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huge-enthusiast · 3 years

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Miraculous fic recomendations!!

This is just an excuse to show all my bookmarks? Yes. Yes, it is. I'm pretty sure most of this fics are really popular, but try see if you find something you didn't knew about!

All of the fics will be rated Teen and up audiences or lower. Also if I don't put the author's tumblr is because they didn't put it in the fic or/and I couldn't find it.

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

knowing you by emsylcatac (they are not really the author of the fic but that's the account that says in the fic, the actual author doesn't have an account).

After dropping their transformations months ago, Marinette and Adrien see each other for the first time after being apart. They've both left too much unsaid and have to work to pick up the pieces of their confused hearts.

Chapters: 1/1

Post-reveal but mostly ladynoir, light angst with happy ending.

the last day on earth by Reiaji

The first time Marinette sees Chat Blanc, she's fourteen years old. The second time, fifteen—the third time, seventeen.

The closer she grows to Adrien, the harder it is to save him.

Chapters: 1/1

Post-reveal lovesquare, kinda heavy angst, hopeful ending.

tell me something i don't know by carpisuns (@carpisuns here on tumblr)

Do you think it still means something? To love someone, even if the universe said you had to?

The odds of having a soulmate are about negative one billion (or something like that). But somehow, like they always have, Marinette and Chat Noir find themselves together. They’re ready to finally tell each other everything, but it turns out that even soulmates have to keep secrets, and while their bond draws them together, duty forces them apart.

Chapters: currently 17/28 (WIPs can be exhausting but this one is 100% worth the wait!)

Mostly marichat but almost all of the lovesquare sides make an appearance, soulmates au, mostly fluff but it can get angsty if it wants to.

One Thing After Another by SKayLanphear

Marinette notices that, sometimes, Adrien acts a little out of the ordinary--like the time he stood in a cardboard box for no reason, or when he actually hissed at Nino. It's only when she starts to notice the similarities between Adrien and a certain feline that she begins to get suspicious.

Basically, Adrien acts like a cat when he probably shouldn't.

Chapters: 15/15

Mostly adrienette with one sided reveal by Marinette's side, miraculous side effects (by both sides wich is really cool!), it's fluff with a lil tiny angst for drama.

This would take some getting used to by Codango (@codango here on tumblr!)

Adrien peeked out from behind the chimney even as the magic of his own Chat Noir mask fell away.

She was still visible, her dark hair bobbing under the street lamps a couple blocks away.

“Marinette.”

Adrien blew out a confused breath. His fiery Ladybug… was the quiet little mouse who sat behind him in class?

“What. The.”

This… would take some getting used to.

Chapters: 8/8

Adrienette with one sided reveal by Adrien's part, awkward flirting, just fluff, nothing to worry about.

comfort food also by Reiaji!

In Marinette's house, cooking is a language of love, and Marinette loves Adrien more than most.

Chapters: 1/1

Adrienette with a little of ladynoir, super super fluff, a lot of insight into Marinette's chinese heritage.

The right side of his face by walkingonthestars (@hamsternamedmarinette here on tumblr!)

Marinette and Adrien are able to remain in their new seats in the back of the room at the end of Chameleon.

Chapters: 1/1

Adrienette, fluff with light angst.

it's a long way forward so trust in me by aloneintherain (@captainkirkk here on tumblr!)

“You’re not the only strong one around here, Chat,” Marinette said. She looked a little winded, but she wasn’t struggling to hold him up.

This close up, he could see the freckles on the bridge of her nose. He could see how that smug smile lit up her eyes. He could feel the strain of her arms—and wow, okay, he really wasn’t the only person around here with muscles.

Six times Marinette carried Adrien (plus one time he carried her).

Chapters: 1/1

All the sides of the lovesquare! Fluff with LOTS of mutual pining.

a fight that you were born to lose also by aloneintherain

When the prosecution starts throwing around the word victim in reference to Adrien, he has to stuff his hands under his thighs to keep himself from bolting out of the courtroom.

Adrien had felt unsafe during those last few weeks, but, until he had woken up and seen Father silhouetted in his bedroom doorway, that had only been paranoia. Father was controlling and cold, but he wasn’t hateful. Adrien was isolated. He was often hungry. And some weeks ago, when he had snuck out to visit Nino, sitting thigh-to-thigh on his bed while Adrien cried in that silent, crumbling way of his, he hadn’t argued when Nino put a hand on his shoulder and said, tentatively, That’s abuse.

But Adrien remembers being small and Father touching his hair after he’d aced another test; Father holding his scribbled drawings like they were something precious, and framing them around his office; Father, dressed as Hawkmoth, his eyes wild behind the mask, lashing his sword against Adrien’s baton; Father, collapsed against Mum, crying into her ashy hair.

Adrien finds out Gabriel is Hawkmoth, and Gabriel gets to bring his long-waited plan into action.

Chapters: 1/1

This one doesn't really focus in the ship that much as is an Adrien character study and an exploration of his relationship with his father, but they're still there so I put them here. Really heavy angst (this is one of this fics that haunt me in the middle of the night) with a happy ending. ❗TW: parental abuse, eating disorders❗

Supercut by LNC

Marinette loves her friends and Adrien can't deal.

Chapters: 1/1

Post-reveal lovesquare, again light angst, an exploration of Adrien's insecurities, Marinette Dupain-Cheng deserves the world, happy ending.

Madame Snare by jettiebettie

“Sounds like a lot of work for nothing. She should take this as a sign to have a relaxing weekend with no responsibilities.”

“It's a lot of work she put her whole heart into. It wouldn't be right for it to go to waste,” Adrien whispers to him. The look on Marinette's face is enough to cause Adrien's own heart to ache. If anyone deserves the satisfaction and pride from a job well done, it's her.

“Too bad there isn't anyone else who can walk in those death traps,” Plagg says. Adrien hums in thought, tapping his chin.

“I could.”

Chapters: 1/1

Marichat, episode-based, Chat Noir in a dress!!!, light angst but it's mostly just idiots being idiots and a lot of fun.

in the same sun by peachcitt (@peachcitt here on tumblr!)

"It’s hard to believe that I saw you last at the peak of summer, when the sun was close and warm - and so were you. It should go without saying that I miss you. I miss you something terrible."

"It’s been seven months to the day since I’ve seen you. I wish you were here more than anything else."

Two letters, signed with initials instead of names, found in Paris, France.

Chapters: 1/1

Ladynoir, just angst, that's it, written like letters. No ending, just pain.

an uncurtain discovery by Missnoodles (@ladyofthenoodle here on tumblr!)

When he returns from school on Wednesday afternoon, Adrien discovers the darkness in his own home. He struggles to come to terms with it. To his utter mortification and delight, Ladybug is nearby to rescue him.

(He does not discover that his father is supervillain. That will happen on a different Wednesday.)

Chapters: 1/1

Ladrien, it says it's crack, and don't get me wrong, is super funny, but I also found it sad as fuck?

An Open Secret by Kasienda

Adrien whirled around toward Marinette. She smiled at him.

He couldn’t smile back. He stared at her like the dumb blond model that he was often accused of being.

Something shifted in her expression. And her warm open Marinette smile transformed into Ladybug’s grin. He was looking at Ladybug right now.

He knew Ladybug’s name!

Her name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

And he couldn’t say anything! Not to Marinette! Not even to Plagg, who had confided two weeks prior that Master Fu was growing increasingly paranoid since the location of his home and hideout had been compromised. Their master had apparently decided that Chat Noir and Ladybug would have to give up their miraculouses if they ever discovered each other’s identities.

It wasn’t fair!

...

A fic where they both know, but can't openly talk about it.

Chapters: 4/4

Post-reveal... but is it? Mostly adrienette and ladynoir, fluff with light angst and them being absolute idiots at hiding their secret identity.

golden (like daylight) by okayanna (@anna-scribbles here on tumblr!)

Friendship, Adrien decided, shaking off the mental image of Marinette’s hurricane eyes and hesitant mouth, parted in a small, careful “o.” He had a very strong friendship with Marinette. That was all.

Adrien thinks a lot about words, love, and Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Chapters: 1 + epilogue

Adrienette but has lots of ladynoir, another Adrien character study because I hate myself, it tries to not be angst but the writing will punch you in the guts and make you cry, it's so good.

Strangers in the Bright Lights by poodles (@ladybeug here on tumblr!)

Adrien is about two drinks in when he sees a girl at the end of the bar wearing black cat ears. It's kind of weird, so he watches her, and although it's crowded he can see her face when she turns around. She’s wearing a Chat Noir mask. He takes a quick look around- nobody else is wearing a mask. Just her.

Adrien finishes his gin martini and heads over to her. He could use some company tonight anyways, he hasn’t told anyone he’s back in Paris and Nathalie won’t arrive in town for another month. And it’s been a rough day, okay? A rough move! He’s not sure he wants to be back yet, and he spent most of the day in the Agreste mansion sorting through some photographs of his father he found in the study. Maybe he wants a drink and some stranger to tell him he’s pretty! That’s not a crime, is it?

Chapters: 1/1

Adrienette but it's also ladrien??? I think??? It's super super angsty but they're both drunk the entirety of the fic so it's also really funny.

Pick-Up and Chase by also SKayLanphear

After she accidentally trips into Adrien and apologizes about "falling for him," Marinette learns that he's no match for cheesy pick-up lines--whether they were unintended or not. And while she finds it flattering that he turns into a flustered mess with only a few words, Marinette comes to regret making him uncomfortable. That is, until she learns he's Chat Noir. At which point the phrase "just deserts" becomes a permanent fixture in her everyday plans.

A story in which Adrien is flustered, Marinette is smooth as glass at dropping lines, and Chat Noir gets the romance he was always asking for--even if he doesn't quite know how to handle it.

Chapters: 10/10

Adrienette with one sided reveal by Marinette's side, it doesn't say it in the tags but I'm pretty sure the characters are much older than they actually are in the show, so much fluff and so much flirting.

Pairing: Alya Césaire/Nino Lahiffe

Nino Has Done Nothing To Deserve This by GuardianKarenTerrier (@guardiankarenterrier here in tumblr)

It's nothing, really- just an innocent comment, a joke. But when they hear it, Nino and Alya come to a realisation.

There were, in retrospect, dozens upon dozens of hints. Now that they're suddenly aware of all their friend's flimsy excuses and rushed explanations, they're not only sure how they've missed it, they're not sure how anyone else has either. They realise that it had to be magic protecting their friends- and that same magic has ceased to work on the two of them.

Well, this means they'll just have to start watching over their friends themselves.

Chapters: 7/7

This is more a found family fic than anything else, Alya and Nino are the mom friend, has light angst but it's mostly identity shenanigans in the most bizarre way. ❗TW: eating disorders❗

christmas lights by demistories

Nino checks up and down the street, checking to make sure there’s no raging akuma headed his way before he crosses quickly and ducks inside the small café. He closes the door quickly before the icy air can blow inside and tugs his beanie down over his ears. He spots Alya sitting alone in the corner.

Chapters: 1/1

Just fluff!! Really short but really sweet.

hold on, i still want you also by Missnoodles!

Written for the @thedjwifizine ! Wich I also recommend if you wanna binge a lot of djwifi fics while also looking at amazing art!!!

Five times Alya ran into her ex, and the one time he stopped being her ex.

Chapters: 1/1

Light angst with a happy ending! I don't really like the ex-lovers to lovers trope but this one is the only exception.

I will continue to expand the list in the future! But by now I hope I was helpful in the search of new fics!

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tryingmydarndest · 3 years

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Thank You (Luka Couffaine x Reader)

Summary (Part 1/probably 3): The author goes on a bit of a tangent about how Y/N goes on a bit of a tangent about Viperion. Who may just have a little, big ol' crush on them?

Tags: -not enough actual relationship -fluff -but like, a weird sprinkling of angst that I didn't plan on right at the end???

Word count: 1.6k

A/N: Inspired by this fic by @seriously-sirius-black <3. Luka? OOC? Idk, probably, I don’t write fanfic. But I am actually kinda proud of how well Alya turned out. Writing this made me realize how much of a mom friend I apparently headcanon her as. I wrote this gender-and-as-everything-else-neutral as I can make it (lemme know if you see ways I can improve, tho idk how much more fanfic I'll even be writing). Also, I freakin' RAMBLE and overuse italics, but ya get what ya get and ya don't gotta fret. Ooh, important note for future parts (if i write them) - this is a kinda!au where the miraculous users keep their miraculous. also if I had a nickel for every time I get awkwardly specific about the placement of both of a character’s hands I’d have TWO nickels. Happy reading!! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Part I - Paris's Cutiest Heroes

The look currently on Marinette’s face as she sputtered out a response was priceless, “Cat Noir? Cat Noir!? What makes you think I’d find Cat Noir attractive at all? And- and- HIM- the cutest superhero! Ridiculous!”

“Utterly ridiculous?”

“Nice one, Alya”

“Thank you so much, Y/N,” you gave Alya a high five on your way to your seat next to Juleka and Rose on the couch facing Marinette and Alya. A sunny Friday after school was the perfect place for Kitty Section and their entourage to hang out. Unfortunately without Ivan and Mylène, seeing as their anniversary called for a private celebration. After pushing a couple couches onto the deck of The Liberty, Alya had predictably started talking about Paris's resident hero team. Today, she chose to ask everyone who they deemed the cutest, and she made sure to jump on Marinette's... interesting response, “And girl, he has the same silky golden hair and dreamy emerald eyes as Adrien Agreste. What’s utterly ridiculous is you freaking out and dodging every time we bring up superheroes!”

The designated snack-boy, Luka, walked out precariously carrying three bowls of goodies for everyone, “Alright, I got more popcorn. Sorry, but looks like we’re out of cheese flavoring, Y/N”

“Oh... that’s fine. I honestly wasn’t expecting it since I forgot to ask,” your free hand not reaching for the bowl rubbed the back of your neck, “but thanks for remembering.”

“Oh, um yeah- Always," is it creepy to remember something so specific? Someone as nice as Y/N wouldn't be interested in some creep. Ugh. Luka took a seat with his own bowl after passing Alya and Marinette theirs. He ended up next to you on the floor, leaning against the arm of the couch, dangerously close to touching your legs.

Rose reached for the popcorn as she interjected, “You know, Alya does have a point. So Marinette, why don’t you just tell us who you think the cutest superhero is, if you don’t like us guessing?”

Somehow Marinette’s face went even paler as she spoke, “What- I mean, I don’t- I haven’t thought- Wha- what about Y/N? Why aren’t you interrogating them?”

Alya crossed her arms, “Because Y/N says the same thing about the same hero every day. Just watch. Ahem, Y/N, care to weigh in on the cuteness level of our lovely Parisian superheroes?”

You looked up from the bowl you had stolen back from Rose with wide eyes, "Hey! Okay, no, that is not fair! Besides, what is our criteria for 'cute'? I mean... Are we going just by physical characteristics? Is costume a factor? What about the animal they're representing, could our opinion of that make this whole thing unfair? And cuteness is so subjective anyway... Why are we even reducing these amazing and honorable superheroes to just their looks? I mean we could be talking about skill, or their powers or power lev-"

"-And your answer would be exactly the same. Seriously, are you done trying- and might I add, failing- to talk yourself out of this one yet? Or should I just read the article you wrote for the Ladyblog?"

"You said you deleted that!"

Luka had perked his head up at your initial fumbling response and turned to you when he spoke, "You wrote an article? That's pretty cool."

You rubbed your face to try and distract yourself from the burning embarrassment, "Umm, yeah. But it was terrible and extremely not. worth. publishing." You hoped the glare you sent the girl in question was enough to scare her into deleting it on the spot, or to at least lie about it, "So Alya kindly deleted it, right?"

Sitting up with a smug look and crossed arms severely lowered your faith that she'd keep quiet. "A good journalist archives everything. Especially something as juicy as one of her besties going on for five thousand words about how dreamy the great Viperion is," dramatically fake-fainting into Marinette's lap, Alya could barely finish before bursting out in laughter. Of course, quickly followed by the others joining in to varying degrees. Juleka and Rose happily giggled to themselves, Marinette looked more relieved that the heat was off her, and Luka seemed to be shocked, or maybe just holding back to see how you were taking this.

Horribly. Horribly embarrassed would describe how you were taking this conversation. You sat there stock-still as you hoped that none of the others could hear your heart's desperate attempts to pound its way out of your chest. That's certainly all you could hear, at least until Alya's voice brought you out of it, "Hey, it's fine," she made her way over to sit next to you as she continued, "We all have our little hero crushes. That's why I bring it up all the time, to show you that it's totally normal! I mean, we all know how I could go on about Carapace for days," Alya gestured for the others to continue, and used her other hand to try and comfort you.

"Well, I find Ladybug to be just absolutely adorable and so kind.... oh it just makes me so happy knowing she's keeping all of Paris safe," Rose added softly.

Juleka brushed a strand of hair aside as she spoke, "Rena Rouge is super mysterious, pretty rad in my opinion."

Alya was rubbing your back like the mom friend she is to try and help encourage you, "See? Super normal, so go ahead and release all this pent up Viperion energy that I know you have. Maybe it'll encourage Marinette here to finally join in the fun!" Alya stuck her tongue out at her best friend, who responded promptly by smashing her face into a pillow.

You just sighed, "I mean- it’s- it can't just-'' were you supposed to just get over it all just like that? Well, at least the embarrassment was wearing off, maybe you could just entertain her for a bit, "Well- um, you see.... HisHairJustLooksReallySoftAnd- you know what. Nope. Can't do anymore of this. Yep- that's all you're getting out of me!" This time when everyone started giggling, you were able to comfortably join them. It was a nice feeling.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A nice evening chilling out with your friends was always welcome, especially with the rising number of akumatizations making that less possible. But the night had come to a close. Alya and Marinette went home, Juleka was walking Rose back herself, and Luka and you had volunteered to clean up. Luka stopped drying the cup in his hand for a minute as he looked at you, “Um, I know it might not be my place, but I want you to know that you don’t have to be embarrassed about the whole... Viperion thing.” God, how am I supposed to take the news that MY crush has a crush on.... Sort of me? Am I supposed to count it as me at all?

“Oh, um. Yeah, thanks. I think I’m over the embarrassment now that it’s out. I don’t know, it’s just that a lot of people think it’s weird since he’s kind of a new hero,” how are you supposed to explain this to him? That you kept such a non-issue secret from him, especially without getting suspiciously defensive about it. “And then people use that to try and say that I only like him for his looks..... And that’s not it! I don’t know, it’s kind of.... A lot? To explain, that is.” This was not going well.

“Oh... Well, what is it? That you like about him, I guess.”

This was so not going well. But he was waiting for a response so... “Uh, well I guess it did kinda start..... that way.... but then I started doing research. I learned about his power and saw videos of his fights. He’s really good! Especially for being so new, which kinda goes into why his power makes me like him so much.” Shit. Rambling, I’m just talking and talking and I need to stop. But how am I supposed to change the subject now? And now Luka’s sitting down, and he seems so invested. Why does this have to happen to me?

“What do you mean by that?”

Luka’s voice kindly shuts your little thought-spiral in its tracks. What were you saying? Oh, Viperion’s powers! You can talk about this, you know this. Just keep talking, at least he seems interested in it, “Well, you know how he can go back and redo the last couple of minutes?” Luka nodded, “Well, we always see the time that worked out. Us civilians get to keep going from the one time it all went right. Just imagine all the times he failed, all the times he couldn’t get it right. It could be dozens, maybe even hundreds of times! He must get so discouraged at some point, I mean I know I would.... I guess I didn’t really think about it at first, but.... but, I doubt I could keep that determination, and I’m so glad Paris has a hero who can, and does.”

Silence. Why was it so quiet? Oh no, he thinks I’m weird. He must think-

“All of this from ‘his hair looks soft’?”

“Hey! You can’t tell me not to be embarrassed, then make fun of me! That’s against the rules!”

Luka chuckled as he said, “Against what rules, exactly?”

“The Rules Of Best Friendship, duh!”

“And who exactly said you were my best friend?”

“Well... your loss, I guess. Now you won’t get an invitation when I plan Rose and Juleka’s wedding,” you brushed off his offended glare as you took the seat next to him.

“She’s my sister.”

“She’d take my side.”

I’d take your side, too. I will always take your side. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

A/N the sequel: I am super bad at finishing things, but I really wanna keep motivated to finish this (like I have a full, probably 3 part, plan for this). If you guys want to help, shoot me a message and I'll send you a link to the google doc I'm writing this on. Feel free to leave a little comment (pls be kind, obviously) and see my writing process! Idk, would any of you guys be interested in that? Would you just get annoyed at having already read the thing before I post it?

#luka couffaine x reader #luka couffaine #mircaulous ladybug #miraculous fanworks #miraculous fanfic #miraculous luka #miraculous lb #the tales of ladybug and cat noir #luka couffaine fanfic #luka couffaine imagine #im gonna hate seeing this show up when i search luka x reader #but imma have to deal with it #mmmmmmm #we love anxiety here #<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

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miracul0us-multishipper · 3 years

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Welcome to the Back - Interlude

Adrien centric. Basically an apology for all that chameleon induced salt I had on him during wttb.

Masterpost

Adrien sneaked a look outside. There was a gap between the panels that made up the background of the show, just large enough to peek out without being seen. It was quiet here, away from the bustling make-up artists and designers, hurrying to put finishing touches on their assigned models. His father wasn’t among them of course. He was Gabriel Agreste and didn’t need to improve anything, his designs long since perfected during late nights in his atelier. And he had full faith in his son!

(“I trust that you know how important this is,” he had said this morning, with face like marble, “how crucial it is to not lose face when working with the competition. I have no doubt you will behave accordingly.”)

Still. His happiness that his father had taken the time to build him up did not keep him from scanning the crowd for him. Was he there already? Or would he arrive in a way his mother called “fashionably late”?

Sighing, he turned away from the panels. He wasn’tsad that his father didn’t visit him before the show. Really, he had already talked to him only hours ago and was doubtlessly busy; Adrien shouldn’t be selfish.

Besides, it wasn’t like he was on his own.

“Are you nervous?”, he asked the other model when he returned to their private changing room. “There are so many people out there!”

Felix Leanne rolled his eyes, but his finger was tapping on the table relentlessly.

“Of course there are many people. Otherwise this whole ordeal wouldn’t be worth the hassle.”

“You’re dodging the question,” Adrien noted with a tiny hint of smugness. He liked Felix, even though he was a little cold sometimes. They had worked together often enough to be on friendly terms, both being the only models of each other’s age in their shoots. Both fairly isolated, both so busy.

Felix sighed.

“I’m not. Nervous, I mean. Just impatient.”

His eyes flitted towards the door.

“Mum… Mum said I can start accompanying her to work if I do well tonight. I’d get to see how everything actually works! I wrote down so many questions I want to ask. I just want to be able to askthem already.”

Adrien frowned.

“Aren’t you a little too young to be so interested in… company math?”

“We’re the same age, Adrien.”

“Exactly! The same youngage.” He couldn’t hold in a deep sigh. “If mymom offered to let me do anything I want, I would ask to go to a real school. No more homeschooling, just… doing something normal for once. I’d get to meet so many people, to make so many friends!”

Felix pretended to shudder.

