#badass marinette

[justrandomfanfictionskh]

Sorry this isn't my best work, backgrounds are my nightmare! And yes Kim fell off the roof.

#dc x mlb #maribat #mlb x dc #fanfiction #marinette dupen chang #batfam #miraculous ladybug #batman #batfamily #badass marinette #marinette x damian #damian x marinette #daminette #damian wayne #robin #dc robin

[wowallnamesaregone]

I haven't been drawing in a while but her design was cool enough to give inspiration to draw again.

#drawing #miraculoustalesofladybugandcatnoir #ladybug #cat noir #shadybug #claw noir #emo marinette #badass marinette #marinette dupain cheng #marinette fanart #ladybug fanart #cat noir fanart #emo adrien #adrien agreste #shadynoir #shadynette

[knifedancer]

Hiccups (Part 1 of 2)

Marinette has incurable hiccups. Her classmates try every home remedy they can think of but nothing works. Felix thinks of one last thing she could try.

Next AO3 Link

~~~~~~~

Marinette started the morning like any other: late. Slamming her hand down on the alarm clock to shut off the blaring sounds it was making, she fell out of bed with a dull thump followed by a soft groan. As she stared through the angles of her twisted limbs caught in her blanket, Marinette acknowledged she was far more tired this morning than usual because of the one thing that she could not miracle away as Ladybug and had never found a solution for. The plague upon her life that she suffered from for years. The menace known as…

“HIC! Ugh, why did I have to have – HIC! – hiccups?” Marinette groaned as she sat up and untangled herself from the uncomfortable position she had fallen into.

Tikki flew over the teen piled on the floor and chimed, “Marinette, you’re going to be late!”

“I know, Tikki, but – HIC! HIC! – you know I’ve been up all night dealing with these hiccups. I’m so – HIC! – tired. Argh!” She threw her hands up in surrender and stumbled toward the bathroom to get ready.

The little red kwami, having experienced Marinette’s hiccup fits before, giggled a bit at her chosen’s morning antics. However, with a near tumble down the stairs and quick pitstop in the bakery below to grab cookies for Tikki, they were on their way in fifteen minutes. If she rushed, they would make it before the bell! Marinette sprinted to school, hiccupping through huffed breathing as she managed to slide into her seat just as the bell rang. Luckily for her, Madam Bustier was out sick that day and the substitute was still searching through their paperwork to find the attendance sheet.

“Girl, don’t tell me you have the hiccups?” Alya asked in a whisper.

“Hey – HIC! – Alya. Yeah, I didn’t sleep at all because I – HIC! – kept waking up all night,” whispered back the exhausted teen.

“Did you try drinking a glass of water? That always settles my hiccups,” replied Alya.

Marinette opened her mouth to reply when she was interrupted by yet another set of hiccups. Nino decided to intervene on his childhood friend’s behalf. “Mari’s hiccups are legendary, babe! Nothing cures them! One time in fifth grade her hiccups lasted a whole week before they went away.”

It was then that the substitute hushed the class and started roll call. Marinette tried to call ‘present’ when her name was announced but was only able to raise her hand as yet another loud hiccup escaped her mouth and echoed around the classroom. As the class began to giggle, she felt mortified and resigned herself to the embarrassment that would be her life today. Adrien spared her a pitying glance and small smile over his shoulder, Marinette melted a bit as she shyly waved in acknowledgement. ‘He’s so sweet, too bad his smile doesn’t cure my hiccups. At least he’s not laughing at me. Maybe today won’t be so bad?’ Marinette thought hopefully.

The class was quickly shushed, handed a History worksheet that they could work on in pairs, and told they could socialize quietly if they finished their work early that period. Marinette turned to Alya and got to work. Marinette wasn’t looking forward to attempting to talk through her hiccups, but she wouldn’t mind trying to catch a short nap during their downtime. Unfortunately for her, their classmates were never going to allow the poor girl to rest when they had a cure to find! Thus, during the last 30 minutes in the period, Marinette found her desk surrounded by her friends inquiring about her hiccups and tossing remedy ideas around.

“Mari, have you tried holding your breath?” Kim asked. “Always works for me!”

“Bet my cure for hiccups will work and yours won’t,” challenged Alix.

“Guys, maybe – HIC! – don’t bet on – HIC!” started Marinette.

“You’re ON!” readily agreed the jock as if Marinette had not just spoken.

‘This is going to be a long day…,’ thought Marinette tiredly.

The day passed slowly, punctuated by random jump scares at lunch and unending suggestions from every classmate for solutions to her plight. Each suggestion was followed by Max calling out the probability of success as calculated by Markov. Well, almost every classmate was invested... Felix, as usual, was attempting to enjoy his book and ignore the hubbub around him. Marinette had caught a glimpse of him scowling at her for a fit of hiccups that interrupted the quiet reading time during Literature class. However, as soon as the look was given and before she could attempt to whisper an apology, Felix’s face returned to the indifferent mask he always wore and buried his nose back into his book. The girl huffed softly and went back to drowsily staring at the page of increasingly jumbled words.

Much to her disappointment, her classmates’ never-ending exuberance to help with her hiccups left Marinette without a single moment to rest and, as each hour dragged on, the little energy she had waned even further. All she wanted to do was lay her head down for a few minutes! However, during their free period, her classmates kept piling on the suggestions until she finally sleepily acquiesced to attempting these supposed “cures.” Alya kept a list of their tests and the results:

Jump scare(s), failure.

Breathe into a paper bag, failure.

Running a marathon. (“Really, Kim?”)

Slowly drink a full glass of water, failure.

Pull knees to chest and lean forward, failure.

Swallow granulated sugar, failure.

Bite into a lemon, failure.

Hold your breath (until she nearly fainted), failure.

Practiced measured breathing, failure.

Squeezing your nose while swallowing water, failure.

Stretching her solar plexus, failure.

Standing on your head and drinking water upside-down, failure.

Holding your breath and swallowing three times, failure.

Gargling cold water, failure.

After the last failed attempt ended with water spilling on her shirt from a wayward hiccup mid-gargle, Marinette held up her hands in defeat and stopped. The bell had rung and there was a brief break that she wanted to go retrieve a spare shirt from her locker. ‘Just a couple more periods until school is over,’ she thought as she dragged herself downstairs to her locker. ‘Hopefully there won’t be an akuma attack before these go away! How embarrassing would it be to have hiccups as Ladybug? Chat would never let me live it down!’

Marinette felt Tikki’s little reassuring pats through her purse as yet another strong hiccup popped up mid-yawn. She whined softly at not even being able to yawn without hiccupping. She pulled out the white athletic shirt and quickly exchanged the two with a sigh, making sure to refresh her lip gloss and straighten her pigtails before heading back to class. ‘At least P.E. isn’t until tomorrow,’ she thought, ‘maybe my luck is turning around and these hiccups will stop soon!’

~~ Fast forward to the end of school ~~

The final bell rang, chattering students poured from the classroom and out into the open air. Marinette was so exhausted that she moved in a sleepy trance, dragging her feet and swaying like a ship in a storm. ‘I’ll probably sleep right through my hiccups and an akuma alert at this point,’ she giggled deliriously at her thoughts. Luckily Alya just gave her an amused look while she grabbed Marinette’s elbow to keep the tired girl from falling on her face and guide her through the bustling halls. Once in the locker room, Alya gave her friend a gentle push down the correct aisle before meeting up with Nino and Adrien near the doorway.

Marinette opened her locker to exchange books for the homework due tomorrow. ‘Physics and French Literature? Shoot, did I need anything else?’ Her brow wrinkled with the concerted effort to recall the homework through the sleepy haze of her mind. She pulled a textbook from the shelf, only to have another tumble down when a powerful hiccup jostled her entire body. She cursed under her breath and quickly bent to pick it up, tossing it back into the locker while clutching the needed textbook to her chest so she wouldn’t drop it as well. Just as she turned away to recheck the books in her backpack, a shadow was cast over her feet. Marinette didn’t think much of it until her locker door was slammed shut, causing her to jump back against the next locker with a startled hiccup. She glanced up to find Felix leaned over her.

“Your hiccups have been interrupting my peace of mind all day, Miss Dupain-Cheng,” his voice sounding strangely sultry in the low but dismissive tone he was using. Felix’s right hand was firmly planted against the shut locker door, he had angled his body to face her square on and leaned slightly forward until their faces were close together. So close that she could see little flecks of gold in his green eyes and was momentarily stunned speechless by the intensity of his gaze. He gently lifted her chin with his left hand and his voice dropped down to a teasing murmur, “perhaps there might be one solution you have not yet tried.”

Everything seemed to slow and quiet around them in this moment. She could smell his cologne, the starch from his clothes, and the minty scent of his breath. Felix’s gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips as if asking for permission. If she had not been staring into his eyes, she might have missed the movement entirely. Marinette’s breath hitched with a small, almost imperceptible hiccup as her eyes started to close on instinct to his closeness. ‘Is this really happening?’ She thought. ‘No, the real Felix wouldn’t kiss me. This must be a delusion brought on by an akuma or lack of sleep. Wouldn’t hurt to be curious if this is just a dream though…’ She missed the tiny, conspiratorial smile that graced his lips before he leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

The world seemed to fall completely away as their lips met in a chaste kiss, sending an electric tingle down her spine. A rush of warmth blossomed in her chest. ‘What is this feeling? His lips are so soft,’ Marinette thought. Felix pushed forward slightly and deepened the kiss with a breathy moan. His lips teased hers until he gently bit her bottom lip, causing her to softly gasp into his mouth. Her fingers tightened their hold on her textbook in response, gripping it closer to anchor herself to the ground while her heart tried to flutter from her chest. The kiss was unexpectedly tender yet hungry, as if finding water after a long walk through the desert; firm yet gentle, like the softest satin fabric she had ever touched. The grip on her textbook began to falter as Felix’s hand started to slide down her jaw to cup her cheek. Her fingers itched to touch him. Before she could let go of the book to cave to the need to pull him in closer, a scandalized cry from their periphery broke through the quiet that had engulfed them.

The boy tugged on her lip lightly as he pulled back and she shivered as his warm hand left her skin. Marinette opened her eyes slowly as if breaking a spell. Looking up at the boy with wide eyes and her mouth still hanging slightly open, her bottom lip swollen from his gentle ministrations. His eyes were soft and he sported a surprised expression. His tongue darted out to lick at her transferred lip gloss now adorning his own. “You taste like strawberries…,” he murmured absentmindedly, just loud enough for her to hear.

With that statement, sound and time seemed to return to normal in an instant. From the corner of her eye, she could see a shocked Nino holding back an angry looking Alya ready to go on the warpath. Next to them, Adrien seemed to be confused and distraught over what he had just witnessed happen to his ‘very dear friend.’ Marinette’s face and neck grew hot as reality came crashing back but she couldn’t find any words to speak, let alone think, as if Felix had stolen that ability from her with his kiss. All she could do was stare at the boy in front of her while students hollered and whooped around them. Marinette.exe has stopped working.

However, one sound in particular was completely silent…

A smug and aloof look returned to Felix’s face as he pushed off from the locker where his hand had been and stood straight. “Seems your hiccups are gone, mademoiselle. I would appreciate if you would refrain from causing such a disturbance with your hiccups in the future.” The statement was delivered in his usual haughty, mocking tone. With that he gripped his bag strap, slightly nodded his head towards her, and walked away looking completely unfazed by what had just occurred. In his wake he left a flustered and speechless girl leaning against the lockers for support, staring off into the space he had just inhabited. Her knees shook before she slid down to the floor, her textbook sliding from her numb fingers. She was immediately swarmed by friends barraging her with questions she was unable to answer. She just needed a minute. Or twenty.

No one noticed nor paid attention to the smug looking Felix as he retreated from the building and got into his family limo. Once in the quiet protection of the tinted car, his hand touched his lips with trembling fingers and his breathing became slightly uneven. His ears turned pink as he recalled every second of the kiss in agonizing detail. A kiss that, while originally meant to be in jest, had affected him more than he would ever admit. ‘Marinette…,’ his mind whispered longingly to him. Felix’s left hand tightened its grip on his bag. He involuntarily gazed back towards the front of the school to catch a glimpse of her stumbling out in a daze as his car pulled away.

~~ BONUS SCENE ~~

The akuma should have been expected after what happened at the end of school. Lila became enraged about the kiss and having to watch their classmates positively fawn over Marinette. There was no way for the liar to twist this into making her look good nor gain sympathetic attention. It was completely predictable really. What was NOT predictable was that, when Lila, now called The Embarrassator, switched targets when she could not find Marinette.

‘Great! The first time I’ve been the target of an akuma while NOT impersonating my cousin!’ Felix thought. He hoped Ladybug didn’t still hold a grudge for that attempted kiss months ago. It’s not like he had the ability to apologize to the bug-themed heroine but he regretted it now. If she decided to spite him, he was probably going to suffer until that annoying cat boy destroyed the akumatized object. ‘I just wanted a quiet evening trip to the library to get a new book! Is that so much to ask?’

Felix saw an opening and bolted from his hiding place to try to get around the corner without being noticed by The Embarrassator. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. He heard the akuma’s cackle before her ray hit him in the back. Immediately he was wracked with hiccups, coughing between fits in an attempt to bring air to his seizing lungs. He barely noticed his clothes had transformed into an atrocious orange and hot pink jumpsuit with oversized shoes before he was running again, the akuma hot on his heels. He managed to make it about two blocks when his shoe caught on a crack in the pavement and he fell.

