#vibrant loyal and sweet just like her mama :/

[dogsrotten]

“everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie .”

[lilithinstarlight]

just like heaven

hi guys!!! wrote a VERY self-indulgent rui kamishiro x reader fic in a frenzy just now lol. it's very graphic (in the way of heavy themes i mean) and i honestly wouldn't have written this if i didn't need to get it out of my head like now. PLEASE don't read if ur in a bad mental state!!!

TWs: death, suicide, self harm, depression

When you were nine, Rui Kamishiro stumbled into your life, vibrant, strange, and too tall for his age.

You stood, head high, cotton bunny hanging from one hand and bundle of roses in the other. The black veil obscured your vision, something your sweet little auntie had given you. When you asked 'why', she had only been able to turn away, uttering a small choking noise. You hadn't fully understood, couldn't at that age, but you had a feeling that she mourned more for you than her sister.

A friend of your mother's, Ms. Kamishiro, had sat at your picnic table with her son. Though she left to mingle with the other adults, she had allowed her son to stay at the table to keep you company.

And now you stood, backs to the tables behind you, after the ceremony had moved to a small outdoor restaurant, a 'celebration of life', as you struggled to hold yourself together in front of the boy standing beside you.

"I'm strong... I don't need your help..."

"Um, that's okay, but you can cry if you wanna. I'd be super sad if my mama died..." It was a poor attempt to comfort you, but he was a kid. You didn't need kids. You reached out for an adult, a big girl, someone who knew what to do. Your arms only felt dead air. You let out a final, fatal gasp as liquid began to stream down your cheeks. Rui Kamishiro, the weirdo with the purple hair, wearing an ill-fitting tuxedo suit, wrapped his arms around your fragile shoulders as the roses fell from your hands.

Thirteen was when you discovered the feeling of fleeting euphoria dragging the razorblade your grandmother had bought you brought.

You waited until well past your bedtime, past the lights being shut off, past grandmommy and granddaddy heading off to their claustrophobic bedroom. Once your were sure the house was asleep, you would run to your bathroom and steal the razor meant for your tiny legs, and shake out the blade you had loosened a month before.

In your room, you would slice across your soft forearms, relishing in the cathartic feeling of the small drops of blood spilling out before the real pain inevitably set in.

Every day was the same. Later at school, you would head to the roof to lunch with your best friend Rui and new friend Mizuki, where they would spare your long sleeves in 90 degrees a concerned glance, which you would brush off with a teasing joke. Just like clockwork.

Today was just the same as any other day. Your bento was filled with leftover pancakes, you had gotten third place in your class's race an hour before, and the postman had waved to you on your walk to school. A feeling of calm filled your chest.

You pushed the rooftop access open, clutching your bento to your chest. You were greeted by Rui and Mizuki two feet in front of the door with concerningly serious faces.

"Y/n..." Mizuki said, seemingly unsure of where to start.

"We need to talk," Rui said, gently grasping your hand and leading you to your usual spot. You set your bento down.

"Why so serious, guys? What happened?" You gulped, already knowing where this was going to go.

"Would you mind taking your jacket off? Only if you're comfortable, of course," Rui told you.

"Haha, ever the charmer! Well, this is all I can take off, gotta stay loyal to the husband, you know..." You were beginning to freak out. Your breath, previously already labored, progressed into slight hyperventilation. In, out, in out, your nails scratched against your thighs, you had to take your hands off, take the jacket off, show them your secret --

"Do you need help?" Rui asked, face suddenly covering the sun, surrounded like a halo, reaching down to you like an angel, the angel you had reached for and missed four years ago. You nodded and tensely let him pull the jacket off.

And just like that, a month of open secrets and answers quietly whispered to anyone who cared to look at you were proven. Your friends stared for a moment, trying to figure out what to do.

"Mizuki... could you... give us some privacy?" Rui quietly asked, and she dutifully nodded, heading back to the stairwell with a concerned look thrown back to you.

"This isn't the greatest question to ask right now, Y/n, but... Why?" His look was so soft and gentle that you squirmed to try and get away. Rui's slender hands reached out to hold yours in place, and for a moment, you sat there, not saying anything.

He sighed, and leaned back. "Though I know it won't fix anything, I just want you to know that we love you. Mizuki, and your grandparents, and An, and me, obviously. So, please, do you have what you... use... with you?"

You nodded sullenly, pulling the razorblade out of your pocket. Rui knew you better than you felt you knew yourself, and would be able to tell if you were lying.

Plus, razorblades weren't the only sharp thing in the world.

He grasped it, looked at it with shock for a moment, which changed to repulsion, as if it were what had personally attacked you. He then pocketed it. God, if you thought cutting had brought you euphoria, having someone actually show how much they cared for you had to be some sort of high. You were dazed, about ten times less serious than the subject matter warranted.

Rui got up, holding a hand out for you to take. "Let me walk you home, please?"

You took it with a smile.

You were now seventeen, right on the cusp of adulthood, the age where you could finally relate to those 'older but never wiser' songs.

The inky black sky was set as a backdrop to cold wind running through your hair. At the usually bustling Rainbow Bridge, cars only passed every few minutes. Its normal nighttime lights were shut off, the only light radiating from the city on either side.

One of those rare cars pulled you out of your mind, honking a few times and pulling over. It was a taxi, with a familiar head of purple hair sitting inside. He pulled the door open and hopped out.

"Rui...?"

He ran and threw his arms around you. "Meiko told me to check on you here..." He buried his head into your neck. "She wasn't wrong, I see."

He let go to look at you.

He sighed.

"Sweetheart. I don't know how to help you."

You stepped back, unsure of why that hurt so much.

"I wish I could. So badly, in fact, I'll drive out to Minato at three A.M. because a virtual singer tells me you might be in trouble. Honey, I love you, but I don't have any idea what I'm supposed to be doing!" You had never seen him get so emotional. You realized now that you had never even see him cry, and now here he was, tears wetting his cheeks, looking at you with such intensity that you could do nothing but stand and watch.

"Maybe," You looked down, "Maybe, Rui, you don't have to. It's not your job! You treat me like I'm your patient!"

It was his turn to be taken aback. "Y/n, please, let's get in the taxi and head home. We can talk about this in the car..." You could tell that all he wanted was to get you away from the edge. He was now painfully aware of what one wrong word could do.

You took another step back. And another. And Rui, the gentleman, frantically reached out for your textured wrists.

"I love you so much..."

"Boy, if you don't get back in the taxi in the next thirty seconds, I'm gonna double your fare!" a hoarse voice shouted at you.

"...Yeah. Let's get in the taxi," you conceded with a soft laugh.