“Ugh, people. Horrific.” He ignored Adrien’s giggling. “Seriously, they’re everywhere.”

“I bet you could go to school with me!” he, in turn, ignored Felix’ nagging. “Then we’d already know someone there. Plus Chloé, of course.”

Felix grimaced at the name but refrained from commenting. He’d learned that Adrien didn’t handle it well if you openly disliked his only friend. He wouldn’t have had the time, anyway, because just then a blur of oranges and yellows stormed into the room, carrying dozens of safety pins and wearing several dozens more clipped to her dress.

“Felix!”, Evelynn Leanne squealed, “you look wonderful, darling, navy blue just makes your eyes pop! Let me see the jacket, will you? Oh, this looks a little tight! It doesn’t chafe, does it? Does it?”

“Mum, stop it! Personal space, please.”

Felix pulled a face when his mother gave his jacket one last tug before stepping back.

“Of course, of course. It’s just… Ugh, you look adorable! Doesn’t he, Ms. Cess?”

The Leanne’s assistant, a round black woman that looked absolutely unshakable, gave Felix a small smile.

“He looks like a professional.”

Felix didn’t beam. Adrien was sure his face was physically incapable to. But the hint of a smile that graced his usually tight lips might be his version of that.

“Thank you,” he said genuinely, before sobering up again. “Now, if you’d leave me to prepare? Also, I’m pretty sure you have more than one design to check up on.”

Evelyn sighed, just the way her son was prone to do.

“Let me have my moment, will you? But fine! I still haven’t heard any news from the missing accessory line, and that Sancœur lady was very adamant that it be complete. Good luck, Felix! You too, Adrien! Love your tie, by the way.”

He perked up immediately.

“Thank you, Madame Leanne!”, he tried to answer, but Felix was already hurrying her and Mademoiselle Cess out of the door. When they were gone, his coworker was leaning against the door in relief and Adrien’s throat felt weirdly tight.

“Sorry about that,” Felix said nonchalantly, “she’s been a little clingy since… you know.”

Of course. The divorce, he’d read about it in the newspaper. He couldn’t imagine how horrible it would be to lose his father like that, how terrible Felix must feel.

“Are you okay?” the (slightly) older boy asked after a moment. “You were so quiet.”

Adrien shook his head, shushing those thoughts.

“Of course! Your mother is great, I just… Mine can’t be here today. She’s still not feeling well.”

An understatement, he feared. His father wouldn’t let him into her room to say goodbye before he went to the show. He was just worried, of course! And he’d explained it to him.

(“Don’t bother your mother now, Adrien. She needs her rest.”

“I just wanted to see her before the show. To say goodbye- “

His father flinched at that; his tone sharp.

“There’s no need to- She’ll still be here after the show! Don’t- Don’t let your nerves get the better of you.”

Then, a little softer: “You can talk to her tomorrow.”)

Felix looked at him through somber blue eyes.

“I’m… sorry to hear that. But your father will be here, yes?”

Hurrying to smile, Adrien nodded.

“Yes, we’ll drive home together.”

At that, Felix’ eyes narrowed.

“Uh… great? But before that he’ll want to see you, won’t he?”

To be honest, he was never quite sure what his father wanted. But that wasn’t what this was about, anyway!

“He is very busy,” Adrien explained. “Managing the Show, and all that. But that’s alright! It’s very important to him, and I’m happy to be part of it. It makes me feel… I don’t know, closer to him.”

Felix’ did not relent.

“But don’t you want him to say Good Luck or something? Surely, he can’t be thatbusy.”

“Well…” he admitted. “I… I did hope he’d come by. Like your mom always does. But I don’t want to be greedy! He’s needed elsewhere, probably.”

He straightened.

“Besides, I don’t want to complain to you. With all that… divorce business you’ve already got on your shoulders.”

It was a cheap trick to change the topic, but it worked. Felix scoffed and turned away.

“Oh please, I’m happymy Dad isn’t here. Not that he would care, anyway. I barely saw him even before Mum kicked him out, and what I saw of him was distant, dismissive and derogatory at best. Really, I could never see him again and not lose any sleep about it.”

Adrien couldn’t believe anyone could truly feel that way about their father. Sure, he was disappointed in his father from time to time, sometimes even angry. But he was still, well, his father.

“I’m sure he does love you.”, he tried to comfort his friend. “Maybe if you gave him another chance, he would- “

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Felix snapped, still not looking at him. “He had thirteen years’ worth of chances. I won’t let him… I won’t stand for that kind of inconsequence.”

With that, he straightened his shoulders and turned around.

“Besides, you’re hardly unbiased. It’s rather obvious you’re projecting.”

His voice was harsher than intended and it showed. No sooner than he said it, his eyes widened and he looked away.

“I… I meant…”

“I’m not projecting.”, Adrien said. His voice was oddly quiet to his own ears, and his chest felt cold. “I’m not- I love my père. He’s not- I love him. You don’t know him. He’s just- I’m sure you love your father too, deep down.”

He didn’t know what his own face looked like, but Felix looked stricken.

“Yes,” he said softly, caving, “I guess so. I didn’t mean to imply…”

“It’s okay,” Adrien quickly assured him. No need to be so upset. He was just getting emotional again, and that so close to the beginning of the show. “I know you didn’t mean it that way. I’ll just…” – he pointed towards the door – “…leave you to, y’know, prepare.”

He was out of the room before Felix could protest, towards the back entrance. He needed air, just for a moment. To ground himself.

The heavy door swung open and the security personnel outside gave him a curious glance, but let him pass without question. Cool evening air hit him, soothing and clear. It helped. It always helped.

He could always think more clearly when he was outside. Felix hadn’t meant to say that. He hadn’t meant it, because it wasn’t true. Adrien’s father wasn’t dismissive. He wasn’t distant. He cared, and he loved him. Adrien knew it. So what if-

The crash of a shutting door around the corner caught his attention.

“…know who I am?!”, an angry voice shouted. “I have a right to be here!”

Curious, Adrien came closer until he could see the speaker. A light-haired man with impressive sideburns and an expensive looking suit was raging against a closed door, or rather the person who had shut it.

“You can’t keep me out! Tell her that! Tell her she’s a- “

The man fell silent when he spotted Adrien.

“What are you looking at, boy?!” he snarled and Adrien took a step back. Oh god, had he been staring?

“S-sorry,” he muttered, “I didn’t mean to- “

That’s when he noticed his eyes. Blue-grey, like cold stone. Like Felix’ eyes.

“Monsieur- Monsieur Leanne?”, he asked tentatively. The man in front of him flinched, then towered over him with something in his eyes Adrien couldn’t place. It frightened him.

“It’s Bordeaux.”, he spit, emphasizing every syllable, “René Bordeaux. And who are you?!”

Oh god, he was doing everything wrong today. Leanne was Felix’ mother’slast name.

“Adrien- Adrien Agreste,” he pressed out, not knowing whether to apologize or to run. His fear was misplaced, however. Within mere seconds Monsieur Bordeaux relaxed, all hints of aggression evaporating like boiling spaghetti water.

“Agreste!”, he said cheerfully, a dizzying contrast to his previous demeanor, “Gabriel’s boy, I take it?”

“Y… yes!”, Adrien confirmed quickly, relieved that the situation was apparently saved. Had he imagined Monsieur Bordeaux’s anger? There was no trace of it now! Perhaps he had read the situation wrong… it wouldn’t be the first time. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Well, I’m a big fan!”, the reporter beamed. “Of you andyour dad. Excited for the show? You must be so nervous, being the main star!”

Flattered, Adrien shrugged.

“Oh, it’s not… not a big deal. But thank you, Monsieur Bordeaux.”

“But it is!”, Bordeaux insisted. “Call me René, young man, no need for formalities.”

He put a hand on his shoulder, lowering his voice.

“To be honest, I’m very impressed how well you are handling all this pressure. I have a son your age, and I know he would be at a total loss for what to do.”

“Oh. Oh!”, Adrien realized, “You mean Felix! I’m actually working with him tonight!”

“Oh? You don’t say!”

“It’s true! He’s doing great, though. A real professional!”

Monsieur- René sighed.

“I’d love to believe that. The Felix I know tends to be… stubborn. I fear he’ll refuse help from everyone, even those who have his best interest at heart.”

Adrien frowned. That was true, Felix was stubborn. But Adrien hadn’t noticed anything the other boy might need help with, so he couldn’t judge. It just didn’t sit right with him that his dad didn’t believe Felix could do it.

“Really, you can be proud of him!”, he tried again. “He’s gonna be flawless, you’ll see at the- oh.”

Another mistake. René wouldn’t see his son, because he was not allowed at the show.

“Well, yes.”, Felix’ father agreed, patting him on the back as if to say ‘no worries’. “There’s the problem, you see?”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Ah, don’t be! It’s not your fault. Really, that’s between me and Evelyn. She just… doesn’t want me to be a part of Felix’ life anymore. All because of some small mistakes I made. And now, now Felix will never…”

“Give you a chance.”, Adrien concluded. René smiled wistfully.

“Exactly. I just want… another, uh, chance.”

He was looking into the distance, before promptly jumping up and turning to him.

“Wait a minute! You are the star of the evening! What if youbrought me in with you? Then I could see Felix before the show!”

Adrien blinked. He… he could do that! But…

“I… I don’t think that would be a good idea. Felix said he doesn’t want to see you.”

“Oh, I’m sure he did. But sometimes, what people say they want, and what they need are two entirely different things!”

…that sounded familiar, but not quite right.

“I don’t understand.”

“See,” René began, crouching down to his height, “take your dad! He’s probably very busy, isn’t he?”

He didn’tflinch.

“That’s fine! I am supporting him!”, Adrien said, voice sharper than intended.

“Of course you do! And you probably tell him that. You don’t wanna nag him, am I right?”

Slowly, he nodded.

“But surely, deep down, you would like him to see you more, wouldn’t you?”

“I… I guess. And you think Felix is the same? Even though he is mad at you?”

“Let me put it that way. I did some tinythings wrong, and now Felix wants to punish me for it. But you make mistakes too, don’t you? And you don’t want to be abandoned for them either.”

“No!”, he gasped, horrified, “No, of course not!”

“See? And you’re right! Know why?”

René gestured into the distance.

“There’s good people, and there are evil people, who do evil things, like bombing churches, or kicking puppies. But people like you and I – Good People, the rightkind of people – wecan change.

“...or explain why we didn’t do anything wrong in the first place. There’s always two sides, and all that. Nothing is made better if everyone just turns away from us! Punishing us for mistakes doesn’t make them disappear. Only if we are given another chance we can make things right.”

Something still didn’t sit right with Adrien, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

“But… but what if the mistake is really bad?”

René’s face darkened, before lighting up again.

“Clever kid, you! Even then, punishing bad things never made them good, am I right? You can only” – he snapped his finger – “suck it up and support others to do better. And you are exactly the kind of person who would know better, clever as you are. Really, Felix could take a page from your book!”

He stood up, looking down on him.

“So, what do you say, young man? Do you wanna be my hero and help a worried father care for his son?”

Adrien looked back at the private entrance. The security people who would do as he said. The building his own father was probably in.

“I…”

Felix would thank him, eventually, right?

“I’ll do it.”

“So, here we are!”, Adrien announced to his companion. “Welcome to the back... stage. This is the hallway that leads to the stage, there you’ll arrive at the stairs to the audience, and here’s the way to our private changing room! Do you want me to tell Felix you are coming, or do you want to talk alone?”

René wasn’t looking at him. His eyes were darting over the many settings on his camera, then towards the changing room.

“Know what, kid? Maybe don’t tell Felix I’m here just yet.”

Adrien’s smile faltered.

“But… but the show is going to start soon! Don’t you want to wish him good luck?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.”, René dismissed with a wave of his hand, “Luck is the last thing he needs. Tell you what, I have something… special planned. You don’t want to ruin the surprise, do you?”

That made sense. He shook his head, and the reporter grinned.

“That’s what I thought. No off you go, get ready for your modeling gig!”

Adrien’s chest felt tight. He didn’t like the expression in René’s eyes. But he had been wrong so often. Felix would thank him eventually, he reminded himself. René just needed another chance.

Felix would thank him.

Felix did not thank him.

An hour later, there was press everywhere, and at least one police car. Adrien was lost and stumbling around between running people. Camera’s clicked, someone was yelling, he could see Felix’ mom talking to an officer. Her make-up was running. Was she crying?

“Adrien!”, a hoarse voice yelled, and suddenly Felix was there, pulling at his arm, “What did you do?!”

His eyes weren’t like stone anymore. They looked like thawing ice. Cold and watering andbreaking.

“I-”

“What did you do?!”

“I only wanted- I was just- “

“What?! Whatwere you?! Trying to ruin everythingfor me!?”

“No! I didn’t think- “

“There you are!”, a familiar voice called and Adrien almost sagged in relief. Nathalie pulled him away from Felix with no effort at all, instructing the security personnel to drag the kicking and cursing boy back to his mother. Then she pulled Adrien with her, towards the private box where his father sat.

Adrien gulped.

Gabriel Agreste was utterly motionless, looking down upon the chaos below. Not a hair was out of place, not the hint of an emotion in his eyes.

“That would be all, Nathalie.”, he said simply, and Nathalie let go of Adrien to return to her tablet.

“Father…”, he said, voice breaking. “I don’t understand what happened. Did I… did I do something wrong?”

His father was still watching the crowd below. The press, trying to get a shot of Evelyn Leanne. The police, running around and interviewing people. A blonde boy in navy blue, so small from above, blocking his ears and trying escape the cameras.

A show in ruins.

“Sir,” Nathalie spoke up again, before Gabriel could even turn to his son, “we heard back from Madame Bourgeois. She wants to reconsider doing her Fashion Highlights article about the Gabriel Brand instead of Leanne’s. And there’s a British perfume company looking for a new partner in fashion.”

With that, Gabriel stood up. His son lowered his head, trying to sink into the ground before the yelling could begin. But instead of raising his voice, his father raised his hand and –

“Let’s go home, Adrien.”

–…pat him on the shoulder.

“Father?”

He was confused. He’d been so sure this was his fault, that he had messed up somehow.

“Shouldn’t I- shouldn’t I go talk to Felix first?”

His father looked past him, towards the Leanne’s.

“I doubt you will be working with him again.”, was his reply. He looked almost… content when he turned away from the scene. “Let’s not waste our breath.”

With that, Gabriel Agreste started walking away.

And Adrien, ever the obedient son, followed.

—

Many things would happen between that fateful night, and another night that promised to be even more fateful.

Adrien had lost his mother.

Adrien had gained friends.

Adrien had gone to school; Adrien had left it.

He had been a hero and a villain, and through it all, a child.

A child that had to be better. A child that now knew, he could become what had become of René Bordeaux.

A child that would not.

He would not become like Bordeaux. Like Lila. He wouldn’t allow it.

And he would prove it!

He would do better, be better. So that he could return to school, to his friends, and show them that he wouldn’t let them down again. If they’d still have him.

He would show Nino that he’d never ever lie again.

He would show Alya that he’d never let her be used again.

He would show Marinette that he would never abandon her again.

And… he would show Felix that he got it now. That he wouldn’t disappoint him again.

And maybe, that would show Ladybug that she had been right to trust him one last time. Even if it wasn’t as her partner.

The door to his room opened, and Adrien held his breath. Nathalie would have knocked.

“Adrien,” his father greeted him, an even for him atypical amount on tension in his face, “we need to talk.”

“We do,” Adrien agreed, opening the tab with the list of therapists he’d been considering. Then he remembered himself and bit his lip. “Uh, you go first.”

He didn’t know if his father had even heard him. He was turned towards the window, before looking back at his son.

“I always wondered… I knew you were hiding something. Your behavior was so… unlike yourself.”

Adrien’s brow furrowed.

“Father?”

“I am not mad at you Adrien, though I admit, at first…”

He turned around, simmering anger in his usually cool eyes.

“I couldn’t believe you would be able to hide something of that importance from me. Clearly, I was wrong.”

“Father, I- “

“No. Listen to me, Adrien. This might be our chance, our onlychance. Your mother’s only chance.”

The room seemed to get colder. Gabriel talked on.

“I never thought I would be able to involve you, always thinking you might be too… fragile. I see now that this was a mistake. If I had been more open in my endeavor, this would have ended a long time ago. But maybe it needed to happen. It needed to happen, so that you would truly understand what needs to be done.”

What do you mean, Adrien wanted to ask, but his mouth was frozen shut. Something icy was growing in his chest. In his pocket, he clutched a colorful little lucky charm like a lifeline.

“Adrien.”

His father stepped closer.

“I know that you were Chat Noir.”

Somewhere, deep in his soul, his subconsciousness was already connecting the final dots, only waiting for his mind to catch up. It kindly refused the invitation, choosing to revel in blissful ignorance for a few more minutes.

“I… F-father, I… I swear- “

“It’s alright, son. Everything will be alright. Look at me, Adrien.”

He did. He did, and he did not know who he was looking at.

“My son,” his father said, and there was a spark in his eyes that scared him, “it seems so fitting. That all of us would carry such a burden, at one point. As if fate itself kept a close eye on our family.”

“You are Hawkmoth.”, someone said. It took both Agreste’s a few moments to realize it had been Adrien who’d said it. And even then, it took Adrien’s mind several more to put ‘blissful ignorance’ back into its box and catch up with his subconscious and mouth. The lucky charm in his pocket felt cold, so cold, like it had felt only once before.

At TV1.

“You are Hawkmoth,” he repeated, and his voice didn’t falter. Neither did his father.

“I understand if you feel… betrayed.”, the latter said slowly, pronouncing the last word like something spiky he didn’t want to get too close to. “There is much you don’t know yet. But until I show you, I need you to remember that we are family. And that we have a common goal, and since quite recently, a common enemy.”

In his head, his thoughts were racing, too fast to be of any use to him. He felt numb. But fifteen years of experience with his father had taught him when to be quiet, and when to ask questions.

“A… common enemy?”

“Yes.”

His father smiled. It looked wrong.

“You were a hero. You were the Black Cat, you were Chosen. But they took that from you. The moment you didn’t meet their expectations anymore, they tossed you aside. As if you hadn’t sacrificed so much for them. I saw you, everything you did for them. For her.”

“Ladybug.”

The word felt odd in his mouth, as if it didn’t want to be said. His father’s smile widened.

“Ladybug,” he agreed, and if the name had hesitated on Adrien’s tongue, it positively rebelled on Gabriel’s. It sounded poisonous, dripping with disdain. “And the Guardian. And, not to forget, the imposter that took your place.”

Adrien looked up at him, slowly.

“You akumatized me.”

His father didn’t flinch. But he blinked, once, before stepping back.

“So I did.”

He turned around, towards the window. Towards Paris beyond, that feared him every day.

“Imagine my surprise when I learned that the one I was doing this all for was the one fighting me, all along. That the key to our happiness had been beneath my very own roof.”

He shook his head.

“The past is in the past. I know exactly how you felt, in that moment. I could feel it firsthand. How alone. Abandoned by those that should have stood with you.”

He turned back around, facing his son. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was genuine emotion on his face.

“Adrien, if you still feel that way, then we can fix it. Together. We can retrieve your Miraculous, and every other Miraculous too!”

He gripped his shoulder with unexpected strength, eyes wide.

“Adrien, I know just how deep Ladybug’s betrayal cut you. But now that you see her for what she really is, you have the power to make her regret. To take back what you deserve, what you are owed.”

He remembered Lila. Her power to make people believe anything. Just by knowing what they wanted to hear.

“Imagine it, son.”

Adrien imagined.

Being Chat Noir once more. The thing in his life he had loved so much, so much.

But he knew, it hadn’t been the costume he’d loved. When he thought of being Chat Noir, he thought of Plagg’s annoying voice. His constant company, his purrs. He thought of Ladybug and laughter, and racing over rooftops with someone that believed in him.

He thought of escape. Why did he want to escape?

Alone. Abandoned by those that should have stood with you.

He hadbeen alone, for so long. He had been abandoned.

“I love you, Father.”

He looked up. His father looked confused.

“I will always love you.”, he added, and the words felt right. They felt true. He smiled.

“Of course I will help you! I have always supported you, no matter what.”

Because what else could he do?

“I knew I could trust you.”

He was no hero anymore.

“I am so proud of you.”

And he was no villain either.

“You’ll see, Adrien.”

He was a child.

“It will all be worth it, in the end.”

A child that knew he could become everything his father wanted him to be.

A child thatwould not.

“Of course, Father.”

He would not become like Bordeaux. Like Lila.

Like Gabriel Agreste.

“Let me show you the reason for all this.”

Adrien felt like he knew already. Like it would be painful. Like it still wouldn’t change anything. And yet, he smiled. He smiled, the exact same smile he had always worn when his father ignored another birthday. The smile for when his father turned his back yet again. The smile that was so false it hurt.

The smile that would have given him away if his father had looked at him just a little bit closer, those past few years.

“I’m right behind you,” he said, reaching out with one hand for his father’s, with the other for his phone. He had no way to contact Ladybug now. But he knew someone who could. Whose lucky charm was in his pocket, comforting and warmonce again.

He wasn’t scared. He wasn’t angry. He knew exactly what needed to happen, and that she would makeit happen.

“With your help, Adrien, this will all be over soon.”

Alone. Abandoned.

Oh yes.

Distant, dismissive, derogatory.

He was right.

I will not disappoint you.

More so than he knew.

“My son,” his father said, and Adrien was so sure he could see love in his eyes. “Now I know that we will be victorious.”

With that, Gabriel Agreste started walking away.

And Adrien, no longer the obedient son, followed.

#miramu writes #wttb #welcome to the back #felinette #adrien agreste #salt fic #this one isn't particularly salty tho #ml sugar #?#let me know if the tags don't fit

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silvia7272 · 3 years

Text

Miraculess Ladybug Salt AU: You Always Liked To Play With Fire ~ The Meeting

I have no idea how long I want this to be, but I doubt it will be too long, so maaaaybe 15 chapters? But I’m super glad that this has gotten more attention than I thought it would have.

Might need to point out that I only said there weren’t any Miraculous here, but heroes still exist, but they all hide their identities (from the public because I think it’s stupid for random civilians to know your identity) if they chose to or they only tell families.

This fanfic and its ideas were all made before season 4 came out, so if something doesn’t add up please don’t worry. That information wasn’t available then, and unless it fits into my story or I like it, I won’t include it in my story. Also, that new Miraculous wiki can get lost, I’m not putting any of that new information in here if they couldn’t even put it in the show.

Word Count: 7661

Tags: @vixen-uchiha, if you wish to be tagged all you must do is say. Also, if you change your name please tell me, I don’t want to leave you out since you’ve asked to be tagged. I’m very sorry if I’ve missed anyone.

Well, I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Summary:

(Fire doesn't exactly have anything to do with this story I just really liked the title)

Note: This book contains OOC scenes of Miraculous Ladybug as well as a ton of salt, so if you don't like that stuff you may scroll past and have a nice day.

In a world with no Miraculous, no Hawkmoth and no Ladybug, how does our little heroine do?

Well, it usually would be hanging out with her friends, as any other teenager would do...

But, of course, this wasn't normal.

This was reality. It was cold, hard, and definitely not welcome.