Within seconds, and before he could hit the ground, he was airborne. Wrapped in a slender red polka-dotted arm that held him over a petite shoulder like a mere sack of potatoes. The wind whipped at his hair and face, leaving him a disheveled mess. ‘Just great,’ he thought, ‘this can’t get any more embarrassing.’ They landed on a rooftop many blocks away from the akuma and he was set onto his feet. He stumbled back against a nearby chimney to regain his bearings from the sudden flight by magical yo-yo and hiccupped through a clipped but grateful response for being rescued.

Ladybug took in his appearance and a smirk grew across her face. “Did the akuma do this to you?” She asked, gesturing to his outfit.

“Yes, and the – HIC! – these dreaded – HIC! HIC! – hiccups!” Felix replied with exasperation. He saw Chat Noir land near the edge of the rooftop a few meters behind Ladybug as if waiting for her cue. The cat took one look at Felix and began uproariously laughing. “You try – HIC! – getting hit – HIC! – by that damned – HIC! HIC! – akuma!” Chat laughed even harder, tears beginning to form at the corners of his mask.

Ladybug was smug but quiet, her eyes seemed calculating yet sparkled with humor. Before he could even hiccup out a scathing remark or head toward the fire escape with his tattered dignity, a bright red glove landed with a loud thud against the chimney next to his head. His eyes widened with surprise as the lithe Ladybug executed a perfect kabedon maneuver. He pressed his back and the palms of his hands into the plaster of the wall behind him. He glanced up to her hand and was gobsmacked as he noted small cracks had formed at the point of impact. ‘Blimey! Just how strong is she? Did she pull her punch before?’ Felix wondered, suddenly feeling the phantom sensation of the punch from their prior interaction. She still had her yo-yo in her free hand and used the edge to tip his face to look at her. Once he met her commanding blue eyes, he was powerless to look away. ‘Her eyes…they remind me of…’

With that last fractured thought and no warning, her lips met his in a heated kiss. From the edges of his mind he heard Chat Noir’s shocked exclamation of “My Lady!” But Felix? He was lost to the sensation of Ladybug’s lips on his own, drowning in the torrent of confusing emotions that bubbled up in his chest. Her lips moved possessively and all he could do was hold on to the chimney as she claimed his. However the kiss ended as suddenly as it started, leaving Felix with a dazed, half-lidded look as he leaned forward slightly to instinctively chase her departing lips.

“Just returning the favor, monsieur,” she murmured playfully as she straightened with a smirk.

“I…what…,” began Felix, his brain still a jumble.

He watched numbly as she sashayed over to a shocked Chat Noir, whose jaw hung wide open. Bumping him with her shoulder, she motioned with a nod of her head towards an explosion and screams in the distance. She gave a two-finger salute and a wink over her shoulder to Felix before launching herself off the roof. With a confident call of “bug out!” she swung out of sight. He witnessed Chat look dumbly off towards the retreating figure of his Lady before glancing confusedly back at Felix. He swore he heard Chat mutter something about kisses and bluenette ladies in his life. Chat physically shook himself and abruptly jumped off the side of the roof without a second glance at the flabbergasted Felix.

It wasn’t until he was climbing down the fire escape to the echoes of the distant ongoing akuma battle before he realized his blasted hiccups were gone.

#miraculous ladybug #felinette #marinette dupain cheng #felix x marinette #marivanily #drabble #felix fathom #felix graham de vanily #hiccups #pining #first kiss #denial of feelings #pov marinette #cross posted on ao3 #open ending #original akuma #badass marinette #revenge #sorta lol

[mysteriouschar]

Bio dad Bruce Part 1

Wattpad , part~2 , part~3,...

Note-My characters may not be like the original dc universe as i haven't watched/read the dc universe .Everything i know is from many fanfics that i have read .hope y'all enjoy it.

Marinette had to go to Gotham. Now you would think why are we even talking about this well the thing is tom isn't her biological father he is her step dad. Well who is her biological father you ask none other than Bruce Wayne. And the problem you see is that till she was 5 she lived with her father but on her 6th birthday he dropped her at her mother's house and never returned.

6 year old Marinette thought her father hated her and that is why he didn't want her there. Marinette started living with her mother and found out that she liked it here in paris with her mother and step dad.

Now she is 22 a successful designer and singer known as MDC and Nettie and her dad (that is her legal guardian jagged stone)was doing a concert in gotham and wanted her to be there.Now you might ask how this happened. Well liela rossi happened,when she was in high school everyone liked her because of her personality and behaviour but then this liar came and started telling lies and her classmates the bunch of morons that they are believed the liar over their friend even though many of them knew her from childhood. they started ignoring her and calling her mean things. At first marinette was very hurt first her father and now her friends. The only one that knew that the liar was lying was her ex crush and he advised her to take the high road the coward that he was.

So after her ex moronic friends started ignoring her she had much free time and started her own bussiness at first she didn't have many customers as the website was started by a newbie but then jagged stone announced that his personal designer was MDC and thus her business started blowing/blossoming this was 4 years before.

Somehow her classmates got to her parents and worse they believed it and told her to leave their house as a bully and someone who had disgraced them wasn't their daughter . This was the last straw for Marinette as everyone she had loved had left her except her friend Luka, jagged stone and penny Jagged's assistance .Marinette packed her stuff there wasn't much as she had bought a studio after her business had skyrocketed so she took the few things she had and left as she was leaving Sabine and Tom looked at her and for the first time saw that Marinette wasn't showing any emotion and was wearing something which had no pink at all and her hair was in a french braid she left without saying anything.

her hair but in midnight blue colour.

her dress

After a month of leaving her home jagged returned to paris as he was doing a tour and when he asked mari where to come to collect his clothes she gave him a different address which wasn't the bakery now jagged didn't know about liela rossi as mari didn't want to burden him but as jagged care for marinette as a daughter he knew there was something amiss in her life and he was waiting for her to tell him what it was.

When he reached the address mari opened the door and let him in as he was looking around he saw there was a kitchen and a room and studio he asked her,"blueberry are you living here?"

"u-um yes i am" she replied looking nervous.

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #felinette #class salt #adrian salt #alya salt #felix graham de vanily #badass marinette #lila salt #nino salt #bio dad bruce wayne #MDC #nettie

[vampsterstar]

Am i fixating on a little kids show again? Yes!!! Did i redesign my fav? Yes! Did i make ladybug pink and not look remotely close to a ladybug? Yes!!! Do i plan on rewriting the entire show on ao3 and only one friend knows? Yes!!!!

I’m giggling sm i vant wait to redesign my fav chatacters. I am hris shows #1 fr😍😍 im not too fond of my ladybug design but it is so silly!!!!!

#miraculous fanfic #miraculous ladybug #adrienette #marichat #ladynoir #ladrien #ladybug and chat noir #ladybug redesign #marinette cheng #leave marinette alone challenge #badass marinette #marinette needs a hug #mlb marinette #im so done

[echoing-gravity]

Can Marinette Bench press a building?!

(Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are able to carry objects that are up to 1,000 times their own weight due to the unique structure of their exoskeletons. An exoskeleton is an external protective covering that provides support and protection to the insect's body. This covering is made up of a material called chitin, which is a strong and lightweight polymer. The exoskeleton also gives ladybugs their characteristic shiny, hard shells. Ladybugs use their powerful leg muscles to lift and carry heavy objects, such as large leaves or other insects. The unique structure of their exoskeleton allows them to distribute the load evenly across their body, making it possible for them to carry heavy objects without being weighed down. Additionally, their strong legs and other muscles are equipped to sustain this weight too)

But like with her legs???

I wanna see a MLB x DC fic where Marinette is working with young justice and like a building fucking falls on them but marinette just fucking kicks it away. Or picks it up. Itd be even more absurdly funny if she wasn't transformed and the super strength is like a kwami side effect.

WHAT IS MARINETTES WEIGHT? IS THERE A CANNON ANSWER??? DO I HAVE TO PULL A MATPAT AND DO PIXEL MEASUREMENT MATHAMATICAL BULLSHIT???? I WANNA KNOW IF SHE CAN LOFT A BUILDING OR NOT!!!

#mlb x dc #ladybug miraculous #i can't do math #Like 1000 x the weight of a 15 year old is prolly maybe not enough to lift like a skyscraper but like maybe a McDonald's?? #I want to see Marinette throw a batburger building at that one crocodile rouge #Or the joker #Yeah no deffo the joker but durring that arc where he trys to torture Tim. Can u tell I ship ShutterBug? Or is it timmette? #Shutterbug is cuter #Anyway #After Mars throws the building at WHOEVER as marinette and not lady bug #We could have the silly miscommunication of oh! Kryptonian! But like it could go angsty if they assume she's stronger than she is like she' #Got super strength but prolly not on Mr. Clark -I am totally just a reporter who is not suspicious at All- Kent #So if Kon or someone patted them on the back at Kryptonian power levels it would prolly result in an ow #Is this Buff Marinette? Does this count? Am I the only one who remembers that au #Also I now headcannon that ladybug has thin plated armor on her suit like an exoskeleton and whenever anyone #Asks her how she can pick up heavy things she says “Oh! Im just Chitin :3” (cheating) puns are contagious and no one is safe #badass marinette #Buff Marinette #marinette dupain cheng #tim drake x marinette dupain cheng #Also Tim totally has the hots for the girl that could snap his spine. Im just saying what we're all thinking

[generalluxun]

ML Fanfiction: Showing Love

This little one shot is a rewrite of the end of Queen Wasp. It never sat right with me, Marinette badmouthing Chloé to get Audrey to pay attention to her (and we see how well it turned out having her in Paris) Who wouldn't prefer something with some awesome Marinette and Moma Sabine in it? Link to the post on AO3 in my bio. Full text below the break.

Marinette was so sure. She had seen what everyone else had, but unlike so many people she couldn't, wouldn't look away. She might have every reason to, it might be any number of people's responsibilities before her, but she was Ladybug. It was more than a costume. It was more than fighting villains. It was saving people, and everyone deserved to be saved.

She was so sure. When that 'go away' came through the door, it was expected. When that baffled 'Dupain-Cheng?' left Chloé's lips -she never used Marinette's first name- it had been a victory. Yes Chloé, even you.

She was so sure. She marched up to the helipad with a plan fully formed. She declined Audrey's offer. She stepped aside to present Chloé to her mother. It was easy to brush aside the 'Chlorine?' It was just a quirk, right? Nothing else made sense.

She was so sure. 'Why don't you love me, mom?' broke her heart. No child should ever have to ask that. It was Chloé though, Chloé could be trusted to misread anything. This was the way to clear everything up. It was all a misunderstanding.

"But… Uh– of course I-" Audrey choked. She turned her head. She wouldn't even look at the girl, hunched and desperate before her. When she managed to force the words 'love you' from her lips they were almost unrecognizable.

She was so wrong.

"No."

Both Audrey and Chloé turned to her, one still wallowing in confusion, the other with indignant surprise.

Marinette had to fight to find her voice. Hope, warmth, and pride had turned to a burning anger and disgust. She looked at Audrey and saw something incomprehensible. "You… don't… Do you?"

Marinette was stunned, but after being contradicted twice in as many minutes, Audrey was moreso. She looked at Marinette over her sunglasses, "Excuse me?"

"You don't. It doesn't make sense, but… you don't." Marinette found strength in her anger. "You can't even make yourself say it! The one thing every child should be able to count on, and you can't even do that much!"

"Listen here Mariachi, don't you tell me how to handle my employees, Cardamom is-"

"She's your daughter, and her name is Chloé!" Marinette was shaking with rage. "I hate her and I can remember her that much! She's awful, mean, cruel, and makes my life hell but even she deserves better than you!"

Marinette snatched Chloé's hand and began dragging her off. The blonde was stumbling after her passively, clearly still reeling. Her 'Dupain- wait- I-let me-' protests were meek, Marinette ignored them.

She was waiting, listening, holding out for that last little bit of hope as she marched away from the pad. There was still a chance… but no. No outraged scream, no fervent protests, no last vestige of maternal instinct followed after them. Just to drive home the point, the sound of helicopter rotors starting up was the sound that saw them off the pad.

"Dupain-Cheng, stop!" Chloé finally found her strength and yanked back, pulling herself free. She turned back, scanning the sky.

"Chloé, where are you going?"

She didn't even look Marinette's way, instead pulling out her phone as she answered. "She can't have gone far, the limo is fast. I can get Jean-Loius to chase her dow-"

Marinette caught the phone even as Chloé lifted it to her ear. The look she got for it was crazed. She moderated her tone, speaking softly. "And then what?"

Chloé's eyes snapped to her, a hunted look to them. "Then we can- I can- … " She want from shock to shout, "Dupain-Cheng you were the one who dragged me here!"

The truth stung. Marinette channeled the pain though, admitting, "And I was wrong! Who can blame me? Who could think that… that… just, how?? It shouldn't be hard for a mother to love her daughter!"

Chloé sniffed, posture changing again, chin up. "Oh it's not hard, Dupain-Cheng. All you have to do is be exceptional."

Chloé spoke such nonsense with complete confidence, Marinette was left gaping, "No! No, that is so messed up, don't you see? You want to win a medal? Sure, be exceptional. You get your parents' love just by being alive. You're her daughter."

Chloé's head snapped to the side, she scoffed, "You're talking presents, Dupain-Cheng. You get presents by being alive. Love you have to fight for."

Marinette wasn't sure she'd ever heard anything more wrong in her life. The insanity of it threatened to overwhelm her. A part of her mind went into overdrive recontextualizing years of interactions. She wanted to just shut down. No!

She wouldn't be wrong, not about this. She grabbed Chloé's hand again and started off, "Come on."

Chloé stumbled after her again, "Where are we go-going? Dupain-Cheng!"

"It's Marinette! And you're coming to dinner. You're going to see what a family looks like."

