three minutes for her to respond before trying again.  “I’m so proud of you, Fire Flower.  You were so badass.  You are so strong.”  He waited again for her to respond, but she was still frozen.  It was so much worse than she had been in the hallway and so much more terrifying for him.

She was gone.  She was gone and he didn’t know what to do.  He was not trained for this.  But he knew with absolute certainty that if he didn’t pull her back now, she would be gone for weeks if not months.  She’d warned him that she did this.  He’d known and thought he was prepared, but seeing it in person was terrifying.  His adrenaline was pumping, his heart thundering.  He felt helpless.

“Lian’s mom is an assassin!” he screamed then immediately sucked in a breath.

Marinette continued staring at the door for a few more seconds then blinked once.  Twice.  Several more times.  She shook her head like it could wipe away her haze.  “What?”

“I…” Roy started, eyes wide, now panicking for an entirely different reason, “okay, that's a lot.  I know that.  That was a mistake.  I shouldn't have said that.  That's a lot to take in and entirely too early.  I'm sorry.”

Marinette stared at him, mouth agape.  “What the hell!”

“I know,” Roy groaned.  “It's way too early and too much.  I'm sorry.”  He looked around desperately for a clue of what to say now, but there was no saving it and he knew it.  He threw his hands up helplessly.  “I'm not good at this.  I was just trying to get you not to block everything out.”

“Did you just say your ex-wife is an assassin?  Like in Creed?”

He puffed out his cheeks and looked down.  “I mean, we were never married.”

“That is not the part to get stuck on,” she snapped.

“Yeah, no, right.  I… I get that,” he nodded.

Marinette snapped her mouth shut.  “I don't even…” Her eyes narrowed.  “Is that even true?”

“No?” he stated with so much uncertainty it sounded more like a question.  Marinette continued to stare at him.  “Okay, yes.  It's a long story.  I can't really explain right now or rather that isn’t important right now, but we should probably get dressed and get to the hospital...”

“Yeah,” she snapped.  “Good idea.”  She walked past him to get her shoes, ready to no longer be in this apartment.

“… and get you checked out,” he finished.

“What!” she spun around.  “No!  I'm fine.”

Roy leveled her with an unimpressed glower, all anxiety drained away in favor of frustration.  “I saw your back.  You're not fine.  If nothing else, we should ask the doctor for some proper pain medicine.  There is no way you aren’t in extreme pain.  And they can see how your ribs are.”

She scoffed and went back to getting her shoes on, unsuccessfully hiding her grimace as she bent down.  “And what are they going to do when they find out my ribs are cracked?  Or even broken?  They're going to tell me to be careful.  Maybe wrap them.  Which, I was being careful until those…” she motioned vaguely toward the door.

“Assholes,” Roy filled in for her.

Her lips pushed together in a thin white line and glared at him then the door.  “Yes, assholes, burst in.”

Roy sighed and pulled his shoes on as well, mind still warring over impressed or horrified at her apparent immunity to pain and stubborn refusal to receive help.  It had to be genetic, right?  He wanted to settle on frustrated anger, but ultimatums and strongarming wouldn’t help with Marinette.  But manipulation?  And using her weaknesses against her?  That he could do.

“At some point we really need to discuss how you know how to triage fractured or broken ribs, but I get the feeling I won’t be able to handle that information at this point in time.  But they are also going to check for internal bleeding,” she started to object but Roy spoke over her, “because Adrien would be heartbroken and possibly homicidal if he woke up and you were in a coma from internal bleeding because nobody convinced you to go to the doctor and then he’ll have to spend the rest of his life in prison because he killed me for not forcing you to and Ollie used his money to get him the max sentence.

“Then Lian would be an orphan and Jason, Dick, and Ollie would get into a ridiculously drawn out and petty legal war over who got to take her in, which would be ridiculous because obviously Dinah would win despite not getting involved in all that.  Then Ollie would either turn against Dinah, or, more likely, wear her down until she married him again, then you’d all have to be, well not you, because you’d be in the coma, or me because I’d be dead, but the rest of the world would have to deal with that clusterfuck of a public and private relationship, which would make Lian vulnerable and leave an opportunity for her mom to sneak in and appear like a more stable option, which to be honest at that point, she might be.”

He held the door open for her with an entirely too self-satisfied smile.  “And you don’t want to be responsible for Lian ending up with an assassin, right?”

Marinette stared at him stunned for a few seconds then shook her head.  “So that’s what that feels like.  I don’t like being Uno Reversed.”  She stomped through the door, or at least tried to, but the waver in her steps and light foot falls so she didn’t rattle her ribs, dulled the effect significantly.  “You missed a few catastrophic options,” she called over her shoulder, “but only because you don’t know Chloe and Felix enough to know how they would have made it all worse.”

Tags:

@maribat-bdbwm @jayjayspixiepop @redscarlet95 @alice-hazelwood @deathssilentapproach-blog @unoriginalmess @alyssadeliv @emotionalsupportginger @frieddonutsweets @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @toodaloo-kangaroo @colorfulmongerpsychicranch @iloontjeboontje @wolf-for-life @maribatserver @aespades @prettylittlebutterflie @imarivers8  @certainmuffinbagelcalzone @ritacrow-blog @unoriginalmess @demonicbusiness @kking13 @lady-bee-fechin @blur-of-colours @kittenmywaythrulife @kashlyn @loysydark @nerd-nowandforever @queenz-z @crazycryptidgirl @lilfuturescars @corporeal-terrestrial @ultimatetornshipper

[sariahsue]

Wherefore Art Thou My(stery) Lady

When a failed attempt to let Chat Noir down easy ends with Ladybug learning his name, she does what any lovesick teenager would do: teases him mercilessly. Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6

Chapter Seven (Final)

Adrien – Good morning. I love you.

After sending that message first thing every morning for a week, Adrien knew better than to expect an answer for another hour, probably two because it was a Saturday. No school to look forward to, but he did have a group brunch date. Nino and Alya had organized it and invited Adrien and Marinette along, and Adrien was left to wonder if that had been part of a plan to set the two of them up. 

He took his time showering and getting ready. He knew it was silly, but he wanted to make sure he looked his best.

By the time he got back, Ladybug had sent him a text. 

My Lady – Love you too. ❤️ Figure me out yet? Adrien – Actually, maybe.  My Lady – Really?! Adrien – It's still just a theory, but I know how I'm going to test it later.  My Lady – I look forward to it!

If he was right, she would. It involved a lot of sappy staring at Marinette. 

Brunch wasn’t for another half hour, but he told Nathalie and the Gorilla to drop him off earlier than he needed to be there. It was something he often did, a way to get as much time out of the house as possible. They hadn't caught on yet. (Or if they had, they'd never said anything about it.)

The place they had chosen was small, but Alya swore they had the best pancakes this side of the Alps. Adrien planned on having everything with way too much syrup. 

He found a good seat near the center of the room and texted Ladybug while he waited. Was she getting ready to come to the same spot? If she was, she gave no indication that she'd be seeing him later, just asked what his plans were for the day, as if she honestly had no idea. He leaned back in his chair as he waited for the others. 

Waiters passed with steaming plates of eggs and croissants and coffee. People bustled in and out around him, saying good morning to friends, enjoying the weekend. Adrien hardly noticed any of them until one of them yanked the back of his chair, almost pulling him down. 

“You gotta be careful, dude. You could fall if you lean too far.”

Chairs scraped on the hardwood floors as Nino and Alya took the seats opposite him. It made sense that they would sit together, but was part of the reason to force Marinette to take the seat next to him?

“Lean over a little bit in that chair, Nino.” Adrien reached across the table to grab his hat, but Nino jerked out of the way. “Just so I know how far back I can go. That's all. I promise I won't knock you over.”

“You know, for some reason, I don't really trust you.”

“Marinette says she's coming.” Alya looked up from her phone.

“Did she sleep in or something?” Adrien asked. Knowing when she woke up would help him decide if he was right, though at this point he couldn't imagine how he could be wrong.

“No, she told me she's been awake for a while.”

One hour, he guessed, based on when she had started texting him back. He drummed his fingers, waiting for her to arrive. He needed to see Marinette. Once he saw her, he was sure he would be able to tell for certain. 

Their server came a few minutes later, taking orders. Alya placed for Marinette after getting an assurance over text that she’d be there soon.

“She’s really excited about this,” Alya continued. “Like, texting me nonstop about it since she got up.”

“My condolences,” Nino said.

“Did she say what got her so excited?” Adrien asked. 

“No,” Alya said, eyeing him. “Why? You think you know?”

Adrien just shrugged, pretending to look down to check his phone, though it was really to hide his face. Ladybug hadn’t sent him anything in ages, and the agonizing wait until he knew who she was was even more unbearable now that he had hope it was almost over. 

Marinette came in, pulling out the seat next to his and scooting in until, probably on purpose, her knee brushed his.

“Good morning!” she said, face shining with excitement. She didn't look directly at him, letting him study her profile. The style of her hair was just right. Her freckles were the same. The curve of her lips. (He’d know those lips anywhere.) And he could see the corner of one blue eye. Exactly the right shade.

Marinette glanced over and caught him looking. The corner of her eye crinkled in amusement, then looked down as she slipped her phone into her coat pocket, her hand lingering out of view.

Adrien’s phone pinged with an incoming message. He looked at it reflexively as Marinette pulled her phone out again and laid it face up on the table in front of her.

“What's that, Adrien?” she asked. “Another text from your mysterious girlfriend?”

It was another picture of him, sent by Ladybug, taken just seconds ago. He whipped around while Nino and Alya laughed at him. People were coming in and out of the doorway, but no one that looked like her. He kept looking anyway because it kept him from looking at Marinette. It had been a picture of him and his friends at the table. Marinette had been sitting next to him when the picture had been sent. Ladybug couldn't have been her. 

He'd been so certain... He'd been hoping it was her. He'd had such a streak of luck lately that he'd actually believed that he’d been fortunate enough to be partnered with Marinette. For a moment, he’d been able to believe that the two best girls he knew were one, and she loved him. Disappointment tasted terrible.

Ladybug probably wasn't going to be in the shot, but he held up his phone and took a picture anyway. He glumly turned back to the table and sent it. 

Marinette's phone buzzed enthusiastically, and she swept it out of sight before Adrien could get a good look at it. All he caught was a glimpse of a room, filled with people and tables and an empty doorway. 