So, when this girl wishes to have some kind of adventure in her boring, mundane life...

How long does it take for her to regret it?

Trigger Warning (If you believe there is absolutely anything in my works that can be classed as triggering please tell me and I will include it after the summery. All off my works are made with a keep reading so you should be able to see if there's anything in the warning before hand.)

Mentions of guns, poison and stitching flesh.

***

Beep… Beep…

Alarms were annoying. Why had someone decided to invent a device that makes you feel guilty for sleeping in? Why not just be a gentle reminder in the form of a lullaby? Or a small caress of a hand brushing some hair, as you simply start to close your eyes, drifting of-

“Marinette you’ll be late for school again!”

She groaned.

So that was why.

Getting dressed she sighed knowing what the day would hold. Glares, being alone, eat, hopefully become nothing but invisible and make sure to go unnoticed before rushing back home.

For the past three years, this is what would happen to her. This same boring, frighteningly normal routine.

And she hated it.

Not just for being alone, or all of the sadness she felt grow each day to a meter she wasn’t sure what level she was on now but whatever. It wasn’t going down any time soon.

No, what she hated the most…

Was the boredom.

Yes, her creativity streak could not be higher, she had been going through her sketchbooks so much she had to work longer hours at her bakery to afford them all, but her love for fashion just wasn’t the same, she didn’t feel any joy producing her work anymore. There wasn’t anyone new to show it with.

She was just alone in her room, mountains of book piles covering every surface.

But she was bored in general. She wouldn’t be able to place the feeling, or even be able to describe what it was. But for whatever reason, she craved for adventure, I mean sure she was safe here, and she didn’t want to worry her Parents with this silly idea of hers. But she just wanted a tiny little taste of some venture.

So why couldn’t she?

“Did you hear?” Marinette heard the whispers, walking up to her classroom door she could hear what they were talking about, over the years she had become silent, become part of the crowd, it was so much easier to eavesdrop, although it was a bad habit of hers, she couldn’t help it.

For example, she heard about Adrien’s relationships.

Now don’t start getting worried, she was 100% over the boy. She would under no circumstances ever fall for someone like him, or even make such a god-like illusion of someone ever again.

But she heard how, the first day Lila came, and their kiss they shared. He really had meant to pull away.

Because he was starting to see Kagami.

But, his feelings became conflicted.

And he didn’t want to hurt Kagami, so he simply never told her.

But then he never told Lila to stop with all of her advances, and Alya had tried numerous times to set them up.

Again, Adrien never said for them to stop, instead went along with it. He never told them he was with Kagami, and Marinette couldn’t help but feel so sorry for the girl.

She learnt from hearing Adrien’s conversation he was her first friend, and she wanted to keep hold of that fact.

Just like her.

Except, the bluenette was able to escape that motion before she was sucked in too far.

She would’ve warned Kagami, don’t get her wrong. But Marinette wouldn’t lie. She was intimidated by the girl.

Every time she saw her, she would glare all the time. It just reminded her of everyone else, and she couldn’t go through with it.

Pathetic she thought bitterly.

But still. If she had confessed to Adrien, and then Lila came. Would he have told her about that kiss?

Well, er- Besides that, she had a knack for hearing other things too, for example, footsteps, she was able to tell who’s were who’s just by the sound. Some were light like Rose’s and Juleka’s. Some were heavy like Ivan’s and Mr Damocles. Some were sneaky like Chloé’s and Lila’s.

And she had to learn to avoid interactions with anyone she knew would make a fuss.

It became easy after a while.

Opening the door, she quickly scanned the class, they were all there, usual spots an all.

Around Lila’s desk.

Oh well.

It would be less likely they would notice her.

She was, fortunately, able to get to her seat without any interruptions.

“A hero is coming to Paris, to help all of the Parisians out. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Really, that’s so cool. I wonder what they’ll be like?”

“Oh, I sure hope he’s strong. Hey, do you think it’ll be Eostrix Or Sparrow?”

“And why exactly do you think it’ll be Eostrix? What about Medusa. Or-” Alya gasps, excitement seeping out of her.

“What if it’s Nebula?!”

“Nu-uh, it’s definitely Eostrix”

“No way Nebula all the way”

“Eostrix”

“Nebula”

“Eostrix!”

“Nebula!”

“EOSTRIX!”

“NEBULA!”

“BATMAN!!” The once quiet Rose belted out, before covering her hands in astonishment.

“Sorry I wanted to join in.” She gave a sheepish smile as Juleka pattered her head.

Marinette breathed a sigh of relief, they would always get loud but today must’ve been special.

She looked out the window. A superhero Ey? Coming to Paris? How exciting. She knew she would never get the chance to meet them in person, what with her not so chaotic schedule. But she would love nothing more than to thank them for all they had done, for even volunteering to come here and help.

If she was brave enough, she would love to bake something for them, as a token of appreciation for their work. Maybe even make an outfit inspired by them-

Wait- that wouldn’t be considered creepy, right?

She tried to work on that, with her attachment issues. But she was trying, with no friends at least, she wasn’t sure if it had worked. No one could see her progress without any other remarks.

“You shouldn’t work yourself up so much, besides there’s going to be an announcement in 2 hours, we’ll just see it at break.” Alix laid back in her seat, Marinette couldn’t tell if she had finally realised the truth but was just drowning it out or just grew bored.

But she hadn’t made any type of engagement with her.

Oh well, I guess she was done with hoping.

But it wouldn’t matter, Mlle Bustier came in clapping her hands to gain the classes attention.

“Now now, please return to your seats, I have a very special announcement to say” Please don’t let it be another pop quiz. It was bad enough when someone would glance her way in general. Not when her test score would be one of the highest.

“As you know, this small, lovely class has been so pleasant these past few years. Our own tight little nest, and I couldn’t be prouder of… All of you” Marinette saw the little glance she made, whatever she thought. It was all lies anyway.

“But, we will have to make another new addition to this class” A laugh was heard.

“Well, I for one hope they’ll be better than the last bunch… Except for you Adrikins” The others glared at her as Adrien looked away, not wanting to get involved.

If there was one thing Marinette could commend Chloé for, it was the fact she saw through Lila’s lies with ease. Having Sabrina by her side did make it easier, but she saw through none the less.

She didn’t care that everyone else believed her little tales, Chloé thought it was funny, and loved the idea of their reactions when they would inevitably freak out and cry.

She just had to be patient.

Plus, there was no way she would feel pity for Marinette. In this world, its use or be used. And like hell she’ll be used. She just had to see for herself.

“Chloé please, that’s no way to make a first impression. Ahem, excuse me, you may come in now!”

“Ok~,” A singsong voice said.

If Marinette had been paying attention, she would’ve noticed the newcomer walk in. She wore a long-sleeved unbuttoned cardigan with a t-shirt underneath and a knee-high length skirt. A scarf was tied around her neck, matching her attire and small petite shoes.

She would’ve noticed the pretty little bows in her hair. The pigtailed braids, all going down to her waist, showing off how long it still was even tied up. Little earrings so small worn, a detail many wouldn’t have noticed.

She would’ve noticed the little introduction she did to the whole class, and how it seems she brightened up the whole room. Or the smile she sent their way, not for one but for all. And how a blond boy blushed from it.

But more importantly, she would’ve noticed, or at least heard her name being called out multiple times.

“Marinette, please pay attention for once, I swear your behaviour has gotten worse” She wanted to shrink, now she made a fool out of herself in front of the new girl.

“I’m very sorry about that, that was very rude of her, I do hope you’ll forgive the situation, the only available seat is at the back” Great, now she will hate her.

“That’s alright, I love sitting at the back, that way, I can see everyone and know they’re ok” Hearts stopped, and smiles grew, she really was just a sweet little child.

The bluenette, however, was dreading it. Now there would be another to hate her. And she seemed so innocent. It was only a matter of time before she would be corrupted as well.

Oh, the horror, she really didn’t deserve it, but Lila would have her way, she always di-

“You’re Marinette, right?” She jumped, forgetting she had just been in her own little world again, staring off into space. She really needed to stop that.

“Err y-yeah, and you are?” She cursed herself for not paying attention, now she may just think she was an ignorant stupid-

“My name is Rosaniline Keyne-Hill, but everyone calls me Rosann, it’s a pleasure to meet you Mari” She giggled as Marinette stared back.

Mari? No one had called her that before. But she liked it.

“Yeah, same”

And it felt like something else.

Maybe… Hope?

…

She shouldn’t be so optimistic.

***

Trying to eat in peace was a nightmare. There weren’t many places where she could go to without being in trouble. The library prohibited any foods due to not wanting any books to be damaged, you weren’t allowed to eat in a classroom without a teacher present, and considering all of the teachers chose to eat in the staff room she wouldn’t be able to sneak into any room. The art club, again didn’t want to damage any works, not after Chloé “accidentally” spilt her drink all over Nathaniel’s sketchbook four years ago. He refused to go to school for a week. And the roof was out of the question, too unsafe and a risk if anything were to happen.

But Marinette, since it’s lunch, couldn’t you go eat at home? Why yes, she could, at least two times a week she would just go back and stay at home to eat, but she felt as if she couldn’t always retreat home just for convenience, besides, Mlle Bustier would sometimes tell her to eat in the cafeteria with the others instead of hiding herself away. If she tried going to her Parents when told to stay, she’d be given warnings that soon turned to detentions.

Even if at times she wished to just sneak away, she couldn’t, she didn’t want her Parents to be called in and get wind of any other situations.

Marinette sighed as she played with her food, boredom crept on her face before she tuned into that hero announcement appearing on Face To Face.

Despite everyone trying to shove it down the school’s throat, she was ever so slightly curious about it. She may not have been able to voice her opinions to anyone in particular but she just wants to see who this mystery hero was.

Her pink earbuds at the ready and plugged in, she waited until Nadja Chamack’s report would come in, eerily, the whole cafeteria was quiet, the suspense was enough to put anyone silent.

Then, the logo came on, the sound resonated throughout the room since it was on the TV but Marinette stuck to her phone, she didn’t want anyone catching her watching it.

“Don’t be bemused, it’s just the news. Now a new rumour has been circulating throughout Paris about a new superhero appearing to protect the civilians. I’m sure you’re all dying to know just how true it is. Well, I can assure you that only the best reporter in Paris would only speak of the truth, considering I have the key to answer all your questions.” Lights appeared behind her, all moving in different directions before centring on a doorway in the centre of the stage.

“I’m confident you’re very excited to find out who our mysterious hero is, so without further ado, let’s see who it is.” People began to hold their breaths, the excitement of who this bigshot would be, Nebula, Eostrix, or someone even bigger, they didn’t know, but you could hear a pin drop in that cafeteria with how silent it was.

From behind the curtain, there were ruffles, smoke emerged to give off a more dramatic flair as the crowds became excited.

*A turquoise and light emerald outfit came into view. Baggy clothing on her arms and legs appeared along with white high boots. Her main outfit seemed to reside a sweetheart neckline dress with a mini skirt, although Marinette noticed it gave the girl some mobility to move around instead of being restricting. She also noticed the slight cold colours centring around her skirt, since she always had a keen eye on different types of design patterns. Light blue overlayers obscured most of the skirts view with golden rims on the bottom.

She had a light blue neck jewel, although she couldn’t see much off it, she’d have to admit. Her mask was a gradient of turquoise to match her dress, her hair was tied up in two twin buns, two red hairpins also there she noticed, but the rest left down, Marinette had to wonder how long it would’ve been all down.

There were a lot of things Marinette noticed, however, one thing everyone could agree on…

Was that they had no idea who she was.

“Salutations everyone, why it’s a pleasure to be here.” Marinette had to admit, she looked… Kinda young to be a superhero. And maybe, just maybe, not what she’d envisioned when she’d heard about a hero coming to Paris. Why, she was making an assumption, and she should really know better than to do that since, y’know, but you couldn’t blame her right?

“WHAT? WHO THE HELL IS THAT?” She heard over the other side of the dining room. Of course, it was Alya, she never could control her voice volume. But she couldn’t tell if the ombre girl was upset over it not being Nebula or supposedly getting hyped up for a hero none of them had ever heard off.

Looking back at the screen, she could tell the news reporters seemed a bit taken back as well, Nadja never was good at concealing her emotions, even on air, maybe they had been promised someone else instead?

“O-Oh, I see. Well, I-’ Her recovery was the same, Nadja always fretted she had to rely on the people up in management to give her a line if she couldn’t think off one herself, she wasn’t very good at improv either.

The heroine smiled before walking down to sit beside Nadja.

“I understand the scepticism, my appearance deters most, but that is just a ploy, however, I’m here to make a promise to all off Paris. My name is Soliane Rin and I’m here to risk my life for everyone in Paris, with or without my mask on. All I ask is to be given a chance.” She bowed to the camera, to all off Paris, and Marinette was able to see her smile, her truthful words as the whole dining room stayed silent at her speech.

Marinette seemed to feel…

Hope?

“Ah- no it wasn’t that, it’s just we were given information you were appointed by both Eostrix and Nebula? How? I mean, how did you meet them, or more importantly how did you get to have this opportunity?” She smiled as Nadja had time to recover from her obvious disappointment.

“Oh that, well I had worked with them on a few cases in New York. I had trained for a few years to be just like that until I was finally able to convince them to train me fully. And well I guess they believed I was ready to protect this jurisdiction by myself over time.” Nadja nodded along, seemingly more at ease as the time passed by, more questions being asked and answered before everyone had noticed how much time had passed.

A beep emitted from the girl’s necklace, in turn making her stand up and bowing or at least curtsying once more.

“I’m sorry for the early interruption, but I must be going now, I have some business to attend too” She threw a peace sign as a puff of smoke surrounded her. When it had passed so had she disappeared. As the crew tried to cover from most of their unscripted events. Nadja headed to commercials.

The long-awaited announcement was over, what would the audience’s reactions be like?

“Really? We get a new hero like her? I’ve never even heard of Soliane Rin. Ugh, we might as well have gotten someone like Doorman” Kim flung his arms up into the air before sitting back into his chair.

Not good apparently.

“I know right, and to think I was excited for this” Alya dramatically fell back into her seat. And she was so looking forward to this news as well.

Marinette would admit to feeling more guilt, she may have… Possibly thought the same, but even still, we’re judging a book by its cover, surely, they all should’ve waited until maybe after she had proved herself.

Wait- making her have to prove herself was too judgemental still, she didn’t mean for it to sound that bad, she just- she was just wrestling with the thoughts in her mind.

Not noticing the annoyed looks from the class, the tiniest blush from a blond, or the tiny smirk residing from a brunette.

With a plan in action, she set to work ravelling a new story that was sure to captivate her ‘friends’. With a tremble of the lip and bowing her head, she waited until at least one person would notice her sudden change of expression.

Luckily, her plan went just as she thought.

“Lila? Are you ok, what’s wrong?” Rose, a sweet and naïve girl mind you, immediately took the bait.

And with that, the others finally took notice of her, a new record she thought, after so long she was used to this routine.

She knew how to work them.

“Oh- it’s nothing important, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to spoil the mood.”

Hook

“Hey c’mon girl, you can tell us. What’s on your mind?” Alya pats her shoulder to comfort the smaller girl.

Line

“Are you sure?” Lila asked again timidly, the other girl nodded, in fact, everyone did, and gave encouraging words to her, they couldn’t see the smirk inside her mind.

And sinker.

She fiddled with a piece off her skirt, a habit she formed when noticing they were always a lot more concerned when she fidgeted, it was a clever trick really. Being able to get anyone wrapped around her finger was a power she loved.

“Well, I just think it’s a bit sad really.”

“What was?” Someone asked, at times she didn’t really care who it was that responded, she just knew what the next response would be, she could always make them say what she wanted without them ever knowing…

Oh, she loved this life.

“It was meant to be a surprise.” She rambled on, waiting for someone to stop her, they had to.

“Lila, what are you talking about?” See, she knew how to play this game a thousand times over.

“Well… I wasn’t really meant to tell anyone. But since all of you are my friends, and I know I could trust you with this, so I guess it's fine to say.”

Everyone around the table leaned in, intrigued by what she had to say. Lila took a deep breath in, bracing herself for the aftereffect of her words she knew would come.

“I knew it would happen, that no one would like her, but I had hoped and prayed that you all would, I guess I should’ve asked for someone higher up” It took a few seconds for those words to tick in the aspiring journalists head, but when they were finally processed, she nearly erupted. It was better to make them think of what she said instead of just outright saying it, decent off her to help their brains.

“Wait- you- you were the one to suggest a hero to come to Paris!? OMG girl that is fantastic” Lila gave a small smile as everyone then shouted the usual praise at her, she nodded along before turning her head down.

“But- you all weren’t happy” They all felt guilty at that, maybe that was why Lila had been quiet the entire time while the news was on. She must’ve been checking for their expressions and yet they hurt her feelings instead.

“Sorry- we must’ve just presumed it was gonna be Eostrix or Nebula, that morning probably messed with our responses” Alya laughed as she draped an arm around Lila.

But the ‘lie’ wouldn’t end there.

“I see, I just thought she would’ve wanted more recognition while being here” Out of nowhere she started crying more, everyone tried to comfort her, but it was no use.

“She’s just such a nice person, and so kind. When I last met her, she was still in training and I promised I would promote her as much as I could” She sniffed as Rose handed her a tissue which she greedily took a hold of.

Before they could exclaim their surprise she immediately jumped right back into her story.

“I knew I should’ve tried harder; I should’ve gotten Nebula or Eostrix. I’m sorry I ruined everyone’s day. I- I should’ve left my big mouth shut. I’m sorry guys” Their guilt immediately intensified.

Lila had done all of that for them, and they had quite easily tossed it aside without realising, how could they? And to one-off their best friends? Despicable, absolutely despicable.

Wait, why did that sound vaguely familiar?

Oh well, Lila was more important.

“Lila no” Alya cooed in a soft voice, feeling mostly responsible, hyping everyone else up and being one of the first ones to dismiss the new hero entirely. She tries to comfort Lila was the least she could do.

“It’s not your fault Lila” Her plan came together.

“Of course, not. We shouldn’t have judged her so quickly” Just like all the others.

“We’re sorry, so sorry Lila.” And she knew how to do it so efficiently.

“We shouldn’t have judged so quickly” Lila’s smirk in her mind grew in size, they were so wrapped around her finger.

As Alya was happily explaining that she would be in fact honoured to create a blog about this new hero- she had forgotten her name, and would quite happily like to interview Lila as well to be able to learn anything else about the hero, a lone figure grew upset.

Lila had just created another lie, she was used to that, but for it to be about the new hero, couldn’t Lila tell just how dangerous that could be? I mean sure, it would be great to actually be able to meet a hero, let alone be friends with one. But to publicly announce that? Was she crazy? Did she want a massive target on her back?

She could only hope no one would buy into that blog, as mean as it was, but she didn’t want them to get physically hurt.

She could only hope that the new hero wouldn’t care about fake news or blatant lies.

She truly could only hope.

As shoes tapped against the floor along the dining room, a new figure turned her head.

She had been walking around her new school, looking around for entrances, exits and just in general any hidden secrets. She had previously asked for a school plan from a teacher, but had been informed that her students would be more than happy to help her instead, and she needn’t need some piece of paper. But that didn’t suit her, so when she wasn’t looking, she may have just acquired one anyway. She was quiet so she wouldn’t have been caught.

Now she was walking through the dining hall, she had wanted to take in the cafeteria, just in case there were any rooms she had missed, until she heard footsteps approaching her.

“Hey Rosaniline, come join us, we haven’t seen you all lunch.” She knew she’d have to concede, having analysed each person in her class, she knew, Alya, would not take no as an answer.

So, she flashed her innocent smile and nodded along, it may prove useful to study them further.

Her arm was grabbed before they walked over to a table full of people, so different from the other tables.

“So, newbie where were you? You totally missed the special hero announcement.” Alix asked her, the others looked over to see her answer, if Rosaniline hadn’t been used to having a crowd around her she believed she would’ve been nervous as hell.

“I had taken the liberty off looking around the school, I’m afraid I can get pretty lost in large places, I only wished to remember the layout beforehand.” She placed her hands together with a bright smile appearing. It was half a lie; she couldn’t exactly state her true reason, now could she?

The ombre haired girl pulled a large smile onto her face. She was just like Adrien, new, polite and a literal ball of sunshine, she thought before sneakily looking over at the blond-haired person who hadn’t said much, most probably due to his shy nature due to his upbringing.

She latched onto Adrien’s arm before practically flinging him towards Rosaniline.

She literally took falling for someone to a whole new level.

“Well looks like the two of you would get along swimmingly” Her new ship was bound to sail, she could see it now, their immediate attraction for each other, the dates and interactions they’ll have before proclaiming their love in the rain, a sentimental scene in which she’ll be gladly recording while hiding behind a tree.

I mean who wouldn’t just map out her new friends love life in a matter of minutes of knowing each other?

But… It may just become a crash course instead. They rubbed their heads simultaneously due to bumping into each other. However, one was ever so slightly overjoyed with being in such close proximity to her while the other would think that prank wasn’t funny in the least.

Before any of the duo could express their annoyance/apologise and maybe a get together sometime, someone of course just had to interrupt the moment.

“Oh, Rosaniline we need to apologise to you” Rosann had expected the apology to come from Alya but it appeared that girl didn’t know that she had done something wrong.

“We’re so sorry that you have to sit next to her” That caught Rosann’s attention, what did they mean by that? They must’ve noticed her confused face as the explained further.

“Oh, you poor thing, you really don’t know do you?” Well, no. That is what she wanted to say, she was new, of course she wouldn’t know, hell she hadn’t even been able to see the whole layout as she had planned to. She was sure there was a hidden basement somewhere, she just needed to locate it.

“That girl, the one you have to sit next to in class. The one with dark blue hair?” They all tried to provide as many details as they could without trying to make it too obvious, but Rosann was able to make out who exactly they were talking about.

She took a sneaky glance towards the person the group had started to talk about. She heard a few words of bullying, mean, lies and stalker before zoning it out, she needed to concentrate.

The girl, in a pink jacket and a grey skirt. Sitting alone on a table that seemed to be mocking her by how big it was. All of the tables were big, possibly to do with teachers wanting students to sit with their friends.

But she wasn’t with anyone, she just absentmindedly played with her food as nothing interesting happened.

Rosann stared, that girl, she hadn’t seen her smile once, or even display any kind of positive emotion. She was just lonely; couldn’t they see that?

That girl needed to be saved!

***

Midnight.

Or at least close to that time she thought.

She didn’t know, she had spent many a night out on her balcony just sketching in her book. One would think it would’ve been too cold but the bluenette didn’t mind, she had been used to it, the wind wasn’t particularly chilly out here, even if it was late September. This was part of her routine anyway. Staying up late was just something she was used to, her sleeping schedule was the worse. But she produced so many fantastic ideas when she was awake at night, it was a sacrifice she was willing to take.

With her earbuds plugged in, she was jolted out of her streak when she heard a different notification pop up, pulling out her phone she looked at what could’ve possibly caused it.

[BREAKING NEWS: New Hero Prevents Bank Robbery On First Day.]