Rui's look of victory and pure relief was infinitely better than any argument that could be saved until morning.

[becauseimanicequeen]

Pride Month Watch: Mama Gogo (ep 9-10)

My thoughts on episodes 1-4, episodes 5-7, and episode 8.

I'm currently going through my Pride Month Watch List and Mama Gogo is on my list of shows/films I haven't watched before but have wanted to get to.

It feels like things are about to fall apart bit by bit, and I'm here for the ride because I'm sure that Annie will fight with everything she has if it does (it most likely will).

Let's dive into the 9th episode!

Did Auto just…

Walk into enemy territory?

He’s there to be a spy, right? There is no fucking way I’ll believe this pretty thief would stab Annie in the back like that and work for her enemy willingly. I mean, Annie even bailed him out after the drug setup thing…

I don’t care if I’m getting into delulu territory, my ass is firmly placed in this clown car! You will not trick me into believing Auto is shady. I refuse to believe it!

This…

Is exactly why I don’t believe he's there to join Annie’s enemy. Just saying...

At least Annie saw how talented Auto was:

And I love that she’s standing up for him against Choke (even though he fucking robbed her in the beginning!) since Choke is too narrow-minded and hot-headed to not drop his animosity for Auto.

Will Choke turn out to be right in the end? Maybe. Will Annie get burned for her willingness to trust Auto? Maybe. But I honestly think Auto just needs someone to believe in him (which Annie does). And I don't think Auto will willingly piss on that.

I love Annie so much…

She knows this is a team effort. One for all and all for one. She’s the best boss/big sister/friend these boys could ever have asked for. I love Team Annie so much!

Dude!

She’s not old. And she definitely didn’t trick Chen to go out with her. Can’t you see how whipped he is?

The way I smile like a fool when I see these two:

I love them individually and I love them together.

You can’t convince me he’s not whipped…

It’s palpable.

Okay…

Let’s see how loyal the boys are to Annie and how many will fall for Tina’s tricks. Please, don’t disappoint me.

Of course, there would be something…

To make the one who is most loyal to Annie waver. Considering he would do anything for his daughter (as he should), he might be the first to quit. And if he quits, this whole thing falls apart.

Damn, I really wanted to keep rooting for my pretty thief (Auto). I’m still in my clown car believing he's not really working for Tina, but it’s getting harder defending him, lol.

Finally...

And look at this baby gangster:

He's so silly and I love him for it.

Look at this beautiful woman in purple:

And the fact that her earrings are yellow! (And the weights in the background.)

Oh, lord. She's vibrant in those contrasting colors! The colors are doing things to me, lol.

Your honor! I fucking love this woman!

The way she delivered those words with such a sweet tone and innocent face... She's my queen and I will love her until the end of my days.

You know, for a woman I don't really like...

I can't believe I'm relating to her. At least she has perspective and priorities. That's always something.

The fact that they're emphasizing that Chen's mom absolutely doesn't want Chen to know about this is opening up to someone using this against Annie, doesn't it? Will Tina find out somehow and use it against Annie? Let's see...

Wait...

Yes you can. Loyalty doesn't necessarily mean working at Mama Gogo for the rest of your lives. It just means having Annie's back and not betraying her trust. Gayu can take Tina's money to follow his dreams and still be loyal to Annie. Just talk to her about it. Doing it behind her back, though. That's disloyalty.

She might be upset (which she has every right to be). But she might also be supportive since she is just as loyal to them as they've been to her.

Please don't do any of this shit behind her back. Just be honest. Talk to her.

Btw...

Real, mature adults know to apologize when they've been/done wrong. Another reason for me to love Annie with every cell of my being.

The way Annie stands up for Yuth...

If anyone doubted her loyalty to her boys, they were dead wrong.

I just...

Love them all so much.

And then it was shattered...

I almost cried during this scene.

Like I mentioned before, if he'd just talked to Annie, she probably would've been fine with it. But hearing it from someone else... That feels like a betrayal.

Annie still took it like a champion. She hurt, but the show must go on. They had a packed club and work to be done. No point in wallowing in this shit.

And then it just got worse...

It's obvious that he would find this out sooner or later since secrets like this tend to come out. But I'm glad he found out like this rather than Tina using this info against Annie.

Let's see how they will work this out (because I'm sure they will). It will be hilarious if Chen's mom convinces him to make up with Annie after being against her and Chen's relationship this whole time. But I feel like she has a different perspective of Annie now, so it's possible.

I've reached the image limit again... So, let's start a new post!

[jade-masquerade]

For Now and Forever

Written for @jonsadungeonsanddrabbles Autumn Drabbles Day 5: Frosty Mornings

The leaves of the weirwood in the godswood are still so stark red, Jon thinks, his world inverting as he lays down on the frost-covered ground. Its colors never waver, staying a static blood red, not even while those of the trees around it are awash in shades of fiery orange and vibrant yellow and rich gold. Autumn has turned the surrounding forest into a sea of color that seems to shimmer compared to the dark stone walls and the muted evergreens.  

 Sansa’s hair glows brilliantly even against that backdrop, the sun glinting off her locks like a halo. She looks as though she belongs here, a goddess in this holy place, fashioned by the gods themselves with her copper hair and pale skin that match the sacred heart tree, and Jon is only grateful to pay witness to such beauty.  

 This early in the morning, the slightest hint of winter can be felt starting to creep into the air, even if by the afternoon the sun will have melted away the thinnest layer of ice that crunches beneath him as he settles on his back and bends his knees so the soles of his boots crack the smooth panes into thousands of tiny shards. He can see Sansa’s breath curl on the light breeze as she gasps, sinking down on him as he pushes up into her.

 They have stolen away here, trading the cozy warmth of the fire in their chambers for the bite of the dawn’s chill. Jon scarcely feels it though, not with Sansa’s heat all around him when he slips deeper with a groan, his blood burning, a flush creeping over his skin beneath his cloak and the old tunic he’d hastily donned when Sansa’s eyes had shone with excitement at the prospect of this escapade.  

 Sansa has pulled the edges of said tunic open now, its laces dangling loose, and she shifts lower, lifting the hem to touch the remnants of the scars that still linger there and then the line of hair snaking down below them, the muscles of his abdomen jumping at the soft scrape of her nails. Beneath her, he mirrors her movements, sliding his hands up her thighs under her skirts, to knead the stretches of open skin above her stockings, skimming slowly until he reaches where they are joined.

Sansa had told the guards something about prayer as they’d left the keep, insisting they needed no escort, that they were merely off to pay their respects to the old gods on this brisk, splendid morning, and he stifles a laugh at the irony of that now as he curses when she starts to move into his touch, her hips circling, her hands tangling in the mess of clothing clinging to them.    