“What?” Marinette asked when he turned to look at her. Alya and Nino both waited quietly for once, eyes flicking back and forth between the two of them.

Pulling the picture Ladybug had just sent, Adrien looked over it carefully. He was sitting with his friends, but only two of them. Marinette's seat was still empty. The picture had been taken before she'd sat down. And really, there were hundreds of places to eat brunch in Paris. What were the chances Ladybug just happened to be going to the same one as him this morning?

Found you.

Adrien stared Marinette down. She stared back with the same practiced innocence Ladybug had given him a week ago when they'd first talked about the texting. There was no way they weren't the same person. Her mouth quirked the same way. Her eyes twinkled, whether in civilian clothes or in a red-spotted suit. 

She was right. It was so obvious now that he knew what - who - he was looking at. 

Marinette stayed silent through his whole examination, not raising a question until he pulled away and opened his texting app.

“What are you doing?” she asked. Her phone was face down on her lap.

Adrien – Hi 

The buzz that Marinette's phone gave was much quieter, but he was still able to pick it out over the din of the crowd. 

She clenched her hand around it but didn't look away from him. 

Adrien – I Adrien – Love Adrien – You Adrien – My Adrien – Lady

With each message he sent, Marinette's phone buzzed again. The neutral look on her face started to crack. 

“Aren't you going to answer those?”

“No.”

“Why not?” he asked, grinning. “They could be important. Could be from your boyfriend or something.”

“Seeing as I don't have a boyfriend, Adrien,” she put extra emphasis on his name, making sure he knew it was his fault that she didn't, “that would be kind of impossible.” She pressed the phone into her leg to muffle the vibrations.

“Maybe we can fix that?”

He held up his phone right to her face and snapped a picture. 

Another photo message flashed across her screen, and Adrien could see how it lit up the cloth around it. 

“Admit it,” he said. “I figured you out, My Lady.”

“You did, Kitten. Good job.” Marinette held out her phone to him. The screen was full of a picture of her face. Sender: Future Husband. 

Nino was offering his congratulations. Alya was sighing dramatically and saying “finally!” over and over, but Adrien had all but tuned them out. Marinette was Ladybug. He knew who she was. 

And he still couldn’t kiss her. Not the way he wanted to with their friends watching. 

Instead, he grabbed her hand and slowly turned it palm down, placing a long, slow kiss on the back, a promise of things to come.

When he looked up, Marinette’s cheeks were tinged with pink, but she quirked her eyes with a questioning look. That’s it? she silently asked.

He winked at her, and her blush deepened. “Later,” he mouthed. 

---

“I have one question about all of this,” Adrien asked as they walked down the street. “What was the obvious hint that I missed? I know I talked to you a few times that day, and I can't figure out what it was. The offer of help?”

Nino and Alya had completely ditched them the moment brunch was over. Alya said normally they’d make up some excuse to manipulate them into being alone together. She’d paused dramatically to look at their intertwined hands before claiming she didn’t think she’d be needing schemes anymore, then told them to take advantage of the alone time. Adrien had promised her he would, all while Marinette sputtered in embarrassment.

“I made a cat pun,” she said. “A terrible, awful, bad cat pun. And I am ashamed.”

“What was it?”

“No way! I am not saying it again!” Her emphatic arm movements were hampered by his grip on her hand, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Marinette.” He slowed, and pulled on her arm until she stood facing him. They’d started their relationship hidden from everyone, with secrets and texts and masks coming between them. Now they were in public, where anyone could see them. “Can I kiss you?”

“I think I’ve waited long enough,” she said, tilting her head and closing her eyes.

“You?”

Her eyes snapped back open, though her head remained at the perfect kissing angle. “Yes, me. I didn’t think it was going to take you that long. I was dying!”

He took a step back, grinning. “I’m not sure if I want to kiss you now after all. Middle of the sidewalk’s probably not the best place for–”

Marinette pulled him down and planted her mouth on his, and his teasing argument died. Adrien felt like he was melting, being molded into a shape that fit her better. 

She pulled away too quickly, resting her forehead against his. People walked around them, just two regular teenagers kissing in public.

“Technically,” he said after catching his breath, “I think that was just you kissing me again.”

“You were kissing me back. It counts.”

“No.” He let go of her waist to cup her face. “This is me kissing you.” And he lowered himself to meet her.

The End

---

Tag list: @eclipsesmoonshine14 @maribugette @delectablycoolscientist @mlbigbang

If you’ve stuck around for the whole thing, thank you! If you’re interested, I’ve got over 70 other Miraculous stories of varying lengths for you to check out. And I’ve got a bunch more planned. Next up is a one-shot featuring half-reveal, pre-relationship Ladynoir, and an akuma whose power is to throw them into fanfiction tropes. Super fun! Plus a project that’s going to feature a lot of love square kisses! (Okay, well, actually two future projects fit that description, haha!) I hope you stick around! Thanks for reading and for all the comments!

I don't think I ever directly linked the artwork that goes along with this story, so here they are! Cover Ch 5 scene

[verfound]

FIC: "Of Found Things and Mme. Stones" (MLB; Lukanette; LBSC Lukanette Month 2024)

@lovebugs-and-snakecharmers is doing a Lukanette Month for September 2024, and we all just kinda tossed some prompts in the disco to compile a list?  We ended up with 71 prompts, so I decided I’d roll some dice to pick a prompt, do a twenty minute (ish, bc we all know sometimes they run away from me) sprint, and try to get some short fics out this month?

...who gave these fics the right to be a series? (They probably would have worked fine as chapters, but too late now. 😂)

Read on Ao3

Prompt 07: Street/Craft Fair

The Ring

Marinette gently, quietly closed the door behind her, turning back for one last look at Luka before she went.  She doubted the sound of the door closing would wake him: he had fallen asleep before they’d even made it up the stairs to their flat, and she’d had to hoist him over her shoulder and haul his lanky ass up four flights before reaching their front door.  That would have been fine, except Carlos – their older neighbor who lived across the hall, who still hadn’t fully warmed up to Luka thanks to his dyed hair and tattoos – had been leaving his own flat, and he had barked out a laugh at the sight.  Marinette had offered him a sheepish smile and tried to explain that it had been a really long couple of days, but Carlos just shook his head, patted Luka’s ass, and chuckled “Bienvenidos, mijo” on his way past.

Her idiot boy…fiancé had slept through the whole thing, which was a shame: it was the closest to approval he’d probably ever get from the old man.

(Carlos did adore him – about as much as his wife Manuela – but he still loved to give Luka grief about his appearance and being a rock star.  She supposed it was fine: Luka loved to give him grief about the amount of pizza he loved to eat.)

She had maneuvered Luka to their room as soon as she’d had their door open, and she’d dropped him on the mattress as gently as she could.  Still, he had groaned and mumbled something incoherent before reaching for her, and she had almost slipped into the bed with him – except she did still have some work that needed done, and he needed his rest.

Neither would get accomplished if she crawled in after him, she thought as she closed the door.  He was sprawled out in the center of their bed, her pillow hugged to his chest with his face buried in the damn thing, and that was exactly where he was going to stay until he actually slept.

…she could always wear him out again later.

. : .

Of course, as she would later learn, it had been a really long forty-eight hours leading up to the nine-hour flight from hell, and it was well into the next day before Luka actually stirred.

He had wandered his way out towards dinner time, but that had really only been to shuffle into the bathroom.  He’d found her before heading back to bed – just long enough to bend her back over the (thankfully off) stove with a deep kiss – but that hardly counted.  She still wasn’t sure he had actually been awake, no matter how thoroughly he’d kissed her.

He’d mumbled something incoherent when she’d climbed into bed that night, and she had barely had time to crawl under the covers before he’d wrapped himself around her.  He hadn’t woken, though, and he still wasn’t awake when she slipped back out of bed the next morning.

If she hadn’t been dealing with Couffaine sleeping habits for almost ten years now (first at sleepovers with Juleka and later with him), she might have worried.  But as long as he was still breathing, she figured he was fine and let him sleep.

Penny showed up at their front door early the next morning.  Marinette was still wearing her dressing gown when she knocked, her first cup of coffee still in hand.

“Guess what wasn’t actually in Barcelona,” Penny said by way of greeting when Marinette opened the door.  Her eyes widened as Penny patted the suitcase beside her.  “It was mislabeled and about to head to Hong Kong, but you’d be surprised how effective a crocodile can be in tracking down misplaced luggage.”

“Liar,” Marinette laughed, pulling her into a hug.  “More like how effective Jagged Stone’s irate wife can be in getting anything done.”

“Well, that, too,” Penny laughed, patting her back.  “But years of dealing with Fang doesn’t hurt.  Has he calmed down yet?”

“He’s still sleeping,” Marinette said, and Penny’s eyebrows lifted.  Marinette waved her in and wheeled the suitcase over to the dining area.  She lifted it onto the table and opened it, rooting through the front pockets until she found…she grinned when her fingers brushed against a small box.  “He was already exhausted, and losing this didn’t help.”

“Shouldn’t you let him find it first?” Penny asked, an eyebrow lifting as Marinette pulled the ring out and slipped it onto her finger.  She held her hand up, her smile growing as she finally saw it.  The pink opal burned just as brightly as it did in her memory.  “I’m fairly certain he’s supposed to ask you before you start wearing it.

“Oh, he’s not getting this off my finger any time soon,” Marinette laughed, grinning at her.  “If he wanted to surprise me, he shouldn’t have told me he lost it in the first place.”

“He was exhausted, Marinette,” Penny said, frowning.  “He didn’t know what he was saying.  You should give him this.  Let him do this properly.”

She gave her a pointed look, and Marinette sighed as she looked back at her hand.  She knew Penny was right, but…she really didn’t want to take it off.  She liked how it looked – how it felt – there.  Like it belonged.

…like she was always supposed to be Marinette Couffaine.

“Just for a little bit?” she asked, looking back at Penny.  “I’ll put it back before he wakes up.”

Penny shook her head, but she was smiling as she laid an arm across Marinette’s shoulders and puled her into a half hug.  She looked back at her hand, her smile warming as she studied the ring.

“It’s a lovely ring, Marinette,” she said.  “Very…you.”

“Lay off,” Marinette giggled, nudging her side.  She glanced down at Penny’s own hand, which sported a stone in the shape of a heart and the color of Penny’s hair.  It was ringed by black stones on a gunmetal band – not at all traditional, but very rock-n-roll and very ‘Rolling-Stone’, if Jagged did say so himself.  “Your ring is so much worse, and this is a family heirloom.”