Marinette smiled at that. Her first achievement, in Paris of course, she knew she had done a lot before, she had checked a few articles before, although she did have to rely on google translate on a few instances, but this hadn’t been the only thing she had prevented. There had been house fires to museum robberies to even outright terrorist attacks, and yet she was able to stop them all, she did have some help but from what Marinette could make out the other heroes got there after taking most of the civilians out of the buildings, and from what she could tell, she could’ve easily handled everything herself.

She could see Soliane didn’t need to prove herself to others if she was just given a chance for everyone to see what she could do.

To not be judged based on baseless accusations tossed her way. For people to look through and see the truth!

She didn’t know who that had been aimed at, but she knew she just wanted to get back to her sketching.

But… She couldn’t.

Not now.

Not when she heard a noise behind where she had been sitting!

She quickly dropped her belongings as she jumped up from her chair.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but she knew she had heard something, it wasn’t just her hearing she knows that.

She knew something had happened; something was there. When she stayed put, trying to concentrate more- she heard slight breathing, slow and- hurting!?

She didn’t know who it was, she didn’t know their intentions or they alliance, but, if something was hurt, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t check it out.

So, she quietly approached the wall, having to stand on the bricks on the side of the wall since she wasn’t tall enough before pushing herself up.

!!!

‘That’s-!’

Even in the night she could see a prominent colour.

Turquoise!

“It- no it can’t be! Soliane Rin!” She whispered more to herself, but even still she couldn’t comprehend how this could have happened.

Noises of pain interrupt her train of thought. She- she was hurt!

Her mind had taken action, and immediately propelled her forward, she couldn’t leave someone out here in the middle of the night hurting, even if she was a hero, she was still human!

She ran towards her, instantly trying to ask if she was ok? Where was she hurt and if she can respond?

But nothing came, no answer, nada. She had to check if she was alright.

She came closer, forgetting about maybe not accidentally startling the young hero.

Her hand was caught midway to the hero, she gasped, her reflexes were still there. Her head was nonetheless limp and her left hand resting on her abdomen.

“W- who ar-” She grunted in pain again. Marinette shot forward to grab her before she could fall back.

“Hey, m-my name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you’re on my roof right now. Please let me help you” Through her strength, she opened one eye to look at her. And through her eyes, she could only see one thing.

Sincerity.

“Right- leg… anti” Her breathing grew slower, as if she were falling unconscious, Marinette had no idea if it would’ve been eternal.

But Marinette was able to determine what she had meant. Looking her over, she looked at her leg, her baggy clothes were slightly torn but that didn’t matter now, slipping her hand inside, she hoped Soliane wouldn’t mind her hand being cold, she tried searching for it, for her antidote.

Her fingertips tried reaching out until she felt smooth glass. Wrapping her fingers around and pulling it out she pulled it up for further inspection.

The writing around the glass wasn’t in French unlucky for her, however, there were pictures, she had to quickly conclude this would’ve been used for situations just like this.

The picture appeared to show that it should be drunken not spread on the wound, so she quickly unscrewed the cap. Looking back at the hero she could tell she had indeed turned paler, she wasn’t faring so well, she knew she needed to do it quick.

Tilting her head back so she could pour it down her throat, she could only pray that she wasn’t too late.

One minute.

Two minutes!

Why wasn’t anything happening!?

Marinette had to take a deep breath, maybe it would need some time to take an effect.

In the meantime, maybe she could look her over to see if there were any other injuries. And then maybe go downstairs to collect some supplies. Living as a baker meant she knew her way around burns, scars and scratches, so they were always prepared with a medical box in the kitchen.

Looking at her over appeared to be the right choice in action. Her lower abdomen had been hit, Marinette reasoned with herself that must have been why she had yet taken her handoff.

But as Marinette covered her own mouth with her hand, she was a gasped at how much blood there was.

Now what? She couldn’t tell her Parents, she loved them, she really did, but she knew how loud her Dad would get whenever he got happy, angry, or frightened, she knew it wouldn’t be a smart choice, especially with how jumpy the hero was. Not like she couldn’t blame her.

Then that would mean calling an ambulance might be out of the equation as well, plus the Soliane Rin may not want the publicity of her going to the hospital after only one day of patrolling. She knew if she had gotten cold feet or even hurt like this on her first day heroing they’d be a high chance of her giving up.

Well… She was a seamstress.

She had been doing it for a very long time, so she knew the ins and outs of sewing.

But still… It could be extremely risky, and she’d need to get consent first… But if she didn’t wake up… And she knew how open wounds could be, how dangerous it could be if they didn’t get any treatment, and how much trouble she’d be in if she accidentally killed the hero when trying to help her.

Well…

She had dreamed of some adventure in her life…

And she got her wish.

***

Stitch… Stitch…

Flick-

“Ahh!-”

“So-sorry”

Her prayers off Soliane Rin waking up were answered, after she had collected a few blankets, medical supplies, and a needle & thread, she had come back up.

Only to find Soliane on her balcony, if it wasn’t for her shock, she knew she would’ve screamed out zombie.

How she had the strength to get there she would never know, but she had to guess, heroes have all sorts of endurance.

She quickly sped to catch her. She did reprehend her of course; it was in her caring nature, so she just had to.

But… The way she weakly smiled at her, she couldn’t help feeling guilty, she probably was in so much pain and here she was berating her for- for what exactly.

This was why they had all left her. She was too quick to jump the gun, to jump to conclusions, too fast to even see from anyone else’s perspective.

Which is why she was a perfect target.

She lowered her onto her bed, careful not to hurt her anymore. Setting her down so she would’ve been comfortable, lots of pillows to help as well, she was glad she brought so many in her childhood. Or whenever her Nonna would come, she’d always get a new toy from her travels.

And that was when she set to work, conversing with her about what she may have to do, and as hesitant as Soliane was, she also knew there was no choice.

“Fine, I’ll trust you Marinette” Those words felt like a gift, in any other situation she would have been jumping for joy, getting acknowledged by a hero? That was amazing.

But- she really couldn’t celebrate, the look in Soliane Rin’s eyes, the were… Fearful. She knew she wasn’t trusted, yet. But she would prove it.

Snip, snip.

The room was silent, no words had been muttered or mentioned, Marinette was concentrating on her stitching, just hoping she wouldn’t hurt her anymore. She must have regretted her decision now, of course, she had, anyone with the right of mind would’ve. No wait- she didn’t mean it like that! She just meant-

“It’s not your fault. I- shouldn’t have let my guard down” It became silent again, and this time Marinette had a lot more to think about. There had been one thing that was stuck on her mind and couldn’t leave her mind.

“H-How did it happen?” She saw Soliane grab a nearby pillow even tighter than she had.

She knew she should’ve kept her mouth shut! It wasn’t her place to ask anyway.

Before she could utter any type of apology, she was stopped when she heard her start to speak.

“It was right after one-off my patrol routes. I was surveying the city, just in case, I needed to report anything else. I guess- due to this being my first time alone, as well as having previously prevented some other crimes, I would have to say I wasn’t in the same mindset.” Marinette stayed quiet so she could continue without pressure, she knew from personal experience how frustrating it could be to start talking and get interrupted by someone else, it was always a pet peeve of hers, making her not wanting to finish her story out of pettiness.

“So… When I was too busy with moving around on my wire. I was shot!” Marinette jolted away, she knew something drastic had to have happened, and she had tried to brace herself. But she couldn’t, it sounded so surreal.

“I was careless, it was such a stupid mistake, no novice would’ve been hurt like me” Marinette jumped again, she was so serious, and so… Angry with herself. But, she had just saved a bank from robbers, of course, she could’ve been tired, she was human after all.

“And due to my shock, I wasn’t able to pinpoint who it had been. A poisoned bullet had just barely scared me, and I was still affected by it… Sir would be so disappointed in me.”

The last stitch had been completed. She was done, now she just had to bandage it. She noticed Soliane seemed physically more relaxed.

“I should be going now, I’ve troubled you too much” She was trying to get up, but even the bluenette knew she would still be in pain for a while, just until she would get herself checked out, probably as her civilian self.

“No, you’re still hurt. If you move too early the stitches might come undone” She laid a gentle hand on her, just enough to draw attention to herself.

“But I must, I need to report back, besides, don’t you need to go to sleep?” Yeah but- the words paused in her throat, why could she say anything?

“You’ve already helped me so much, surely you’d prefer me to leave, it would be unbefitting for a hero to be seen so helpless for so long?” She saw it, her face, it was just like her a complete replica, always so helpful, to never think about yourself even when it could be life or death.

…Ok maybe that last part was a bit extreme.

“Hey, don’t try to suggest that, I could never think that! You still need help, just because you’re a hero doesn’t mean you can’t rely on anyone else.”

…Maybe it was her stubborn side, or even her Mother’s. But she couldn’t even think of the hero going out in that condition.

Grabbing her hand, she was adamant about letting Soliane Rin stay. So, she just told her.

Told her that she can’t just go out in that condition.

Told her that she needed to get better, because if she was still hurt, how could she save other people. And how she also needs to look after herself.

Told her that… She shouldn’t have so many expectations of her, because it won’t do her any good, mentality wise… And if the expectations become broken, she’d be unrightfully angry at herself.

Told her that- oh god she was arguing with a hero in her bedroom and she wasn’t saying anything.

She wasn’t saying anything! She’s just standing there looking at her. Never had Marinette wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out?

“I-I’m sorry, I should have never shouted like that, you were just doing your job and here I come saying you need to stop- wait not to stop I meant maybe slow down, although if you wanted to carry on then that’s fine by me. What am I saying you don’t need my permission; you don’t need anyone's! Do you-?” Her hands had been waving in front of her frantically. She just couldn’t imagine all of this would’ve been happening to her, her emotions were spreading out of control. She really needed to compose herself.

Wait, why did she grab her hand?

“I -ahem- it's fine, I’m incredibly humbled by your generosity. You have a big heart, not many have such kindness like you” She brought her hand closer to her mouth, and the blue-haired girls’ heart was pounding more and more.

“I shall stay” She pressed the hand to her mouth, a small feeling off lips against her skin sent shivers down her back while she held her gaze.

“So long as mi Belle stays with me” It took her a moment to compose herself. It took another to realise to she was talking about her… It to yet another to compose herself from that.

“Sou yure- I mean you show- ah, I’m mean. Yes.” Marinette felt as if she couldn’t say no, and yet, she didn’t feel uncomfortable, she felt accommodated. She believed if she had said no, she wouldn’t have felt pressured by the hero to stay.

And she smiled at that.

They both had.

So sincere.

***

The morning had come.

And not a moment too soon.

Light poured through her drawn curtains, and her first reaction was to grab the closest thing to plummet it towards the sun.

Not like that would’ve done anything mind you. It would’ve just been to make her point.

Rising up and stretching her arms, she headed down her steps, it had been a weekend, after all, she was allowed a lie in occasionally.

Although, she felt oddly a lot more refreshed than she had remembered, what had change-

Soliane Rin!?

Her head zoomed around the room, where- where was she?

No one was in the room besides her.

So- was it just a dream? Did she really see just imagine it all?

But she couldn’t have, wouldn’t that have just been too cruel, even for her?

Did the gods really hate her as well?

Wait-

That piece of paper wasn’t there before?

Stepping over to her desk, she gently picks it up, almost afraid she’d rip it up.

As her eyes traced over the first words, her mind relaxed.

‘Dear mi Belle, apologise for “dropping in unannounced” and to cause you such trouble. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine thanks to you, I’ll promise to be more careful next time, sincerely your local hero, Soliane Rin…’

Her heart fluttered in gratitude; those events were real. She really did meet her.

As her hands curled around the letter, she smiled. A true sincere smile.

Because after so long, she felt…

Hope.

***

*I absolutely suck at describing clothes, which is why I much prefer to draw instead, I literally have no idea what some clothes types are called so I always end up having to ask my Mum and even then, she doesn’t know half the time so I may end up not describing much clothing in the future so sorry.

Well, I hope you liked it, I do believe these chapters are gonna end up getting longer and longer. I know a few of them are but hopefully, you won’t mind that. It will just make my progress slow but hey I was always slow so it shouldn’t matter too much right? Anyway, well Marinette has met the hero and classmate, she’s definitely different to my other version. But I do hope you like both versions.

Oh, and I may need help with Jess/Jace. I know that she’s Native American, but I’m unsure if there’s any type of detail I must include for them, for example, I’m aware that they don’t cut their hair for symbolic reasons? I’m not even wholeheartedly sure about that. So, I would like to ask if there’s any information that I’m forgetting/missing and I would love to be informed, aka if I need to include a tribe, any type of clothing that would be appropriate to wear or activities they do. Sorry if it seems stupid, I just want to be informed and try my best to make an accurate representation. You can ask me questions, but I will apologise if I don’t understand them in advance. (Just so you know, I’m changing everyone’s design but I’m definitely changing her earrings, I just keep having images of someone pulling them out ugh, hence why I’ll never draw large earrings that people could grab)

Also, if you’re confused about anything feel free to ask any questions.

Cya next time.

Note: Please tell me if I should add anything else to the card, there will be one of these cards for all 15 chapters, however, because I have uni work all updates will be slower because I really need to focus on the uni stuff, then I might be able to upload quicker. They also may change in the future because I can never stop adding stuff.

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miraculousoj · 3 years

Text

LadyNoir July 2021 Day 1: Older

Summary: Just some pre-reveal banter and fluff between LadyNoir. Ladybug spends Chat Noir's birthday with him eating macarons, joking about his age, and discussing his plans as an 18-year-old.

Rating: General audiences

Word count: 1920

Warnings: slight mention of alcohol

"Cats me if you caaan!" Chat Noir sang out as he ran across the Parisian rooftops under the night sky. The cool autumn air hugged his face as he laughed, jumping from building to building, running from his lady in their usual game of catch; the loser had to bring food to the next patrol. If he got to their rendezvous point before she caught him, he'd win, if she caught him before that, she'd win.

If Ladybug were to be completely honest, she didn't mind losing and purposely tried to lose at times since she knew bringing fresh pastries was easy for her seeing as her family owned a bakery and she had no idea what Chat noir's financial situation may have been outside of his superhero life. Listening to him talk, he usually seemed like his home life was nothing to envy - he often spoke about his neglectful father, his deceased mother and busy schedule; though he did not give specific enough information to reveal his identity. It seemed that the only happiness in his life was being a superhero and attending school, something that had to mean that his home life was absolutely horrendous since she couldn't imagine anyone enjoying school. Nonetheless, he always put on a smile during their late-night patrols and akuma fights, seldom showing sadness or pain. It was only during the end of patrols when they'd sit and talk for an hour where he'd express his misfortunes in life but never in a way to gain sympathy. He'd always state them matter-of-factly as if narrating his life without seeming too beaten up about it. Maybe he had just gotten accustomed to it, that thought broke her heart. So she always tried to bring him his favourite pastries - croissants and macarons which he would gulp down graciously, almost as if he hadn't eaten at all that day.

"Seems like I'm the faster hero today m'lady!" Chat Noir taunted as Ladybug finally jumped to the roof that he had been standing on for about two minutes. Chat Noir contorted his body, flexing his biceps and triceps, earning an eye roll and chuckle from Ladybug. "Cats got your tongue? These bad boys right here got you stunned huh, m'lady?" He said, smiling proudly and moving his eyebrows up and down.

"As if Chaton," Ladybug retorted, hiding her blush and strutting towards him.

Standing directly in front of each other, he looked down at her acknowledging the height difference which increased by almost six inches in the past two years. It was in these moments when he noticed how much more beautiful she had become over the years. She looked up through hooded eyes, got onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek gently. Chat Noir gasped, his jaw fell open and his eyes widened in shock. She had never done that before.

With a flick of his bell and a giggle, Ladybug whispered, "Happy birthday, Chaton" into his ear causing Chat Noir to regain his senses.

"Y-you remembered?" He asked wide-eyed, turning to his left to face Ladybug who had now walked over to the box of treats she had brought. They usually left the treats at the rendezvous point to indulge in whilst hanging out and chatting after patrols.

As she sat, Ladybug asked, "Why wouldn't I? I even marked it on my calendar so I wouldn't forget. You're one of my best friends, and I never forget a friend’s birthday." If it wasn't for the darkness of the corner she sat in, Chat Noir would've seen her face turning as red as her mask.

He was speechless. Ladybug had marked his birthday on her calendar and even considered him more than a friend, yeah it was a best friend, but it was more than a friend, so he was obviously climbing the relationship ladder in some way.

He resorted to saying a grateful thank you instead of asking too many questions, also he was famished and tired and just wanted to put his head in his lady's lap and eat some of those delicious Dupain-Cheng pastries she always brought. Oh how he loved them. He was even good friends with the bakers’ daughter who sat behind him in class. She was an extraordinary girl and he'd be lying if he said that he hadn't considered asking her on a date a few times but his schedules didn't permit it and his heart belonged to Ladybug but by all means, if Ladybug didn't exist, he'd be head over heels for Marinette. She reminded him so much of Ladybug too, the way she took control during akuma attacks, stood up for others, helped those in need, brought pastries to school and she even told him Happy birthday that morning and gifted him some macarons.

"Chaton" Ladybug’s cooing broke him from his thoughts of Marinette. He constantly compared them and if you asked, he wouldn't admit it but he would be a little disappointed if she wasn’t the girl under the mask.

As he dropped his body next to Ladybug’s and threw his head into her lap, she began running her hands through his hair and they both peered into each other's eyes in silence for a while. Friends. That's what they were but this wasn't what friends did, at least none of Adrien's friends did this. Except for the couples, of course. However, he dare not complain in case she stopped. He let the moment continue until she broke eye contact to fetch a macaron from the box to feed him. Another thing that friends did not do. But he ate it happily, it tasted like passionfruit, like the same ones Marinette gave him that morning. It came from the same bakery after all and they were his favourite flavour both as Chat Noir and Adrien so it was only obvious that his respective ladies would gift him his favourite flavour.

"So how old are you now Chat?" Ladybug asked with a smile, she obviously knew but was just asking the usual birthday question.

"Eighteen," he replied sitting up, the number echoed in his mind and his eyes widened slightly. "I'm eighteen," he repeated a bit louder with a smile, this time, "finally legal. How old are you, m'lady?" He taunted, leaning towards her with a Cheshire cat smile, poking her cheek.

Ladybug narrowed her eyes and flared her nose, "Seventeen," she whispered "but I'm turning eighteen in two months, you know that," she stated louder, scowling with her arms folded.

"I'm oollldeer than you!” Chat Noir sang out pinching her cheeks and laughing. "Aww, babybug is maad, she's angwy, absolutely fwustwated," he teased in the most babyish, high-pitched voice he could have made whilst gently tugging at her now warm, reddening cheeks. "She's bwushing!" he exclaimed and fell backwards laughing wholeheartedly. He only felt this happy with her. Chat Noir’s laugh was contagious, to say the least, so although Ladybug tried her best to look angry, she couldn't hold in her laughter and began laughing too.

As their laughter died down, Chat Noir sat up, slouching down to rest his head on her shoulder. Ideal sitting position. He hated having to sit upright and maintain that prim and proper form for extended periods of time. Yeah, he knew that slouching was bad posture but he wanted to be a normal kid who didn't need to worry about posture.

"Hey Ladybug, now that I'm eighteen, I bet I could probably buy some wine for us," Chat Noir said excitedly.

"Oh!" Ladybug looked at him in wonder. They both had had wine many times before but had never been able to get wine-drunk especially together. Gabriel never allowed Adrien to have more than half a glass of wine to maintain his pristine image and Marinette’s parents didn’t necessarily like alcohol so they rarely cooked or baked with it unless an order or recipe specifically required it. Therefore, they never kept it around the house or encouraged Marinette to drink.

Both teenagers looked at each other grinning, they had talked on many occasions about their desire to experience what being drunk was like. Now that Chat Noir was eighteen, he could pull through for them and bring a bottle or two during one of the patrols in the future.

"Wow, you've got perks to being older, huh?"

Chat Noir laughed, "Definitely, but I gotta use my powerup within the next two months else you'll come and snatch it from me!" Both teenagers laughed, revelling in their company and happiness.

"But I think what I really want to do now that I'm eighteen, is organize to move out of my dad's house." Chat Noir said, feeling the atmosphere become heavy. Ladybug nodded, allowing him to continue. "Maybe I'll get an apartment and you can come visit me sometime," he had a faraway look in his eye and a small smile.

Ladybug knew sharing their identities was a dangerous idea and going to his apartment would only reveal his own but she also knew that their relationship as superhero partners needed the reveal soon or things may begin to fall apart.

She felt herself falling for Chat Noir more and more each day, the way he fought valiantly at her side and trusted her no matter what, and the way his eyes twinkled when she called him Chaton or scratched his chin. Her descent was slow and gradual at first but then she began thinking about him after patrols, ‘Does he go home? Does he stay out for a bit longer? Does he do homework or did he finish that before patrols? What time does he go to bed? What time does he wake up? Did he eat?' So many questions spiralled her mind each and every day, she couldn't control her feelings. She even resorted to telling him to send her a message when he got home so she'd know that he was safe, of course, she blamed it on the danger of akumas, not her feelings for him. She even stayed transformed until she got his 'I'm home bugaboo <3' message through her yoyo. Oh how she lived for that little heart at the end and the one time he didn't send it, she had a slight panic about whether or not he was okay, if they were okay. But he sent it in a separate message with an asterisk twenty seconds later. And that's when Ladybug knew she had it bad for Chat Noir, maybe even as bad as she had it for Adrien. The descent after that was like being thrown off of a cliff, she fell, and hard too.

Did she want to go to Chat Noir’s house one day? Hell yeah she did! But she couldn't. Things bigger than them and older than them were at work in the universe and there was no telling what could happen at any moment.

"M'lady?" Chat Noir’s voice broke into Ladybug’s thoughts, "you okay?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I-I was just thinking about um...uh if I saw any apartments in the classifieds or on social media lately," she lied.

"Oh, ahaha. It's fine, don't worry yourself with that m’lady, I'll sort that out when I'm ready. Plus, father’s not letting me move out anytime soon,” he patted her knee, “Right now I'm focused on us enjoying the end of my birthday together." With that, they both smiled peacefully and leaned into each other as they watched the moon and ate the macarons and croissants in silence.

@ladynoirjuly

Also posted on AO3

#ladynoir july #day 1: older #miraculous ladybug #mlb fanfic #fluff #banter #ladynoirjuly2021 #alcohol

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chocoluckchipz · 3 years

Text

The Other You - 18

Read it on A03, FF.net, WattPad

< Previous

Releasing his transformation, Adrien plopped onto his bed face first. This night couldn’t have gone any better and any worse at the same time. How could he be so lucky yet so unfortunate? A pitiful groan escaping his lips, Adrien hid his face in a pillow. “This is a disaster.”

“Which part exactly?” Plagg snorted, flying straight to his stash of Camembert. “The ‘Ladybug is Marinette’ bit or you chickening out on your side of the reveal?”

“Both,” Adrien whined. “I’m a coward. Couldn’t even tell the girl I love my name. And why? Just because she spent years hating me, and, to be honest, I’m not even sure where I stand with her right now. What if she still hates me?”

“She doesn’t hate you.”

“But what if she does but just doesn’t show it around me?”

“You can always tell her the truth and find out,” Plagg snickered, opening a wheel of Camembert.