 He imagines this brief respite is the nearest thing to heaven that can possibly exist, where they’ve come to escape the burdens of serving as Lord and Lady of Winterfell, the responsibilities of being the ruling King and Queen in the North, and the amount of dedication and care required of their most cherished and treasured roles of Mama and Papa. It would have been pleasant to remain among the comforts of the furs of their bed and the steaming walls filled with water flowing from the hot springs, and they certainly had spent many a contented morning enjoying each other surrounded by those simple pleasures. Such luxuries, though, came with what could both be blessings and costs all at once: quiet knocks asking what they wished for breakfast, missives reporting news from wintertown, and the patter of insistent little feet who wish to join them abed at an ungodly hour, swathed in knit blankets of their own and accompanied more often than not by Ghost.

 No, Jon thinks, this was the right choice, as his wife arches her back and starts to make sounds she won’t dare utter within the walls of Winterfell’s keep. Here her moans and cries can be mistaken for the call of a bird, the rustle of leaves drifting free as they fade from the branches, the whisper of an autumn wind. The sounds will draw no attention, raise no concern, bring no knowing smirks or inquisitive questions from well-meaning companions who have become fiercely loyal and protective of their Lady Stark. He understands their defensiveness and their devotion and does not begrudge them it; how can he, when he feels that way himself whenever a visiting lord’s eyes wander towards Sansa or a petitioner directs his attention towards Jon only, forgetting to honor her with the thanks and titles she deserves?  

 He brushes away the thoughts of those irritants, a familiar tension that has nothing to do with the frozen ground at his back building at the base of his spine, and he can feel it starting in Sansa, too, her cunt growing tighter, slicker around him, and he spills when she begins to flutter around him. The relief and pleasure of his peak wash over him, but they are accompanied by a bit of regret, since he knows this perfect moment will soon be past, and he will have to take up the throne of the North and his heavy crown again, and Sansa will sit beside him, stern as the coming winter instead of soft and sweet, sated and pliant, like the way she lolls on his chest as she waits to catch her breath again.  

 But, just like the day they exchanged vows beneath this very tree, back when they had been hesitant to share merely a kiss, for now she is all his, and for now and forever, he is hers.

[floosies]

Series: La Munenca del Barrio

Warnings: NSFW, Blood, violence, smut, strong language, and drug use

SIdenote: Spanish text (this chapter will focus on Maritiza and Rafael)

Rocio Cruz lives in a Brooklyn block best known for its vibrant and ignored community. What she always ignored though was the underground scene in the borough, the evils that lay in it and its people. That all comes to an end when she’s introduced to those things she ignored.

Chpt. 6: Estoy Pensando en Ella

Series Masterlist

Maritza Dolores Rosales was born into a small town in Guerrero, Mexico in 1968. Her parents were people who didn’t make much but lived day by day. When she was 9 they moved to America, where her papa started working as a cook in restaurant and her mama made dresses for gringos. By the time she was 18, her father took over the restaurant from the old man who used to own it. 

Rafael “Pajarito”  Mateo Cruz was born into a similar situation in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in 1965. His father had left him and his family when he was 6 for another women. In time he would be the one who’d have to provide for his mother and two younger siblings. By the time he was 20, he’d leave his home for search for more money.

(1988)

It was a busy night at the restaurant and she was on her shift, working so she could have some Friday’s off with friends to go see the other side of New York. Pajarito was going to have dinner with a couple of the guys from work. They knew the right spot to go get something quick and see pretty girls. That was where he saw her, in her red apron and white dress. He swore he saw an angel in the flesh. 

He kept an eye on her while he ate. She was too important for him in that moment and his friends caught on, “te gusto la nena? Es hija del dueno de aqui, cuidado que ella no se deja con quien sea.” One of them said to him, but she’s caught him staring at her enough for her to notice. She went back to the kitchen waiting for her next order to be ready, a girl who gossiped more than the senoras verduleras around the block worked with her as a waitress as well, “tu sabes algo del prieto sentando en la ultima mesa?” She looking at the man she’d fall in love with. The girl looked a bit concerned as she followed Maritza’s stare, “cuidado con el, que trabaja con ojos azules.” He was cute and that piqued her interest enough.

Behind her parents’ back she took the risk. Somehow the whole working with the mob didn’t faze her at all. Maritza was far more invested on him as a person. He was sweet, gentle, and honest with her. Of course he was, he adored her and her way of being. With money saved, he bought an apartment. Something they could call theirs and not have to worry about her threatening papa who said he’d slice Rafael into two if he saw him near his daughter again after they got caught kissing behind the restaurant one night.

It wasn’t much later that they were engaged, mainly because Maritza had become pregnant with a girl. To say her parents were beyond upset was an understatement pero que hacer. On the other hand by the time she admitted it to everyone, Rafael was doing good financially, enough to bring his family over. They didn’t like New York though, “mami pero tengo los chavos para que tenga un lugarsito serca de mi.” He tried to plead to her, but she wasn’t alone. He’d brought over his siblings too, sus manos Matias, Beatriz, y Lucas. They were kids unlike him, the eldest of the three was Beatriz but she was only seventeen.

He couldn’t get them to stay but they didn’t go back. Turns out some of his father’s family who’d got to America years before Rafael was willing to help his mama find a place in Florida. They hated his father for being a deadbeat, that was their answer as to why they were helping. Rafael was just glad he got them out of Puerto Rico and somewhere nicer. He’d send them money every other week. When the wedding came, it didn’t come easily. Everyone wanted a say on the music, the church, the guests, whatever they could basically control. Rafael tried to comfort Maritza who was beyond aggravated with all of it.

That wedding was a masterpiece though. Ojos Azules made sure que todo sea al puro cien, nothing was cheap. The reception made Maritza cry with happiness. She’d married well, even her parents agreed. Doña Constancia was very happy too, her son had made a good life for himself and never left his family out of his wealth, plus she had a grandchild on the way. In her head, Maritza was getting everything she’d ever wanted from life.

Money wasn’t a problem, the apartment was nice, and she was going to have a baby girl. For a good while, she even forgot what her husband did as work. Until it got bad. Right before the baby was born, there was a fear of traitors in Ojos Azules “corporation” and that led to more dirty work for her pajarito. 