“Really?” Penny asked, surprised.  “I knew Gina gave it to him – she met us in Rome – but he didn’t tell me the story.  I figured she had found it at some street fair or something.  Some…sorry, but it really does look like cheap costume jewelry.”

“I’m not offended, but only because your ring does, too,” Marinette giggled, sticking her tongue out at her.  She looked back at her nonna’s old ring, her smile softening.  “I promise you it’s one hundred percent genuine.  It was Nonna’s mother’s.  Nonna was just a baby when the war started – barely a year old – and her family had to flee Italy before things got really bad.  They didn’t make it back until Nonna was almost ten.  This ring was the only thing of value her mother was able to bring with them.”

“It’s a beautiful ring, Marinette,” Penny said softly, and Marinette nodded.  It was.  A round, pink opal sat in the center of the ring, ringed by tiny diamonds and flanked on either side by flowers made of pink quartz.  They were generic looking enough, but she had always liked to imagine they were cherry blossoms.  The whole thing sat on a gold band, and it had captivated Marinette since she was a little girl.

“Nonna always called me her Little Fairy, but I always thought she was the fairy,” she confessed.  “I didn’t understand how opals worked back then – I always thought it was fairy magic that made the stone burn like that, not opal fire.  She never bothered correcting me, either.”

Penny laughed, shaking her head.

“It’s very you,” she said.  “Luka was really excited when Gina offered.  He went through all the trouble of getting Tom and Sabine’s blessing – Jagged was pouting for weeks after that, by the way.  He couldn’t understand why Luka didn’t ask for his blessing, too.”

Marinette laughed at that, not surprised at all.

“Of course he was,” she said.  “What, do I need to ask him for Luka’s hand first, too?”

“It probably wouldn’t hurt,” Penny snickered.  “But you know how Luka is.  He’s not a planner.  I think part of him honestly didn’t think Tom would even say yes.”

“Dummy,” Marinette said, shaking her head.  “Like Papa would ever say no to him.”

“That boy is crazy for you, Marinette,” Penny said, squeezing her shoulders.  “He’s not above being completely irrational when it comes to you.  I’ve seen him put up with a lot on the road, between his father and the rest of the band, and sometimes I honestly think the only thing that truly scares him is the thought of losing you.  Even if he knows it will never happen…I don’t know.  It’s like…I don’t know if he saw something.  During an akuma attack, back in the day.  Maybe that breakup you two had when you were younger.  But he says things sometimes, like he’s all too aware of how things could be.  How fragile life really is.  I think it makes him hold on a bit tighter to how they are.”

Marinette bit her lip.  She wondered if Penny realized just how right she actually was.

“I gave him up once, Penny,” she said, brushing her thumb over the opal.  “I have no intention of doing so again.  He’s stuck with me.”  She looked back up at her, her grin coming back.  “And he’s going to have to pry this ring off my cold, dead finger.”

Penny laughed and leaned in to smack a kiss against her temple.

“And don’t you let him forget it,” she said.  She winked at her.  “After you let him get the proposal out, all right?  You know he had something big and romantic planned.”

“Luka?  Plan?” Marinette gasped, her eyes wide.  “How dare you accuse him of such a thing!  That’s my future husband you’re slandering, Mme. Stone!”

“Only because I have entirely too much experience wrangling his family, Mme. Stone,” Penny said with a roll of her eyes, but Marinette was too busy grinning at being called Mme. Stone to pick up on her tone.  Penny just smiled and shook her head, waving her off.  She told her to tell Luka to call her – she wanted him to rest up, but they still had work to do in the studio – and headed towards the door.  When Marinette was alone again, she turned back to her ring with a soft smile.

…street fair costume jewelry.  Tch.

(…she wasn’t going to think about it.  If not for the fact that Tom had known her great-grandmother and could confirm the truth…she wouldn’t put it past Gina Dupain to embellish a tale about smuggled wartime jewels just to entertain her little fairy.)

[san-fics]

Some Other Kind Of Magic

Felinette

(parts 1/2-2/2 upcoming on Ao3, published on Patreon)

______________

It explained that you need to say the words of a short but tricky spell that was written below, imagine your loved one’s face, and whisper into the open window “come, come, one with me become”, and all will be done, because the ritual guaranteed that your loved one would come to you to stay.

Marinette decided not to think about it anymore and not to double-check her decision, and immediately read the words of the spell, which wasn’t that difficult after all. Then she imagined Adrien's face close to hers, as if he was about to kiss her, which wasn’t hard—seeing his face on posters for so many years was a good help—and went to whisper the cherished words into the open window.

Getting into bed to sleep, she felt that everything would work out, as if she knew that it had already worked, and all the minor difficulties receded into the background, as if the years of suffering and useless pining were finally over.

*

“Good morning!” She almost sang cheerfully, smiling widely at the blonde mop of hair, only slightly visible from behind the display case with pastries, because the customer bent down to examine the goods closer. Even the color of the random customer’s hair seemed familiar to her, and Marinette briefly dreamed that Adrien came to her this morning himself, because the spell had already taken effect, and now he simply couldn’t stay away from her anymore.

“Good morning, Miss Dupain-Cheng,” a familiar stern voice drawled as the client straightened up and measured her with an attentive gaze.

“Fathom!” Marinette snorted, instantly losing her smile. The last thing she needed was for him to show up at the bakery so unceremoniously and ruin her morning romantic fantasies about Adrien. As if it wasn’t enough that Felix had been pestering her at school all week with his pranks, arguments, and tactless remarks that had left her seething with anger, after which she usually spent half the day wondering how best to strangle him. “Have you come to annoy me on the weekend too?!”

“I couldn’t leave you without my attention for two whole days, could I?” He drawled with a slight note of sarcasm that seemed to never leave him. “But there is also a serious possibility that you aren’t the only thing I think about day and night, and that I have an actual reason to be here.”

Marinette was somehow confused by his answer, and not even because Felix was right and he had every right to come to the bakery to buy something, but because it gave her a feeling of some kind of disappointment that she couldn’t explain. As if until this moment the possibility that she was on his mind day and night really existed, and it was gone now, and what’s worse, Marinette was actually upset that she wasn’t the only thing he thought about all the time...

________________________

TAGS: Canon Divergence | Enemies to Lovers | Episode Felix References | Feelings Realization | Felinette | Felix & Sabine | Felix Fathom | First Kiss | Getting Together | Happy Ending | Ladybug | Love Magic | Love Spell | Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Mentioned Amelie | Oblivious Marinette | Quarreling | Sabine Cheng | Sabine Ships It | Secret Feelings | Secretly A Sloumate AU | Unreliable Narrator

Cover art by lofizoo_art on Pixabay

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[aalissy]

Sharing a Bed

Woop woop! Day 13 is doneee!! And it's a prompt that I'm so glad I finally got to write hehe. I've had an idea for this for agessss. I hope you like it <3

AO3

Oh.

Oh no.  

Marinette gaped down at the one queen-sized bed that was planted in their hotel room. Alya and Nino were just down the hall in their own room. Maybe they were in the wrong room. 

Glancing down at her key, she gulped nervously. Nope. This was the right room according to the hotel.

Her gaze darted over to Adrien before quickly darting away when their gazes met. She was certain her face must look tomato red as she shifted awkwardly on her feet. She still had time to call Alya and beg her friend to let her sleep with her instead.

Half of this crazy plan was from Alya anyway. Thinking it would help her to confess if they spent the night in the same room. At the time, Marinette had thought it was a good idea too. Until she saw that there was only one bed!

“Well,” Adrien started with a chuckle, causing her to peek back over at him. He was scratching the back of his neck, an easy smile on his lips. “I can take the floor.”

“What?!” Marinette practically screeched, shaking her head rapidly. She turned fully, meeting his gaze head-on. She crossed her arms against her chest, her eyes blazing with determination. “No, you can not! Adrien, this whole trip was for you. It’s a miracle your father even let you come. So... I’ll take the floor.”

She gave a firm nod. She would take the floor and that was that. It did look kind of cold, though. Nibbling on her lip, Marinette gave him a small smile. “But, um... maybe I can have just one blanket?”

Soon Adrien burst into a fit of raucous laughter that had her frowning over at him. Surely it wasn’t that funny! She was taking the floor so surely he could part with one little blanket!

Opening her mouth to defend herself, she was stopped by Adrien finally sucking in a deep breath as his laughter fell away. “Marinette, don’t be ridiculous,” he finally said. “I’m not going to just let you sleep on the floor. And, even if I did, I’d be giving you all of the blankets, Marinette.”

Her furrowed brow deepened. His reaction made much more sense now. But... even still...

“But that’s not fair to you, then, Adrien.” She shook her head. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

His gaze softened as he looked at her in a way that had her heart thumping loudly in her ears. Why did he have to look so adorable all of the time?

“Well, if neither of us wants the other to sleep on the floor, then how about we share the bed?” Adrien suggested, his voice gentle as he took a step closer to her. Marinette's breath caught in her throat at the suggestion.

“W-what? Share the bed?” she squawked, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. Did he really just ask her to do that? Was he a secret mind reader? Was he reading her hopes and wishes right now?

Adrien nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, why not? It’s big enough for both of us, and we can each have our own space.”

Marinette felt her cheeks heat up even more at the thought of sharing a bed with Adrien. It was something she had only dreamed of, quite literally at times, but now that it was actually happening, she wasn’t sure how to react.

“I... I guess that could work,” she stammered, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. She gave a large smile that she prayed didn’t look completely awkward.

Adrien chuckled softly. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll take the bathroom first if you don’t mind.”

“N-not at all.” 

When he shut the bathroom door behind him, Marinette finally released the breath she hadn’t known she had been holding. Why oh why had she let Alya talk her into this? 

Fiddling with her suitcase, she took the side closest to the window and away from the bathroom door. Needing something to do to keep her mind from spiraling, Marinette began to unpack everything into her little drawers. 

When Adrien came out of the bathroom, she couldn’t help but steal a glance over at him. Her mouth dried at the sight. He was in an adorable set of pajamas that she had never seen him wear before.

He cleared his throat and Marinette prayed he hadn’t noticed her staring. “Bathroom’s open now.”

She gave him one final grin before sprinting into the bathroom. She grabbed onto the counter, sucking in air as quickly as possible. How on earth was she mean to share a bed with him if she could barely handle seeing him in a pair of pajamas?