"What? Dup-" Marinette glared and Chloé corrected herself, "-arinette. You don't even like me. I heard you."

Marinette stopped, but didn't let go. She looked back at Chloé, the girl was on the ropes, worse even than when Marinette had found her. A small selfish part of Marinette wished she could enjoy it, a very small part.

Instead she spoke evenly, "You're right. I don't like you. Can you blame me? You've been a terror, bullying me, harassing my friends. The thing is I don't have to like you to know what you just said isn't right, and I'm going to show you. You might be the worst person I know -second worst now- but even you deserve a parent who loves you."

Chloé started to talk, stopped, looked around as if the answer might be walking past them, ground her teeth, then tried and failed to speak again.

Marinette held up a hand to stop the meltdown-in-progress. “We can call it off if you want. You can go home, I can go home, and we can pretend this never happened.” She lowered her hand and tried her best Ladybug voice. “If we do that though, nothing will change. Whatever you’re feeling right now, it won’t go away. What I’m feeling won’t go away either. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that. I want things to change. I want things to be better, for both of us, but I’m going to be honest, I don’t know if I’ll ever have the strength to do this again.”

Marinette let out a sigh, her anger was flagging and her energy with it. While she still could, she offered her hand.

She tried mimicking a familiar smirk as she asked, “So, what do you say, Bour-geois?”

Chloé flinched at her offer, more emotions played across her face in a cascade. A hint of determination flashed and she reached out, pausing halfway and looking around again.

Marinette prompted, “No one’s watching. Even if they were, just make a scene.”

A small light sparked in those deep blue eyes. Her lips curled into a smirk that was familiar but without fangs. She set her hand in Marinette’s and said, “This is ridiculous.”

Marinette turned, pulling her along before either of them could change their mind. “Utterly ridiculous!”

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

Another small burst of adrenaline saw Marinette all the way home. Chloé didn’t let go, and neither did she. It wasn’t a tender connection though, it was a lifeline. Her too-loud greeting clued her mother in right away. Her father just accepted the strange situation with his usual gentle confusion. It was still a whole bottle of nitro-glycerine waiting to go off.

Sabine spoke first, “Marinette! Honey! You’re home! And you’ve brought… a friend?”

Her mother’s doubt was palpable. Marinette spoke, again too loud, “Mom! You know Chloé from school. She’s going to be coming to dinner, if that’s okay?”

Sabine looked between the two of them, then visibly clicked into ‘mother’ mode. “Yes, of course. I was just going to go up to begin preparing it. I can call you when it’s done.”

“Call-” Marinette realized a flaw in her plans. Everything was working as long as she kept momentum, but now…

From beside her, “Don’t you design things, D- Marinette? Show me some of it.”

Choé’s voice rose and fell in a strange oscillating tone. It kept trying to settle back into its usual domineering affect, but then being knocked out of it, seeking another groove. When Marinette looked at her she snapped her head away quickly, but slowly turned back, waiting.

Marinette took a chance she was right about what she was seeing. “Sure. We’ll be upstairs, Mom.”

They had to let go of each other to climb the narrow stairs into Marinette’s room, and suddenly Marinette was adrift. On top of that, Chloé Bourgeois was in her room! Alarms, warning bells, klaxons, and a little voice perpetually screaming all sounded at once in Marinette’s head. Instead of doing any one of the dozen sane things though, she walked across to her desk and picked up one of her notebooks.

“This is your room, huh?”

Marinette froze. That voice, here. She was still fighting to force her paralyzed limbs to move when the voice came again.

“It’s small… too small. You should have it expanded. You- you’ve got a chaise too? They’re so comfy. I used to flop on mine after dance cl-  I um.. Steps, I have some leading up to my bed too, but this many Marinette? You’re just showing off.”

Chloé’s voice was still working the scales, looking for a place to call home. Marinette recognized babbling when she heard it, long proficient herself. She found she could move again. Turning, she held out the notebook. “Well, you know me, can’t do anything halfway. I think your balcony is bigger than mine too, but I like my view. If you’re still here when the sun goes down, I can show you.”

Marinette had just long enough to panic at her own offer as Chloé hesitantly reached out for the notebook. Their eyes met again and she saw the panic was mutual.

The exchange turned into a snatch, but as Marinette braced for ridicule Chloé instead retreated to the divan, opened the book, and went silent.

The pause gave Marinette a chance to question, to doubt. She shuffled to her desk, but then was stuck. She couldn't just sit there staring at Chloé, but history had her trained not to turn her back either. She settled for half-facing and with her phone out, then she wasn't *staring* staring, right?

Needing to get her thoughts down but not daring to open her diary, Marinette began typing out a note to herself with her thumbs.

What am I doing? It's Chloé. Yeah, but that isn't right no matter who it is. Why me? I could probably try and ask Miss Bustier. But

Marinette drummed her thumbs on the sides of her phone as she thought. A quick glance showed Chloé had progressed through several pages of sketches, but there was not a peep out of her. In fact Marinette wasn't sure if she had ever seen Chloé so focused. Hiding in details to keep from thinking about the big picture. Marinette was very familiar with that trick too.

I want to do this. I want to be the one.  It's not like I like her, or want to hang out. It's…

I want to win. I can't do anything about Mr. Flaps yet, but this I can do something about. Beating this villain doesn't do anything. I've been doing that all year. So maybe getting her to stop being a villain would work. That train thing was awful, and wrong, but she didn't run either. How long would she have tried to stop it on her own? All the way? She liked Ladybug. Can I use that? Is it too soon to talk about her using the Miraculous? Would clumsy Dupain-Cheng asking just embarrass her? Gah. Akumas might be hard, but at least I have my lucky charm.

She looked up again. The notebook was closed in Chloé's lap and the other girl was looking around Marinette's room in more of her uncharacteristic silence.

Marinette hit delete on her note. "Nothing in there to your liking?"

Chloé startled. She ran her hands over the front of the notebook and started softly. "No, I-" Her fingers gripped the cover and she regained some fire,"What am I supposed to say? Hmm? Should I gush? Should I pick it all apart? I was miserable in my room, with mommy leaving and you with her. Now she's still gone, I'm here in your room, with you, and I'm still miserable. Should I call Daddy? What would I even scream for? What am I doing here, Marinette?"

Marinette went through a flash cycle of feeling sorry for Chloé, being angry with herself for feeling sorry, then feeling guilty for being angry. "You could always be honest… about the designs I mean. There's no one to hear. As for the rest…"

Marinette tilted her head back and spun slightly in her chair, she didn't have Cat Noir to buy her time here.

"I-" Marinette leaned forward, elbows on knees. "Look, I'm still processing what I just saw. It's a lot. I thought if I just got you together, away from the lights things would be better. Now… Now I'm realizing it wasn't a fluke. Seeing her was like seeing an adult version of you. Or, really… you're a little version of her."

Chloé puffed up slightly at that, but it was an unsure sort of preening.

Marinette continued, "So like, everything. Everything, was that you, or you trying to be her? Has Audrey Bourgeois been my bully by proxy for all these years?"

It seemed to take hold. Chloé deflated again, and when she rallied it was the sound of someone desperately treading water. "Mommy is a winner! Winners step on losers and little people."

"And the unexceptional?"

Chloé's mouth snapped shut. Marinette could see the tears forming in real time. She knew what would come next if a certain someone was paying attention. That wasn't what prompted her though. She was just so sick of pain.

"You're not unexceptional, Chloé. You are a whole lot of things, things I would get in trouble for saying if my parents heard, but unexceptional isn't one of them. If your mom can't see it. Then she's blind."

Marinette sighed. With Ladybug it was easy, fight and flee before the timer. Staying, talking, this was hard.

"It's more than that though. You want to know why you are here? To see how it is supposed to work. My mother, she's amazing. I'm not bragging or trying to rub your face in it. I want you to see what a mother is supposed to do. Maybe if you do, you'll see that it's not worth chasing after one who doesn't. It's not worth bending yourself into her shape. It's not worth hurting other people. Hurting people is easy, Chloé. Saving people, like Ladybug does, that's hard."

As she finished, Marinette realized her trap door was slightly ajar. She was trying to steal a look without making it obvious when Chloé's voice rose in a mumble.

"I liked.. the coat."

Marinette couldn't follow, "The what?"

Chloé was still slumped."The coat, page seven. I would wear that."

Marinette squinted until it clicked. "Oh!" She tried to remember back that far. "The cropped one, with the feathered collar?"

Chloé picked at the edge of the notebook. "I always liked feathers, but… ridiculous."

Marinette filled in the blanks. "Then I came along and," She did her best Audrey impression, "feathers are in."

Chloé nodded. She stopped picking, flexing her fingers but silent.

"That just proves it, right? You shouldn't have to live like that, no one should."

"So, what? If I stop, I still don't have a mother."

Marinette struggled. Chloé wasn't wrong, and Marinette couldn't picture a life without her own mother. Not just as a mother, but as someone there, supporting her, encouraging her, and correcting her, loving her.

Marinette went to her last resort, honesty, "I don't have all the answers, Chloé. I brought you here to show you there was something else to want, a different way to be. Maybe, if you want that, you can try a different approach. It might not be Audrey -probably better if it isn't- but there are others. Ms. Bustier seems to care a lot about you."

Chloé brightened suddenly, "Or Ladybug?!"

"I, ahhh, don't think she's, unmm, looking to have any daughters right now…" Marinette hedged.

Chloé's cheerfulness evaporated. "You're right. She probably hates me now, you saw what I did. Everybody saw what I did."

"Chloé, I think Ladybug might be very understanding. I can't imagine it would be easy for a hero to hate anyone. But, let's not focus on that. Let's focus on the here and now." Marinette glanced towards the trapdoor, "And I think I smell dinner cooking."

With that, the door swung open and her mother appeared. "You do indeed, my dear. If the two of you would come down and wash your hands, it is time to eat."

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

Dinner was… well, it was awkward. Marinette wasn't sure if Chloé had eaten a family dinner ever before, and with four people the potential for miscues was exponential. Her mother was a blessing in all this, as Marinette had believed she would be.

Sabine prompted Chloé with a steady flow of questions. Like clockwork the blonde would start with a full head of steam but peter out quickly into uneasiness. Without acknowledging the change, She would simply ask something else, seemingly unrelated. Her dad was largely quiet, his eyes ping ponging back and forth between the two, and a spoon often forgotten in his mouth.

Marinette missed a good chunk of the exchange, lost in her own thoughts until a sharp clearing of her mother's throat and, 'Isn't that right, Marinette?' in just the right tone of voice clued her in. Her mother was pumping Chloé for information. It was a flood of details and stories that Marinette herself would never have been able to pry past sealed lips.

They seemed honest too. The usual bragging melted away quickly before her mother's gentle, 'That's nice, dear.' Genuine stories earned genuine engagement. Chloé was speaking to Sabine like a daughter, or at least like someone desperate to know what being a daughter felt like.

Chloé didn't eat much, which was fine because Marinette stress-ate for three. Dinner was winding down when Chloé's phone went off. The change was instant and complete. Her entire body language shifted as she pulled it out.

"What, Daddy? … So what? … No! You never come up any-"

That clearing of the throat again. Marinette's response was Pavlovian, and already she wasn't the only one. Chloé cut herself off mid-word and both girls looked to Sabine. Marinette's mother merely looked serene, the smallest of smiles on her lips. Marinette instantly tried to figure out something she might have done wrong. To her surprise Chloé winced visibly and when she spoke her tone had changed.

"I already ate. I'm eating at a… classmate's house … okay, Daddy … It's the Dupain-Cheng bakery … no rush."

She hung up and prodded an untouched portion of tofu and vegetables on her plate with her fork.

"I have to go home."

It was the weirdest experience for Marinette, feeling upset at that news.

“Well, honey,” Sabine broke the stalemate, “Would you like to take anything home? I may not work at a Michelin hotel, but I like to think my food is good the next day too.”

Chloé cast around the table. Marinette was holding her breath. Chloé eventually mumbled, “Some of those gougères, maybe?”

Sabine nodded, “Right. Okay everyone, clear.”

Marinette stood, grabbing her plate and a nearby server. Her dad hastily shoveled several more bites into his mouth before grabbing as many plates as his big hands could carry. After a pace, Chloé even picked up her own plate and followed Marinette like a lost puppy to the kitchen. By the time the plates were scraped and stacked, Sabine had bagged up several puffs and pressed the bag into Chloé’s hands. “Marinette, why don’t you see our guest downstairs? Take care, Miss Bourgeois. You are welcome to come again.”

Chloé stood there for a moment, bag held in front of her like a shield, then without warning launched herself at Sabine, nearly knocking the smaller woman over as she threw her arms around her.

Sabine braced herself, and patted the girl gently on the back, “Bao bei.”

Chloé disentangled, shot Marinette an embarrassed glance, then dashed for the stairs.

Marinette had the space of time it took her to follow to try and catch up mentally again. She found Chloé looking out the door to the shop and stepped up beside her. “Did this help? Can you see what I mean?”

The bag crinkled in Chloé’s hands. “Don’t ask me that right now. I have to go home and sit by myself in my room, unless I can convince Sabrina to come over. I probably shouldn’t yell, right?”

“There are other ways to do things.”

“People say ‘no’.”

Marinette gave a little laugh at that. “Yeah, asking is a lot scarier, believe me.”

“You don’t like me, Marinette. Why did you do all this? And don’t give me some high-and-mighty Ladybug talk. You’re just a normal person, like me.”

Marinette shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Everyone wants to beat their bully. I do too. I just saw a way to maybe have a person left when the bully was gone.” She glanced sidelong at the other girl, “How did I do?”