He was loyal and where she admired him for it, at the same time she’d wish he wasn’t. Because his loyalty was to that old man just as much as it was to her. Sometimes he’d be brought home by his co-workers so that he wouldn’t get hurt. See Rafael was quiet but not stupid, he always spoke spanish to make the gringos think he didn’t understand shit. He knew everything though and he’d always report back to his boss. Like a little parrot or song bird, he’d ruin people before they even got the chance to begin their plan. (You could see why his arrest was a celebration to many)

Some nights he’d be home covered in blood, not his, but that didn’t matter when it was dripping all over the floor, off his shoes. Thankfully it died down for a while. A good while, that allowed for Rocio’s birth to be a beautiful peaceful occasion. When Maritza found out that her family would be blessed with financial help that would span a lifetime to Rocio, she was beyond thrilled. Her daughter would never grow hungry like she did many times. Rafael thanked his boss profusely with tears in his eyes. He really believed that God had heard his prayers after all. 

When Rocio was five though, all hell broke loose. Ojos Azules had died and a new guy was in charge. Rafael hated him with a passion, the man wouldn’t let him go home until he felt like it. The “paychecks” would come late or missing the full amounts and what was supposed to be for his daughter never showed up. Maritza knew hard times were coming, pero todo se trueno when at a block party they were at was balasiado by a man working with Rafael, they were after him and his friend. His friend was shot and died in front of her daughter. That’s when her blood boiled and she hated him Mika too.

Did she support the coup to kill him? Legally? No, never she was a respectable women and mother. If anyone else was asking, she would’ve killed him with her bare hands and made sure he knew who he’d fucked with. Mika died pleading like the little bitch he was. She was happy when he died, she prayed to God for forgiveness about those feelings but he’d ruined her daughter’s life, technically. Months after his death and Rubio taking over as the youngest boss in Brooklyn’s history, Maritza was pregnant again, with twins. 

Rafael felt at ease again, his life was calm again. Then it came, in a whirlwind, while Rocio was at school. Maritza pleading that they had the wrong man, cried for her them to let go of her husband. It was too late, he was gone. An anger built up, a pain so strong that never died so much as it dulled into sadness. Rocio would never find out what really happened, she knew better than to hurt her that way. 

The beautiful apartment was gone. Steve Rogers had sent her a message to go into hiding for awhile as they interrogated Rafael. Her parents didn’t say much about their son-in-law. Any money that Rubio would send would be sent back. Her pride and her resentment made her despise that type of life even more. Then came the news that he wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon. She worked her hands raw and raised three children, still holding hope that he’d be back soon

-Present Day

As she cooked dinner in the small kitchen of the apartment, a knock came at her door. Outside stood an old friend of Rafa’s. Quintero held an envelope for Maritza. As she opened the door and saw him, the color on her skin drained, “que haces aqui.” She whispered with a bit of anger and fear. He held out the envelope, “tu pajarito va a volar otra vez muy pronto. Quiere el que estes ahi.” He spoke quietly but with a stern voice. Inside the envelope was the court hearing date and place for the release of Rafael Mateo Cruz. 

[cocoarosalia]

Rocking The Cradle Chapter 17: Let the games begin

The sound of heels and designer shoes clacked along the cobble stone. It was quiet, tense, as if everyone was waiting for something unexpected to happen. All the civilians were tucked away in their homes, pressed against their windows to watch whatever spectacle would arise.

The clock tower rung clear throughout the streets

She expected a messenger, someone that, for the time being, she could also hold for ransom. But, out on the streets, there was nothing but the warm nightly air.

That… and a cafe table.

Admittedly if it weren’t for the circumstances it wouldn’t look so out of place. It was maybe waist high, iron cast, and painted in a vibrant pastel pink.

And placed atop its spiral design was a wax stamp letter marked “Mêre de la Mort”

“Aww she thought about me!” La Mêre cooed “Think it’s a trap?”

Hawkmoth scoffed “The girl’s brave, not stupid just retrieve the damn card”

Sticking out her tongue at him teasingly, she picked up the letter, popped it open, and read its contents aloud.

“Depicted here are the 6 individual closest to Eloise’s heart aside from her parents” she read in a mockingly formal voice “On their arm is a yellow bandana marked with white lambs. Obtain all 6 and rendezvous at the construction site before sunrise. Only in that way will you win”

“Cheeky little fucks aren’t they?” She scowled “Making me work till morning”

“Better alternative than working on your knees, isn’t it?”

La Mêre cut her eyes at him but opted not to respond. She continued reading until she came to her final instruction

“Declare your agreement to the terms into the square and the game shall begin”

She sighed, irritated “What kind of dungeons and dragons shit is this?”

Nonetheless, she complied

“I, Mêre de la Mort, do hereby agree to the terms as they’ve been given. Just be sure to entertain me won’t you?”

*Over in a boarded up shop closeby*

Alya was struggling hard to let go of her babies. She knew they could do it, but the very idea that they could even remotely get hurt set her mind in circles.

“Mommy’s packed lots of supplies for you ok?” She croaked out “Sammy you have Oreos, cheese sticks, gatorade and fruit snacks. Sophie you have your princess gummies, peanut butter cracker packs, bottle of water and vanilla cookies”

She pulled them in for a bone crushing hug “You two make us so super proud and I promise we’ll all have one big sleepover with Elly ok?”

“Mom?” Sammy said

“Yes, my sweet angel babies?”

“We literally can’t breathe” Sophie finished, voice struggling to come out

Nino finally interjected and pried them from Alya ‘loving’ arms “Alright Mama Wifi that’s enough of that”

Outside, the sound of pointless destruction could be heard

“I’m getting real fucking bored out here!” Noémie warned

Taking a deep breath, Alya gave the twins one final hug and let them get the game underway

“Alya they’ll be ok” Nino soothed, rubbing her back “They’ve lived quite the life before us, there’s no doubt that this is nothing to them”

“Yea I know” She sighed “The flashlights and tasers will definitely keep them safe”

“Yea the-”

….

“Did you just send our kids out with tasers?”

Alya looked both offended and confused simultaneously “Um, I’m sorry do you not want them to have protection?”

Nino just rubbed her back a little harder, his mantra repeating endlessly in his head

‘She is a good mother, she is a good mother, she is a good mother’

It didn’t help really

*Back with the flaming bitch*

La Mêre set yet another trashcan ablaze with one of her explosive cigarette butts

Hawkmoth pinch the bridge of his nose is annoyance “Would you be so kind as to stop setting stupid things on fire?”

“Oh please it’s not like they’ll retaliate” La Mêre laughed

A hefty rock then collided with the side of her head

“Oh look they retaliated” Hawkmoth calmly noted

Clutching her aching head she narrowed her sights onto a pair of nervous, but fearless twins

She would’ve just burned them both into ash if it weren’t for something very special adorned on their arms

She broke out into a sickeningly sweet smile

“My, my, it’s far too dark for such cuties to be out on the streets? Don’t you think so?” She hummed, feigning a motherly tone

Even though Sammy and Sophie were shaking in their light up shoes, they refused to move an inch.