Finally, after a few moments of panic, Marinette managed to calm herself down. Everything was going to be fine. She’d put on her pajamas, turn off the lights, and run over to her side of the bed where she’d press herself against the very edge for the entire night. Sure, she might not get much sleep but that was a small torment she was willing to bear to share a bed with her crush.

With that plan in mind, Marinette threw on her pajamas. Slowly, she opened the door, wincing at the small creak it made. Adrien was facing away from her, curled over on his side. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, she turned off the light.

Suddenly, the room was pitch black and she could no longer see two feet in front of her. It was fine. She knew where the bed was. Slowly, with her arms out in front of her, Marinette began shuffling over to her side of the room.

She was almost there. Her eyes had almost adjusted in the darkness and she could see the pillow awaiting her. Abandoning caution, she quickened her pace only to stub her toe directly against the edge of the bed.

Marinette squeaked in pain, grateful that she could collapse onto her side of the bed as her toe ached. She winced at the seemingly unending agony, hoping to rub some of the pain away.

The lamp flicked on at the other side of the bed and Marinette quickly had to clench her eyes shut at the sudden onslaught of light.

“Marinette, are you alright?” Adrien’s worried voice called out to her as his eyebrows furrowed over a pair of concerned emerald-green eyes.

“Yep!” she chirped, flinching again at how high-pitched her tone was. Clearing her throat, she lowered it. “Just, um, stubbed my toe.”

“Oh.” His frown deepened. “Well, are you sure you’re alright? You didn’t break it or anything, right?”

She couldn’t help but giggle, relaxing for the first time that night. “I’m really okay, Adrien. I promise. No broken toes over here.”

“Alright, if you’re sure,” he trailed off, seemingly still uncertain. “Goodnight, Marinette,” Adrien then said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Goodnight, Adrien,” she replied, her heart fluttering as he turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, Marinette lay awake for a while, listening to the sound of Adrien’s steady breathing. It was surreal, being so close to him like this. She couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her at the thought of sharing this intimate space with him.

As sleep finally began to claim her, Marinette couldn’t help but smile. Maybe this crazy plan of Alya’s hadn’t been so crazy after all.

[sploopyghost]

When Marinette arrives at school and hears about lila at first she's intrigued until she hears how Jagged stone wrote a song about her. Having a working relationship with him while also being a huge fan she knows that Jagged never had a cat and he would never write a song about an underaged girl he's not related to. When she gets to alya and asks about her alya shows her the interview of her claiming to be best friends with ladybug. Marinette is concerned since it's one thing to lie about knowing rock stars and princes but completely different to claim to be close to a superhero so publicly on the internet for everyone to see. She tries to warn alya that it could be dangerous to post something like that but she brushes her off saying that it's fine and how many views she has

When Marinette confronts lila as ladybug she does it out of concern instead of anger warning her that it was dangerous to claim to be close to her. Lila still gets akumatized and marinette feels bad even though she feels she handled it somewhat ok. At the end of the day when marinette is in her room she decides to scroll through the comment section of lila's interview. Most of the comment section are saying how none of what she is saying makes any sense and questioning why she would post this. A part of marinette feels relieved that it seems no one was buying anything lila was saying while the other part of her knew that if alya read the comments she would only dig her heels in and double down

Weeks go by without a word from lila other than bustier saying that she was on a trip out of the country. Marinette doubted that she was and was probably just at home skipping but didn't say anything. All the excitement from her arrival calms down and everything seems to go back to how things were. One morning when marinette was working on a commission when she was called down to the living room by her parents. They're in shock pointing to the news asking if she knew that girl. Marinette is confused until she sees lila's face and reads the headline "Teen girl found beaten and left to die on the side of the road". She's in shock, how could this have happened. The story continues saying that lila had been kidnaped on her way home and held captive for at least an hour. During that time she was questioned about her connections to ladybug and information on her identity. When they realized she had lied and didn't know anything they decided to get rid of her by beating her and leaving her for dead. Marinette didn't hear anymore as the news continued, she was in shock and felt guilty that lila got hurt because of her and couldn't help. But she knew that that was irrational since it wasn't an akuma attack so there was no way for her to know what was happening

With lila when she was taken to the hospital and came into consciousness the first thing she wanted was her mom. She was questioned by the police where she said they had kidnaped her on the chance that she was telling the truth about being close with ladybug. She told them that she had done an interview for the ladyblog telling the story. Her mom looked shocked that she would do such a thing but she didn't care. She didn't care that all her lies would be revealed, that her mom would scold her, or that the class at school would find out. All lila wanted to do was be with her mom, she wanted to be at home in her bed, she just wanted to sleep and for this to be over. She gave a description of what the men looked like and was told that she and her mom would be in protective custody in case they would come after her

Marinette spent the rest of the day texting her friends in the group chat they had. All of them were there except alya, she wasn't responding. They were all shocked when they saw what had happened on the news and expressed their wish for lila to be ok. As they were all talking about lila one of them bought up the video that she and alya did and said that the comment section wasn't great. Curious marinette went back to the videos comment section and saw it filled with hate comments. They were asking how could alya post something that was so obviously a lie and put lila in danger for views or that even if she really believed what lila was saying to her why would she post it. Marinette tried reaching her but she wasn't answering. She wanted to comfort alya and say that everything would be ok but she knew things weren't going to be the same. There was no miraculous cure to save the day and no "i'm sorry" was going to fix things. All she could do was be there for her and maybe convince her to take a break from the ladyblog

[dessarious]

What Makes a Family? Pt25

Beginning   Previous    Next

Marinette woke in a panic and didn't know why until she realized she was alone. Her trapdoor creaked, and she felt the world start moving again when she saw it was Cass. Her twin gave her a sheepish smile, but Plagg was the one who spoke.

"She went to the bathroom and your parents ambushed her on the way back, trying to feed her. I said she needed to come get you." Mari let out an amused huff.

"They're just happy you're here. Not to mention knowing a little about your past, they're going to be trying to smother you with affection. I'll try to keep them from being too overbearing."

"It's okay." Mari could tell she meant it, but something was off. She walked over to her, but Cass wouldn't make eye contact.

"You can tell them no. They won't take it personally, and you have every right to be comfortable here. You can tell me no, too." That got her to look up, confused. "I know I'm more tactile than you. You can tell me to back off if you need to." Cass grabbed her hand.

"No." Even though she was certain the need for contact was mutual, Mari was relieved by her response. The last thing she wanted was to make Cass uncomfortable.

"Girls! Breakfast is ready." Mari could only roll her eyes at her Maman's shout.

"We'd better go down before she comes up." Cass wore a small smile, and they made their way downstairs. They didn't even make it to the bottom before she noticed her Maman's frown.

"You're both wearing the same clothes as yesterday." Her tone was flat and Mari had to fight not to roll her eyes. The sleep thing was going to be an even bigger fight now.

"We were talking, and I fell asleep before I could change." Sabine looked at Cass for confirmation. "We'll change after breakfast." She looked over at the table. "Is everyone coming for breakfast?" There was enough food there to last a week.

"We weren't sure what Cass likes and Americans are used to larger portion sizes." That was supposed to explain enough food to feed an army? "You two sit and help yourselves."

They sat, but Cass didn't seem comfortable just grabbing food. Mari ended up making both their plates, just grabbing what she thought Cass would like. When she looked up, Sabine was frowning at them.

"What?" She shook her head before going to get Tom. Mari looked at Cass but just got a shrug in return. When her parents came back in, she suddenly knew what the animal in a zoo must feel like. "Are you two going to eat, or just watch us?" Her Papa blushed, but her Maman just rolled her eyes.

"I don't think you appreciate just how strange it is to see the two of you together, acting like you were never separated to begin with." Mari didn't have a response to that. Cass started curling in on herself. "I'm not criticising, sweetheart, but you both need to realize it will take a minute for the rest of us to catch up. The boys especially, since Cass is acting out of character to them."

"And I'm not?"

"You are being you. You're affectionate with most of the people around you. Cass is more withdrawn from what we've heard, so her letting you be your normal self to her is strange to the others." Even though it made sense, it still annoyed her. She hated the fact that Cass didn't have anyone she felt comfortable enough around to let them touch her. "And honestly, they have no idea what to make of you either. I don't know what goes on in that house, but they seem to be expecting you to explode or something. It's like they can't deal with you being a genuinely upbeat person."

Mari had to force herself not to wince, and she saw Cass flinch out of the corner of her eye. Given her parents didn't know about their other activities, or their pasts for that matter, it wasn't surprising that she thought it was odd. She wasn't certain her Maman finding out the truth would be any better, though. Given what she'd heard about the Bats, and what Cass had told her last night, she might very well ban Mari from seeing Bruce. He didn't have a great track record of keeping his kids safe.

"I'm sure they're just feeling me out. Probably don't like that idea of me stealing Cass." The words just popped out, but she had to wonder if it wasn't at least partly the truth.

"You're not stealing her."

"Maman, look at it from their perspective. I just show up out of the blue and demand Cass come here, and stay here. They have no idea why, either. Given the nature of the threat, I'm surprised they haven't jumped to mind control." Her parents shared a look. "Let me guess, Damian?"

"That boy needs therapy. Badly." She had no idea. Cass let out an amused snort. "The fact that the others just egg him on doesn't help either."

"Maman, you've only just met them. All families are different and it's a bit early to judge, don't you think?" While she agreed with Sabine's assessment, she really didn't want her to jump to conclusions. Given her parents were already antagonistic towards Bruce, she didn't want them hostile towards the others right away, too. Sabine gave her a flat look.

"Normally, I'd agree, but the boys are a bit on the extreme side. I'm going to have to have a talk with Selina and get a better idea of things." Mari honestly couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing. In theory, Selina should want Sabine to like Bruce so Mari would be able to get to know him. In reality, she tended to like to cause chaos without any real thought to the consequences.

"Um, maybe you should talk to Alfred? He's been with Bruce his whole life." She saw Cass wince out of the corner of her eye and immediately wanted to words back. If Cass thought it was a bad idea, no good could come of it.

"Maybe. I don't know how much I trust the man's judgement, given how close he is to Bruce." Mari could only frown at that. With that reasoning, she shouldn't trust Selina, either.

"Just remember that Selina likes to stir things up. Please don't take what she says at face value." Her mother gave a hum.