Blue eyes met blue. Chloé looked away and crossed her arms, bagheld in one hand. “I’m going to take you off my list, Marinette. I guess I should take everyone off for now, so maybe that isn’t so special. You’ll be at the top of the list of people who aren’t on my list though. That’s the best I can do for now.”

Chloé’s limo pulled up outside. Chloé tried the door, then Marinette unlocked it for her. “It’s a start.” Marinette had a flash of inspiration and added, “I’ll tell you a secret. It’s not losing if your new self is the one to take down your old self.”

They exchanged another look, then Chloé stepped out into the evening. Marinette locked the door behind her and watched years of problems get into a limo and ride away, maybe for the last time.

“That was the Chloé, right?” her mother’s voice startled her, even being soft.

Her mother knew the answer, she wasn’t really asking, she was prompting again. “Yeah.” Marinette touched the window, “It was.”

“You’re not going to New York, then?”

“No, even before all this I had decided. I have too much to do here to run away around the world. Then I saw… I don’t understand it, Mom.”

“You weren’t raised to understand cruelty. Maybe I should have shared more of what is out there sooner, but I never wanted to add too many shadows to your world of color.”

“Does this mean I can’t be mad for all the things she did?”

“Of course you can. Pain is pain, and it hurts. This just means there might be a way to stop the pain and heal, rather than having to cut off that wounded part of you, like so many do.”

Marinette thought about that. The idea made her smile. She wasn’t sure, but she was hopeful. “Thanks, Mom.”

“I’m proud of you, ma choue.”

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

End Note:

Sabine uses the phrases on purpose. Mandarin for Chloe so she won't necessarily understand it. It's more for the tone and the action. It could easily have been 'there there' but Sabine's a mom and her heart also goes out to a child, so she uses the term of endearment.

For Marinette she switches, so that it's not the same phrase she used for Chloé so close. Each child should feel special.

#miraculous ladybug #ml fanfiction #Rewriting the end of Queen Wasp #marinette dupain cheng #chloe bourgeois #sabine cheng #Audrey Bourgeois #Tom Dupain #emotions!!! #ml fic #ML Queen Wasp #ML season 2 #badass Marinette #Good Parent Sabine

[night-ngale]

I'm Here to stay.

Chapter two.

Later that night Marinette met up with Chat noir to explain the ...situation.

Marinette or well should I say Lady red soundlessly landed on Eiffel tower right behind Chat noir.

“Chat noir.”

Chat jumped a foot in air, startled and turned to face her with his baton outstretched in his hand.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to you pulling a Batman and appearing out of nowhere.” Chat lowered his baton, his ears flat against his head, but perked up when she giggled.

They were both high enough on the tower that the people down in the streets couldn’t see or hear the heroes.

The air between them was tense and awkward with both of them staring at each other not knowing what to say.

Dame rouge broke the silence by asking “So, I’m guessing you want an explanation for earlier.”

Chat noir nodded “Who is he? How do you know him?”

Marinette hesitated for a second, contemplating just how much she should tell him before sighing and ripping off the proverbial band aid.

“...He’s family.”

Chat gaped, a million questions running through his head and on the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them down and listened patiently.

Figured he’d understand complicated family relationships better than most, given his father’s Hawkmoth, not that he knew that yet.

She turned away from him and faced the cityscape. And she had to agree there, Paris truly did earn the title of City of lights.

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other.” She laughed bitterly, thinking of all those days she spent grieving, not knowing if he was alive or not after news of the coup reached her “I honestly didn’t even know if he was still alive with all the rumours surrounding his ...situation.”

Chat looked pained with her confession, but he held his tongue.

He scooted closer to her almost touching her but still far away enough for her to feel comfortable.

It was quiet again. But she felt the urge to break the silence. And she might as well get it off her chest. It was high time she had this conversation with Chat. She’d been putting it off for too long already and today seemed as perfect as any other day to do this. After all what was one more emotional and slightly straining revelation?

“You probably know this is not the first time I’ve done this whole shtick.” Chat startled when she spoke, not expecting his usually private partner to talk unless necessary, much less about something this private.

He scratched the back of his neck, a nervous tick she observed him doing even behind the mask “Yeah I kinda figured that you weren’t new to the whole ‘fighting freaks’ thing after I saw you wipe the floor with bubbler.”

That got her to smile, even if it was just a small uptick. But Chat seemed to count it as a win.

She sat down on the edge of the tower and he sat right beside her without prompting.

It was silent again. Chat was waiting patiently for her to continue or just stay with her for comfort.

She swallowed heavily before speaking again.

“You know, there are usually only two types of people in our line of work.” Chat turned to look at her questingly at the abrupt change of topic but she resolutely avoided his eyes, staring down at the city below them “People who don masks everyday are usually either Heroes or villains. And until a few years back I was in the wrong side of that war. ” She might have heard Chat gasp, but she wasn’t really processing anything right now. “I only really donned the earrings to try and wipe out some of the red on my ledger.”

She clenched her eyes shut. Even after all these years it’s still hard to think about that time, to accept who she used to be. It’s gotten better after she met Sabine. Tikki and the other kwamis helped tremendously too, but it was still hard.

She felt strong arms wrap around her. It was an incredibly long and taxing day and it had been so long since she last felt this warm and safe that she just couldn’t hold it in any longer.

That night Chat noir saw his partner breakdown for the first time. He just held her as she cried and let loose all her emotions for the first time in a very long time. Even Hawkmoth didn’t risk interrupt them, not when Chat noir cataclysmed every akuma that even dared to come near them.

 

Bonus*

Chat looks at the time on his baton and winced. She had to agree, school tomorrow was going to be absolute hell.

He turns back to her and bows dramatically “Well M’lady, this cat has got to scat.” His jovial tone could not conceal his worry for her. No amount of acting and modelling classes were going to help him hide his emotions from her.

She waved off his anxiety.

He glanced back at her one last time, concern etched on his face, before he leapt off the tower with his baton in hand.

“Oh wait I forgot! You’re father is Hawkmoth!”

Chat noir’s grip slips and he falls off his baton.

Marinette curses as she unravels her yoyo to catch her frozen partner who was currently falling to his death.

“Damn it! I could’ve used more tact.”

Tikki can’t help but agree through their mental bond.

 *******

Hawkmoth and Mayura were defeated last week.

It hit Adrien hard, but he’s doing better now.

Honestly it was wonder he wasn’t akumatised. His emotions were all over the place.

Thank Kwami Hawkmoth was too busy panicking during the ambush to even think about sending out an akuma for Chat Noir.

But it probably wouldn’t have worked out too well for him either, considering all of Adrien’s emotions were targeted on him.

The fight was short. A quick in and out job with Gabriel venomed, Nathalie knocked out and the butterfly and peacock Miraculous safely tucked in her yoyo all in a matter of few minutes.

It was honestly a little disappointing. Hawkmoth spent so much time in his lair that his fighting skills were atrocious and Nathalie was little help in the battle, what with all her coughing.

They were neutralized so quickly, it was almost embarrassing.

Oh who was she kidding, it was totally embarrassing. For them.

Adrien had broken down when he saw his mother’s body hooked up to life support. She was still alive, if barely.

He broke down again when she told him that Emily Agreste could be saved.

He hugged her tightly, not letting her go even as their timers beeped down and she didn’t have the heart to push him off. So, that led to another awkward conversation where Adrien stared incredulously at his sweet and bubbly classmate who was supposedly an assassin and freaking Ladybug (Ugh she hated that name but the public were adamant to call her that.)

After a few more minutes of awkward staring(on her side) and incredulous(on Adrien’s) he finally nodded his head, apparently coming to a resolution.

“You know this actually explains a lot but also holy shit!”

The tension drained out of her frame and she started giggling, which soon turned into full blown laughter. Never change Chat.

But that was all in the past. Right now Marinette had more pressing issues than to think about some idiot who was in prison.

The media ban and the protective wards around Paris were lifted yesterday.

So now the entire world was in the know about the shitstorm that was Paris this past year. And that included the Justice League, who were all shamelessly persistent on meeting with her and could not take a hint despite the various times she had had to kick them all out of Paris.

She had finally agreed to meetup with them today (I mean there’s only so many times you can portal someone to the middle of the Pacific before giving up.)

But she was weary. Not only about the meeting but also about leaving Paris.

She had managed to dodge the League and their never-ending armies of assassins who were prowling the streets and even somehow in her school. (They were literally everywhere, like damn cockroaches. Everywhere you look you find them and no matter how many you squash, more come to replace them.)

She was leaving Chat alone with a few of the temporary heroes to hold down the fort while she was away.

She trusted them enough to leave Paris in their hands for a few hours, she really did! It was the League that she didn’t trust not to start shit while she was away.

So here she was, standing in front of her assembled heroes on some random Parisian rooftop giving them lecture after lecture on how to keep Paris intact for a few hours and to please call her if shit hit the fan and don’t try to tough it out yourself.

She transformed with Kaalki and turned back to wave one last time.

“Love you guys, be back by 7 and please please don’t let Paris burn down while I’m away.”

“Oh just go already.”

“We’ve got this.”

“Don’t worry so much, I mean what’s the worst that could happen?”

So with the questionable confidence given by her team, she opened a portal to the coordinates Wonder Woman had given her and stepped through hoping this wouldn’t come back to bite her in the butt.

She found herself in the Watchtower and honestly if it wasn’t for her assassin training she would have gaped like an idiot. But she’s not an idiot nor is an incompetent assassin, ex-assassin? So instead she walked up to the founding members of the Justice League looking the epitome of cool professionalism while she died on the inside. (Oh my god these assholes have a base in space!)

So this is what Damian meant when he said there was a surprise for her in the Watchtower. That cheeky little bastard.

Wonder Woman took the lead by kneeling down to one knee and bowing her head down deeply. “Chosen of creation, it is an honour to be in your presence sister.”

She bowed back in respect. “Princess Diana of Themyscira, it is an honour to meet you too.”

The rest of the Justice League did not seem to know what to make of this interaction.

Of the remaining of the trinity, Superman looked awkwardly between them, while Batman stared at her with an unnerving intensity that almost made her break out into a cold sweat. She was not going to get revealed now, and certainly not like this. Damian would never let her live it down.

Putting on her best poker face, she straightened up a cleared her throat, making almost everyone in the room jump. “Shall we start?”

Great. Now it was time to bullshit a room full of Heroes and detectives and make them think she was disclosing actually relevant and confidential information while in fact giving them nothing.

This was going to be fantastic.

 

*******

The meeting was going fine actually. So far they had discussed the charges against Gabriel and Nathalie, the impacts and repercussions of Hawkmoth’s reign and the effect on the citizens including the rehabilitation efforts taken. All common knowledge in Paris. Not that they seemed to know that.

She had artfully dodged every question asking about the Miraculous and where she and the other heroes had gotten theirs and how Hawkmoth had got his slimy hands on not one but two.

Everything was going better than expected, good even. All except for Batman. He did not stop staring at her through out the meeting and asked weird and completely unrelated questions. Even some of the other heroes had started giving him looks. She would have snapped at him much sooner if it wasn’t for Robin, who was seated right behind him making discreet cutting motions with his hand every time she turned to tear Batman a new one.

But honestly enough was enough. This was the twenty-fifth time (yes she counted) she could feel Batman’s unnerving and slightly creepy gaze zero in on her. And formalities be damned, father or not this overgrown furry was onto her and she was not letting it go. He was going down and 6 feet under. Damian would get over it.

She stopped mid sentence and turned to Batman with the sweetest and fakest smile she could muster. “Is there a problem monsieur Batman?”

Her voice was sweet as poison and her smile turned sharp. Batman narrowed his eyes, aware of the game she was playing and refusing to take part in it.

Well it seems he needed a bit more of a push.

“Do you have anything you want to say? I can feel you staring at me.”

Batman narrowed his eyes at her further till they were only white slits, but she just glared right back at him full force.

Meanwhile his brood all had varying responses.

Nightwing looked concerned. RedHood (ugh he has got to ditch that atrocious helmet.) seemed to enjoy the turn of events and looked invested in the drama. Red Robin, who looked forty with that hideous cowl took on discreet defensive stance and Robin looked two twitches away from face palming and sent her ‘what the hell are you doing?’ look.

Well what was she doing? She was getting herself a new punching bag. She needed someone to take out her frustrations on now that Hawkmoth and his minion were no longer viable options, so who better a target than the man who is supposedly your biological father and a right asshole towards your twin. That overgrown furry deserves everything he’s going to get.

And the only person who could maybe intervene and sell her out was not there. Lucky for her that BlackBat was in Shanghai along with Spoiler on a much needed vacation.

The rest of the Justice League looked between the two of them like they were at a tennis match with varying expressions of awe, fear and incredulity.

Marinette ignored all of them. Her glare was set solely on Batman.

A few minutes passed in a standstill and Batman grunted knowing it was his move. He tensed his muscles and visibly grit his teeth

“You’re an assassin.”

Well that was unexpected. She thought he’d say something more along the lines of ‘Who are your parents?’ 'Are you adopted?’ or maybe even ‘You are my daughter.’ Not whatever this is.