Adrien shook his head. “Absolutely not. I can’t. Not until I’m certain she likes Adrien enough to consider him a potential boyfriend.”

“She likes you just fine for that.”

“She tolerates me just fine. I need her to love me.”

Plagg rolled his eyes, sending a slice of gooey cheese into his mouth. “Remind me then who just admitted to being in love with you?”

Adrien flipped on his back, letting out a heavy sigh. “She loves Chat. Not Adrien.”

“You’re the same person.”

“And that’s the issue. Don’t you get it?” Adrien sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. “If Marinette finds out that Chat Noir is also Adrien Agreste before she starts liking Adrien more than she does now, there is a huge chance she'll reject me altogether. And I don't want that. I can't lose her now. I love her.”

Licking his paws, Plagg shrugged, an empty box of Camembert lying by his feet. “I fail to see the issue. You're an ex-supermodel, present-day superhero, CEO of a fashion empire, with the charm and charisma of Casanova. Don’t you know how to seduce a girl? You’ve got looks, money and charm. Use them.”

Adrien glared at the kwami. “I don’t want to seduce her. There’s a difference between love and lust.”

“Yeah. One leads to another. I’m telling you—seduce her. She’ll fall in love with you in the process. Just like my beloved Camembert. It first seduces me with its luscious looks and aroma. But it’s that first bite, that sweet moment when it starts melting in my mouth that I fall in love with it.”

“I’m afraid not everyone is as simple-minded as you, Plagg,” Nooroo joined the conversation. “Adrien’s right. The key here should be an emotional connection, not physical attraction.”

Adrien nodded. “I need to prove my worth to her as a friend and a potential partner. If she can like me enough to see my potential for something more than just a friendship, only then will I have a viable chance in this.”

“Yeah, that’s cool and all,” Plagg grumbled. “But how are you going to make that happen in those ten minutes per day you interact with her as Adrien? It’s not like you can just waltz in instead of ‘Felix’ or Chat to use their time with her. And I don’t think she has more time for Adrien you.”

Adrien stilled. Use some of the time of his other personas? Chat’s slot would be out of the question but it was a different story with ‘Felix’. There was only a week and a half left until Marinette’s runway at the Fashion Week. The work, though, was mostly done. Realistically, even if ‘Felix’ were to never come back, Marinette would be able to finish in time by herself. But if ‘Felix’ were to leave, Adrien would never be so inconsiderate as to leave her without an assistant at the last moment, and even someone as inexperienced as him could be of help. A grin split his lips as Adrien stood up and stretched.

“That’s a great idea, Plagg. I’m sure ‘Felix’ wouldn’t mind if I replace him from now on.”

“Do I need to remind you that you can’t sew,” Plagg deadpanned in return. “How in the world will you be able to replace ‘Felix’?”

“At this point, Marinette doesn’t really need him,” Adrien replied, heading for the bathroom to start on his bedtime routine. “He’ll go in tomorrow one more time to bid his farewell and do as much work as he can before leaving. The day after, she’ll have to make do with Adrien. This way, she’ll see enough of me to fall in love and you bet your ass I’ll do my best for that to happen.”

“This is a bad idea,” Plagg grumbled.

“Can anything we’ve done so far be classified as a ‘good idea’?” Adrien shrugged. “It still worked. This will work too.”

Plagg scoffed and headed to his bed-basket, mumbling to Nooroo on his way, “See what I have to deal with?”

Nooroo gave him a weak smile. “At least he isn’t trying to harm anyone.”

“Except himself,” Plagg replied and hid in his basket. “Plagg’s out. Wake me up when my wielder gets smarter.”

***

‘Felix’ was finishing a dress when he sensed Marinette walking down the hallway. His heart flipped, knocking the wind out of his lungs as he jumped off his chair and rushed to open the door for his precious lady.

Excuse me!

She shouldn’t be carrying such a heavily-looking bag with him around.

“Good morning, Marinette. You look absolutely radiant today.” ‘Felix’ bowed his head with his usual emotionless expression. Taking the bag out of her hands and putting it away, he offered her a thermos mug filled with fresh coffee he’d picked up on his way. “Your coffee, Mademoiselle. If you’ll allow me a moment, I’ll warm up your pastry.”

“Ours.” Marinette sighed but gave him a tiny smile. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”

“Yes, of course. Ours. Just as you desired. I’ll be right back.”

It took him only five minutes instead of the usual seven to get to the cafeteria, warm up the pastry and come back. A new record. Marinette looked pleased, and that was everything ‘Felix’ needed to pronounce the day a success.

“How was your evening? I hope you had a good rest?” He asked, placing the plate full of treats on the desk in front of Marinette.

“I started dating someone very special yesterday,” she answered with the sweetest, dreamiest expression he’d ever seen on her face.

Even as an exact copy of his cousin who rarely showed his feelings, ‘Felix’ couldn’t withhold a smile from his face. “Oh, my! Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Marinette grinned. “And how was your evening? Do anything exciting?”

“Yes,” he responded dryly, his usual detached attitude taking over again. “I exercised my ‘being stupid’ quality.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous, Felix. You’re the farthest person from ‘stupid’ I know. Wait, aren’t you joining me?” She asked as soon as ‘Felix’ picked up his work and started to stitch. “Haven’t we agreed to you bringing me breakfast only if you’re sharing it with me?”

“I’m sorry for putting a frown on such a lovely face as yours, but I’m not feeling like eating right now.”

In fact, a single croissant stuffed in his mouth and a cup of coffee downed on his way to work was all that ‘Felix’ could manage today as his new goals overwhelmed him with unimaginable force upon transforming. ‘Get as much work done as possible and find out Marinette’s true feelings towards Adrien while he’s at it.’ No food would sit well with him until his mission was fulfilled.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. Just a bit queasy. It’ll pass. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Maybe you should take a day off? We’re ahead of schedule, you know.”

He shook his head. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I left such an amazing person as yourself alone at the last moment? I’ll be fine.”

“Is there anything I can do for you then? To make it easier?”

‘Felix’ grabbed at the opportunity without much thought. “Tell me about your friendship with Adrien back in your school days.”

No answer followed for the longest moment. ‘Felix’ spun around in his chair, still stitching the seam, and looked at Marinette. She stared at him with her eyes wide and lips slightly parted.

“Was that too rude of me to ask? I heard you weren't on the best terms with him lately. My humblest apologies if I crossed any lines.”

Marinette blinked, still frozen in place. “No. That’s fine. We… we’re good now. Um… Why do you want to know?”

‘Felix’ reached for scissors, continuing his work. “He’s my cousin. I want to know things about him.”

“Then why don’t you ask him ?”

“He’s busy.”

“I’m busy too.”

“But you’re busy in the same room as me, while Adrien is hard to get a hold of these days.”

Marinette seemed to think about it for a moment before taking a sandwich off the plate. “Alright. What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

She wrinkled an eyebrow. “What do you mean by everything?”

“I want to know every experience you shared with my cousin while he was at school with you. What made you two click? Why did you decide he was worthy of your friendship? Was he a good friend to you?”

“Seriously?” Marinette deadpanned. “Felix, be realistic. We were attached at the hip for years. I can’t possibly tell you everything .”

He turned around, his hands never stopping their work. “Then, why don’t you tell me your favourite moments with him? Or the reasons you liked him? You did have a crush on Adrien, didn’t you?”

Her cheeks dusted pink, Marinette looked to the side. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to remember the ‘crush’ part—”

“Why not? It’s in the past now, right?”

She hesitated but still nodded. “Of course. I just told you that I have a new boyfriend and he is not your cousin.”

‘Felix’s’ lips curled in a smug smile. “Too bad. Adrien’s a catch, wouldn’t you say so? Pretty sure he’ll be making the top of the Paris’ Most Eligible Bachelors list this year with Gabriel’s fortune in his hands now. Add in his model looks and innate charm, and I’m quite shocked he doesn’t have a crowd of fangirls following him everywhere.”

“Maybe he isn’t as great as you think he is,” Marinette huffed and turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. The pink of her cheeks still showed. “Personally, I don’t care about money. And my boyfriend can easily give your Adrien a run for his looks and charm.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. He’s much better looking. Incredibly charming. Has a better character, too.”

“And you know a lot about Adrien’s character?”

“I know enough.”

“Then tell me. I have a few more pieces to finish. I’d love to hear all about your thoughts on my cousin.”

Marinette took a few moments to compose herself before obliging ‘Felix’ with the stories of her teenage adventures with Adrien, Alya, and Nino. The longer she talked, the fonder her eyes grew. She slowly relaxed, forgetting she had work to do as well. A few stories deep into her narrative, ‘Felix’ noticed a warm smile gracing her lips. By the time Marinette finished, she didn’t even bother to hide it.

“You seem to miss those times,” ‘Felix’ noted when Marinette fell quiet.

Marinette let a deep sigh out. “Yeah, sometimes.”

“You do know he’s not against being your friend again, right?”

She shied away just a bit, her eyes focusing on the papers before her. “Yeah, I know that.”

“And what about you?”

Marinette stilled for a fleeting moment before shrugging. "I think I'm slowly warming up to the idea. Not that I'm anywhere near ready to jump back in head-first, but I don’t think it’s impossible anymore.”

‘Felix’ grinned for the first time in his existence, quickly turning away from Marinette with the pretense of needing scissors. “I hope it works out for you two. You’ve been angry with each other long enough.”

“We’ll see,” Marinette responded, getting up and getting ready to work. “Now, let’s finish this line.”

“Already on it.” ‘Felix’ raised the piece he was working on. “One pair of shorts coming up in about two hours.”

***

Hands clasped together behind his back, Adrien paced the studio in anticipation of Marinette’s arrival. He tried sitting in a chair to calm his heart’s erratic beat only to jump up a moment later to resume his anxious pacing.

Marinette had told ‘Felix’ yesterday that she was warming up to the idea of renewing a friendship with him. He was on the right track. He couldn’t screw up now whatever it cost. He had to execute this perfectly and for that, he needed to—

“Kid, relax,” Plagg grumbled from his shirt pocket.

“I can’t,” Adrien whined, tightening and relaxing his fists. “I want to, but I can’t. What if she kicks me out? There’s no real need for me to be here, so that’s a possibility.”

“Then you’ll come up with another stupid idea to make her fall for you. Big deal. Nothing new.”

“You don’t get it. I need this to work—”

“Felix?”

He almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of Marinette’s voice, his eyes darting to her as she came into the room. Breath caught in his chest, Adrien froze. Marinette had always been beautiful, but today she looked gorgeous. Impeccably put together, elegant and sexy, she filled the room with light, warmth and the scent of fresh flowers just by entering. Adrien could swear her face glowed with freshness, her lips curled mischievously into a teasing smile. His heart speeding up, he swallowed.

“Mood—goom—good mornood—Ugh!” He took in a breath to calm down, his hand automatically reaching to rub the nape of his neck. “I’m sorry. Good morning, Marinette.”

An eyebrow quirking above her beautiful, blue eyes, she cocked her head to the side. “Good morning, Adrien.”

“Busted.” He nervously chuckled. "Not many people can distinguish between Felix and me when we're apart. I’m impressed. What gave me away?”

Marinette shrugged, heading for her desk. “Your clothes have colours other than every shade of grey. You aren't trying to cater to my every possible whim, and I can actually see emotions on your face. Not to mention Felix would’ve considered your hairstyle an unkempt mane.”

Adrien’s hands shot to his hair. “Hey, I groomed today.”

“Don’t worry,” Marinette let out a chuckle. “That’s Felix’s preferences. Not everyone else’s. Your hair looks just fine.”

“Just so you know, I wasn’t really trying to fool you into thinking I was Felix,” Adrien replied, a smug smile on his lips a moment later. “Because if I did try, you’d never know the difference.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “You might look incredibly alike but I’ve never seen more drastically different people.”

Adrien moved closer, leaning on the table. “Really? How so?”

“I’m sure I don’t have to explain the difference to you, Adrien.”

“But I’m curious what you think. Please? I brought you food.” He pointed to a pastry box and a thermos mug of coffee on her desk. “Don’t I deserve a reward for that?”

Marinette barely suppressed a giggle. “You sound just like someone I know. He’ll also do anything for food.”

“And is there something wrong with that?”

“Nope, nothing’s wrong with it. It’s just a little silly to see a grown man getting so childishly excited at the sight of a bowl of steaming stew."

Adrien pouted. “Being a grown man doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate great cuisine.”

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s kind of endearing. Adorable. You could even say, inspiring.”

He glanced her way skeptically. “Honestly?”

She nodded. “Yup. Now, that aside, would you mind explaining why you are here instead of Felix?”

Adrien straightened up and cleared his throat. “Allow me to introduce to you your new assistant, Mlle Dupain-Cheng. I’m at your service.”

“What? Where’s Felix?”

“He had to return to London for urgent business, and since a suitable replacement isn’t available right now, I’ll do my best to help you.”

She stared at him for a full half-minute before uttering, “You’re joking, right?”

Adrien shook his head. “Unfortunately, I’m not. Though I must admit I’m not as good as my cousin—in truth, I can’t sew much at all—but I’m more than willing to do anything you entrust me with as long as you show me how to do it. I do manage to run a fashion house without any training, so I’m not a completely lost cause. I’m sure I can be useful to you somehow.”

Marinette blinked a few times before barely suppressing a chuckle. “Adrien, thank you for the offer, but at this point, even without Felix, I’ll be able to finish everything by the deadline myself. I just won’t be early. Better tell me what happened with Felix? I hope he didn’t have to rush off because of something bad?”

Adrien shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I’m not really sure what’s going on over there, but he told me it was nothing to be concerned about.”

“Knowing him, it doesn’t make me feel any better,” Marinette sighed. “I do hope he’ll come for the show, though. He practically single-handedly made half of this collection."

“I’ll pass on the invitation but I can't promise anything. Now, what do you want me to do?”

Marinette quirked an eyebrow. “Um… I think as CEO, you’ve got more important things to do than to help me. Especially since I don’t really need help anymore.”

“This is kind of a part of my CEO work,” Adrien replied. “I need to learn not only the paperwork but also the process behind the scenes. Men’s department is way too busy and overwhelming. So, I’d rather hang around here and be useful at the same time. If you don’t mind, of course. I can be useful, I swear. There’s not a lot of sewing left from what I can see, so I can take on getting everything ready while you finish up. I’ll have to leave at around five to tend to my official duties, but I’m sure that’ll be plenty of time for me to learn something and help you at the same time.” Adrien tried the best puppy eyes he could muster. “Please?”

Marinette sighed, sitting down in her chair. “Adrien—”

“If I want to succeed in this whole business, I really, really need to do this.” He put his hands together, raising them up in a pleading motion. “Please, Marinette. I promise I’ll do my best. I’ll do everything you tell me. I’ll be your errand boy. I’ll clean and organize. I’ll learn how to sew if you need me to do that. Anything you want.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re that desperate?”

Adrien feverishly nodded, pushing the pastry box closer to Marinette. “More than I can express.”

Her eyes glazing over the food offering, Marinette let a moment pass by before sighing. “Alright. Are you good at organizing things?”

Adrien grinned. “Extremely. That's one of the things I excel at.”

“Then give me a few moments to prepare and I'll have a ton of papers for you to organize. You can sign them while you're at it since I was going to bring them to you anyway."

“Thank you.” Adrien beamed. “I promise you won’t regret this.”

“I hope I won’t,” she whispered, picking up the coffee he’d brought her. She took a sip, taking a double glance at the cup. “That’s good. Where did you get it?”

“I brewed it myself.” He proudly grinned, barely containing his excitement. Marinette liked his coffee! Bonus points for him. “A friend inspired me to explore cooking lately, but since I suck at it badly, I decided to start small. There’s a good coffeemaker in my office. I just had to experiment with different blends until I found the one I liked.”

“Is your secret recipe up for sharing?”

“I don’t know. It took me a long time to come up with this particular blend.”

“Don’t tell me you want my firstborn for it.” Marinette blurted, pulling the pastry box close and looking inside. “I suspect you didn’t bake those…” Crimson flooding her face, she darted her eyes to Adrien. "Wait—I mean as a sacrifice! You know the saying: ‘you must sacrifice your firstborn child to get something,’ yadda, yadda. Don't get me wrong. My firstborn in the general context, not with you…”

Adrien couldn’t hold back any longer. His heartfelt laughter filled the room. A few moments later, he wiped a tear from his eye, giving Marinette a goofy grin. “Sorry. I didn’t realize how much I missed you tripping over your words.”

Marinette covered her face with her hands. “I’m glad you find my humiliation amusing.”

“Hey, I get excited over food like a kid. You say stuff with double meanings by accident. Big deal. I get it, so don’t worry about it.”

Peeking at him through her fingers, Marinette deeply inhaled before she spoke. “Fine. But this never happened and if anyone finds out, you are dead, Agreste .”

Raising his arms, Adrien grinned. “I’m silence embodied. No one will ever know.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m watching you.”

Adrien chuckled. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

***

Everything ran smoothly for a few days. Marinette was slowly finishing her outfits, mostly making last-minute adjustments as the models were being fitted. Meanwhile, Adrien organized all the paperwork related to the line, managed all the fitting schedules, and delivered all of the outfits to the appropriate places. By Friday, most of the collection was packed and ready to go, with only a few pieces needing some minor alterations before they could be packed as well.

Regarding his “Make Marinette Fall In Love With Me” plan, Adrien didn’t waste time either. He started off by being as nice, considerate, and useful as possible. He continued bringing Marinette coffee and treats in the morning, just as ‘Felix’ had, so they could share them. The same went for their lunches, with Adrien always being the one reminding Marinette that it was time to eat. Along the way, he may have flirted a bit, careful not to cross any lines, yet at the same time trying his best for Marinette to not misunderstand his intentions. Judging by the pink dusting Marinette’s cheeks and her awkward reactions at his intentionally poorly-veiled attempts, it seemed to be effective.

She slowly relaxed around him, not only joking back but, dare he say it, bantering with him. By Friday, Adrien could no longer detect any of Marinette’s previous reservations in her attitude toward him. All due to his amazing sense of humour, of course. Adrien wasn’t born with a talent like that for nothing. It was, undoubtedly, his jokes and puns that put the final crack in the wall between them.

Not much longer and Adrien was sure to slide into the “potential boyfriend material” zone. Perhaps even in time for the After-Show Gala next Wednesday. Which was why he was already coming up with a plan to drive the final nail in the coffin as he walked back to the studio after their lunch on Friday. Marinette detoured to visit the ladies’ room, so the moment Adrien closed the doors behind him he called for Plagg.

“Your chocolate milk.” Adrien set the paper carton on the desk. “Try to finish it before Marinette comes back.”

Plagg popped the carton open and, putting in a straw, took a long sip. “She in love with you yet?”

“I don’t think so. Not yet but we’re definitely on a much better basis than just a week ago. Another week? I'm thinking… the After-Show Gala? I’ll need to come up with something extraordinary to woo her.”

“All you need is to show her the goods,” Plagg scoffed. “I keep telling you—seduce her. Show her what she’s been missing.”

“We’ve talked about this.” Adrien groaned. “No one’s seducing anyone, Plagg. We do this the proper way.”

“And what? My way isn’t proper?” Plagg huffed. “It’s not only proper but fast. She’ll be all over you in an instant.”

“Plagg, no.”

"Have you seen how effective all those mating dances are? The animal kingdom has it right—go out there and show her the goods.”

“Plagg, we humans prefer to do this a different way. At least I do. So please, stop it.”

“Fine,” Plagg grumbled, returning his attention to his drink. Adrien headed to the window to gather his thoughts. He really should aim for the After-Show Gala to do something remarkable. That would be the perfect opportunity.

“Hey, kid?”

Adrien turned around only for a stream of cold liquid to hit his chest. A brown stain soaking his shirt, he leaned forward just in time to prevent any of the milk from spilling below his waist. However, the damage above it was done already.

“Plagg, what the heck?!”

“Oops! Clumsy me.” Plagg innocently batted his eyes. “Good thing I packed an extra shirt in your bag. Hurry up and change before your girlfriend comes back.”

Adrien glared murder at his kwami, scrambling to his bag. “I’ll feed you nothing but those gross, processed, American cheese strings for a month, you fiend. This wasn’t an accident.”

Plagg huffed in return and flew away. Adrien hurried to check his bag and, thankfully, true to Plagg’s words, a black t-shirt was indeed tucked in the corner. Adrien got to unbuttoning his shirt as fast as he could, praying Marinette wouldn’t be back before he changed. His shirt off, he quickly tugged his undershirt over his head, only to see Marinette staring at him from the door.

Her eyes wide, face crimson, she turned away instantly.

“I’m so sorry,” Adrien rushed to apologize. “I spilled milk on my shirt and I didn’t think you’d be back yet so I thought I’d change here instead of walking to the washroom with soiled clothes on.”

“Just…” She glanced his way, immediately averting her eyes back to the side. “Just put something on and wipe the floor.”

“Yes, of course!” Adrien hurried to pull the t-shirt Plagg oh so graciously packed for him over his head and smoothed it down. Great! It was one of those sleeveless workout t-shirts Adrien didn’t wear anywhere but at the gym because of how form fitting it was. It left even less to the imagination than his Chat Noir suit. Adrien cursed under his breath and, sending another glare Plagg’s way, zipped the bag. That little shit would pay for this! Adrien would make sure of that!

***

If going to their first lunch Adrien didn’t have many expectations, now he couldn’t help but hope Nino and he would be able to put aside their history and make up. Hanging out with Marinette these last few days, Adrien found himself longing for the past times more than he thought he would. Nino was a huge part of that. He still meant a lot to Adrien. And judging by Nino’s persistence, Adrien meant something to him as well.

True to his nature, Nino came ten minutes early again. Adrien put his cellphone aside and raised his hand to catch Nino’s attention as soon as he caught a glimpse of him. Nino waved back and joined Adrien at the table. They quickly got over the small talk, placed their orders, and plunged into an awkward silence for a few minutes before Adrien murmured, “So…”

“Yeah,” Nino mumbled back, scratching the back of his head.

“Last time…”

“Didn’t go that well.”

“It didn’t.”

“I was insensitive,” Nino sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s fine.” Adrien protested. “I wasn’t at my best either.”

“Then what do you say we forget the past and try this friendship thing again?”

Adrien had never seen Nino so eager and so dreading to hear the answer at the same time. He smiled. He really did love his friend. “I’m game if you are.”

“That’s the only reason I’m here.”

Matching smiles on their faces, the two men watched each other for a brief moment before Nino got up and walked to Adrien. Offering his hand to Adrien, Nino tugged him up and wrapped him in a tight hug, patting his back. “I missed you, bro.”

Returning the gesture, Adrien chuckled. “I missed you too.”

Next >

#miraculous ladybug #marichat #adrienette #ml #chat noir #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #ladybug #the other you

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bouwrites · 4 years

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Maribat March 2020 Prompt: Time Travel

Week 4, Day 6.

Maribat March 2020 Calendar.

Day 1: Sweetheart’s Dance, Day 5: Fake dating, Day 7: High School.

Ao3.

2913 words. Story under read-more.

There are three things which Marinette knows with absolute certainty. The first is that time is stupid and, despite not getting paid for her heroics, Bunnyx deserves a raise. A substantial one.