La Mêre approached them slowly, that poisonous grin never slipping from her face

She kneeled down and they could smell the alcohol seeping out of her mouth “You know, I think you can help me and my friend here.”

Sophie began to waver as her foot inched backwards to run, Sammy grasped her hand keeping her anchored and resolute.

“You see, I’m playing a little game with someone, and I need these special little scarves to win. It just so happens that you have exactly what I need”

Her hands slowly smoothed their way down the side of their faces. Her voice came out, no louder than a whisper

“You’ll help a poor mommy like me won’t you?”

*SMASH*

Sammy grabbed a brick stored in the side pocket of his bag and slammed it down onto the top of La Mêre’s skull.

She fell face first onto the cobblestoned ground, brain scrambled and nose slightly cracked

The air was thick with shock and anticipation. Never in their entire lives did the twins think they’d ever attack an adult...at least not again anyway.

Even Hawkmoth was decently surprised by the boys nerve

But Sammy was hardly done as La Mêre began to recover and stir awake

“L-like we’d ever hand over our bandanas to a fucking shriveled up cougar bitch like you!”

Back in the shop, Nino was in an incomprehensible mix of emotions. He was appalled by his son’s language, but he also had this mysterious sense of pride welling up inside. He looked to Alya, mouth hung agape in disbelief.

“I allowed him three cuss words, just for tonight” She responded with a calm expression

Let’s just say that mantra wasn’t getting any easier for him to repeat.

La Mêre was now passed the point of just being upset. She rose menacingly to her feet, knuckles cracking in preparation to just wreck anything in sight

Too bad it was the twins that had to face her wrath

Sammy pushed his sister away from him, nearly missing her clawing at their faces

“RUN!” He yelled, dashing down a narrow street

Sophie ran in the opposite direction and La Mêre was faced with a choice

“Go after the girl!” She snarled out at her partner “I want the stupid little bastard that’s brave enough to die today”

“Just try and keep up you dusty cunt!” He called out, picking up the pace

“I guess he was a little eager for this opportunity” Alya commented from behind the shop’s display case.

Oh Nino was definitely gonna get a few gray hairs after this.

*Over with the Sophie-Baby*

Hawkmoth was not the runner he used to be. He stretched out his back to relieve some of the built up tension but that low dull ache was not getting better in the least bit.

‘Tweety SO better be worth all this’

He leaned against a brick wall to catch his breath as best he could

“Ok child” He huffed out “I’m positive we’ve put enough distance between us, hand over the bandana so I can prove my allegiance”

Sophie had her back turned to him, and that silence was of no comfort to him

“Not before you prove your allegiance to me first”

Hawkmoth groaned, he SO did not have the time nor energy for this!

“Look, I don’t know if you’re aware of this but time is kind of not on our side here.”

She turned to face him and the look in her eyes gave off a very distinct “I don’t give a fuck” vibe.

He rubbed his temples

“Fuck it, not like I have any deal to upkeep or anything. Go ahead, get on with it”

Sophie gripped onto her shirt tightly, eyes cast toward the ground

“My brother isn’t really smart.” she said “He’s impulsive, cries when he gets to frustrated, and he honestly thinks that he can one day just…save the world like some hero”

Hawkmoth moved to speak but she continued

“But if there’s anything good about my stupid twin brother” She rubbed away her tears briskly “It’s that he’s stupidly loyal. He may not want to admit it to himself yet but, he loves Elly a lot. Enough to even lose his life, luring a complete lunatic to a trap all by himself.”

She took in a deep breath and faced Hawkmoth with fear and confidence flooding her eyes

“You’ve gotten everyone else to trust you, but you won’t fool me! Why? Why after all the pain you’ve cost the city alone, would you all of a sudden grow a heart?”

Hawkmoth’s heart bled for this girl. She had been through tremendous trials in her short life. And yet, all she can think of is her own brother’s safety.

He saw a bit of Marinette in her eyes, strong but not without fear. He couldn’t pander to this girl, there’d be no reason to even try.

He stood before her and bended down to where they were eye to eye. They were equals really, if only for just this moment

“Outside all of these suits and masks,” he began “I actually have a granddaughter of my own. She’s persistent, stubborn and louder than you can imagine”

His mind drifted to their first meeting, how determined she was to get him to smile

“Her parents are no better, constantly doting over her like a fragile egg. Together they all drive me up a wall.”

A sorrowful look danced across his aged features

“But one day, my granddaughter got taken away. It was so sudden that I feared that if I made a single wrong move, she’d be gone forever. Every night, I close my eyes begging to find a way to atone for what I did”

He looked up at sophie with a somber smile

“I suppose, this is a good place to start apologizing”

Sophie untied her bandana and held it out to him, he looked into her eyes to make sure it was ok and she simply smiled and placed it into his hand. He folded it carefully and tucked it into his breast pocket

“You’re a smart five year old, kid”

“It’s Sophie. Just say it right the first time”

Hawkmoth chuckled ‘That’s right, I have to start calling these kids by their names or else I’M the one that gets scolded’

He stood to his full stature and presented a gentleman’s bow of gratitude

“Sophia. I, Hawkmoth, do vow to return both your brother Samuel and friend Eloise to you safe and if i’m lucky, not too loud”

He pulled back his lapel to reveal a little yellow bandana of his own

Sophie gave a knowing smile and he was soon off on his way

La Mêre said that Elly’s pain would soon be over…

He intended to see to it that it would.

This city was gonna burn by the end of the day if La Mêre kept having a shitty night like this

Obviously she had gotten Sammy’s piece of the collection, once the little bastard had run himself to exhaustion he handed it over with just the pleas of leaving him alone. The only reason she hadn’t burned him alive right then and there was because he wanted his death to be right before Eloise’s eyes, just she deserved.

No, the boy didn’t piss her off too badly

His mother though...sent her into an absolute fury.

Alya could not possibly wait to get her part of the game. The moment Marinette explained the plan to her she spent her every waking moment devising something that would make SURE La Mêre remembered her name

“I-I’ve got you now you prick” La Mêre huffed, gripping onto her knees for support

“Yup” Alya responded plainly

La Mêre eyed her suspiciously, “What do you mean, ‘yup’?”