She blinked once but showed no other outward expression of shock.

Unfortunately the same could not be said for the rest of the Justice League. The Bats all tensed and fell into defensive stances, all except for Robin who whipped his head around to stare at his father in visibly obvious panic and shock. Wonder Woman and Aquaman both stood up and protested loudly, though one was more vehement in their objection. The rest of the Heroes all broke into various states of chaos after the statement left Batman’s lips.

Marinette meanwhile just crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. The squeak of her chair was all everyone needed to quiet down and seat their asses back down.

“Ex-assassin and well, so are you and half your brood.”

Batman almost growled out loud and the table creaked from the white knuckle grip he had on it.

The Justice League was apparently made up of colour blind and shameless heroes because everyone looked between them like they were watching an interesting tennis match and not a standoff that could potentially cause bloodshed.

The Bats (Except for Batman, who she was in the middle of a standoff with) were all glancing nervously at Robin, probably expecting him to unsheathe his sword and jump over the table to attack her. But surprising everyone but her, he stayed put.

RedHood was the first to crack, clicking the safety off his gun and pointing it at her. Something she expected considering his temper and less than stellar history with the League.

This caused anther uproar with everyone standing and arguing.

She was the only one seated now, arms crossed and looking almost bored. A stark contrast to the coiled and tensed forms of literally everyone else in the room.

“Why are you here?”

She looked up from examining her nails, giving that Red bucket the most deadpan look she could muster. “You asked me to come here.”

After a few seconds of flustered silence and muffled laughter, RedHood had apparently scrounged up enough of his dignity to ask again “You working for the league?”

She straightened at this, all mirth fading away from her and her eyes sharpening. She uncrossed her arms and leaned forward and the Heroes all tensed in unison. She looked RedHood right in the eye.

“Now why would I go back to a place I fought tooth and nail to get out of?”

“...”

The air was almost electric with how charged it was.

 

 

Buzzz

 

           Buzzzz

 

                        Buzzzzz

 

 

RedHood startled at the sudden noise and shot at her.

She was unfazed just deflecting the bullet with her wrist cuffs. The same could not be said for the rest of the heroes as they all violently flinched.

 

 

Buzzz

 

       Buzzzz

 

                Buzzzzz

 

 

Her yoyo was ringing, she picked it up, checked the caller ID and promptly cursed the universe and everyone in it to the high heavens.

“Oh for fucks sake Chat I’ve been gone for an hour!”

“Heyyy M’lady.” There were sounds of fighting in background oh and someone was screaming too.

“So I know you told us to keep Paris in one piece while you were gone and Paris is still intact- Hey!” A katana missed taking off his head by an inch. “But ces assassins stupides popped out of nowhere and started attacking. But thankfully their blades didn’t pierce our suits not for their lack of trying.” he muttered the last part quietly but she still caught it and narrowed her eyes further. Then there was a banshee screech and Abeille wailed ‘My hair!’ and everyone within a 40 mile radius who weren’t completely tone deaf winced at the volume. “Anyway bug we’ve pushed the assassins off the roof, we’ve tied them up and we threw them in the bin.” He ducked as ninja star whizzed right past his head. “but they *whack* keep *whack* coming *whack* back *whack* Like maudits cafards!” A huge explosion ringed out and everyone was thrown off “Anyway we’ve totally got everything under control but- watch the tail! But um it would be great if you could come back. Like right now. And- Wait no no no no not again! ” Another explosion ringed out and the call cut.

Silence.

It was completely silent for the first time in forever in the Watchtower.

She snapped her yoyo shut with a resounding click that echoed around the room.

She took a deep breath and looked up to face the other heroes, giving them a smile so sweet and fake it put American candy to shame.

“Well as you can see, duty calls.”

The entire Justice League stared at her in incredulous disbelief. And there was something satisfactory in watching the world’s mightiest heroes gape at her in complete speechlessness.

She opened another portal, forever grateful for the ‘use your power more than once’ power up potion, and waved at the heroes cheekily “Au revoir!” before jumping into the portal and leaving a gaggle of sputtering heroes behind her.

 

*****

The Justice League was in utter chaos.

Utter and complete chaos.

Damian was almost surprised by the amount mayhem his sister caused, but trouble always did follow after her like a lost puppy.

And while what she did was stupid.

And moronic.

And would definitely come back to bite her later.

He was mostly proud of her.

It was no easy feat to throw off his father. And it had been a long time since he had seen the Justice League this off balance.

He quickly wiped the smirk off his face. It would not help anyone if he got caught now. Marinette was not ready to meet father and he honestly can’t blame her. She hated mother and was right to do so, mother is a quote ‘piece of work’ and undeserving of Ukthi. But Marinette had also vowed to hate whomever their father was because anyone who Talia al Ghul decided was worthy of her and the al Ghul name was probably also a right nasty piece.

She lost most of her hostility once she discovered that the ever elusive ‘father’ was the Batman, but she was still suspicious. And he cannot blame her. While the League of assassins was horrifying and gruesome to him and was no place for a child to be anywhere near there, but Marinette had it much much worse. While he was the heir to the demon’s head and treated like royalty, she was the competition, a spare, a disgrace and most of all she was a girl.

 

Crash

 

He flinched slightly at the abrupt reminder that he was currently stuck in middle of the what would appropriately be termed a shitstorm.

Wonder Woman was having what Grayson called ‘an existential crisis’ and found it acceptable to throw her chair across the room.

Todd was staring at his hands in horror and was also having an existential crisis for shooting at a child. Tch Marinette is not just a child and she is more than capable of dodging a mere bullet.

Superman was holding Wonder Woman down and rest of the League were divided into two groups loudly arguing whether not Ladybug was working for Ra’s al Ghul.

But so far the most concerning was father. He was quiet, alarmingly so. And he had not spoken a word to anyone since Ukthi had made her dramatic exit. He was brooding and that spelled trouble for everyone involved.

Finally father stood up and the chair screeched loudly, silencing the argument. The eyes of the entire Justice League were on him, but he payed them no mind “We’re leaving.” Grayson started to protest “NOW.” He stormed out of the room with the rest of the pretenders following behind him dejectedly and leaving behind a room of gaping faces.

Hmm. Maybe dramatic exits were an inherited trait. He’s going to have to look into that. Mother also had a flair for the dramatics and it would certainly do no good if he was the odd one out.

 

*******

Being dramatic was definitely hereditary and a necessary trait if you want to be an Al Ghul much less an Al Ghul Wayne. Because then why else would Marinette open a portal right above the random warehouse the assassins decided would be an acceptable place to start a war and drop down onto the battle field like an avenging angel from the sky and knock out a horde of assassins from the impact of her descent alone.

Obviously, it was for no other reason than to sate her inner drama queen and to smirk at the gaping faces of her team.

It was like something out of a movie. Every single person, heroes and villains alike stopped to stare at her with conflicting emotions on their faces. But alas this wasn’t a movie but real life so the moment was broken by Chat being thrown off the roof.

“CHAT!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I’M OK!”

The fight resumed as normal. But instead of being in a standstill, the Miraculous team now had the upper hand.

Now to get the League out of Paris once and for all, or at least keep them out for a month at most. They’d have to burn the Lazarus pit along with Ra’s al Ghul if they wanted to rid them of the world forever. And oh did they want to do that.

She started the incantation for the spell while kicking an assassin’s kneecaps out, before tripping another assassin into the one running towards her.

She took out a dagger from her pocket and started carving out symbols on the rooftop but stopped to stab the assassin that was stupid enough to attack her right in the gut before taking it out and throwing it at the one trying to sneak up her from behind.

She took out another dagger and continued carving and simultaneously kicking ass.

The spell was almost over. She just needed a few more things now.

“I NEED THE THUMB OF A MINION!”

A pause, before there was a screech and a bloodied thumb landed smack dab in the centre of her carvings. Then Ryuku landed right in front of her covered in blood that was hopefully (probably) not her own.

“Thanks Ryu!”

Ryuko curtly nodded at her and smirked, before calling on wind dragon and picking up half the assassins on roof and dropping them in the trash.

Now for the hardest ingredient to find. The blood of someone who has fallen from grace. As if hearing her thoughts, an assassin was thrown on the carving with a murderous Queen bee not far behind, screaming obscenities that should not be told anywhere near a child.

“tu es con! I will tear you limb by limb and slowly and painfully kill you for what you have done.” Her once beautiful golden locks were now something akin to a flaming dumpster fire with chunks of hair missing and a few strands literally on fire.

She gaped at Abeille for a good few seconds before an idea from hell popped into her head and she smirked evilly.

This was perfect. She wouldn’t find anyone else fallen farther from grace than this, well except Gabriel Agreste, but she’d have to go all the way to Penitentiaire Inrichting Vught to get his blood.

While Chloé was on her warpath, Marinette discreetly or not so discreetly grabbed the heiress's hand and cut her finger with her magical dagger deep enough for her blood drip onto the carvings. All the while the girl in question was still too lost in her rage to even notice.

As she said the last part of the incantation Magic crackled and the wind blew violently around her. And now for the last part, the blood of the spell caster. She took her magic dagger and cut a line straight along her palm and squeezed her fist, watching as blood dripped down her palm. When the first drop of her blood dripped onto the carvings the wind stooped the and the carvings lit up red before turning blue.

All the assassins froze, be it mid fight or mid getting their asses handed to them before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Shame it was right as Abeille was about to pounce on her prey.

While it was fortunate for everyone else that the assassins were sent back to where they came from, it was unfortunate for her cause now Abeille’s murderous gaze zeroed in on her for stopping her from exacting revenge.

Marinette raised her arms in surrender slowly backing away from the furious and slightly homicidal girl.

“Bee, Bee I can fix this.”

Chloé was not appeased nor did she stop her warpath.

Chat noir, her ever loyal partner sacrificed himself yet again for her by tackling Chloé before she could pounce and scratch her eyes out. Chat was now subjected to the blunt of Chloe’s rage and judging by the fear in his eyes, he knew that too.

Carapace reached out to help his best bud but Rena held him back muttering something about it being too late now.

And she was right. Chat gave himself up to the devil for her and she won’t let his sacrifice be in vain. She would fix this and save him.

She straightened, determination brimming in her stance. Her eyes glowed a brief red and she slammed her hand on the ground, discharging waves of magic that fixed all the damage caused by the battle including Abeille’s disastrous hair.

Satisfied with having saved Chat’s life and barred the League from even setting foot in Paris for the next month or so, she yawned.

“Everyone head back to base and someone debrief me. I’m long over due for my nap.”

No one even tried to argue with her, it was a miracle if she even slept at all and everyone wanted know what happened with the Justice League.

#marinette cheng #badass marinette #maribat #dc x mlb #mlb x dc #marinette is mdc #marinette deserves better #damimari #bio dad bruce wayne #maribat bio dad bruce #batfam

[lovysmtalks]

I'm like, really trying to stay set on a book and finish it, so let's push past the like 4 books I haven't finished writing for almost 3 years! 😟

Hoping that in around a week's time I might finish the first chapter of the new book I'm working on, the chapter is already pretty long but I'm enjoying the plot I'm working with so in the worst case the book might end in like 100k+ words 😘 (I'm dying inside as English isn't my first language so many words are starting to repeat lmao.)

Anyways,

How would y'all feel about Marinette going in the military?

(ahem)

#maribat #ml x dc #marinette deserves better #marinette dupain cheng #mlb au #class salt #I love Marinette like a bit too much and canon kinda did her dirty even if i haven't watched the show in like 4 years #badass marinette #i just saw there is a anti Marinette hashtag while making this post what the fuck

[rainissofuckingdone]

miraculous ladybug fanart!! im obsessed with this trash show <3

#art #digital art #fanart #fandom #mlb #miraculous lb #miraculous fanart #miraculous ladybug #miraculous marinette #badass marinette #ladybug fanart #tales of ladybug and cat noir #ladybug and chat noir #marinette fanart #shes not very good in the show #but in fanon… #we love

[justrandomfanfictionskh]

(Almost every Maribat fic I read has the akuma class going to Gotham. But tell me which is more likely, a class touring the city of crime, or a class touring the city of lights? So here it is, the Daminette fic that only I asked for, where Gotham goes to Paris, and the poor students have to grapple with the fact that they have competition for the most dangerous city in the world. I wonder what will happen?)

Taglist @tails-and-scales @the-ghost-trader @kanamexzeroyaoifangirl @the-dumber-scaramouche @yoonjae20 @robyalix @iglowinggemma28 @taewinterbear95 @heretopasstimebi @littleblue5mcdork @quotesandanime @komatsuna-yuki @attractivemyfoot @deathssilentapproach-blog @vel-vee @vixen-uchiha @lady-bee-fechin @qualityhistorygamingwinner @its-maemain   @meira-3919 @raven-ette @doglover82 @plz-excuse-my-inner-gay @laurcad123 @crazylittlemunchkin @iamablinkmarvelarmy

#dc x mlb #maribat #mlb x dc #marinette dupen chang #batfam #fanfiction #miraculous ladybug #batman #batfamily #badass marinette #marinette x damian #damian x marinette #daminette #damian wayne #robin #miraculous x dc #dc x miraculous #miraculous kwamis #ao3 fanfic #fanfic

[wowallnamesaregone]

The movie looks great I could not resist…must…draw..

#miraculous fandom #miraculoustalesofladybugandcatnoir #miraculous ladybug #ladybug and chat noir #miraculous movie #mlb marinette #badass marinette #ladybug fanart #miraculous fanart

[knifedancer]

Hiccups (Part 2 of 2)

Tale of 'Hiccups' from Felix's POV.

Previous AO3 Link