"I tried to make sure the others would give you two some space, but they'll all be here for lunch. We'll be in the bakery so you two can spend the morning alone." She went downstairs, but her Papa lagged behind. He was holding a package she hadn't noticed before.

"We put together a sort of welcome kit for you, Cass." He seemed nervous as he handed it to her. Cass just seemed stunned. "It has keys for the bakery and apartment and a list of all our numbers so you can get a hold of us if you need to. Alfred arranged for you to go to school with Mari, so we got you a tablet for that. Chloe helped us find language software that will not only do spoken words, but you can use the camera to translate your signing, so you don't have to find the words in a language you're not used to. She's also going to be teaching us to sign when she comes over for cooking lessons. We want you to feel comfortable here. I know that it's not what you're used to, but I hope you'll grow to think of this as another home." Cass just stared at him, and Mari was fairly certain that she didn't really think of anywhere as home, at least not in the way her Papa meant.

"Thank you." Cass's words were barely audible, but she could hear the emotion behind them, and given the way her Papa moved like he wanted to hug her, he heard it too. He stopped himself, but Mari could see how hard it was for him, so she hugged him instead.

"This is wonderful Papa." He hugged her back tightly.

"If you two need anything, we're just a phone call away." It was directed more at Cass, but Mari smiled at him.

"We know. Thank you." He seemed to want to say more, but ended up heading to the bakery. Until they got a better feel for Cass, she knew they didn't want to overstep. Cass was still looking at the door. "They mean it you know. You're welcome here, whether I'm here or not."

"They should know. It's dangerous." Mari could only offer her a tight smile. It was a guilt she knew well.

"They know some of it, and knowing everything won't change their minds, but it's your decision. Truthfully, I doubt they'll be in anymore danger from you being here than they already are because of me." Cass got up to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

"We'll keep them safe."

"As long as we can." Neither of them were dumb enough, or egotistical enough, to believe they could do it forever. "Want to go back upstairs?" They put the food away since neither were hungry anymore and went back to her room. Cass just watched her for a few minutes.

"She'll probably come here to make sure you're alright." Mari could only blink at her for a moment. She hadn't thought about that. The last thing anyone needed was their mother in Paris.

"I don't suppose Bruce can talk her out of it?" The dry look Cass shot her wasn't actually needed. "I guess it'll just be one more thing to deal with then. For now, though, we need to make you a new wardrobe." Cass frowned at her. "Please? I'm not going to make anything you don't like. I just want to do this with you."

"The boys are going to be jealous." They both managed to keep a straight face for a few seconds before falling into giggles. 

Beginning   Previous    Next

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[chronicallylatetotheparty]

Perfect Paradise Ch.20: Just Give Me a Reason. Just a Little Bit's Enough

Summary: Avatar of Destruction

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

Marinette woke groggily as cheerful sunlight shone from her windows. She gave it an accusing glare even though she was the one who forgot to close her blackout curtains last night.

Gregor was in the other mansion and even if he wasn't he didn't enter without knocking. She contemplated just closing them herself and going back to bed but it was too late. Marinette could already feel sleep receding.

"Tikki."

"Five more minutes," Tikki mumbled from her pillow nest.

Grumbling reluctantly, Marinette made her way downstairs. The smell of breakfast hitting her on the stairs. Adrien! She perked up and hurried down. More awake than before.

Adrien was wearing casual clothes under his apron instead of his pyjamas which meant he'd spent the night elsewhere.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Adrien smiled, eyes on the stove.

"Morning," Marinette grinned, placing a kiss on his cheek. "That for me?"

"Yup." Adrien set a plate of chocolate chip pancakes on the counter. Which Marinette greedily devoured.

"When did you get in?"

"This morning. Spent yesterday at... at Kagami's."

Marinette frowned. "What time is it?"

"Quarter to twelve."

Eyes going wide Marinette leapt out of her seat and grabbed a croissant.

"Whoah!" Adrien chuckled as he called after her. "On a Sunday!"

"... Oh," Marinette blushed a bit as she walked back into the kitchen and sat down to finish her meal. "How is Kagami? And Felix?"

"Didn't see him," Adrien said as he turned back to the stove. "Too busy with his business apparently."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "That sounds like Felix."

"Doesn't it just."

"Still, you and Ryuko could handle it by yourselves."

"Clean up duty? Oh yeah. It was the Moonlight Hunters that had the hard job... What about here?"

Marinette shrugged as she drank her coffee. "Same really. Just keeping the minionized people contained until Ghostforce could beat Kasenti. You were right about them by the way."

A pancake Adrien was putting on the plate almost slipped. "Of course I was," he teased. "I'm always right about ghosts."

Adrien took his apron off and stared at the stack of chocolate chip pancakes. Taking a breath as he caught up to his thoughts, Adrien set them down in front of Marinette.

This wasn't unusual. Adrien often spaced out when his brain latched onto an idea. Like going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. Marinette's was more like going down a Wonderland rabbit hole but regardless. What was weird is that there were no plane pancakes for Adrien himself. Or even a plate.

"I..." Adrien started. "It's going to be the anniversary soon."

Marinette swallowed her mouthful and reached across the counter to squeeze her husband's hand. "I remember."

"It's funny," Adrien tried for a smile but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "In all these years, I never asked how he died."

Her breakfast suddenly sat heavily in Marinette's stomach. "Fighting Monarch."

"Yes, but how?" Adrien emphasized, his other hand laying on top of Marinette's keeping her there. "He was wearing an Alliance. How did he avoid akumatization?"

Marinette tried to keep her heartbeat steady even as Adrien looked into her eyes for the first time since she walked in.

"And even if he did die why didn't the Miraculous Ladybug bring him back? It's brought back countless people! What was so special about-"

Marinette yanked her hand out of Adrien's grasp. Eyes glowing briefly red before she blinked it away. "I don't know. One moment he was holding Monarch the next he was gone."

Something crossed Adrien's face, wiping away the desperation that rose up with every passing word. Now he was expressionless.

"... Please," Adrien pleaded. "I have to know."

"... Monarch used some combination of the Miraculous to... to... unmake your father. I couldn't bring him back the same way I couldn't bring back Master Fu's memories." It wasn't a lie. Not really. Ok just a little one! But technically Monarch did use magic to destroy himself. That counts as telling the truth! Right?

Adrien's expression didn't change. "... Okay. Sorry to bring it up. I know you don't like dwelling on it."

The knot in Marinette's stomach loosened. She smiled sadly at her husband to hide her relief. "No, I'm sorry I don't remember more. It all happened so fast."

"Right..." Adrien walked towards the door. Stopping at the threshold. "I have a meeting to get to."

"See you tonight then." Not knowing what to do with her hands Marinette continued eating her breakfast.

Adrien rubbed the twin rings on his left hand. "Thank you for giving me the Amok object."

"Of course, they belong to you."

It wasn't until the front door closed that Marinette realized what she said. Fork clattering to the floor as she felt her house of cards being swallowed up by a yawning void.

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

"What're you thinking kid?" Plagg asked. Usually he could somewhat follow Adrien's thought process. But his wielder wasn't talking to him at the moment.

Adrien made a noncommittal noise in response.Twenty years of marriage. Twenty years of putting all of their feelings first.

He went to Master Fu's funeral. Even though Marinette's eulogy about what a "great" mentor he was turned his stomach. But he swallowed down the bile because Marinette lost someone important to her. So he held her afterwards and pretended the cold ache in his chest was him empathizing with her loss.

When he learned Kagami and Felix of all people knew her identity as Ladybug? He was too busy being relieved that her Miraculous wasn't being taken away to follow the fleeting thought that, if it had been him? If it had been Chat Noir who's identity was exposed to a supervillain? He wouldn't be so lucky.

Years of tiptoeing around her trauma over the death of G-     . Adrien's fists clenched. Her trauma. It was his fucking father! His fucking Cataclysm that-

"Kid!"

Adrien was snapped out of his thoughts by Plagg's voice.

People were yelling at each other about who had run into who with a cake delivery. A bus was emptying it's occupants due to two flat tires. Every single coffee machine in a nearby cafe was apparently out of order.

He glanced down. Adrien's shadow was too long. Too dark. Stretching out behind him instead of following the light of the sun. It snapped back into proper place at his glare.

Thankfully, Plagg kept quiet about this lapse as he walked on.

Gregor greeted them as Adrien walked in. His response must've been off because Gregor didn't say much as Adrien went down into the subsection of the manor.

Most of it was still being dug out. The library was little more than an empty, giant, rectangular room. Every hall was like that except the garden. Adrien felt a ripple on his skin as he walked through Nino's first real ward. Excellent for keeping out unwanted butterflies.

Plagg floated out of Adrien's pocket. "We don't have to be here. You can ask me whatever-"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Adrien's voice wasn't loud but still it echoed in the great chasm.

Plagg's whiskers drooped. "... Because she told us not to."

If Adrien thought the stabbing pain in his chest couldn't get any worse he was sorely mistaken. "She... ordered you?"

"Ladybug didn't know what she was doing!" Plagg said quickly. "Our Miraculous were in her hands and her desire out of her throat before we even realized it wasn't a request."

Adrien stared at Plagg, face pale. "Is that why you didn't tell me I wasn't human?"

"No," Plagg met Adrien's eyes. "I didn't know about that. Didn't understand it when Monarch and Ladybug had their last battle. Only Duusu and Nooroo might've known."

Adrien's vision blurred as wet heat burned down his face. "You could've asked."

"... But then she might've said 'No'," Plagg replied.

Adrien wiped at his eyes. Staring at a particularly vibrant flower of moly. It's white petals bringing attention to it's pollen heavy stamen.

Slowly, Adrien held out his hand for Plagg. Who landed gently on it. Pulling him to Adrien's chest. He could feel Plagg's little arms through the fabric of his shirt. Standing was altogether too much work so Adrien all but collapsed onto his back. Grass staining his shirt.

Adrien laid there for a while as his heartbeat slowed. Staring up at the mirrors that brought sunlight down into this underground oasis. Plagg purring on his chest.

There was so much to do. So much to destroy. And he would. Adrien knew he would. He could feel it as Plagg's power sank into him, rippling out across the Veil. The last invisible barrier between them broken. Adrien could feel the coming storm.

His shadow bloomed underneath him like a black rose, covering the entire cavern in total darkness. Eyes glowing a toxic green as his pupils became vertical slits. At last, Adrien could see.