“You’ve clearly got me cornered, why fight?” Alya boredly replied, flicking around on her phone

La Mêre was a little lost, but why look a gift horse in the mouth right? She walked up to her, expecting to just get the bandana and be on her way but alya put up her hand, stopping her in her tracks

“The fuck?” She growled out “Hand over the fucking cloth dammit”

“Not before you say my name”

This shit was getting real old, real fast

“I don’t give a flying donkey shit about your goddamn name, give me the scarf”

Alya wagged her finger in disapproval, not even peering up from her phone as she ‘tsked’ greatly

“That’s a real shame you don’t know” She shrugged “Because until you figure it out you’ll have to deal with them”

“...Them?”

Alya, without ever making an effort, pointed her finely manicured finger up toward the sky.

La Mêre looked up. Lined all along the skyscraper like building were people of all kinds of ages, followers of Alya’s highly successful ladyblog, aiming anything and everything at her. One fatal move and she would be buried under a pile of garbage.

She smoothly walked by her. And right before she had crossed her completely she whispered into her ear

“Say. My. Name, bitch” Her voice was so calm it sent a literal chill down La Mêre’s spine

La Mêre took a chance and swung blindly to wipe the smug smirk off Alya’s face. She smoothly stepped back and snapped her fingers

Just as La Mêre feared, every one of her followers pelted her with anything they could find in their homes. It was something out of a nightmare, shoes, toys, and an ungodly amount of trash was lobbed at her with no remorse. All the while they chanted Alya’s name, cheering her on the whole way.

And it never stopped. No matter where La Mêre chased Alya to, all she had to do was post her latest location on her phone and it was the same song and dance all over again.

She fell along a brick wall in the inky darkness of a back alley. The moon was rising ever quickly and she was running out of time.

Alya seemed to tower over her with the sense of superiority alone. She folded her arms over her chest and stared holes into her head.

“Say my name”

La Mêre was beat and it killed her to know that fact. She balled up her fists in rage and gritted her teeth

“Alya Cesaire” she spat out

Alya cocked her head to the side in thought, ombre red hair falling over her shoulder. Fairly satisfied with her response, she untied the lamb dotted cloth from her upper arm.

Alya put her foot on La Mêre’s shoulder and pressed down hard. La Mêre was in a good amount of pain but was admittedly too scared to say a word about it.

“I’m going to give you this, but not because I even remotely think you earned it. I’m giving you this because before the end of tonight you will know what real fear feels like.”

With her foot still firmly pressed into her shoulder, Alya leaned down till their noses were barely touching. Her voice was colder than ice and her hazel eyes held no mercy. If La Mêre didn’t know any better, she’d think she was the real monster

“If I ever, even for a moment, catch you trying to come after my niece again, there will be no god that can save you from me.”

And just like that she just tossed the scarf into her hands carelessly and walked away, leaving a battered and dirtied La Mêre out on the grimy alley floor

She may be fucked up but that girl was the real demon

She stumbled out of the alleyway only to hear the sound of thumping music. Looking across the barren road, she finds a bar letting in people for the night.

Feeling a rush of relief she dashed her way in, barely acknowledging the bouncer’s calls to stop and pay for her entry.

“Give me 5 shots of blueberry vodka and make it quick” She demanded, grabbing the bartender by his collar and giving a rough shake with her one good arm.

She had the tolerance of a university student as she made quick work of the alcohol, not even bothering with a chaser as it numbed the pain in her aching shoulder.

“This is gonna take a fuckton of time to heal” She groaned, head planted on the counter

She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Hawkmoth, requesting his current progress

*From MaMa Mort* - Heeeey hubby how’s the search going?

*From Hawkmoth* - First, if you ever call me that again, i’ll burn these scarves right here. Also, I have one and am in pursuit of another

Little did she know though, he was actually busying himself with trying to resist a third world class Tom Dupain-Cheng viennoise au chocolat.

And he was losing...oh so badly

La Mêre clicked off her phone and relaxed in a nearby booth. The music was low and soothing like a high class lounge. It eased her mind enough to lull her into a light snooze

As she creaked her eyes closed, the alcohol slowly hitting her system, she didn’t even notice a certain copper skinned DJ making his way into the booth, 5 year old strapped to his hip.

“Hey man it’s time to step off, I got the next set” The man decked out in way too much neon looked at Nino with an expression of confused disgust

“The fuck you mean!? Look, i worked too hard to-” A 100 Euro bill was thrust into his face.

“Why don’t you buy yourself something strong” He said with a dazzling smile “On me. It’s been a long night I’m sure”

That man didn’t need any more coercion as he took the money and practically skipped his way out of the booth

“Remember Sophie, never accept a bribe from a stranger”

“Until I check to see if it’s real”

“That’s my hustle princess”

Nino tucked her away safely underneath the mixing stand and put noise cancellation earbuds into her ears. He did the same to his own and checked to make sure they were connected.

“Now sweet pea, daddy’s gonna play some not so appropriate music. You gotta promise not to repeat any of the words you hear”

“As far as I know, I was never here”

“Good girl. Welp, here goes something”

Nino popped up from inside the booth and looked out over the crowd. From across the sea of bored patrons he spotted La Mêre herself, dozing off into the red leather seating.

He smiled ‘Perfect’

He starts off slow, turning off the whack-ass music the previous DJ had set up and starting with something low and cool, sort of a lo-fi hip hop beat.

Then, ever so gradually, he started switching to faster and more hype songs, all the while making sure to watch to see if La Mêre was waking up. People began gravitating toward the dancefloor, finally having something they can really move to they abandoned their drinks and seats to get their blood pumping.

Now things were really moving, the music was banging, people were starting to sweat from the dancing, it was all Nino had ever dreamed of

And then...right as the music hit it’s apex…

He dropped the beat like he’d touch the sun

La Mêre was ripped out of her seat as the bar was drowned in a sea of bass drops and maddening beats.

Her eardrums were shattered. She attempted to pick herself off the floor but was constantly jostled left and right by drunk, high 20 somethings. The music kept getting louder and louder, she could barely hear herself think much less speak.

She peeled herself off of the floor only to be shoved back into her seat

Not to be defeated she pushed through to her feet

But then one girl got a little too drunk

And La Mêre got a lotta too punched in the face

And that’s when all kinds of hell broke loose

La Mêre ripped a table from its bolted socket and began swinging it wildly in the air. Bouncers attempted to approach her, but one look in that woman’s eyes and they feared that they’d turn to stone immediately.

Her eyes, glazed over from pounding a whole bottle of tequila on the side, settled on the DJ booth. Nino, wanting to make extra sure she was pissed set his speakers up to 11. People scattered for the exits as she harpooned the speaker system from across the room.

Nino made a quick grab for Sophie and leapt out the way, just missing getting speared by a table

“Daddy?” Sophie called, tugging on his sleeve

“Yes sweet pea?”