The second is that her love for Adrien, if it comes to them actually dating, inevitably results in not only her death, but also Hawk Moth’s, all of Paris’, and given the state of things, most likely the entire planet’s. Or, apparently, alternatively, an equally ruinous future with slightly different details. Thanks for the reminder, Time.

The third, and most important, is that Marinette has just completely, utterly, royally messed up.

All three things being only tangentially related, of course.

In her defense, Marinette never purposefully looks around Bunnyx’s burrow. No, she had her run of curiosity the first time and got scolded as she deserved, and she knows just how stupid it would be to know her future. Just how dangerous it is.

Bunnyx is kind to her the first time – another reason she’s a good hero, Marinette supposes – talking of things like learning her next birthday presents to deter her from looking around instead of objectively more important things like looking for the moment she, or someone she loves, dies. And no matter how much it irks Marinette not to get the information that could solve everything, she appreciates and trusts that Bunnyx knows what she’s doing by keeping Hawk Moth’s identity hidden. If she does indeed even know it.

There’s a time for everything and time is a fragile thing. Ironically, that’s at the crux of Marinette’s problem. So is the other thing Bunnyx tells her, that what’s seen can’t be unseen.

With how the afterimage of that damn window in time is seared onto the insides of her eyelids, that’s surely the truth.

On the bright side, her most recent escapade into time has cleared up a few things she’s been pondering since the whole “Chat Blanc” fiasco. First and foremost, it’s not Chat that she has to worry about. Despite the identity weirdness that went on in Chat Blanc’s timeline, Marinette is sure that the most recent tragedy has nothing to do with secret identities, but as she was apparently dating Adrien in that future and she knows for a fact that she’ll tell Chat Noir when she has a boyfriend and Chat wasn’t the one akumatized this time, it’s not simple jealousy that almost caused the end of the world that one time. It’s good to know that Chat’s crush isn’t that bad.

On the darker side, that does mean that the inevitable end of the world is linked wholly and totally to her dating Adrien. So, that’s less good to know. Also, Marinette is a truly frightening akuma.

Another thing cleared up by this whole business is that time is stupid, and Marinette is glad she’s not Bunnyx. Yes, the burrow is cool as all get out, but one slip, one massive tremor caused by a potentially world-ending event, and all of a sudden Marinette has the rug pulled out from under her and she can’t unsee that stupid window.

She knows she should forget it. She’s trying to forget it. But how on Earth is she supposed to get the image of her kissing a stranger out of her head? It’s stuck in there like it’s branded onto her brain. She doesn’t get a good enough look to make out the details, but she knows for sure that the boy holding her is no one she knows.

The first, and most striking thing, about the image, the thing that draws her eye in the first place, is the guy’s dark hair. Dark. As in, not blonde. Marinette would even say his hair is black. Which is just about as far from blonde as he can get. And no obvious dye, either, so unless Adrien decides to go black-haired for some reason or Luka somehow decides he hates the color in his hair all of a sudden, that already eliminates every one of her obvious options.

And, to be fair, those scenarios can happen, though the idea of Adrien being allowed to dye his hair is… yeah. But it can happen, except that the next thing she notices about the image is the boy’s ragged, worn, patched-up, absolutely ancient-looking flannel shirt. Marinette is certain he must have inherited it from his grandfather or something, because there’s no good reason anyone should wear flannel so often that it gets to that state of wear. Not even in a lifetime. It’s not falling apart, thankfully, but still.

It’s probably really soft, though.

Not that she’s imagining how it feels, or anything. She just knows Adrien isn’t allowed to breathe the scent of flannel, so no hair-dye shenanigans there, and Luka? The flannel doesn’t necessarily exclude Luka, but the color scheme? Bright, warm-colored shirt and white-washed blue-jeans? Not Luka at all.

Besides, Marinette may not get a good look at the guy’s face, but she can recognize Adrien and Luka at a glance from miles away. No, this guy is a complete stranger.

That raises… a lot more questions. Questions like, if her dating Adrien ends in disaster, is she truly not supposed to be with him? Is she supposed to be with this other boy? Who is this other boy? How do they meet? How do they fall in love? Will Marinette fall at first sight and stumble over her introduction? Will he teasingly call her “Ma-Ma-Marinette” because she can’t get words right? Will she hate him at first, making wrong assumptions about him based on circumstance?

What kind of person is he? Will he sweep her off her feet with kind gestures, gentle smiles, bright, sunshine giggles at every little thing she says? Will he be more cold? Maybe he’ll have a tough exterior, and the flannel is more of a grunge aesthetic, if a bright one, and he’s rebellious and loud and fun. Maybe he’s a musician just like her last two crushes, maybe he’s not. Maybe he’s an athlete. Maybe he’s a hero.

Will he polish those glasses of his when he’s frustrated like Max does? Will he grab the ends of his flannel overshirt and wrap it tight around her, trapping her with him like Alya does? Will he listen patiently and let her cry and offer soft, kind words and empathy like Luka? Or a cheerier camaraderie and humor to lift her spirits like Adrien?

When Marinette closes her eyes, she can see him. He’s a transfer student, coming from rural America (his style is so classic Hallmark movie she’s not sure whether to laugh or vomit, but somehow when he wears it it’s cute), he barely speaks French, and when he does it’s with a thick accent, so Marinette does her duty as class president to help him keep up. They talk and joke with each other and he’s funnier than she expects but he has such strange sayings that she can’t quite understand but at face value they all make her laugh. She just spends so much time helping him, because he’s still learning the language, that she falls for him, not even realizing she falls out of love with Adrien in the meanwhile.

Or maybe she goes to him. He’s still American, because again, that style, but this time she’s on a class trip to some city. New York, or somewhere smaller, or, no, it’s a big city. He’s come to the city, too, and they bump into each other while both trying to ask for directions to completely different places. They hit it off and he asks for her number before some kind passerby gives them the directions they both need.

Or maybe he’s a city native, and he has some time on his hands, so he guides her personally to where she needs to be. He sticks with her longer than he really needs to, and Marinette can’t bring herself to complain.

Or maybe some twist of fate lands her in the back end of nowhere, just somewhere in America. A dusty old diner with hardly anything of note nearby, like in the movies, and he’s there waiting tables. He’s so charming that she can’t resist writing her number on his copy of the receipt. Or he takes a dive like she does so often and spills something on her. She won’t be mad. She knows how hard putting one foot in front of the other can be.

Maybe Marinette succeeds at forgetting him. Maybe she doesn’t, and they never meet after all. Maybe every one of these daydreams only happen to some other Marinette. There’s just no way to tell. Marinette is really starting to hate time. It’s ridiculous, utterly so, how that one stupid image affects her.

It’s there, though. There in her head, and in Bunnyx’s burrow, and Bunnyx isn’t breaking down her door so time must be alright, which means… that kiss will happen.

But just because she sees something in time, does that mean she ought to do it? Will refusing break something? She never knew that signing her gift would lead to Adrien figuring her out and Chat Noir getting akumatized. She never knew that dating Adrien while keeping her secret identity would lead to her own akumatization. So, she can change the way things are meant to be without even knowing it.

But, knowing it, ought she? Will her loving this boy be so hollow as simply fulfilling a prophecy she never means to see? So hollow as finding someone to fill in the hole left by her doomed romance with Adrien?

And that’s the worst part. That she knows she has a chance. She knows that she can ask Adrien out and she’ll get the date she wants. But if she does… calamity. How is she supposed to move on from a love like this?

When she imagines this boy, though, this dark-haired, flannel-wearing stranger, she can imagine. She can trace so many paths, so many roads, leading to her loving him. She can write stories and songs about their love. She just can’t convince herself that it’s real. It seems so far away, and far too strange.

After a month, Marinette still can’t stop thinking about him. She tries hard not to give him too much credence, to not give him anything that makes him more… real. She doesn’t give him a name, not even a nickname. She can’t stop herself from imagining what he’s like, but she switches it up as often as she can, discarding all assumptions based on his appearance. She doesn’t want to get her hopes up and, if he does really exist and they really are going to meet someday, she doesn’t want to place those expectations on him. He doesn’t deserve that. No one does. Keeping his personality inconsistent also means that he won’t solidify in her mind. He doesn’t have anything solid except his hair and that flannel. He’s not real.

“Are you ready for this, Marinette?!”

Marinette is startled, too much so, by Alya grabbing her to ask her that. “For… what, again?”

Alya sighs, affectionately shaking her head. “I know you’ve been out of it recently, girl, but come on! Today’s the day you ask Adrien out!”

“Ask out…” Marinette follows Alya’s suggestive gaze to the other side of the courtyard where Adrien is talking to Nino. Nino’s glance over and small smile isn’t lost on her. “Oh.”

She feels like something is withering inside her. Maybe it’s her heart. She can’t ask him out. She knows how that ends. She can’t, whether she’s capable of it or not. Whether she wants to or not. Do I want to? Marinette’s gut flips at the thought. She’s spending a lot of time daydreaming, but… “Focus, girl!” Marinette blinks at Alya’s hand in front of her face. “Come on, all you have to do is go over there and tell him how you feel!”

Marinette frowns. “I’m… not sure how I feel.”

The collective gasp around her draws her attention to the fact that the rest of the girls are with her as well. Great. “Wha- What do you mean by that?” Alya recoils. “You’ve been in love with Adrien since you met! Now all of a sudden you don’t know how you feel? Are you sick?” Marinette feels Alya’s hand on her forehead, but only rolls her eyes and grumbles in response. “You don’t feel sick. Is this why you’ve been so quiet recently? I thought you just had a lot on your plate. Come on, girl, talk to me.”

Marinette breathes in deeply and lets it all out in a huge sigh. “I don’t know. I was busy, but… I guess I just got distracted. I haven’t been paying as much attention to him and now I… I’m not sure.”

Alya purses her lips, hands on her hips like she’s planning something, and then Marinette is being dragged over to Nino and Adrien. “Come on, Marinette. I want to test something.” She murmurs. As they approach, she raises her voice to yell to the boys. “Hey! What’re we talking about?”

“Just the test.” Nino says. “Brutal, right?”

Alya laughs. “Ugh, don’t remind me. But if it isn’t anything important, Adrien, you don’t mind if I steal Nino for a bit, do you? I’ll trade you Marinette.”

Adrien looks to Marinette and smiles brightly. “I don’t mind! I love spending time with Marinette!”

Marinette can feel Alya’s eyes on her as she smiles in return. “They’re never going to stop ditching us, are they?”

“Hey!” Alya protests.

Adrien laughs. “Who are we to stand in the way of true love?”

Marinette chuckles. “I suppose you have a point.” Seeing that Alya is still standing there, she turns to her best friend. “Didn’t you want to talk to Nino?”

Marinette spends the next few months half afraid she’s permanently damaged the timeline – with each passing day she’s simultaneously more certain that nothing is wrong, but also that something is terribly wrong and they’re just out of time to stop it (Marinette really hates time) – and half afraid of what Alya’s next matchmaking move is going to be. Once Alya convinces herself that Marinette is over her crush on Adrien, something even Marinette isn’t a hundred percent certain on, she starts trying to get her with Luka. But funnily enough, daydreaming about a dark-haired, flannel-wearing stranger is also enough to wear down whatever was going on between her and Luka, so that ends in a flop, too.

As time passes and Marinette just doesn’t show any interest in anyone, the girls accept their new normal. Marinette isn’t the one with the unrequited crush anymore. She’s not in love at all. Sort of like Alix. (Is time turning her into Alix? That’s just stupid enough to be believable.)

She does still get odd looks from time to time, and more than a few times Alya grills her about the mystery person she must be in love with. Wistful sighs and daydreaming are a big tell, apparently, but even that fades as Marinette eventually puts the stranger behind her. She’ll thank him for the role he played in her life, helping her move on from Adrien, even if only in her dreams, but she still has no idea who he is, or if he even exists. She moves on, and eventually the daydreams become more infrequent. She stops thinking about him. She thinks maybe the timeline is alright, and what she saw in that window can safely be just a distant memory.

Alya is excited about some new development. International reporters coming for some reason or another. Marinette is pretty sure it’s not to do with Hawk Moth, though it might have something to do with Ladybug and Chat Noir. Considering Alya is so excited that Marinette can’t even understand her, she has to assume it does. Though considering how excited she is, it probably also has to do with her journalism heroes.

Heroes of two of her loves coming together in one place? That would explain how she’s bouncing off the walls.

Marinette doesn’t have the heart to deny Alya when she’s asked to come along to the big event. She tags along, happy to support Alya, even if everything her friend is saying goes right over her head.

It’s with one arm being jostled up and down and mid roll of her eyes that Marinette catches sight of a boy separated a bit from the people Alya is so excited to meet. A boy with dark hair and a tattered flannel sitting impishly and grinning at the whole affair. Even from this distance, Marinette can see the pride on his face as he watches the stars of the show.

As if sensing her, he turns his head and looks straight at her. He doesn’t recognize her – how could he? – but she gets a bright grin and a wave regardless. Marinette struggles to calm her racing heart as she waves back.

“Are you listening, Marinette? Who’re you waving t- Oh my god! That’s Jonathan Kent! That’s Clark and Lois’ son! And he’s waving at you!”

Jonathan Kent, huh? Marinette feels herself blush, and she knows Alya picks up on it, and she can feel the schemes already, but none of that matters right now. Now it’s just the staccato beating of her heart and that beaming smile he keeps sending her way.

#MaribatMarch2020 #Maribat March #Maribat #Event #Marijon #ML x DC #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #ML Fanfiction

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missbugaboo · 4 years

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That Other Guy (7)

“Why does it matter so much to you? What’s so terrible about Adrien Agreste that you can’t stand him as your competition – even though it changes absolutely nothing for you? What in magic’s name makes him such a hateful rival?” Or, Chat Noir finally learns who Ladybug’s dream guy is, but somehow, he’s not pleased at all. For more reasons than one.

LadyNoir, Adrienette.

fanfiction.net / AO3

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Chapter 7: The Iceberg

"I think it's going to rain."

Adrien's voice was calm when he uttered the words, his gaze fixed on the still blue sky above his head as he noted the clouds that were slowly starting to take over it. He heard Plagg snicker quietly, undoubtedly in response to his comment, and glanced down at the kwami as the latter munched on a piece of cheese they had – miraculously – found in Adrien's bag right after entering the school grounds.

Think of it, Plagg probably had known about it being there all along.

He sighed and closed his eyes, his brain once again betraying him as the image of a dark-haired girl in ponytails appeared in his mind once more, regardless of his tries to push it away. He had hoped he could do that for a little longer, at least until Plagg finished with his meal – clearly though, it was still too much to ask for.

He shook his head and looked around, deciding to at least organise his tangled thoughts before he was forced to open up before Plagg. He knew there was no escaping it now; so perhaps, the best he could do was to find a way of presenting his reasoning in a way that would leave no room for doubts on his companion's part.

Seeing how Plagg was still happily occupied with his cheese, he still had a few moments to figure things out.

Refraining from yet another sigh, Adrien frowned pensively, trying to come up with a plan for his unwanted (yet necessary) speech. The circumstances seemed favourable for once, with the warm spring breeze coming in place of the sterile, cold air of his own room and the noisiness of the photo shoot set replaced by the quietness that marked their current spot. No Nathalie, no Gorilla, no make-up or photography directors.

This time Adrien couldn't help but smile weakly to himself. Indeed, it would have been a real miracle to have any of them follow him all the way up here.

Maybe there were some perks of being a superhero, after all.

"You know I can still listen to you with my mouth full, right?" he heard Plagg ask mockingly, a note of suppressed laughter clearly audible in his tone. "I don't use my ears for eating."

Adrien raised an eyebrow at him, his own smile unwavering.

"Is that so?" it was his turn to ask. "I've always thought you put your whole body and soul into this particular action. After all, you're the one who keeps reminding me how important it is to savour one's meal. Especially when it's cheese."

"Not just any cheese, kid. We're talking about camembert here," Plagg responded after another big gulp.

"My point exactly, isn't it? And since I'd hate to disturb you during such a life-altering event..."

"As if you hadn't done that on multiple occasions so far..."

"This, as well as the fact that I obviously need your undivided attention during the conversation you insisted upon so relentlessly, are the reasons why I'm waiting for you to finish in your own time. There is no need to rush."

"Okay, okay, that's it," Plagg cut him off decisively, leaving his place and floating up to Adrien's eye level. "I can see what you're doing, trying to put it off so that we don't have enough time to talk it through before your next class starts. Well, let me tell you this, kid: you're not going anywhere until we're done talking."

"Now that was never the deal," Adrien responded firmly, however as of now, there was no trace of annoyance in his voice. "And you know perfectly well that I can't skip any more classes, even though I honestly wish I could. Also... It was not what I was thinking about."

"What was it then?"

"You want answers to your questions. I think the only way that makes sense it if they are throughout, too."

For reasons not entirely fathomable to Adrien, Plagg refrained from his next comment, even though it was obvious that he'd had more than a few words to say. The determined look in his kwami's eyes didn't fade, either, and yet, it was exactly what made Adrien's serenity grow, as he could once again witness the excess of his tiny companion's mindfulness and cool.

He might have been a source of destruction in the magical sense, and still, Adrien couldn't imagine him ever truly hurting him – and not only because he was Plagg's so-called master.

It really was time to show that their loyalty and trust went both ways.

"I need you to promise me that you won't interrupt, no matter how many times I trail off or get stuck," he said in a quiet voice, pulling his legs to his chest and resting his chin on his knees. "I don't fully understand all this myself, and even if I did, it would be hard to put all of those feelings into words. So... be patient with me, okay?"

A part of him expected to Plagg to disagree, or to at least treat him with some witty remark about how their time together was limited by Adrien's upcoming class. He was to be surprised again, however, as Plagg simply nodded in confirmation, giving him to understand that he comprehended and accepted the rule bestowed on him.

No, not a rule.

Just a request.

"I know there's only one thing you really want to hear, so I won't dodge the subject by talking about something else. Especially as it really is the only one that matters," he begun with as much calmness as he could summon. "I think so, anyway. So, as difficult as it is for me to bring it up, it's probably best if I just up and do it. I..."

He bit his lip anxiously but refused to close his eyes. Scared as he was, imperfect as he was, he at least wasn't going to act like a coward.

He was Cat Noir, for Fu's sake.

"I told you I was disappointed when I'd found out it was Marinette under Ladybug's mask. That it had always been her. I know it sounds cruel and unjust – that it's something that Felix might have said in my position, but which I had no right to say. And yet, it's true."

He could feel cold sweat break over his neck and go down his back, regardless of how early he was into his story. He swallowed painfully, but refused to give in to the anxiety.

"You probably think it makes no sense, either. She's my friend, a very dear one. I've always wanted to be closer to her, because I realised what a wonderful person she was under all of that stammering and clumsiness she seemed to hide behind. I wished she had acted towards me in the same way she did with Alya or Nino, or any of our classmates, really – the way she acted around Cat Noir, even if she was supposedly in love with him that one time. To learn that all this time, she has also been Ladybug...

"It hurts, Plagg. It just does. Partly because it shows how arrogant I've been, how stupidly naive to think I should recognise her the moment I laid eyes on her – that my heart would know the truth even if my eyes and brain were fooled. To realise that she's been there all this time is like a punch in the guts and one that I've deserved because heck, how could I have been so cocky? I failed to recognise the girl I loved in the one I saw each day; I couldn't see my darling friend in the partner I cared for so much. I literally met Ladybug's civilian self a day after I'd met her superhero one, and still couldn't make the connection between them.

"So there's that part. I am disappointed in myself for not having noticed that earlier. And yet... That's not even the tip of the iceberg."

He shifted slightly, just enough to press his forehead against his knees as he took a deep, shaking breath. It was all so difficult; so horribly terrifying while also entirely unexpected.

He told himself he should be alright talking about it, after so many hours of pondering over the situation he had found himself in. The time distancing him from his discovery wasn't short either: it wasn't a minute, a quarter or three. It had been full twelve hours, ten of which he'd spent torn between denying all his knowledge and tearing it to pieces in search of an explanation he had missed before.

Ten hours of pure hell and more than a dozen resolutions made along the way.

How come it still felt as if he'd only found out?

"Breath, kid," he heard Plagg say, in a voice so completely void of audacity that Adrien couldn't help but look up, surprised. "Just breathe, in and out. It's okay."

So he did just that. Inhale, exhale, with his gaze glued to Plagg as the kwami swung his tiny arm in order to dictate the correct rhythm. Once again, he was taken aback not only by his friend's obvious concern but also the enormous gentleness he displayed – a feature so different from his usual sassiness that Adrien had some trouble wrapping his head around it at first.

"Leave my personality traits be, Adrien, and just focus on your breathing," Plagg muttered grumpily. "We've got enough to deal with without you suffocating on the edge of the school roof, simply because you can't take in your oxygen properly."

"I thought I'd asked you not to listen to my thoughts?" the boy asked automatically, but this time, reproach did not resonate in his voice; if anything, it was cheerful. "I haven't got completely crazy, you know, I can still distinguish the things I say from the ones I've been wondering at. And I know I haven't said anything out loud just now."

"Well, I hate to break it to you but your inner monologues can be as loud as mayor Burgeois' outright speeches," Plagg responded readily. "I really don't have to try to hear any of it, especially if you're thinking about me. And just so you know, today isn't the only instance when that happened."

To that Adrien could only respond with a chuckle. With his face still pressed against his knees and his grip around his legs tightening, his shoulders shook nonetheless. It wasn't a loud, sonorous laughter; it couldn't haven been one. Yet, it was sincere – and that was the most they could count on now.

"Thanks, Plagg," he said after a moment and raised his head just enough to meet his loyal friend with his eyes. "You really have a way of dealing with depression, I must give you that."

"Experience, kid," Plagg responded shortly. "If you'd had to deal with as many Black Cat wielders as I did, you too would've figured it out. You're certainly not the first Chat Noir who's got himself into this kind of mess."

"You mean, I'm not the first one to fall in love with a Ladybug who then fell in love with my civilian self?" Adrien asked almost casually. However, his smile soon grew sorrowful as he recalled some of the words Plagg had thrown at him earlier that day, words that he had chose to push aside at the time but which now came back to him with double force.

He felt like the knowledge of it could make him implode.

"Did it really happen?" he asked quietly, fixing his gaze on the horizon ahead. "Have there really been reveals that ended up in the Miraculous Holders' deaths?"

He did not dare too look down at Plagg, certain that the amount of pain his question must have caused would reflect all over the kwami's little body. He felt bad for provoking such hurt; he wondered if keeping his eyes away from his friend was really a sign of discretion or just the cowardice he'd been trying to avoid all this time.

Something was telling him that he shouldn't have asked and yet, how could he not? The matter was too grieve to just let it slide.

Plus, it was Plagg who'd brought it up in the first place.

Clearly, the kwami wasn't going to back down now, either.

"It did happen," he said calmly, in the same tone he might use for commenting on the weather; taken aback, Adrien couldn't have helped to glance at him, even if he'd wanted to. "It were just a few cases, all of them happening a long time ago. Well, one of them was recent, at least if you look at it holistically. Still, regardless of when it happened, it was always during the toughest of times. Times when your dealings with Hawkmoth would have been considered a child's play at best."