[starwarsmum]

Day 3! Today's prompt is Head Over Feet

@maribat-calendar-events

Marinette packed the last box in her room and glanced around. The room felt larger than before, the bed neatly made and the desk empty. The bookshelf was bare of trinkets and novels, freshly dusted and gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. 

“You know, when I said I wanted Nino to move in I didn't mean you had to move out,” Alya said, leaning against the door jamb. Marinette smiled at her and came over to give her best friend a hug.

“I do know that, but I also know that a two bed apartment with three people is a squeeze. I was thinking about moving to America anyway, this is just a good time to do it. So really, I should be thanking you both for the push.”

“Sure, if that's what you're telling yourself,” Alya snorted, hugging her back tightly. “You promise to call if you need anything, day or night? I don't want you worrying about the time difference if you need something.”

“I promise.”

_ _ _

Stepping off the plane in New Jersey, Marinette felt a whisper of change in the air. As she'd come into her powers as Guardian, she had noticed that her instincts had honed and, more frequently now, she could anticipate when something big was going to happen. She assumed it was her link to Fluff making her more attuned to the future.

It didn't feel like a bad change, but it was something she would be on the lookout for. Normally, when she felt this particular whisper, it meant that she should take an opportunity. It gave her a flutter in her stomach, an anticipation that made her twitch a little as she grabbed her luggage and made her way over to the taxi rank.

She looked at the sparse few taxis and let her instinct pull her over to one that looked a little beat up. It was surprisingly clean inside, and the man driving it was devilishly handsome with dark hair and a strong build. He smiled at her and asked where she needed to go, not once leering at her or making her feel uncomfortable.

“I'm actually headed into Gotham,” she said, putting her luggage in the seat next to her as she slid in. “I'm staying in the fashion district…” she rattled off the address and he nodded along. Before long he had pulled away and was chattering easily as they made their way to Gotham.

He pulled up in front of the apartment building and she frowned slightly. She could just about see the resemblance to the photos she had viewed online, but there was at least a decade’s worth of dirt and grime built up on it all. The cabbie chuckled when he saw her face.

“Look a little different to what you were expecting?”

“Yes, but I'm locked into the contract for at least six months so it'll have to do,” she said, paying him and tipping generously. He tried to protest but she leveled a glare at him until he relented. “Thank you, I hope you have a lovely night.”

Using the key that had been posted to her, and the code she had been emailed the day before, she got into her new apartment and breathed a sigh of relief. It was cleaner inside than out, the walls a little dingy but the floors were clear of dirt. The room's were bare, ready for her to furnish as she wanted but there were appliances in the kitchen.

She was glad she’d known it wouldn't have a bed and pulled a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket out of her suitcase. She could probably get a solid six hours of sleep if she crashed then, and then she could go find a coffee shop and somewhere to get some furniture delivered.

As she lay down, Tikki curled up in the crook of her neck and they went to sleep.

_ _ _

Tim sat on top of the Wayne Enterprises building as he worked on some of his patrol logs. He had his ear on comms but if he could get the paperwork done while he waited to be needed he could just go to bed when his shift ended. 

“Yo, Robin, I think the guys we've been waiting for are ready to get in the cab,” Dick's voice crackled into life in his ear and he sighed before giving two clicks to let him know he was on his way. It didn't take long for him to land on the outer edges of Gotham, following the only road that would lead from the New Jersey airport. 

Dick's voice carried on, generic questions about what they were doing in town, whether they needed advice on where to stay…it wouldn't have worked for anyone else, but something about Dick just disarmed people. 

As soon as they left the cab - barely bothering to pay for the ride, until the last guy to exit seemed to realise it might cause problems to short change and Gotham cabbie - Tim took over surveilling the trio of men, following them to a warehouse. Once he was sure that this was their base, he slipped in and planted a recording device with a direct link to his tablet.

“Okay, I'm all done with that, I'll send you the link to the videos and audio once they start rolling in.”

“Thanks Robin,” Dick said easily and Tim grinned even though he couldn't be seen. “I didn't tell you about the woman I picked up at the airport yet! She gave me an insane tip after I dropped her off in the fashion district.”

“Wait, a woman travelling alone in the middle of the night just…got in your cab? Did she have a death wish or something, we made that cab look sketchy as hell!”

“I know, right? She was super confident too, gave me her actual address and everything. She was moving to town, I hope she doesn't end up doing something stupid. She was kind of cute and that doesn't always go down well in Gotham.”

“Do I need to warn Oracle that you've got wandering eyes?” Tim said in an amused voice.

“Hey, absolutely not! I'm head over heels for my one true love,” Dick said hotly, making Tim snigger. “I was thinking more like cute for you. You haven't been on all that many dates since you and Wonder Girl finally called it quits and I know it can get lonely up at the manor.”

“Well thanks, but no thanks. I'm doing just fine and I don't think dating a ditzy girl who thinks traveling at night in Gotham is a smart way to spend time is really my type.”

[celestiall0tus]

Miraculous Absolution - Chapter 11 - Comfort

Beginning || Previous || Next

            Alix yawned and stepped out of her room. Fang stretched and followed her. Ondine finished setting up dinner when Alix joined her.

            “Evening, sleeping beauty,” Ondine teased.

            Alix grunted and flipped off Ondine.

            Ondine snickered and took her seat. Alix moved to take her seat when there was a knock on the door.

            “Huh? Were you expecting company?” Alix asked.

            Ondine shook her head.

            Alix hummed and answered the door. Her eyes widened seeing Luka.

            “Uh, hey, Alix? Having a nice evening?” Luka asked.

            “What the hell are you doing here?” Alix asked.

            “Oh, right. Juleka swung by earlier and borrowed Fang to fetch Luka,” Ondine said.

            “Ok, well, then why are you here? At my apartment?”

            “I was hoping I could borrow Fang.”

            “What? No. Papillon is about to cause trouble before long and I need to be out there. And if I’m lucky, I’ll see the cat.”

            “Please. I need to talk with Nette.”

            Alix pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yeah, right. Talk? At that time of night for her? Look, Luka, I know you miss Mari and you probably haven’t been touched in two years, but I’m not about to let you use Fang for damn booty calls.”

            Luka’s eyes widened and his face turned beet red. Ondine roared with laughter in the other room.

            “Look, I promise it isn’t like that. I just need to speak with her about something really important. Just give me thirty minutes, please.”

            Alix rolled her eyes. “Fine. Thirty minutes and you don’t make a habit of this.”

            “Deal!”

            “Fang!”

            Fang howled and teleported Luka to the Cheng estate. Luka froze in the darkness with Fang at his side.

            “Do you know where she is?” Luka whispered.

            “Transform and follow.”

            Luka transformed and followed Fang. He glanced around and saw infrared outlines of people in buildings all asleep. He glanced down at Fang who gave had an empty outline. He worked to piece together this vision as they neared a building with one person in it. His heart leapt as they entered the building and headed down the hall to a door.

            “Wait here,” Fang instructed.

            Luka waited until he heard a playful bark and a loud gasp. His breath caught hearing Marinette’s voice. He knocked on the door as Fang appeared halfway through the door.

            “You may come in now.”

            Marinette yawned as she reached for the light. “Are we starting earlier now?”

            Luka chuckled as he sat on the end of the bed. “Not exactly.”

            Marinette froze. “Luka? Luka, is that you?”

            Luka grinned as Marinette turned on the light. “The one and only, Nette.”

            Marinette threw her arms around Luka. “Oh, it’s so good to see you! Wait! What are you doing here?”

            “I might have made a little deal with Alix. Thirty minutes and not to make a habit of this.”

            Marinette smirked. “Dangerous deal. You now Alix never holds her end of the bargain.”

            “Well, I just need some time. I don’t want to keep you. Plus, Juleka told me about Xiu.”

            Marinette’s smile faded. “What did she say?”

            “Just that Xiu doesn’t approve of me and would rather you be with Chat Noir.”

            Marinette huffed. “I told her I wouldn’t do it. That I would rather see him beaten into the ground and face the justice of the people for everything he’s put us through.”

            Luka ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, Nette, I hate to say this, but I can’t have you doing that.”

            “What? Why?”

            “It’s based on what Juleka told you earlier. He needs help and I don’t mean as a hero. He needs a therapist.”

            “Then sit him down with Rose.”

            “I don’t think Rose would be able to help him. Rose has a more forward approach that won’t work with someone like Chat Noir. It’s why I’m here. I’m hoping to work on getting Chat Noir to open up.”

            Marinette opened her mouth but was cut off by Fang’s yelp. She and Luka looked over as Fang vanished in a blip of light.

            “Oh, crap! There’s no way it’s been thirty minutes. Hold on. Let me call Juleka.”

            Luka de-transformed and stepped out of the room.

            Marinette growled and crossed her arms. She didn’t want to help Chat Noir in any way or form. She wanted to see him pay for his failures as much as seeing Papillon strung up for his crimes. However, she recalled Juleka’s point of preventing another Papillon from being created. Was Chat Noir really that far gone to become Papillon? Surely there was no way. It had to take a special kind of monster to become Papillon and Chat Noir wasn’t anywhere near that.

            Marinette considered as she listened to Luka speak with Juleka. Perhaps she could convince him to stay here for a while. He wouldn’t need to be back for another couple of months to take the field. She didn’t think she could keep him here for the entire time, but maybe a month.

            “Sorry about that. Turns out Alix has already hit the field,” Luka announced as he entered the room.

            “I see. Well, knowing Alix, she’ll likely be out all night. So, why don’t we pick up this conversation in the morning?”

            Luka sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Might as well. I-.”

            “Perhaps you could stay for, I don’t know, say about a month?”

            “Nette, I don’t think I should. Chat Noir-.”

            “He’ll be fine. C’mon, he’s like any mangy stray you find around Paris. Besides, it has been two years since we’ve been together like this. Perhaps we can take this time to enjoy it? We don’t know what’ll happen once I get back, so why not now?”

            “I’m not sure. Juleka was worried. Plus, there is the matter of your grandmother.”

            “Oh, Xiu will, well, she won’t be fine with it, but it’s not like she can just send you away. After all, I want you here and I’m the ladybug now.”

            “I don’t know. Sass? What do you think? Will Chat Noir be ok?”

            Sass snorted. “He’s with the black cat. No one is ever ok in the hands of Plagg.”

            Tikki materialized and glared at Sass. “Excuse you, McSassy Britches. What’s wrong with my Plagg?”

            “Oh! Let me get my list. I’ve been saving it for a few eons now.”