“I think you’ve made her mad enough now”

He nodded, a bashful smile on his face “Yea, I think so too. Ready to go do the next part for daddy?”

She nodded in agreement and unwound herself from his arms, crawling away behind the now wrecked bar.

La Mêre was busying herself with tearing up the pool table with her boot, when Nino called out to her

“Pardon me miss,” he said “But I’m sure there’s no need for all this rampant violence”

She whipped her head towards him, mouth virtually seething flames, and glared spears into his face. He visibly flinched, but stood his ground

“At least...not for such a pretty lady like yourself”

She raised an eyebrow and climbed down the now smouldering gaming table. He was playing her, that much she knew. Luckily that bandana was the only thing keeping him alive.

“You have my attention boy, keep it and you keep your life”

Nino could feel the cold sweat sliding down his neck

“Well, I’m sure you know that I am admittedly a part of this whole scavenger hunt deal. But, to be frank with you I’m much more interested in something else”

She was intrigued, if only for the moment

“And this something would be?”

He put on a flirtatious smirk “No need to play modest here, I’ve sorta had my eye on you since you first arrived on the scene. All that confidence with all of that body? I just had to get to know you”

Nino wanted to gag with every word that spilled out of his mouth, he could only pray that Alya wasn’t around to hear him. Now that’s a fight he’d just roll over on.

La Mêre had a seductive smile as she paced herself around him for a better inspection, “So, little DJ here is into older women. Do I have that right?”

He shrugged, “I would more prefer the term, experienced. Females my age, they’re still trying to figure out what a blowjob is. I need a woman who knows her way around a bedroom”

She leaned up against his back, breasts pressing softly against his spine. He felt himself regurgitate but kept his cool.

“Well if it’s experience you want, I think I can saddle up to the task”

She tried to make a pass for his more sensitive bits but he cut her off by spinning around to face her.

“Let’s not do it here” She raised an eyebrow in questioning “what I mean is, I’m more of a private type of lover, so, I’d prefer somewhere a little more secluded”

Initially, she thought it was a little weird, but the young ones were always shy so she played it off like no big deal

“Ok then, any ideas”

He let out a sigh of relief “Personally, I’m quite fond of a little “Alley cat” play. That is, if you’re willing”

Her smile widened “Just be careful, this kitty has claws of her own”

He led her out a back door, just barely glancing at Sophie as she busied herself with a lot of alcohol and a very large container. Holding open the door for the ‘lady’, Nino had hoped to see his little girl give him a sign, signal, anything that said he didn’t have to actually go through with this. But sadly, all he saw was her little hand shooing him to get on with it.

‘Oh yea sure just stick me with the most disgusting part of the plan. I didn’t need my innocence anyway it’s super overrated.’ He grimaced

He didn’t have too much time to fret over the situation as La Mêre grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and forced him against a wall

Nino suddenly had a vast amount of respect for women who had to deal with assholes getting too feely with them on a daily basis. La Mêre had her hands on every surface of his skin. All he could do to defend himself was squirm and hope she’d catch the hint...she didn’t.

“Now that I’m getting a good look at your face, you were the one blasting that fucking music weren’t you”

He passed it off with an airy laugh “Had to get your attention somehow. Besides, I think you look most...interesting when you’re mad”

La Mêre’s eyes twinkled with a dangerous, playful look “Nice try, but i’ve had a really shitty day and I need an outlet. So sad to say but I think it’s time for a bit of punishment”

His eyes went as wide as the moon as she smoothly tore open his shirt.

‘IneedanadultIneedanadultIneedanadult!!!!’

She worked her hand down his bare stomach, taking her time and leaving bite marks on his skin. She knelt in front of his jeans and undid his belt buckle.

Her hands froze as the barrel of what felt like a gun was on the back of her head

“I’m gonna need you to take your rotting fingers off my daddy” Sophie said with not a hint of fear

“Oh my god, I’ve never been so happy to adopt, bless jesus” He groaned in relief collapsing against the wall

La Mêre scoffed “Sorry to break it to you honey but your little pea shooter isn’t exactly gonna save the world here”

“Good thing it’s packed with the worst combination of alcohol I could come up with” She tossed a water pistol to Nino and continued

“You just chugged a whole bottle of tequila. So it would be pretty bad if all of a sudden you had a throat full of Natural Light beer, known to, when mixed, induce immediate vomiting”

Nino shoved the barrel of the water pistol upto La Mêre’s lips. She glared fire into Nino’s face “And that only works if I open my mouth, your point?”

Sophie put on a wicked smile “You’ve been cut up pretty bad tonight haven’t you? You must’ve taken at least a couple of scars. In fact, I see a fairly fresh one on the back of your neck. So here’s the deal”

Sophie put another water gun to the back of La Mêre’s neck

“In my hand is a Nerf Super Soaker Arctic Shock Water Blaster filled to the brim with a special mix I like to call “Satan’s Sip” made of all kinds of nasty stuff I found behind the bar. Now then, either I pull my trigger or my daddy pulls his. Pick your poison”

La Mêre put up her hands in defeat

“You know it’s been a really, REALLY shitty night and I was trying to play along with the game but you shown me that I’m really no contender for it”

The tension was thicker than lead as no one moved or hardly breathed

“Sucks that I’ll have to play dirty now!” La Mêre pivoted around on her foot and snatched the gun from Sophie’s hand.

Nino leapt into action, grabbing La Mêre’s hair and slamming her body onto the ground. The impact was so sudden that it knocked the air out of her lungs, leaving her gasping for breath. Sophie jumped on the opportunity and grabbed the gun back and putting head of the gun into her mouth.

“On behalf of Elly, bottom’s up”

Sophie unloaded the whole tank of liquor with no remorse. La Mêre could barely breath, the mixture was rushing down her throat so fast. Everything went blurry as her whole body burned and convulsed.

Not wanting to stay around for the aftermath, Nino grabbed sophie and raced to their next meetup spot. He abruptly picked up his speed as the sound of screaming, curses, and vomiting ganged up on them

“Jesus Christ Sophie what did you put in that water gun!?”

“Oh you know. Rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and any liquor with a warning label on it...there was actually a lot of those”

‘I think my little family is gonna put me into an early grave’

Making it to a local park, Nino skidded to a halt and took a nervous breath. Trust me, he wanted to keep running but the point of this whole mission was to lure La Mêre to various locations. They needed to make sure that she knew where to run, otherwise she’d start destroying the city (more than she already was).

“YOU!!!” She bellowed, another round of bile and ‘Satan’s Sip’ spilling from her mouth

“I-if it’s any consolation, I was never gonna get with you in the first place!”, She roared bloody murder “Oh come on, you’ve met Alya! If I ever cheated on her, not even death could save me!”