~~~~~~~

Felix Graham de Vanily’s alarm went off at exactly 6:00am and he rose to greet the day with a stretch. He did his morning ablutions before heading to his closet to select his attire – his typical grey vest, dark dress slacks, and white long-sleeved shirt. He preferred a more monochrome palette as it gave him an air of authority and maturity. It helped that it also differentiated himself from his near identical cousin. Felix, the heir to the great Graham Films studio, had dealt with his fair share of grifters and manipulators even without – what did they call themselves again? Ah, yes…Adri-stans. He repressed a shudder as he tugged on a shirt cuff to straighten the sleeve.

He calmly went to the kitchen and retrieved his thermos of mint tea for the day. He basked in the quiet morning, the sound of a ticking grandfather clock’s metronome echoing against the mahogany walls was his only company. Felix preferred the quiet; enjoyed these little moments even if Paris was not where he would consider home. He missed the dreary atmosphere of London, which was perfect for curling up in a blanket in his reading nook to enjoy classic literature. Paris was far too warm, even with the autumn chill in the air. Nothing could compare to the warmth of his reading nook back home.

Once the driver had pulled around, Felix left the quiet house and slid into the backseat with a soft hum. He mentally prepared himself for another day at Francois Dupont. A school full of dullards, mountebanks, and potential exploiters. Not that he gave them any headway in discovering a weakness to take advantage of. He was a Graham de Vanily, they did not cave to pressure or manipulation. They were known for their self-discipline, self-restraint, and ruthlessness to those that tried to attack.

Years of would-be thimbleriggers disguising themselves as friends had resulted in impenetrable psychological walls of steel. While others thought he was condescending or disdainful, Felix viewed himself as the epitome of cool composure. His indifferent and haughty demeanor earned him the nickname of Ice King among those that considered themselves his peers. He was happily homeschooled until their move to Paris. Once settled, his mother had insisted that he should have the same public schooling experience as his cousin and, if possible, repair the rift between them. They were family after all.