            “C’mon, Plagg isn’t that bad. He’s got his good qualities.”

            Sass roared with laughter.

            Tikki glared at Sass.

            “Oh, wait, you were serious? Let me laugh harder then.”

            “Enough! Don’t make fun of my Plagg!” Tikki yelled.

            Tikki and Sass continued their back-and-forth. Luka frowned and scooped up the two kwamis.

            “Alright, enough yelling. Sass, please stop badmouthing this Plagg. Tikki, please let it go.”

            Tikki and Sass shot each other nasty glances, then turned away from the other. Luka handed Tikki to Marinette and then turned to Sass.

            “So, will Chat Noir be ok?”

            Sass shrugged. “Hard to say with you mortals. Maybe, maybe not.”

            Luka sighed. “Well, I’ll sleep on it. Alright, Nette?”

            “Of course! And we’ll make sure to talk about it. I promise.”

            “Thank you, Nette. So, when do you need to start your training for the day.”

            “Not for another two hours.”

            Luka smiled and snuggled Marinette. “Cuddle time?”

            Marinette kissed Luka. “Cuddle time.”

~~

            Lila stepped into Chloe’s room with a tray of food. “Curore mio, I brought you dinner.”

            Silence.

            Lila peeked over to the bed to see Chloe curled up in a tight ball. She placed the tray on the coffee table and approached the bed.

            “Chloe?”

            “What?” Chloe growled.

            “Are you still upset over that stupid cat?”

            Chloe glared at Lila. “Of course, I am! What do you think? My best friend just ditched me for no real reason. And I don’t know what I’m about to do without the team.”

            “Why not go solo like the cat?”

            “An idea, but what use am I on my own? My powers are only useful when I have others. I couldn’t accomplish anything on my own. I need a team to be part of.”

            “Why not join the Ladybug then?”

            A long silence.

            “I want to join your team,” Chloe admitted.

            “I don’t have a team. I’m not a hero.”

            “But you are a holder, Volpina.”

            Another long silence.

            “How long have you known?” Lila asked.

            “Over a year. A couple months after we started dating.”

            Lila laughed. “Was I really that bad at hiding it?”

            “Only when it came to me. I’m sure the boys were too stupid to realize why you would cave to Queen Bee.”

            “A blessing in disguise, but are you sure? It’s not as glamorous as being seen with Chat Noir.”

            “But the people believe in your efforts. You’ve kept them safe, at least to the best of your abilities. I bet you’ve even seen the real Papillon, haven’t you?”

            A pause. “I have.”

            “What’s he like?”

            “She is like a twisted, dark fairy.”

            “‘She’?” Chloe echoed.

            Lila nodded.

            Chloe’s jaw dropped as she worked through her annoyance and anger. “I wish you would have told us the truth. We’ve been chasing a man all this time. Perhaps we could have ended this sooner if we knew it was a woman.”

            Lila snorted. “Not likely. She is cunning and gives me a run for my money. Not to mention horribly ruthless. She hasn’t hesitated to cut down innocents just to get me to back off.”

            “You’re kidding. Please say you are.”

            “I wish I was. Take the Dupain-Cheng bakery. I encountered Papillon that night. I went to save the cops there, but she dodged me and killed the cops in the way I had told you guys.”

            “Shit. Well, there’s still hope. Let me help you. We can end this together.”

            Lila took a deep breath. “No.”

            “What? But I’m-!”

            “I know what you are. You are Queen Bee, the people’s hero. You are the one with Carapace that kept the people safe while cat chased glory. I do not doubt your abilities, but I will not see you face Papillon. I cannot best her, how will you?”

            “Well, what would you have me do then?”

            “Help the people out of the city.”

            “What?”

            “Look, we’ve been working on slowly evacuating the people the past month since… well, since I saw the ladybug earrings.”

            “You know who the ladybug is?”

            “I have an idea, but she’s not in the city. She’s out of the country. Training I believe.”

            “I see. But you’ve been able to get people out? And Papillon hasn’t noticed?”

            “Not yet. It takes extra time to oversee the evacuation efforts. Perhaps you could help me with that?”

            Chloe considered and nodded. “I will.”

            “Thank you. Eat up. We head out soon.”

            “Hey, Lila?”

            “Yes, mia regina?”

            Chloe kissed Lila and hugged her. “Thank you. Ti amo.”

            Lila smiled and hugged Chloe. “Io ti amo di più.”

            “Ti amo troppo.”

[idontknowanametouse]

Miraculous Rewrite AU, chapter 2: Stoneheart

(mentions of child abuse, trauma and actual consequences for akuma)

When Adrien wakes up, the sky is red.

He sits and looks around. The sun has practically disappeared completely, but there is still color in the sky.

In the distance, he sees the Eiffel Tower and the partially destroyed Montparnasse Tower.

Standing up, he moves a little closer to the edge and looks at the streets. There isn't a single person as far as he can see, the only cars driving around being police ones. The houses also seem to have no people inside, several with empty garages, others with their doors open, as if the residents had run out in panic. In the distance, he can hear something almost similar to an echo:

“Evacuation protocol. Public emergency. This is not training. All citizens, leave the city. Repeating, all citizens, leave the city. Evacuation protocol. Public emergency…”

Adrien turns to Marinette, who is still sleeping, and pokes her:

-Marinette. Marinette. Hey, Marinette.

-Hmm…? – she murmurs, rubbing her eyes. For a second, she looks at Adrien without understanding what's going on, and then quickly stands up. - Puta merda! Where is he?!

-From the trail of destruction and the direction where the police and press cars are heading, I think the champ des mars.

Marinette looks at him, a look of defeat on her face.

-I will give up.

-…you think you failed.

-I really did. We spent hours off and look at all the damage that has been done!

-…I can't deny that… it really seems like this isn't going to work… not with us…

-Stop.

They both look in the direction of the voice. Plagg and Tikki, in their human forms, glare at them.

-Is it serious that you are going to give up because you made mistakes?

-Our mistakes cost several people their lives!!

-Child, I'm sorry, but… you can't save everyone. Not when there's a crazy person out there taking advantage of other people's feelings to cause destruction. You have as much guilt as the person inside that stone armor, which is to say, none.

-You are trying to save and help people! Even if you fail, it will never be your fault, understand?!

-We never make mistakes when it's about connections. Even when the person didn't accept it, we knew we still had it. You can quit if you want. We can find other people. But know that you were chosen for a reason.

There is a moment of silence. Then, suddenly, Tikki's form disappears and Marinette transforms.

-Marinette? – Adrien murmurs.

-Ladybug, actually. – and turns to him. - I have an idea. And I need you as my partner.

Suddenly, seeing that look on her sparks something again in Adrien. Something that sparked earlier when Plagg revealed himself. Something that hadn't been lit for years, until that day. And that compelled him to rise up and transform.

-What's the plan?

-I need four very long ropes, this inflatable mattress here – and they took the previously invoked talisman. – my yo-yo, the Eiffel Tower, your cataclysm and… sorry about that… your willingness to be caught in the hand of that thing.

-…I like your way of thinking, my lady. – and gave her a Cheshire smile.

-My lady?

-Yes.

-Stop that.

-What about Buggaboo?

-I'm going to punch you. Let's go. Are you in or not?

-Ladybug… I promise that I'm always in with your plans! – and gives her a thumbs up.

-…thanks. Now, let's get this shit done.

–

When the weapons are turned towards them, they both expected it. This way, they are faster, following a zigzag pattern until they are in a part of the Eiffel Tower out of the reach of the bullets. It is at that moment that Heart of Stone approaches, but, just as they are about to put the plan into action, the villain opens his mouth and a thousand black butterflies come out of it, gather on top of the Eiffel Tower and form a giant face.

-…was that in your plan? – mutters Chat.

-…no.

Things only get worse when a press helicopter approaches the giant head and it spoke.

-People of Paris, I am Hawk Moth.

-Hawk Moth? – they both murmur, still kinda schocked with the whole "butterfly-made talking head" thing.

-I'll only make this stop if you bring me the ladybug and cat miraculous. You two must turn yourself in, as you have already caused too much damage to this city.

-AH, VAI TOMAR NO CU!!!

Everyone's eyes – Hawk Moth's, Stoneheart's, Chat Noir's, the military's, the press', everyone who left's and everyone who stayed in Paris' – turn to the girl dressed as a ladybug in the center of the Eiffel Tower.

-DON’T TRY TO PRETEND TO BE INNOCENT!! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAUSED ALL THIS LÄ SHÎ!! YOU SENT THE AKUMA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN INNOCENT PERSON SUFFERING AND CONTROL HIM TO BE A VILLAIN, AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY YOU THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING BAD THAT'S HAPPENING, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GET HURT, AND FOR THOSE WHO DIED! IF THERE'S ONE THING I HATE IT'S A PIECE OF SHIT LIKE YOU ACTING LIKE YOU'RE INNOCENT! I AM LADYBUG AND MY PARTNER IS CHAT NOIR, THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL MAKE YOU CAGAR NA CALÇA!! GO, GET OUT OF HERE, AND STOP DISTURBING MY PLAN!! SHOO, SHOO, SHOO!!!

With this last sentence, she throws the yo-yo towards the head, dispersing the butterflies and pulling the weapon back to herself.

-How rude! Let's get this over with, Stoneheart is already coming here! – Ladybug exclaims, making a slight pout and turning to Chat Noir. – Get up there, and do as we agreed!!

-Okay… okay… – he says, without realizing that, beneath the mask, there is a slight blush over his freckles.

As Ladybug said, Stoneheart starts climbing the Eiffel Tower, going after them, and Chat Noir hits him with his crutches to draw his attention. Both begin a chase up the tower, meanwhile, Ladybug ties the ropes to the ends of the inflated mattress and then ties the other ends to the string of her yo-yo, forming a complex geometric pattern of a string as she crosses it between the pillars of the Eiffel Tower.

As soon as he reaches the top, just before the villain does, Chat Noir activates his cataclysm (being very careful this time not to touch the wrong place) and destroys the tip of the tower. He quickly descends, jumping towards Stoneheart, who, surprised, grabs him, but also opens his left hand so that he can grab the part of the tower that falls over him.

With that, a small blackened paper ball falls down the tower, with Ladybug catching it in her hands and… well, there's no other way to put it. She tears apart the paper with her teeth.

A small butterfly emerges from the torn object. Initially dark, it almost immediately turns white, flying away. Black smoke surrounds the figure of Stoneheart, and Ladybug sees Ivan, falling through the bars of the Eiffel Tower.