Spitting out what remained, La Mêre pulled a cigarette from her chest. Nino stumbled back as she breathed in the smoke until all that was left was a measly nub. She flicked it to the side and with not an ounce of care for what was hit, spat out a massive fireball from her lips.

Nino dove toward a tree and shielded Sophie’s smaller body with his larger one. Hoping to at least shield her from some of the pain he squeezed his eyes shut and expected the worse.

Moments passed with no impact. He thought he just died and creaked open his eyes. He was never so happy to just see his daughter and grass, beautiful, sweet smelling grass.

“Baby, are you ok!” He said, checking all over her body for scars

She laughed, batting away his hands “Yes daddy, I’m fine! Elly’s grandma saved us”

He was so confused ‘Her grandma?’. He turned his head and there she was, Sabine Dupain-Cheng, local baker, was standing in front of them, loving smile and all

“Are either of you hurt?” She asked. They both shook their heads in response.

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled “That’s a relief. Now Nino, may I have your scarf. I’ll hold her off while you two escape.”

She didn’t need to tell him twice. Nino quickly untied his bandana and handed it over. Thanking her profusely, they ran off, hoping to never have to do this again.

“Oh what the fuck now!” La Mêre seethed. Sabine straightened her posture and approached her, a serious and resolute expression on her face

“Oh what, now I have to fight this 70 year old Street Fighter reject? Give me a fucking break here” Sabine remained mute as she readied her fighter stance.

She stumbled, however, as a blaring screech hit her ear drum

“MOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?” Marinette had been decently silent through this whole operation, staying out of sight with Adrien and following everyone’s progress. She did not, however, agree to having her mother having a stand-off with paris’ most dangerous and psychopathic terrorist.

“Following the plan dear, what does it look like?” Sabine responded. Marinette pinched the bridge of her nose

“The plan, mother dearest, was to lure. NOT to dress in you finest Tangzhuang and fight”

She wanted her to just run and leave it be, but Sabine refused to back down, arguing that this was a matter of honor amongst the Dupain-Cheng family. The argument got so heated, in fact, that it soon spiraled into pure, unaccented Mandarin. Even Adrien was able to pick up pieces of the debate (though he’d rather not repeat them).

“Fine Ma!” Marinette huffed out “Do whatever! Just...watch yourself ok?”

Adrien put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder “Hey, I know you’re worried but everything will be fine! I’m sure your mom is probably tougher than she looks”

What he did not expect though, was the confused look on Marinette’s face. You know, the one that just screams “What in the holy fuck are you talking about?”

“What? Oh i’m not worried about HER”

“...huh?”

La Mêre bursted into attack, feeling utterly irate and ignored. She balled up her fist in plans for a clean shot to the face. Sabine smoothly took hold of her fist and pinned her arm behind her back, jabbing her fingers onto the back of her neck. Shoving her away, La Mêre stumbled against a tree, gripping her neck in pain

“Mari?”

“Yea?”

“Your mom’s a baker right?”

“Has been since before I was born”

Sabine decided to take the initiative and unwound a chinese rope dart from her waist. Wrapping it tightly around her wrist, she spun it rapidly, watching her opponent with a laser like vision. La Mêre moved to rush her again. Sabine flung the dart, keeping her at bay. No matter how many times she tried to advance, the threat of the obsidian dart kept her from moving.

Adrien could not form comprehensible sounds, much less words of a known language

And then it hit her

“Adrien, you didn’t actually think my use of the yoyo came NATURALLY did you? You told me yourself that your fighting style came from fencing training”

“How was I supposed to know that your mom was a martial arts master...AND WHY THE HELL IS YOUR MOM A MARTIAL ARTS MASTER!?!?”

Marinette was in hysterics at his facial expressions “Before my parents met, my mom was already a 6 time master in Chanquan-Wushu, specializing in the rope dart. Fun fact, she was actually training Elly for a while”

Adrien gawked at her incredulously “Oh calm down! It was just some self defense movements, in case of a bully or something. Nothing with the rope dart (i don’t think)”

He ran his hands through his hair, yes his daughter was learning a few martial arts moves, no big deal! Everyone needs to learn self defense!

“Oh and when my dad used to live in America he became a massive pro-wrestling star, everyone called him “The One Stop Shop”. You should have seen him showing off all his old takedowns to Elly, she looked like she was having so much fun….Uh Adrien you ok?”

A ghost was more tan than him right now.

“I guess I also shouldn’t tell you that I was already a 4 time advanced black belt in Northern Shaolin kung fu with a specialization in praying lotus style by the time i hit 16 huh?”

If Adrien Agreste learned nothing else on this night, he learned this lesson...fuck with this family if you want to...you’ll never make it

La Mêre was receiving her 5th beatdown by the time she finally gave up. She thought she could catch Sabine off guard by grabbing the dart before it hit her face. They got into a tug of war over the dart and she thought she might’ve actually won something. Too bad that was all sabine needed before winding the rope around her foot and stomping it downward, colliding La Mêre’s face with the ground for the umpteenth time.

“Mom, I think you got your point across” Marinette spoke into her earpiece

Feeling decently satisfied with her work, Sabine agree and relented on her attack. She undid her own bandana and carelessly threw them on top of La Mêre’s silent body.

“An interesting tidbit for you” She spoke into her ear “Back in my younger days I was known as the serpent’s bite. You come for my family again and you can get an in depth lesson as to why”

And she left her there, battered and bruised with not even a second thought

“Ugh she went overboard again” Marinette groaned

She had expected them to be stuck in their little hideout for a while, the woman did just contract multiple blows to her pressure points. Hell who knows, she might even be knocked out till morning! Wouldn’t that be a lucky break.

But their hopeful peace was short lived.

Wisps of ashy gray floated toward the night sky as a strangled cackle ripped through the warm air.

“You know...tonight’s been fun”

Marinette and Adrien’s blood ran icy cold. La Mêre sat up, blood dripping down her mouth

“Got some exercise in, listened to some music, hell even had a drink or two”

Adrien grabbed onto Marinette’s hand tightly as the beaten woman lumbered onto her feet, hair matted and filthy

“And to be honest I really wanted to just...win, you know? Earn Elly relatively fair and square”

Their hearts was beating out of their chests, they couldn’t be sure what to do, she was just too unpredictable

“But if this is how you’re gonna play the game, then don’t be too mad when I join in the fun”

It all became far too painfully clear

There was only one thing they could do…

“When you see Elly’s father, tell him I said hi”

RUN!!!