The car arrived at the collège and he alighted with a swift nod in thanks to the driver. Heading into the still quiet school, Felix sighed inaudibly as he thought of the unfortunate event that occurred only a few months prior. His callous attitude only became worse when his father died of cancer. He had expected Adrien, a scion of the Graham de Vanily tree, to be supportive but was met with silence. He knew now that it was Gabriel’s fault, but Felix had felt abandoned in his time of need. A weakness like that would not be tolerated. He admitted now that his stunt had been cruel but only apologized to his cousin for acting out. Adrien’s supposed friends that were akumatized did not deserve an apology. They could not even tell their friend from a stranger! Little did he know that he would be stuck with them for however long his mother decided to entertain this schooling idea…

The only other person Felix would deign to apologize was Ladybug for his atrocious behavior towards her. From what he had seen online, she received enough unwanted advances from her own cat partner and did not need his ridiculous actions heaped onto that. Not that Felix had the chance to do so. It’s not as if the heroine of Paris had published her contact information! ‘Unlike Batman, she is not summoned by a spotlight with a bug on it,’ he thought with a chuckle. Plus she was professional and no nonsense during the akuma battles, which Felix respected. He could count the number of people he truly respected on one hand…in fact one of them, begrudgingly and unexpectedly, was in this very school.

He had entered Bustier’s classroom and sat at his desk, pulling out a book to look as if he were reading while other students filtered in slowly. He let his mind wander to the only other person at this school he could respect, not that Felix would admit it to anyone but himself. Who could this person be? Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Sure, he had seen that ridiculous confession video and mocked her, chalking her up to simply be yet another Adri-stan. He had scoffed at the thought that this wisp of a girl was class representative and presumed French schools had lower qualifications. From Adrien’s descriptions of her, she was clumsy, weak, and lacked confidence. Felix would crush her like a bug under his shoe if she tried to wheedle herself into his good graces.

However, Dupain-Cheng proved to be more than he expected…

~~Flashback~~

Madam Bustier beckoned him into the classroom, motioning for him to speak to the class. “My name is Felix Graham de Vanily, cousin to Adrien Agreste, and I’m not your friend. Do not flatter yourselves into thinking I will stoop to your level,” he introduced. He could see his cousin wince at his words and recognized a couple students that had been part of the incident as they began to protest his inclusion. The rest were making faces with varying degrees of anger or shock, except for two students. One was a sausage haired girl in the back that looked entirely too pleased and the other was a familiar dark-haired girl in the second row who seemed to be trying to plaster a polite smile on to her face.

Their teacher’s smile became tight and forced, “Marinette, would you please make sure that Felix is caught up on the notes and give him a tour of the school?” The dark haired, pigtailed girl stammered a bit but was cut off by the teacher before she could form a response, “Great! Felix, Marinette is our class rep and will make sure to take good care of you! Please take the empty seat behind her. Now class, if you will take out the reading…” Felix took his seat and settled in with a small, resigned sigh.

At first break, the bluenette girl met him at the door with an unreadable expression. “Welcome to Francois Dupont, Felix. I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng, but please call me Marinette. If you will follow me this wa—”

“You look familiar. Where have I seen you before?” Felix interrupted.

The girl smiled to hide a grimace, “I’m sorry, we have not met before. Now, if you would proceed this way, I would be happy to show—"

“Ah, I remember now! You’re the ‘I love you’ girl from the video,” he scoffed rudely. “Pathetic.”

Dupain-Cheng’s shoulders caved forward a bit, as if she were sinking in on herself. “You…you saw that?”

“Pfft, of course. I deleted it off my naïve cousin’s phone. He doesn’t need some gold-digging charlatan or super fan pretending to be in love with him.” Felix replied as he nonchalantly looked around, not noticing as the girl straightened and whirled around to face him until a finger was rudely jabbed into his chest. He followed the pale limb up until he met the eyes of the furious Franco-Chinese girl at the other end.

“Excuse me? I am not a gold digger, a charlatan, nor one of his crazed fans!” The offending appendage prodded his sternum to accentuate every word. The last had been strong enough to force him to take a single step back. Interesting.

“Really? I highly doubt that. Girls like you are just after fame and fortune. I’ve seen it a million times!” Felix rolled his eyes. “Don’t even bother to try to be nice to me in an effort to get to him or to be noticed by Gabriel.”

“For your information,” Dupain-Cheng stated blandly, crossing her arms and stuck a hip out in a defiant stance, “I don’t need your help. My parents are the best bakers in all of Paris, they do business with plenty of powerful people. And, before you even accuse me of using my parents for clout, I’d like to happily point out that I don’t need them to gain notoriety. I’ve won contests and praise from Gabriel Agreste and Audrey Bourgeois for my own designs. I get commissioned by celebrities for my skills on a regular basis. I don’t need to be nice to you to gain anything. I’m trying to be civil because I want to be, even if you don’t deserve it for what you pulled with Adrien’s friends. Not everyone is out to get something from you, Felix.” She took a deep breath and shook her head, her shoulders relaxed, and her voice returned to a pleasant tone but her eyes commanded his compliance. “We only have a few minutes left, let’s do this tour and then we can pretend this never happened.”

Felix watched as she spun on her heel and started the tour in earnest, gesturing towards various features of the school while giving a concise run down of services provided. He blinked a few times and followed. ‘Seems there’s some temerity hidden beneath the cloying exterior,’ a small smirk appeared on his face at the thought. ‘Perhaps school will be less banal than I anticipated.’

~~ End Flashback ~~

They had had several intellectual skirmishes since that first encounter and each time he would provoke her until she volleyed impertinent repartee back at him. She was not intimidated by him or his family name and it left him feeling a little thrill as she always seemed to have a biting retort at the ready. Not only had Dupain-Cheng proven to have stronger character than he expected but she was a competent leader and retained one of the highest GPAs in their grade level. From the few stolen glances at her designs, she was talented as well. The only things he could still criticize was her tardiness, clumsy nature, and lingering crush on his cousin that made her a stuttering mess with only a glance.

Felix pretended to turn the page while he glanced toward Dupain-Cheng’s empty seat. It seemed the tardiness was not going to be resolved today… Just then, the exhausted looking girl in question ran into the room and took her seat as the bell rang. As the substitute teacher started calling attendance, Dupain-Cheng made a loud hiccup that echoed through the room. Felix frowned while he watched her slump into her seat. The rest of the class simply laughed at her antics. He rolled his eyes, ‘at least it’s just hiccups. They should go away soon enough.’

Except the hiccups did not seem to be the common kind normal people had. They seemed to be incessant and frequent. Of course Dupain-Cheng would have the most annoying, over-the-top peculiarity! Each hiccup felt like someone was grating on his nerves; the sound becoming the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard in his mind. As the day progressed, Felix witnessed their classmates betting on and implementing multiple attempts to scare the girl’s hiccups away. At first he found the whole affair hilarious as he expected the class representative to wear down until she would snap and reveal some of that impertinent wit she kept well hidden. Much to his consternation, Dupain-Cheng seemed to take it in stride with a polite smile and dogged yet affectionate look at their attempts. For Felix, however, the commotion their classmates created had the opposite effect: it only increased his ire. Not wanting to attract an akuma, he retreated into the quiet library at lunch to calm his temper. ‘Just a few more class periods,’ he thought wearily, ‘I can persevere through the end of the day.’

Unfortunately for Felix, the hiccups from Dupain-Cheng only continued after lunch and quickly wore down his waning patience. He was ready to snap at her during Literature when her hiccups repeatedly distracted him from his book, he barely managed to smooth out the angry scowl he directed her way before he said something too harsh. He just had to remind himself that these hiccups were ultimately not her fault. She was not doing it with the express purpose of driving him mad. Felix focused on the words of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, once again set himself to the task of ignoring the girl while she huffed in her seat.

At least he tried to do so until free period, when every other student in the class seemed to crowd around and make even more noise than before. Felix nearly ripped the book in half in frustration. They were making Dupain-Cheng do the most ridiculous exercises and tasks in an effort to find a cure for what was ailing her. Was she really standing on her head and drinking water? Lê Chiến even tried to suggest running a marathon! Even Felix was slightly concerned when she tried to hold her breath and nearly fainted, catching herself on the edge of the desk before she could split her head open. Seemed these “cures” were hindering more than helping. It wasn’t until she spilled water on her shirt that she was able to get them to stop. She left during the afternoon break and he basked in the hiccup-less classroom for a moment, for once not minding the usual background chatter of Rossi and Bourgeois. Dupain-Cheng returned right before the bell rang and Felix gripped his pen with each hiccup, his eyebrow visibly ticking with irritation.

~~ Fast forward to the end of school ~~

The final bell rang, Felix delayed his departure in hopes that Dupain-Cheng would leave the school grounds before he needed to meet his driver out front. He held on to his patience and composure by a mere thread. It would not reflect well on his family if he were to overreact or attack the girl in front of the rest of the school for nothing more than a simple annoyance. It was just not done; he was a Graham de Vanily. He finished off the last of his mint tea before replacing the empty thermos in his bag. Taking a deep breath, he exited the classroom and was relieved to not see a pair of dark pigtails anywhere in sight.

Felix walked past Césaire, Lahiffe, and his cousin as they chatted about the Ladyblog. Truly, he could not fathom why his cousin wanted to be friends with these simpletons. As he had already completed his homework at lunch, he did not need to exchange books but he did want to place his borrowed novel into his locker so he could return it in the morning when the library reopened. As he was about to head out, he was disturbed once again by a hiccup and then a soft curse. Felix came around the corner to witness the bane of his existence stuffing a book back into her locker while still hiccupping.

Felix slid closer to Dupain-Cheng as she sleepily shuffled books in her bag and crinkled her brow. He decided to mess with her a little as she had unwittingly vexed him all day. His heart rate sped up; perhaps he could exasperate the girl enough to verbally spar! He slowly stalked towards his prey, keeping his footfalls as silent as possible. ‘What had Adrien called that move from the anime he forced me to watch? Ah, yes, the kabedon maneuver. Let’s see if this will rattle those hiccups out of her.’ He slammed her locker shut with his right hand and watched as she jumped back with no further reaction than a hiccup. He smoothly boxed her in with his body and leaned into her personal space. Surrounding noises seemed to drop down to a dull buzz from their close proximity, like distant cicada songs in summer.

“Your hiccups have been interrupting my peace of mind all day, Miss Dupain-Cheng,” he dropped his voice down low enough so that others would not overhear. With his right hand still firmly planted against the lockers, he lifted her chin with the tips of the fingers from his left. He was close enough to see the tiny smattering of freckles that graced the bridge of her nose and seemed to dance charmingly across her cheekbones. Felix stared into her bluebell eyes, noting for the first time that she had a slightly darker limbal ring around the iris and little flecks that sparkled like silver in the afternoon light. He would bet they would twinkle like stars when she laughed. Her long, curved eyelashes were as dark as her hair and her bone structure was delicate. Dupain-Cheng may not be a refined beauty like his mother, but he would concede that she was beautiful enough to tempt a lesser man. He murmured teasingly, “perhaps there might be one solution you have not yet tried.”

Felix’s gaze flickered to her lips to hint at his meaning, looking deeply into her eyes with the expectation that she would scoff and shove him away at any second. Dupain-Cheng’s breathing seemed to hitch with the smallest, cutest hiccup she had made all day. He watched as unreadable thoughts seemed to flicker through her eyes before she truly did something unexpected: her eyes closed in assent. ‘Is she… Is she calling my bluff?’ Felix wondered with mild dismay. ‘Or perhaps she wishes to make my dear cousin jealous of a little kiss?’ His lips stretched into a small, conspiratorial smile at the thought. ‘Either way, I’m not one to back down from a challenge!’

He leaned in and, for a fleeting second, her warm breath brushed against his face and wrist. With it came the scent of something irresistibly sweet. He felt the tingling sensation of gooseflesh running down his clothed forearm as the very air around them seemed to still with anticipation. With one last push he closed the gap between their lips and Felix felt a jolt of electricity through his whole body. Reality fell away and all that remained was the two of them in this moment. Felix’s whole world seemed to narrow to the girl in front of him, as if he were a compass centering on true north. Dupain-Cheng’s lips were softer than rose petals and the sweet scent seemed to overflow all his senses. It spurred a warmth that seemed to grow within his chest until it enveloped his entire being. It was as if his whole body was wrapped in a cozy blanket. He felt the overwhelming need to bury himself in this feeling!