Alarmed, she prays that her plan works, and is relieved to see her friend falling onto the mattress firmly tied to the string of their yo-yo. Just as planned, Chat Noir quickly descends the tower, sliding on his crutches. Ladybug already has the ropes that hold the mattress together in her hands, as if it were a little bundle. She asks:

-Are you ready?

-Yes, but they're going to come after us… and after him. – He points to the military forces and the police, who are getting closer and closer to the base of the tower.

-…Merda.

-Don't worry, I'll solve this.

-How?

-Just follow the plan and hold on to me, and it will be fine.

-…okay, I'll trust you.

-Hey! Dude! Hold on there!!

Ladybug, just as they agreed, hugs him, holding him tight, and Ivan, without understanding anything of what is happening, clings to the mattress.

Chat Noir feels something inside him, almost like an itch. Something that compels him. Something that somehow makes him sure of what to do.

Something similar to a black hole.

Ladybug, Ivan and a few others scream as a huge ball of darkness envelops them. They can't see anything inside, there's an absolute lack of light around them. Taking advantage of the gap, Chat Noir uses his crutches to get out of there quickly, then returning to the area of ​​light and out of sight of the army. He doesn't stop until they reach a safe location, close to the school where it all started.

-…what was that? – Ladybug asks, her knees still shaking slightly.

-I… I don't know, I think I unlocked my other power? I just… thought about a black hole and out of nowhere, all the light disappeared… it must work like that. Kind of.

-Ah… – she turns to Ivan. – I… I mean, dude, are you okay?

-Hm… I think so, but… – he murmurs, looking at the floor. - …what happened? I can't remember…

-Oh… what's the last thing you recall?

-I… I received a call… about my mother and then… I had an anxiety attack, and… I only remember until that part.

-Hm… okay, ok, it's… sorry, I really don't know how to tell you this…

-We are heroes. – says Chat. – Okay, I think you already got that, but we showed up here in the city to fight a villain, called Hawk Moth. From what we know, he takes people's negative emotions and uses this to control them and turn them into villains. I'm… I'm really sorry that he did this to you.

Ivan seems to take a few seconds to process the information, and then his face changes. First, he appears to remember something. Then shock crosses his face. Finally, an expression of despair takes over him and he lowers his head, burying it in his hands.

-Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey. – calls Ladybug, trying to get his attention. – It wasn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong, Hawk Moth is the only one to blame.

-But I… I… still… I… – his hands are shaking. – I saw… the damage, on the way… I did this… I… I can't fix this… everyone will know… that I was the monster who did this…

-You are not a monster. I don't know what you're going through, but I'm absolutely sure that you're not a monster. The only monster is Hawk Moth. Plus, we can fix everything, or at least a good part of it.

-…h-how?

She then takes the air mattress, deflates it, throws it up in the air and it turns into a billion ladybugs.

As if that weren't enough, the ladybugs spread and, wherever they go, structures are reassembled and injured people are healed. Not everything can be repaired, the few people who died do not return, but the repair is so impressive that it astounds everyone in the city and beyond.

-I call it Miraculous Ladybug. From what I understand, it quickly fixes everything that can be repaired by human hands.

-…that…is very impressive…

-Listen, we need to leave now. Will you be fine?

-…I think… so… – Ivan muttered.

-Are you sure? – he nodds. - Alright then. Take care of yourself.

The two heroes move away, climbing onto the roof of Marinette's house, close to where they left Ivan.

-I live here… – she yawns. – I'm going to go in and sleep while I wait for my parents, then I'll make up some excuse that I hid and went home and they were not here…

-Okay, I'll meet you tomorrow.

-Bye.

-Bye. -Wait! – and raised their fist. - Fist bump? He smiles, tired but happy, and touches his fist with hers. -Fist bump. And he leaves.

–

The next day, people are allowed to return to the city, but at school, it's possible to see that some are still hesitant to leave home, due to the absence of some students. Even before class starts, it is possible to feel the tension among the students, not only because of the situation itself, but also because it all started at that school.

Marinette arrives a little later than usual, but never actually late, and is faced with a crowd of reporters in front of the school. Before they can ask themself what is happening, they see the journalists walking away because of a red-haired figure. One she only met yesterday, but whose face is etched in her memory.

Her literature teacher and responsible for the class this year, Professor Bustier. And she looks like she's about to hit the reporters.

-IF I SEE ANY OF YOU AROUND HERE AGAIN OR OUTSIDE SCHOOL HARASSING A STUDENT, I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL CALL THE POLICE! SHOO, SHOO! GET OUT OF HERE!

Looking very reluctant, the reporters begin to walk away, and, turning to Ivan, the teacher asks:

-Ivan, are you okay?

He nods slightly and murmurs:

-…thanks.

-You don't need to thank me. Now, go inside, it won't be long until class starts.

He nods and starts to go inside, turning around a little later when he feels someone poking him. At first, he doesn't see who it is, until he looks down at Marinette.

-Ah. Hi, Mari.

-Hey. How are you?

-…I don't know.

-…you know it's not your fault, right?

-…I was told, but it's hard to believe.

-If you need to talk to someone, I'm here. Always.

-I know. You always have been. Thanks.

He walks away. Marinette sighs. She had never been the best at cheering people up, especially now when something nearly impossible had just occurred.

-

Today was probably the day Ivan spoke the least in his entire life, and it's not a small competition. When someone asked him something, he simply didn't answer and walked away. Last night, he dreamed about what happened. It was strange and confusing, many things were practically incomprehensible, but there was one thing he managed to remember very well.

When he appeared in the courtyard, many students looked at him in terror. And she was there.

Myléne.

He knew her struggles with fear. He knew how much she had severe anxiety that stopped her from doing many things. He knew how terrified she was in unfamiliar situations.

And he destroyed a wall in front of her while transformed into a giant stone monster.

She would never look him in the face again. And he didn't blame her for that, such was his certainty in his own guilt.

Well, at least, that's what he thought until she came after him in the middle of recess in the school's newly repaired basement (thanks to a bunch of magical ladybugs).

-Hey.

-…hey.

-Wanna talk?

-…you wanna?

-Of course, why wouldn't I want to?

-…it's just… yesterday… what happened…

-I wanted to talk about it, actually.

-…

-That heroine, Ladybug, said that Hawk Moth creates villains out of people's suffering.

-…did she… say that? I don't remember exactly.

-Yes, she did… how are you? Really.

-…really?

-Uhm.

-…scared.

-Something in specific?

-I think… scared of myself. – he swallows hard. – I was always afraid of hurting other people. Everyone was always afraid of me, so… I guess I started to be afraid of myself because of it? I think so. I think I always felt guilty about things I didn't do but could have done that made others fearful when they thought about me. Besides… there are… some things going on at home…

-You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.

-No, it's okay, I… – and swallows. – …my mother is not very good. I think… you already knew that. Yesterday, my neighbor called to tell me about something, and I was scared to go home, I had an anxiety attack and it ended up… happening… that…

-…I'm sorry that bastard used that against you. Yesterday, I wanted to tell you something, but all this mess happened and I couldn't… but… do you remember when you gave me that botton? You know, your favorite band's?

-I do, but why…?

-So, I… wanted to give you something of mine too, even more so after all this… here. – and, feeling her face heat up, she hands him something, pushing the small object into his closed hand.

Ivan opens his hand, without understanding, and feels his heart speed up and his face redden when he sees the small ring. It's handmade, carved from wood, and has a small pink paper flower glued on top.

-I… wanted… to tell you that you are very special to me and that I'm very happy that we became friends in sixth grade… and that I think I love you very much… and that… that… – she swallows and exclaims: – I WANT TO DATE YOU, DO YOU WANT TO DATE ME?!

-…Yes…

-W-what?!

-YES!! B-but… you… really didn't give up on it after yesterday?! B-because I would completely understand and…

-NO, YOU IDIOT!! – and immediately covered their mouth with their hands, in panic. - Sorry!!! Sorry, that was mean!! But that whole thing wasn't your fault, it never will be!!! And it changes in nothing how I feel about you, we can get through all this together, okay?! Let's… let's learn to deal with all these changes, which are really scary, together!!!

-…ok… I… can I hug you?

-Of course you can.

He hugged her gently, relieving himself of everything he had been feeling for a long, long time.

You don't have to act like you have a heart made of stone.

-I love you.

-I love you too.

-

Adrien and Marinette end up being the last ones to leave, at the end of class. Interestingly, as soon as they leave, it starts to rain.

-…oh.

-I have an umbrella. Do you want it?

-Oh? Oh no, you don't need to!!

-It's alright, no problem. I can buy another one, anyway.

-Ah, okay, then…

When Marinette takes the umbrella in her hands, however, it closes over them, trapping the two together.

-Ouch!

-Wait, let me try to open it!

-No, calm down!

-How do you do it?!

-Can you just press the button again?!

-I don't know, let me try!!

Fortunately, they soon manage to get out from under the umbrella. Suddenly, to Marinette's surprise, Adrien begins to have a fit of laughter.

In fact, it also makes her laugh a little. And the way his face, previously looking so expressionless, suddenly got bright, made her happy.

-I… – Adrien takes a deep breath to calm down, but continues smiling at her. – …I have to go, my best friend must be waiting.

-The… girl you entered the classroom with?

-Yeah. Chloé. She is like my sister. In fact, I think she's my only friend until yesterday, when Nino offered to be my friend too.

That was definitely like Nino.

-I can also be your friend.

-Really?

-Yeah. We're going to be superhero partners, so I think we kind of need to get along, right?

-OK. You're cool, I would like having you as a friend.

-Same.

-I'll see you tomorrow, my lady.

-Ha, ha, very funny. You are never stopping that?

-Never. – and sticks out his tongue at her, who reciprocate as Adrien walks away.

That umbrella somehow felt perfect in their hands. It was almost as if she couldn't let go of it anymore.

-

And chapter 2 is out! I'm trying to give some spotlight and kind of dive into all the teens, so I decided to make this one about Ivan and kind of about Myléne too, do you like it? Also, umbrella scene is here! Although, not how you may expect it...

Translation to Marinette swearing:

Lä shî - from what I could find, this is chinese for "shit". Correct me if I'm wrong.

Puta merda - holy shit in portuguese

Vai tomar no cu - go suck your own ass

Cagar na calça - shit your pants

Merda - shit