"Well, at least there's that," Adrien whispered, shifting his gaze to the passing clouds once more. "One thing less to worry about. For now, anyway."

"Well, now is the only period you should concern yourself with at the moment," Plagg responded firmly. "Here and now, and only the situation involving you."

"I don't want to just disregard it though, I -"

"Adrien? Just focus on your own iceberg. We can have that history lesson at some less troubling time."

Adrien could not disagree with the suggestion. He knew Plagg was right: he'd had a lot to deal with on his own without the additional burden of the past heroes' struggles and pain, especially as he also realised that no wisdom would come to him by hearing about them now. It would have helped to fight his curiosity when he had still endeavoured to find out who his Lady really was; it might have been a good means to stop him whenever his eagerness had become a threat to both of them. Now however...

It could no longer be of use.

"My own iceberg. Right."

When Plagg had mentioned the other Miraculous Holders that morning, it hadn't been to make him feel miserable or go into mourning after the people he had never even heard of before. The reason for the unexpected trip into the past had been a very simple one: namely, to make him aware of how much better his own situation truly was.

To make him realise that he really had no reasons to complain – no reasons to feel disappointed.

Disappointed.

Dear Heavens, it must have sounded so wrong; and yet, he still couldn't find it in himself to deny that earlier statement of his.

Suppose the only thing he could do now was to explain what he'd really had in mind, even if he himself wasn't entirely sure what it was.

"She's in love with me," he said simply at last, swiftly coming to the conclusion that pouring out his heart was his best shot at the time, as there was no guarantee that his so-called reorganisation would bring any results. "Ladybug is in love with me. The Adrien me. And it's not a shallow celebrity crush, it's not a silly infatuation developed over the few times she's met me outside the Cat Noir suit. She knows me, she cares for me. Not the image. Me."

He paused for a second, puzzled. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say next or what words to use to make it most meaningful – rather, he knew exactly what it was, but because of it, he also perfectly conscious of the fact that it was by far the most difficult thing for him to say.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Speak.

"Ladybug is in love with me," he picked up at long last. "Ladybug is in love with me. And she's Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Which means..."

He allowed himself one last break to summon his strength before finally addressing the issue that had been the real cause of that inner conflict of his, the one idea that lay at the bottom of all this.

"It means that Marinette is in love with me, too."

Suddenly, it was as if a weight had been lifted, leaving him freer and calmer than he had been since he had first found out about Ladybug's feelings last night. He wasn't bold – or stupid – enough to believe that anything was solved or that the crisis had been overcome in any way. More like, he had taken the first step on yet another rocky path which, as challenging as it undoubtedly was, was still a much better option than the comfortable yet stifling prison he'd been locked in so far.

Now all he had to do was to keep going.

And yet, it was still so hard.

"Why didn't she tell me, Plagg?" he asked after a moment, as he hid his face in his knees and gritted his teeth angrily. "Like, I can understand her being shy and all. I probably should have been more observant and picked some of the hints. But still... We've been friends for more than two years now and she has never made any direct comment about it – if anything, she flat out denied it.

"And it wasn't just once, you know," he continued after a short pause. "When Jagged & Co. stormed into her bedroom and made a show of those photographies, I thought for a moment that there really might have been something going on. I didn't really believe in Jagged's suppositions... But it was impossible to just ignore it. That is, until Marinette cleared it up by saying that it was all about her love of fashion which, given the esteem she obviously holds my father in, was really not that unbelievable at the time, whatever some might say.

"But that's just the beginning of it, isn't it? I can still remember when Manon brought the photos up again during our drive to the museum that other day. I thought I knew the reason for it, so I didn't care much – and even her mentions of 'hearts drawn all around the pictures' seemed meaningless, especially with Marinette 'explaining' that right after.

"It was supposed to be such a great day, too, you know. Just the five of us – four and a half, really – hanging out together on a Saturday afternoon. Friends being friends, unlike what we usually were. Unlike what I was usually allowed to be."

Another pause, another deep breath. Another retardation in his ludicrous story, as he tried to find the strength within himself to go on despite the throbbing of his heart and the stinginess in his eyes. The clock was ticking; and he was not even halfway through his speech.

And he absolutely refused to split it and return to it afterwards.

He needed to finish it in one go, or he never would.

"Anyway," he said. "As you probably recall, it wasn't a great day at all, and not because of the akuma attack that had resulted from that meeting. Marinette was tense, I was confused; and then that stupid joke made everything a thousand times worse. And yet... That's not the point."

"What is, then?" Plagg allowed himself to reply at last. "You won't tell me that you think the prank was alright all of the sudden, will you?"

Adrien shook his head.

"The joke was dumb and I shouldn't have made it. However, it doesn't change the fact that it had led to the first bit of honest conversation between us that day. Or at least, it might have done, if only Marinette hadn't made that U-turn the moment I asked her about what she'd really meant when she'd confessed to the statue.

"She... She could have told me the truth then. I didn't expect another heartfelt, flowery confession; in fact, I don't think I expected anything specific at the time. But... Would it have been so very bad for her to admit that it wasn't entirely fake? To say: 'Yes, I was serious' when I asked her about it straightforwardly? A 'yes', Plagg. That was all I needed to hear.

"And yet, she went into straight denial mode. 'It was a prank,' she said. 'I like you a little', 'like an ordinary human being'. Those were her words. How on earth was I supposed to believe she wanted anything other than friendship after a show of this kind?"

It was Plagg's turn to shake his head. "Do you really want an answer to that?"

Adrien looked up, surprised.

"Can you give me one?"

Plagg sighed lingeringly.

"I can," he admitted. "Or at least, I can suggest something that should help you come to the right conclusions. The question is: do you really want that?"

"How could I not?"

"Just this morning you said you wished you hadn't learnt any of the things about Ladybug that you had learnt last night. This might be a similar case; I thought it's better not to risk and make sure you know what you're asking for."

Once again, Adrien's forehead was pressed firmly against his knees.

"I do," he replied. "What's done is done. And I need some answers if I'm to ever make any sense out of all this. And since that's something that I know for sure I want to do -"

"Alright. Then you should probably think of Kagami's place and role in this mayhem."

Adrien's head shot up abruptly, and the rest of his body nearly followed suit. He gazed at his kwami with a frantic, searching gaze; his eyes, wide with surprise skimmed Plagg's, boring into his little face with a look of absolute lack of understanding on his own.

Plagg raised an eyebrow, allowing himself a small, lopsided grin.

"Yes, kid," he said. "Keep those cogs turning. I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough if only you try."

Adrien frowned in response, unamused. "I don't need more time to understand what you mean. But..."

"But: what?"

"But it doesn't make any sense," Adrien explained, turning away, his gaze now fixed on the school courtyard below them. "Marinette was always the first to support me whenever Kagami was concerned. She helped me set up that disastrous skating date. She made sure that Kagami could see her as friend. And when we... When we started dating later on, she never showed any signs of being uncomfortable or disappointed about it. And then there was Luka."

Plagg snickered. "Yeah. After you'd got together with the Tsurugi girl."

"Marinette had advised me about her! She'd agreed to come with us to the rink as soon as I told her about the plan. And she took Luka with her, even though it was months before Kagami and I began dating for real."

"Well, yes," Plagg agreed, though Adrien knew there was a 'but' coming with it; he was not wrong. "Still, it was after you'd mentioned going out with her."

Adrien's voice caught in his throat as dozens of images came rushing through his mind, proving that each and every word of Plagg's interpretations was was not only correct, but also fully and entirely logical.

And it sucked.

He shouldn't have been able to recall any of them, and yet, he did. The change of expression on Marinette's face after he'd told her whom he'd had in mind, going from giddy to confused, to wistful (it was the same shift that he had noticed in her during their ride back home from the museum, actually, even though he hadn't known that at the time); her hasty escape from the rink, when he had followed her to make sure she was okay; the look of uneasiness when he and Kagami had come to visit the Couffaines, right before Desperada stroke.

He remembered hanging out with both of the girls before the whole Miracle Queen nightmare, having the time of his life until all of the sudden, Marinette was no longer there.

And he had hardly even noticed.

"This can't be true," he muttered desperately, rubbing his hands against his face. "She was a friend. The first one I've ever had save for Chloe, but at the same time, the most amazing, most inspiring, most caring friend. A friend, who -"

"I swear, kid, you call her your friend once more and I'll leave you here on this roof."

"No, you don't understand," Adrien opposed Plagg's comment, the unsettling note of terror resonating in his voice and growing more audible by the second. "You've always picked on me for calling her that but that's exactly the way I saw her, because... Because I was so sure that was exactly how she saw me. As her friend."

Once again, his gaze became hollow, and he buried his fingers in his hair, fighting the urge to pull the blond locks out in a quite literal sense. He glanced at Plagg; he turned away again. He closed his eyes, shut them tight as he slouched, no longer caring if his behaviour was or wasn't a cowardly one.

He needed to find a way out of this pit, and he hadn't got the slightest idea were to start.

"A friend or not, you still chose Kagami over her," he heard Plagg say, his voice as muffled and distant as if they'd been separated by a ten inch glass at least.

It was a voice of reason and Adrien knew it; and yet, it provoked nothing but a new wave of anger on his part; and so when Plagg opened his mouth to add something, the boy next to him did the only thing left to do.

He snapped.

"Do you really think I would've chased after Kagami if I'd known Marinette was an option?"

Silence fell over them then, and this time, it lasted. Adrien's hands were still pressed against his scalp, pulling on his hair in a desperate manner, but at the same time feeling too numb to even acknowledge the pain he should have felt. The situation that had seemed so unbelievable from the start now turned out to be straight-up surreal, not to say – absurd.

Not a quarter ago he'd been surprised to see that the few hours of thinking had not been enough for him to comprehend the events he'd witnessed – now he realised that he could spend another month on it, and he still wouldn't have reached even the most basic understanding of it.

It was simply too much for him to deal with.

"So that's what it is about."

He raised his head at Plagg’s words, not even sure what he was expecting to see next. Was Plagg going to pick on him again? Or would he continue to play the part of a consoler, remaining gentle and understanding towards him, just like he had been so many times that day?

Well, teasing or not, Adrien had learnt by now that Plagg had only ever meant well – as long as he was concerned, anyway. And given the emotional state he was in, it was all that mattered right now.

There was one thing he hadn't foreseen, however.

It was a look of pure shock.

"What?" he asked promptly, seeing that very expression reflect all over his kwami’s little face. "Don't you dare act all surprised now. I bet you're dying to treat me with another I told you so, so you may as well say it now. Go on, let's get it over with."

"I'm not acting, Adrien," Plagg replied. "And I'm not going to say that."

"Why not?"

"Because that would mean I'd seen this coming when I can honestly promise you that I didn't. I knew Marinette was Ladybug, yes. I did think that your calling her your friend was always a sort of a defending mechanism of yours, provoked by the fact that you were determined to remain faithful the spotted version of her. Hearing you admit that you were interested in Marinette... Well, that's another pile of cheese."

"You were the one who nagged me about giving her a chance!" Adrien answered angrily. "When she said she was in love with Chat Noir, you were the first to advocate her case. And even though you made fun of that unsigned valentine I got, you still brought it up like some magic talisman to cure me from my love for Ladybug. And -"

"And no matter how hard I tried, it always turned out futile."

"Yes. Because I never had a reason to believe that I actually stood a chance."

Another long sigh escaped his lips, while he prayed internally that Plagg would not contradict this final statement as well. He was so tired, so terribly, terribly run down that he really could fall off the roof he was seated at and not realise what happened until he was halfway through his descent – and yet, he was also acutely aware of how far he was from rest.

How much more there was to be said.

He gritted his teeth and kicked the airs at the realisation, the feeling of utter helplessness taking over him. This conversation was supposed to be beneficial to him, even if not in the direct way. He had not expected it to be comforting, no; but he'd hoped it would at least allow him to cleanse his head at least.

That by answering Plagg's questions, he would also answer some of his own.

However, all it did was hurt and confuse him more. The thought of Marinette having feelings for him has been mind-blowing from the start – and yet, Plagg's suggestion about her hiding them because of Kagami of all people was a turn could not have anticipated.

How would it have played out if he'd known about it before?

"Listen, Plagg," he picked up again after a moment, once more deciding to just lay it all out in the open now and overthink it later. "It's not... It's not like I am in love with her. Or that I was at any other time, for that matter. You know that the main reason why things didn't work with Kagami was because I was still head over heels with Ladybug, so... So it probably would've been just the same with Marinette, as up until last night they had been two different people as far as I'd known. But I can't know for sure, right? I mean, she is important to me, she's always been... She's smart and funny and kind – In fact, she's about the most selfless person I've ever met in my life, which is all the more true if your suspicion about her cheering for Kagami and me despite her own feelings is correct. So maybe... Maybe..."

"Maybe you could've fallen for her after all, too."

Adrien groaned and fell down on his back, his legs still dangling from the edge of the roof. He wanted to punch the air above him or better yet, the hard surface he was lying on; to yell with all his might, so that the frustration in him would finally find a vent.

For a split second he wondered if someone would hear him if he'd done that.

"Perhaps I could," he moaned instead. "Even if she wasn't Ladybug, it still might've happened. You know, just because it didn't really click with Kagami doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't be different with someone else! And since Marinette is very different from her, it's more probable than not."

"Mhmm. Not to mention that she is Ladybug."

"It's not like she acts like her, though," the boy mused. "I know now that her shyness around me was caused by... very specific reasons, and even before that, I'd suspected that it's not her typical behaviour. I wasn't that blind after all; I saw the way she interacted with other people around her, and not only the ones closest to her. She can be confident and not only with the people she likes, or people she knows or, I don't know, just girls. There were moments when she was like that with me. And still, it wasn't enough for me to recognise Ladybug in her. Because it's still not exactly how Ladybug is."

"You're one too talk," Plagg answered with a grin after landing on his Chosen's chest. "I don't think the differences between your precious Bug and her civilian self are half as significant as the change you go through every time you transform."

"It doesn't change the fact that I still have trouble blending those two girls into one in my mind."

"Look, kid. That list of qualities you've just enumerated? To me, that's Ladybug's character to a t. And from what I remember, you did point out the similarities between the girls at least once."

Adrien raised his head a little to look his kwami in the eye, surprised. "I don't recall doing that."

"You did call her your everyday Ladybug, didn't you?"

His eyes widened a little at the indication; he regarded his companion for a while as the words sunk into his brain, the smug grin on Plagg's face making him feel even more of an idiot now. With another groan, he let his head bump against the roof once more.

There really was something wrong with him.

"I did. Gosh, I did," he whined. "And you heard me say it when you'd already learnt her identity yourself. You've known all along and haven't said a word."

"Hey, I had no right to do that. And as you've already pointed out today, I did all I could to have you realise it on your own."

"Except that time when I nearly did figure it out when Kwamibuster attacked and you made sure I stopped thinking about it before I did for real."

"I didn't mean realising she was Ladybug, you moron. Just that she's the girl you can love and be loved back by her."

Adrien opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by the sound of a bell going off on the school corridors. So he sat up and rubbed his eyes, his brow furrowed in thought as he tried to decide on what he should do next.

"I'm not ready for this," he said quietly. "I thought I would be, especially after talking to you, but somehow it only got worse, and now all I want is to transform back and run away, as far as possible from this place. Can I run away from this place?"

"I think you know the answer to that, kid," Plagg responded with a wink as he flew up to rustle the boy's hair. "Though you certainly will have to transform if you want to get down from this rooftop in time. Or any time at all."

Adrien smiled weakly, but his voice trembled when he answered, "I'm a little afraid that I may not be able to fight off the temptation once I'm suited up. I really don't want to see her right now. I don't think I can see her and not flee on the spot."

Plagg shook his head.

"There's no way you can avoid that now. That is, unless she's not at school, due to some terrible events that happened to her last night... But you won't know that until you get down."

"Now that's reassuring," Adrien muttered under his breath. Determined to ignore his kwami's sneers, he stood up and, after making sure he really was out of everyone's sight, he said the only words left to say.

"Plagg, claws out."

Not a minute later he was quietly sneaking into his locker room, transformed back to his very civilian self and pretending that he really had just entered the school grounds.

Meanwhile, his whole soul burned.

He was so going to regret going back.

#my writing #fanfiction #mlb #ladynoir #adrienette #this is so long i'm sorry #but at least you get some answers

8 notes · View notes

xiueryn · 5 years

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2 and 53 pls??

two: “royal au” fifty-three: “mutual pining”

Marinette wasn’t good at keeping secrets.

Whether it was a present she’d arranged for a friend, that she was so-very-excited about and couldn’t hold it in and not tell them, or a secret that she’d managed to overhear, telling her mother or closest friend later on when they were in private.

Marinette liked to share what she knew.

And, sometimes, it wasn’t just with her words that she gave secrets away with.

“I—yes, definitely! I would love that!” Marinette blurted out, enthusiastically nodding her head along with her words.

Adrien’s smile reached his eyes. “Okay, great.”

Her cheeks felt hot as he started to walk away.

Her friends teased her that she’d only agreed to pair up with him for a project, but it was more than enough for her to be happy with. Adrien had been her class-mate for the past year, since she’d transferred in late, and her feelings for him had blossomed from spending time together due to their mutual friends.

It also meant that the better her friends got to know her, the more they were able to tell how easily flustered she got.

A hand ruffled her hair, and all Marinette did in response was put her face in her hands with a sigh. “Was I that obvious?”

The resounding answer was yes.

But she was just—she was happy.

Adrien was one of the ones that treated her normally, hadn’t been wide-eyed and trying to get her attention for selfish reasons, and the more she’d spent time with him, she was able to tell that he was absolutely genuine.

She was smitten.

“So,” Adrien started as he slid into the seat beside her in the library. “What would you like to do?”

She’d jumped in surprise. “I—what?”

“For the project,” he said with a snap of his fingers. “Unless you’re backing out on me now? I’ll be heartbroken, if so.”

“No, no,” Marinette hastily denied. “I’m not—definitely not. I’d love to be with you.”

Adrien grinned. “Oh, really?”

She exclaimed, “For the project!”

“That’s a shame,” he proclaimed, propping his elbow on the table and putting his chin in his hand with a sigh. “You got my hopes up for a second there.”

Marinette squinted. “As if.”

“Really,” he insisted with a laugh. “My heart was fluttering and everything. You’re so cruel for playing with me.”

It was silly, their usual banter, and she couldn’t help but smile widely at how ridiculous he was. There was something about him that made her feel so comfortable, not afraid to say whatever stupid comment popped into her head (which, unfortunately, usually happened when they were seated beside each other in class).

She enquired, “Who says I’m playing with you?”

Adrien’s smile reached his eyes. “Who doesn’t?”

“That’s just rude.” Marinette huffed, crossing her arms. “You know better than to believe rumours about me.”

“So, you’re not a princess?” he questioned, amusement clear in his voice. “You don’t ride horses in pretty dresses at the carnival each year? And you’re not filthy rich and refuse to throw away your old shoes?”

She tried to keep a straight face. “Absolutely not.”

He hummed. “I don’t know what to believe any more.”

“Believe me when I say you’re an idiot.”

“That can’t be right,” Adrien mused. “Why would you agree to partner with me?”

She said, “I’m starting to ask myself that.”

With a laugh, he asked, “Only starting?”

“We’re supposed to be working,” she pointed out.

He gave in without putting up a fight.

They stayed for close to an hour, collecting the textbooks they needed, planning an outline, and trying to arrange where they could meet up outside of school. For as well as she’d settled into the school the past year, she’d barely brought anyone back to her home, only because her parents and members of staff there would dote on her and ask all sorts of questions of her and her guests.

To her surprise, Adrien offered up his home instead.

“Are you sure?” she questioned. “That does—you know that means they’ll have to background check you, right?”

He winked. “You can check me out all you want.”

Marinette shoved him lightly. “That’s not what I meant, you jerk.”

“It’s fine, Marinette,” he assured her, collecting his backpack and putting it on his shoulders. “My parents won’t mind. Besides, my mother would love an excuse to talk to yours, even if it’s over the phone.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?” she asked again as they walked into the hallway.

“Definitely,” he confirmed. “You could even stay forever—dinner. I meant dinner, totally.”

She snickered. “You’d put up with me for that long?”

The top of his ears turned red. “Meals aren’t that long.”

Marinette hummed.

“Don’t bully me,” he complained. “I deserve love and respect, not this—this teasing.”

“You deserve my love?” she questioned.

Adrien lamented, “Aren’t princesses supposed to be kind?”

“Stereotyping is bad,” she announced, poking his shoulder. “That’s like saying blondes have more fun. Do you, Adrien?”

He didn’t hesitate to say, “I have fun with you.”

It made her chest feel warm. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed, smile reaching his eyes.

The best way to describe how she felt was giddy. “That's—that’s cool.”

Their footsteps were audible in the hallway until he broke the silence to ask, “Does that mean I’m not getting your love?”

Marinette laughed. “We’ll see if my parents will allow us to be together first.”

“Oh, parental permission,” he started. “I like that.”

“They’re not giving us their blessing for marriage,” she pointed out.

Adrien beamed. “Not yet.”

“We haven’t even decided if you deserve my love!”

pick two prompts from here and i’ll write a small(?) adrien/mari drabble for it

#replies #luv esabella #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #drabble

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archivedliess-blog · 4 years

Text

marichat but its them bitching about everyone

ok so i have this idea/headcanon-thingy-ma-bob that one day mari has a rlly bad day overall and she just sits on her balcony rlly sad and everything with comfort food and hot chocolate looking at her colection of adrien photos and chat comes swinging on the roofs cause hes on patrol. he sees her all sad and he decides to pop in for a visit and just like lets her rant about literally EVERYTHING and she just bitches about like everyone and everything and chat just agrees with her and adds on little comments to the side like

"OKAY BUT WHY CANT MANON JUST STAY VERY STILL I DONT NEED HER RUNNING AROUND AND TRYYING TO PLAY WITH MY FABRIC SCISSORS."

and chat just goes

"ok so true though like she should just sit down and play with her dolls i dO NOT NEED HER AKUMATISED AGAIN! being a puppet once is more than enough for me..."

and so they do the whole paint each others nails (except its mostly chat painting maris toenails while she paint her fingernails because the LAST TIME he got nail polish on his suit plagg nearly cataclysmed his ass and that is not something adrien wanted to suffer through again) while smack talking and venting about everyone and everything to each other because it makes them feel better even though they dont mean a lot of the stuff they say, they just really need to vent.

and then one day they start btiching about their class till the only people these idiots havent bitched about are marinette and adrien. then one day chat realises this and gets curious so he tries to bitch about himself the next night like.

"so this adrien agreste kid hes pretty annoying like i dont get why hes so famous he literally just sits in front of a camera all da-"

but he never gets to finish his sentence cause mari is absolutely fuMING and goes off defending and complimenting EVERYTHING about adrien and chat just stares at her in awe like

"oh my god does she really think my eyes are the perfect summer green?" and "does my hair really shine and glint like the sun on my head?" and "do i really smell like if heaven was a scent?"

BUT

he makes the mistake of saying that last question aloud and he doesnt realise till he can hear absolutely nothing.

like noTHING NOTHING.

N O T H I N G.

its an absolute pin drop silence.

and so he looks up slightly and sees mari towering over him in a really awkward position because she was jabbing his chest and moving closer but now shes just really awkwardly half hovering over him, with her finger pointing at him and mouth wide open in absolute "wait,,, whAT THE HELL DID HE JUST SAY?!?!?!??!??"

and chat just smiles awkwardly and does his rlly awkward smile (the one he does in timetagger when he asks bunnyx about ladynoirs future with the heart but in this case its without the heart) and is just like

"hi"

and he just like yeets cause hes scared of what mari will think about him since hes chat noir and his ladys always told him hes a total flirt and sometimes he feels like he gets annoying and he just doesnt want mari to hate him and oh my god his ladys gonna hate him for letting his secret identity out so he dreads school and next day when he has patrol that night.

anD THEN BOOM NEXT DAY OF SCHOOL COMES (lets pretend there is a vvv cool transition here because text gets kinda boring at times)

and adrien just walks into class an hour early as he always does and OH MY GOD MARIS SITTING RIGHT THERE and thats a first cause she?? is?? always?? late?? but as soon as she sees him she drags him by his collar oUt of the classroom and just screams at him at first like

"whAT THE HELL MAN U JUST COMPROMISED UR SECRET IDENTITY"

but then it changes too

"aLSO BTICH THESE BAGS UNDER MY EYES ARE ALL YOUR FAULT I COULDNT SLEEP LAST NIGHT"

and shes not even mad over the bags under her eyes, she just needs to vent cause she angery and adrien just lets her because he knows she'll cool down in two seconds

and then she just burst into tears like

"im just so glad its you"

and hugs him rlly tight and adriens kinda confused cause he just zoned out half of her rant knowing shE JUST NEEDS TO COOL DOWN and is like

"huh?"

and she just goes

"silly kitty"

and hes kinda confused cause in that split second she looks exactly like ladybug, sound slike ladybug, everything about her is so ladybug like because of that one nickname and then it just dawns on him and hes like

"..."

and just faints

R.I.P adrien 2020

but it a-ok cause mari revives him and he just hugs her and kisses her cheek but not in the friendly french way in the i-kinda-like-no-i-love-you-way and theyre happy and everythings happy

and then chat blanc just happens again because they cant reveal themselves without completely jeopardising their entire relationship because their relationship ocne they reveal each other is so fragile since one of them is prone to negative emotions and u just realise if adrienette and the love sqyare is to happen it has to be after hawkmoth and akumas otherwise it wont happen so rip

#rip adrienette #miraculous ladybug #miraculous #adrienette #marichat #idk what this is #im sorry guys #this wasnt supposed to be sad #headcanon #chat blanc #miraculous ladybug season 4 #spoilers #sorry again #sorry not sorry though #mlb

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paganinpurple · 5 years

Text

A Feline’s Family - MariChat May 2019

Buy Me A Coffee?

AO3

Chapters (If there’s no link, it’s not written yet)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Day 12 – Post-Reveal

“Adrien?” she gasped, her hand slipping from his hair to brush against his cheek instead.

“Um, hi,” he breathed, frightened to raise his voice too loud in case he broke whatever enchantment they seemed to be under.

“But that means…” she trailed off, her soft, surprised look fading away quickly to be replaced by a hard, infuriated frown.

“How much will it cost me to stop you from running out right now and murdering my father?” he asked.

“Far more than the allowance mama and papa give you,” she said with a glare.

***

It was jarring how much things remained unchanged at home. Yes, home. Because that was exactly how he had been thinking of Marinette’s house for a while now.

They had confidently agreed that neither one of them was ready for her parents to know the opposite sides of their masks yet; the last he seemed to have seen of confident Marinette in a few days now, in fact.

“Okay, there’s no way the two of you ganging up on me is fair,” Tom complained as he pounded his thumbs against the controller in his hands with a pout.

“There’s no fair in video-games, Papa,” Marinette told him, briefly removing one hand from the controller to offer Chat a fist bump before returning immediately, refusing her father even a second of mercy, and definitely not thinking about how Chat had tried to hold on after she had pulled away.

***

Adrien wrinkled his nose at her words. “I still don’t need an allowance, you know.”

“Sure, you don’t. You just flutter your eyelashes and waitresses just give you your lunch for free,” she countered, remembering now how Adrien had emptied his pockets to come up with enough change for a sandwich the other day. She had just assumed he had left his wallet at home.

“They might, you don’t know,” he blushed, “Ladies love a black kitty. I seem to remember someone telling me that black kittens are their favourite.”

He winked at her.

***

“Hmm, not cool, son. I thought we were friends,” Tom said after his third defeat of the night.

“Sorry, Tom,” Chat replied with a grin, “But if the princess requests aid, I must deliver.”

Marinette prayed her dad didn’t sit forward in his seat, because if he did, he would certainly see how warm her face had gotten. She stood up as she caught sight of him beginning to move from the corner of her eye, under the pretence of fetching herself a drink, and stumbled when she felt a clawed hand on her shoulder unexpectedly.

“Hey, I was thinking we could watch a movie tonight,” Chat said, oblivious to her flushed face - or at least doing well at pretending he didn’t see it.

“S-Sure,” she answered, keeping her eyes trained strategically on the apple juice she was pouring and absolutely refusing to focus on him or her dad, “Anything in particular?”

“Well, there’s a Lucy Liu marathon on tonight. Fancy it?”

“Urgh. I hate her.” She pulled a face and rolled her eyes.

“What?” he asked, turning to look at Tom in disbelief, who only laughed in response, “Why?”

“She can pull off freckles when I can’t. It’s not fair.”

“Don’t be silly,” he said, leaning in extremely close without warning, until his nose was almost touching her own, “Your freckles are absolutely breath-taking.”

***

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, yup! Sure! Yeah! Just…suddenly replaying everything that I ever said or did around Chat and realising I did it around you - Adrien!”

“Uh, okay? Is…that bad?”

“OhmyGod!” she squeaked, ignoring his question, “Everything Chat’s ever said was coming from you!”

***

“Well then,” Tom said with a hidden chuckle amongst the words, “Some of us have to be up early tomorrow, so I guess I’ll leave you kids to it.”

“’Night, Papa,” Marinette murmured from her place at the kitchen counter, intent to keep her face hidden until well after the colour had faded from her cheeks.

“Maybe skip the Lucy Liu tonight, son,” he told Chat as he walked through the door, “Just stick with a rom-com or something instead.” Marinette pretended not to see the wink he sent Chat before closing the door completely.

They both stood there in silence for several minutes; Marinette intently studying her glass while Chat watched the door, his black ears flicking as he seemed to pick up on minuscule noises her own ears couldn’t hear.

“I think he just got into bed,” he said suddenly, “What are the chances he’ll get up again, or should I wait until he falls asleep too?”

“He’s down for now,” she answered, finally trusting her traitorous blood vessels enough to turn and face him again, “It’s safe.”

Adrien let out a huge sigh as he detransformed, as if the act of staying in uniform took its toll on him, as well as Plagg. The kwami himself phased into the fridge briefly before the door flung wide and he emerged with a huge wedge of cheese

“I am going to eat this on your bed, and you can’t stop me,” he told his chosen.

Smiling, Adrien waved the back of his hand at him as a dismissal. “Just don’t get crumbs in the sheets,” he said, “or I’ll make sure we’re mysteriously out of any unprocessed dairy next time.”

Deciding to disappear with a grump, Plagg went off in search of Tikki in the loudest way possible, the room full of tuts and huffs until he finally made his way through the open trapdoor.

***

“You were there when I asked you to protect me from Evillustrator!”

“Well, yeah. Obviously. But-”

“Argh! You jumped off a building when your bodyguard was akumatized!”

“Well, to be fair, you told me to.”

“I don’t know if my heart can take much more of these realisations, Adrien!”

***

“Are you okay?” Adrien asked her, and Marinette’s head snapped up, brain fog dissipating enough for her to realise he had been speaking to her, while she stared blankly.

“Sorry,” she said, her lips wearing a soft smile as she suddenly found the strength to make herself relax.

This was Adrien. This was Chat. This was her roommate. Her partner. Her friend. This boy meant the world to her, regardless of which side of the mask he was on.

“I was miles away,” she said with a gentle shake of her head. “Are we putting on this movie or what?”

***

“Maybe I shouldn’t have shown you who I am. You don’t seem to be taking it very well.”

“What! Me? Noooo!” Marinette said, a little louder than was strictly safe if she didn’t want to alert her parents. Drawing on all her courage reserves she took a long, deep breath, turning to look at Adrien when she had done.

“I’m just adjusting to the idea that the boy who has been fighting akumas with me and sharing my room, is also a boy I…go to school with.”

“But, does that matter? I thought you liked me. We’re friends at school, aren’t we?”

Marinette pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger and let out a deep sigh.

“Yes, I l-like you,” she said, proud of herself for only stuttering once, considering the potential double meaning behind her words.

She glanced up to see how he had reacted. Despite her admittance, his face was pained. Hopeful, certainly, but he was preparing to be disappointed and emotionally injured just in case she devastated him.

“And don’t you like Chat?” he asked in a choked tone.

Marinette swallowed roughly, her throat feeling drier than it had twenty minutes ago.

“Yes, kitty,” she said, a sudden realisation flowing over her, “I like Chat too.”

Buy Me A Coffee?

#PIP writes #marichatmay2019 #A Feline's Family #MariChat May 2019 #MariChat

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mamanabeille · 5 years

Text

If You’ll Let Me

Title: If You’ll Let Me Author: MamanAbeille Pairing: Luka/Marinette Rating: K+ Timeframe: Several months after Silencer Warnings: some might consider SPOILERS for Season 3.8, Silencer Special thanks: LovelyLiliana101on fan fiction.net for beta reading this for me.

Marinette had become very happy with her current schedule. She had a slightly lighter course load at lycee, seeing as the professors have finally caught on that so many akuma attacks really are interfering with ALL their students abilities to get in class time, study time, and loads of homework. She and Chat Noir had a rotation of patrols with Rena Rouge and Carapace, decreasing her actual amount of nights wandering Paris to a mere two nights a week, sparing any akuma attacks, of course. She and Alya had a weekly standing girls day, half of which is shared with the rest of the girls in her class, minus Chloe, Sabrina, and Lila, of course. Her favorite part of her weekly routine by far though was the afternoons after class that she spent on Luka's houseboat.

It happened slowly. Originally, it started as semiweekly visits with Juleka to escape Lila. For some reason, the vapid girl refused to step foot onto the house boat. Marinette was just fine with that since it gave her a safe haven. The girls spent most of their time playing games, casually playing music, or talking about gossip at school. Luka would almost always join them at some point, usually once he heard the strums of Juleka's bass, and more often than not, Rose could be found cuddled up to her girlfriend's side. As the weeks passed, Marinette noticed that Juleka and Rose would subtly disappear under the guise of wanting some alone time. Marinette supposed that was probably true, but realized eventually, that part of it was also probably the girls trying to give the blue hair teens some alone time as well.

At first, the two keep a pretty casual friendship. Conversations are kept to pretty neutral topics: Jagged stone (Luka is still impressed that the girl worked so closely with him), Rose and Juleka, akumas, etc. However, as days went by, they end up sitting closer together, fingers start brushing one another, and the melodies on Lukas guitar become more and more heartfelt. Then, one day in fall, as the two were huddled under a light blanket, Marinette asks him a question that changes the dynamic of their relationship.

"Luka," she whispers, her head leaning gently against his shoulder as he plays a sweet melody on the strings of his old guitar. "I gave up on Adrien." The boy stops playing, mid note, and looks down at her, shock clear on his face. He takes longer than usual to reply, not sure of what approach he should take. "Why's that?" he finally settles on. He isn't sure why he's afraid to get his hopes up. They both had been sure of the direction their relationship was heading in for a while now. Yet, he still feels his breath catch in his throat as he awaits her response.

"I found someone that values me more. Someone that I feel myself around. Someone that makes me happy, and I'm fully comfortable with. Someone that sees me, and someone that I'm finally starting to see as well. Someone so cool and kind, so thoughtful and fun. Someone that sees beauty in everything and helps me see things that way as well." By some miracle, she's betting on a bit of Lady Luck, Marinette manages not to stutter at all, even though her cheeks are bright red. She smiles up at him, ever so slightly biting her bottom lip nervously.

He contemplates responding with a song, but if shy sweet Marinette can confidently find the words, then so can he. He wants to joke with her and chuckle, "Well I hope that someone is me. Otherwise, that is pretty cruel." The moment is too tender though, and he doesn't want to ruin that, no matter how frequently the two joke and tease each other. "You deserve to be valued for you. You are extraordinary, Marinette, and you deserve nothing less than to be reminded of that every day. If you'll let me, I want to be the one that does just that."

Marinette can't help the smile that breaks out across her face. She feels as if she's going to explode, her heart is so full. "Only if you'll let me do the same." She loops her fingers through his, realizing that he'd set his guitar to the side at some point without her noticing. She's thankful that he has though, because it prevents any obstacles as he takes her face in his free hand. He rubs his thumb gently across her cheek, staring at her lovingly, eyes solely on her, as if she's the only thing in the world. He moves his thumb to her bottom lip, tracing the dents her teeth had nervously left there only moments before. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this, Marinette."

She lets out a gasp, and matches his gaze with the same love and intensity, adding a touch of a dare. "Then what's stopping you?"

It's all the permission he needs. Before Marinette can take another much needed breath, his lips are on hers. Slowly and gently, at first, both wanting to savor this moment. Then the hand she was holding before moves to her waist, and hers goes to the back of his neck both needing to stop for air, though neither is willing. His tongue flicks across her lip and she gasps. It's only a second, but it's enough air to let the moment last a little longer. Their grips tighten, and any space that had been between them before is completely gone. She's fully in his lap, legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He's still got the same hand on her cheek, but his other has found itself tangled into her hair. She's pretty sure she pulls away first, out of necessity. Her heart is beating in her chest, and she's pretty sure she can hear his as well. He rests his forehead against hers, and lets out a positively blissful sigh.

"Absolutely extraordinary," he whispers, before leaning in to kiss her again .

That's how Juleka and Rose find them nearly a half an hour later, limbs tangled, with little bouts of giggles and laughter in between kisses. Rose starts to let out a squeal, but Juleka covers her girlfriend's mouth and leads her back to her own room. She can't deny that she wants to squeal too. She's happy for her brother.

#fanfic #ladybug and cat noir #luka/marinette #lukanette #mamanabeille

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lovelylapins · 6 years

Note

For the 16 prompts: Human Kwamis.

“So, you mean to tell me that your parents just thought I was an American friend who came to visit, and they just let me sleepover last night?”

“Yep, that’s about right. I had to think of something on the spot, and it seemed like the best excuse.” Marinette spins in her chair to face Tikki. She’s laying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. Or more accurately, looking at her hands which she raised upwards.

Her new, human hands.

“I’ll say,” Tikki lets out. She drops her hands and sits up, looking in awe at how her knees bend to help support her. “I wonder if they’ll force me to go to school with you today.”

“Probably not. But, I’ll take you with me in case I need to transform.” Marinette smiles. “I can finally introduce you to my friends!”

“I hope I don’t get assigned homework,” Tikki mumbles out. She props her head on her knees, the bundle of red hair falling over her face. She blows it away, only for the locks to fall once more in front of her. “Who knew an akuma could be this troublesome? I’m surprised that akuma turned Plagg and I into humans.”

“Plagg?”

“Chat Noir’s kwami,” Tikki reminds her. Marinette nods, a remembrance of the kwami briefly flashing through her mind on the one odd occasion she met him.

“Do you think we can save the day?” Marinette questions. “I mean, once the akuma hit us, we couldn’t even fight properly. We had to escape and detransform while the akuma ran away to do who knows what.”

“It was just from the change in us. Once the kwami is affected, the holder and Miraculous get affected too. I’m sure once we transform again our bodies will relax and we can properly work together.”

“Hopefully. Until then, I guess we’ll just have to work around this and get that akuma before he destroys Paris.” Marinette stands up, getting a glance of the time on her phone.

“Oh no!” she shrieks out. “We have ten minutes before class starts! Quick, get changed!”

“Into what?” Tikki asks, gazing down at her pajamas, which really was Marinette’s that she had lent her last night. When she had parted from Marinette after detransforming and found herself in a human body, Tikki had also found herself lacking much on her, a kwami not wearing clothes leading to a teenage girl, also not wearing clothes.

“Just borrow something of mine. I have more than enough outfits to wear.” Marinette points to her closet, rushing around and digging in drawers to find an outfit for herself. Grabbing hair ties, she hurriedly starts separating her hair. It was hard enough getting ready on her own, but geez was it hard when she was with someone who until yesterday didn’t know how to put on a shirt.

“Maybe I’ll try on a Marinette exclusive!” Tikki exclaims, drawing a laugh from Marinette.

“Good luck finding one not fit for a dinner party.”

With a flourish, Tikki opens the closet doors and runs her hands over the hanging objects, searching for anything. Something comfortable was her first concern, with something easy to throw on her next. Tikki was of course, only kwami.

“Oh boy, we’re gonna be late.” Marinette tosses on her shirt and tries to tug up her jeans in the same breath, stumbling all over her room in an attempt to stay balanced. Finding the first pair of shoes she can, she plops down on the ground and slips them on, hoping their teacher will be late so she’ll have the opportunity to squeeze in next to Alya in peace and place Tikki in the free desks in the back.

“Is this how you wear this?” Tikki asks, struggling with the button on the jeans she picked out.

“Tikki, those are backwards,” Marinette says, shoes slung on and running over to help. She helps her into the jeans correctly, and Tikki manages to slip on a shirt quite well, although it does take some time slipping on a pair of sneakers for her.

“This is uncomfortable!” she groans out, stamping her foot in protest after Marinette’s tied the laces. Hatch leading downstairs open, Marinette rushes down with her bag, beckoning Tikki to follow.

“You can complain later! Right now, we need to run!”

They just barely make it to the school doors, slipping in just as the first bell rings, sounding out a last-minute warning to any students loitering outside of their classrooms. Bouncing up the stairs, Tikki huffs after Marinette, wondering how anyone could have enough stamina to sprint down the street and bounce upstairs without taking a moment’s pause to breathe.

“Here!” Marinette yells out, bouncing through the doors just as the bell rings out. She leans over with her hands placed on her knees, huffing and puffing out an excuse for Tikki, who’s standing behind her, looking very similar and running a thousand thoughts in her mind.

Why can’t I just rest in Marinette’s backpack? Why do I have to do this terrible punishment? Why do humans like to bring this pain onto themselves?

“-so, since she’s from America, I thought it’d be cool to let her see how France schools are, and- “

“Marinette that’s enough. Have Tikki sit in the back, and please bring out your homework.”

Marinette nods, giving Tikki a smile before she goes to her seat. As Tikki walks up the stairs, she can feel the stares of the people Marinette has told her about time and time again, the most dramatic and complicated class of teenagers she’s ever known.

What she doesn’t expect, however, is the student sitting at her desk as well, leaning back in his chair.

“Plagg?” she hisses out, making sure not to draw attention.

“What’s up, Sugarcube?” he asks cheekily, leaning in to rest his arms on the table. He pats the spot next to him, gesturing for her to sit down. “Looks like my holder wasn’t the only one to bring their kwami to school.”

“Lower your voice,” Tikki says, sitting down and casting him a look. She nervously checks if any classmates are listening but finds them drawn into the class discussion, notebooks out and pencils scratching onto the paper. Even Marinette’s head is bowed, not a single glance thrown her way. “I thought I told you not to call me that.”

“Have been since it was invented. Doesn’t mean it gets old, though.” Plagg chuckles, pleased to be reunited with the kwami after so long apart. “So, what’s the lie Marinette used to convince her parents?”

“Online friend. What about you and Adrien?”

“Modeling friend he met while traveling.”

“Modeling? That’s hard to believe,” Tikki teases, earning a slight shove from Plagg.

“So, quite a situation, huh?” he asks, tapping his fingers on the desk. “There’s no way they won’t figure out their identities now.”

“They’ll be fine. Marinette is the most levelheaded person I know.”

“Really?” Plagg throws her a glance.

“Okay, so maybe not the most. But, she’ll handle this better than she would have a few months ago. I trust she won’t freak out as much once she finds out who’s behind the mask.”

“Can’t say the same for Adrien.” Plagg looks over at him, blond hair bouncing every time he raises his hand to answer a question. “The kid’s gonna lose his marbles. He adores Ladybug. I didn’t tell you last time we met, but he has this huge poster in his room, just absolutely the biggest thing, and- “

“Plagg, Marinette has nearly every picture of Adrien known to man in her room.”

“And you’re sure she’ll handle this well?”

“Of course. Trust me! I’m lucky, you know.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m not feeling very lucky right now.”

“Plagg? Tikki?” the teacher calls from the front of the classroom. “I understand you two are guests, but please be mindful of your voices. Otherwise, I’ll have you switch with Adrien and Marinette and partake in the class.”

“Sorry, Madame,” both let out in unison, feeling the gaze of the classroom burn. As Tikki lets her eyes linger on the teacher, she flickers them over to spot Marinette and Adrien. Both are locked in a staredown, silently having a conversation.

In tandem, both throw their heads back to look at Tikki and Plagg, before darting back to each other.

In a heartbeat, it all changes.

Marinette shrieks, clapping her hands over her face and immediately standing up.

“Can I please go to the bathroom?” she asks, voice muffled as her hands are still clamped over her mouth.

Adrien stands up as well, pushing his chair back with a loud screech and looking the most disheveled he’s ever looked in all of his fourteen years spent modeling.

“May I as well?” he asks, voice high pitched and on the verge of cracking. He clears his voice, shifting from one foot to the other.

Their teacher gazes at them confused, one part wanting to ask questions but the other all too tired for something this early in the morning.

“Be back quickly. We’re starting a new chapter when you two return.” She waves a hand, and both bolt for the door, awkwardly stopping once both hands have touched the doorknob. The class observes, eyeing the two as if they’re in a drama.

“You first,” Adrien offers, stepping back.

“No, no, you first.”

“Don’t be silly, my L- Marinette.”

“No, I really think you should open the door.“

“You sure? I really think it’d be best if- “

“Someone open the damn door,” Alya interjects, prompting a harsh look from her teacher but no scolding. Weakly, Marinette opens it, pushing herself through with the force of a thousand men. Adrien follows, feet pounding on the ground.

The class looks at the door in silence, wondering in collect agreement if jumping out of their seats to follow them would be a good idea.

“Class, your classwork. I know you’re all curious, but a grade is much more important right now.”

Sighing, the class turns to their class partner, discussing the passage in the textbook they just read and jotting down new notes. Their teacher sits down pleased, then opens up her email.

LMAO y’all are not gonna BELIEVE what just happened, she starts out her message, addressing it to the other teachers at the school.

“So, I guess they’ve figured it out,” Plagg says, looking at Tikki.

“You know, they’re going in the wrong direction of the bathrooms.”

“You really think they’re going to the bathrooms?”

Tikki sighs, putting her elbow on the table and placing her head in her open hand.

“No, not really,” she says. “Anyways, should we think up plans for defeating that kwami?”

“Well, we have nothing better to do. Might as well.”

“That’s the spirit, Plagg.”

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