Felix gave up all pretext of composure and pushed forward with a whisper of a moan, unable to resist seeking out that inexplicable feeling. His lips teased hers as if nibbling on a treat until his teeth raked across her bottom lip. She gasped into his mouth and he swallowed it eagerly, tasting something that was so indisputably her along with the sweet, beguiling scent that was driving him crazy. Felix supped on her lips like a starving man; savoring her like an exotic tea made of the most fragrant flowers. His hand slipped down her jaw to cup her cheek while his arms begged to pull her against him, to give in to this magnetism he felt deep in his bones that pulled him towards Dupain-Cheng. He would wager his entire family fortune that her slender figure would conform to his own, like two neighboring puzzle pieces. He wanted more…

Just as he was about to seek out the tantalizing taste of her mouth, a scandalized noise from the periphery startled him into releasing her. Felix watched as she slowly opened her eyes, noted that they had darkened into the color of the stormy sea and the silver specks flashed like lightning. Oh, how he wanted to drown in their depths! His lips and skin tingled from where he had touched her, as if lingering electricity was arcing between them. His tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip, tasting the residual sweetness captured there. “You taste like strawberries…,” he murmured absentmindedly, not realizing he had said it out loud.

Suddenly the bubble around them burst and he was thrust back into the present. A present where Felix was kissing Dupain-Cheng against the lockers of their school, surrounded by classmates witnessing his complete loss of composure. He quickly slammed down the walls around his heart that had crumbled like sandcastles at high tide. He wrapped himself back up in the supercilious armor that he donned each day to protect against those that sought out any weakness to exploit. He would be damned if any member of the cacophony around them would use the girl as a tool against him.

However, through the whooping and catcalls of the crowd around them, he realized one sound was silent…

Felix pushed away from the locker with great reluctance and stood straight. He addressed the stunned Dupain-Cheng with a satisfied yet mocking smirk. He forced his voice back into his usual haughty tone, tamping down on the trembling of his insides. “Seems your hiccups are gone, mademoiselle. I would appreciate if you would refrain from causing such a disturbance with your hiccups in the future.” He gripped his bag strap with the still tingling fingers, hoping that his classmates would not notice the way his knuckles turned white with the strength of his grasp. Felix then nodded his head towards her and walked away, forcing himself not to look back. He adopted his usual unaffected air, though everything inside him seemed to protest against the expanding distance between them. He just had to hold it together until he could get to the car.

He watched as Césaire glared at him and roughly bumped into his shoulder before running toward Dupain-Cheng, followed by a concerned looking Lahiffe. He broached the doorway to find Adrien in a bewildered state, a mixture of emotions flittering through his eyes. ‘Seems my dear cousin may be conflicted about his dear friend,’ he scoffed under his breath at the thought. ‘I wonder if his girlfriend, Tsurugi, has anything to worry about now.’ Felix hurried down the front steps and into the safety of his family’s awaiting car.

Back in the locker room, a dazed but now fully awakened Marinette rose from the floor with help from her friends. She murmured her thanks distractedly. Ignoring the excited questions and concerned looks of her peers, she evaluated Felix’s reaction to their kiss and wondered if he had felt even a fraction of what she had. Instinctually she followed the pull that led her out to the front of the school just in time to see Felix’s car depart. Only the small bug kwami saw the mischievous light and the steely resolve in her chosen’s eyes as she watched the car leave her line of sight. However, in the recesses of Adrien’s bag, Plagg sensed chaotic energy and shivered with anticipation…

~~ BONUS SCENE ~~

Having to fight an akuma after the incident at school was predictable, so predictable that Marinette transformed in an alleyway nearby before going home. Lila had stomped off with a screech and false tears, muttering something about Hawkmoth. ‘I swear Lie-la is working with Hawkmoth, I just don’t have the evidence to prove it!’ Ladybug thought as she swung along the rooftops in a faux patrol. There was a loud bang and a familiar screech that announced the appearance of Lila’s newest akumatization mere moments before the akuma alert notification popped up on her yo-yo.

Within a few minutes, a distracted Chat Noir had arrived and they were scoping out the area to make a plan. The Embarrassator was an odd opponent. Her outfit seemed to be luchador-esque but she had gained nothing of semblance to a wrestler’s physique. She was seeking out people on the streets, whom she would hit with a ray from a ring on her finger and bring to life their most embarrassing fears. Some felt especially targeted. Ladybug watched as Alya was hit with a ray, transforming her into a fumbling mess that increasingly tripped over her words as she tried to gain information about the akuma. This was obviously linked to Alya’s desire to be a great reporter but what was up with that outfit? Gone were her typical flannel and pants, replaced by a neon green and lavender tux with tails. She looked like a knock-off Riddler from discount comic books!

“Where is Marinette?!” The Embarrassator demanded. “I want to make her suffer!” Chat seemed to stiffen at the akuma’s words, a fiercely protective look in his eyes. She could swear she heard a faint growl come from his throat but was too far from him to be sure.

Ladybug and Chat were heading to their planned positions when a flash of familiar blond hair caught her eye. There was Felix running from the akuma! Her heart rate sped up as she watched him lose ground, mere centimeters from The Embarrassator’s clutches. She changed trajectory and swung down to intercept him, grabbing him just before he hit the ground mid-fall and launching them back into the air until they were a safe distance away. It was not until she set him on his feet that she took in his appearance while he muttered his thanks. Felix’s hair and face were windblown, giving him a tousled bedhead look, but his normal attire was transformed into an orange and hot pink jumpsuit. And…were those clown shoes?

“Did the akuma do this to you?” she asked with a smirk, barely restraining laughter while gesturing to his whole person.

“Yes, and the – HIC! – these dreaded – HIC! HIC! – hiccups!” Felix managed to get out.

‘It seems my hiccups were inadvertently contagious…,’ the heroine mockingly thought to herself. She heard Chat land softly a few meters behind her, likely due to her sudden departure from the plan. He must have finally seen Felix’s appearance because she could hear Chat snicker.

“You try – HIC! – getting hit – HIC! – by that damned – HIC! HIC! – akuma!” Felix yelled angrily, causing Chat to break out into loud guffaws that brought him to tears. Ladybug could see a shift in Felix’s eyes from embarrassed to displeased. She knew now would be the perfect time to get him back for earlier. Before he could bolt, she slammed her hand down onto the plaster of the chimney he was leaned against and boxed him in with her body. He seemed to jump in shock at her sudden actions.

He pressed himself back as he glanced towards her planted hand with a hard swallow, she used her yo-yo to tilt his face back towards her and meet her eyes. Ladybug leaned in and captured his lips in a heated kiss, pouring into it every emotion and sensation she had felt at the end of school. She vaguely heard Chat’s shocked “My Lady!” but she pressed on, devouring his lips with the same ardor that he had shown her in the locker room. Before the prickly boy could respond in kind, she broke away and watched as Felix dazedly chased after her lips. The rooftop was so silent, you could probably hear a pin drop.

“Just returning the favor, monsieur,” she murmured playfully with a confident smirk.

“I… what…” Felix seemed to stumble over his thoughts. She turned and sashayed over to the stunned Chat, bumping his shoulder to help him recalibrate his thoughts. It was time to get back to business. She nodded her head towards an explosion and screams in the distance. Ladybug glanced over her shoulder with a sultry smile and gave a two-fingered salute before launching herself away, leaving behind two confused teenage boys listening to her cry of “bug out!”

A few rooftops away stood a lone figure in blue and white, sipping her to-go cup of cappuccino. She stuck to the shadows to remain unseen by mini-bug and baby-cat; the less they knew about her mission, the better. Her long ears twitched as she watched Felix Graham de Vanily stumble a bit on the fire escape and mutter to himself as he walked away with a red face. The future hero glanced down at her pocket watch with a wicked grin. “Looks like this timeline is on the correct path again. The probability of Risk has been neutralized.” She called for her burrow and disappeared through the time portal. Bunnyx knew from personal experience that it would not be until much later that evening, after the akuma had been purified, that Tikki would remind her chosen that she was not Marinette when she kissed Felix on that rooftop.

The subsequent freak out could be heard for a two kilometer radius…

~Author's Notes: In the bonus, Risk is in reference to the akuma in the episode 'Risk', where Felix steals/trades the Miraculous to Hawkmoth.

I blame Pamela Aiden's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy for inspiring me to write a different POV for this. I wanted to play around with some cannon divergence and give insight into the mind of our favorite grumpy blond boy. Really tried to channel his attitude and superiority to change the tone of the writing. I also wanted to show just how much kissing Marinette wrecked him. I hope you enjoyed it.

PS: This was actually my first ever attempt at fanfiction writing. It caused me to write all the others I've since posted here.

TAG REQUEST: @babylovebug18

#miraculous ladybug #felinette #marinette dupain cheng #felix x marinette #marivanily #drabble #felix fathom #felix graham de vanily #cross posted on ao3 #pov felix #canon divergent au #first kiss #hiccups #pining #denial of feelings #open ending #badass marinette #revenge #sorta lol #Bunnyx is just here for the drama #original akuma

[mysteriouschar]

MASTER LIST

FELINETTE

Girlfriend

Rainy Day

Childhood friends

Already gone

That's not how this works

Proposal

New Year

Paris City of Love? Indeed

DREAMS OR REALITY OR BOTH

Part 1~Safe Heaven

Part 2~Dreaming

THE PARTY (Complete )

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

ALL THAT HAPPENED

Part 1~ All that happened

Part 2~ After that happened

BIO DAD BRUCE

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

MIRACULOUS SALT

Transfer

All because I liked a boy

FED UP

Part 1

Part 2

FINALLY

Part 1

Part 2

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #adrian salt #class salt #alya salt #felinette #felix graham de vanily #lila salt #nino salt #badass marinette #bio dad bruce wayne

[wordsofrowan]

From Ashes to Embers

Chapter 3 - The Rotting Bridge

Sunday morning arrived, and I indulged in the luxury of sleeping in. With my plans with Alya scheduled for the afternoon, I saw no harm in granting myself a few additional hours of rest. The soft embrace of my bed beckoned, and I surrendered to its comforting allure, blissfully unaware of the passing of time.

As the sunlight filtered through my bedroom curtains, I slowly woke up. I stretched out, my body feeling relaxed and well-rested for the first time in a while. Rolling over I reached for my phone, curious to see what time it was. It was noon on the dot which means I still had some time left to get ready. I smiled thinking about how amazing today was going to be and glad to be spending it in the company of my best friend. 

With a newfound sense of energy, I hopped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. As the warm water cascaded down my body, I let the soothing sensation wash away any remnants of sleepiness. Dressed in a casual yet stylish outfit, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, where the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

"Mmm, smells heavenly," I remarked, smiling at my mom, who stood by the kitchen counter with a mug in hand. She looked up and returned the smile.

"Good morning, sweetheart. I thought you might need an extra boost to start your day," she said, pouring me a cup of steaming coffee. I thanked her and took a sip, savoring the rich flavor that instantly awakened my senses.

With my caffeine fix in hand, I moved to the cozy living room, where I curled up on the couch, enjoying the quiet moments before the day's adventures began. I flipped open my laptop and checked my social media feeds, catching up on the latest news and messages from friends.

Just as I was about to reply to a text from Alya, the doorbell rang, signaling her arrival. I sprang up from the couch and hurried to open the door, greeted by Alya's infectious smile.

"Hey, sleeping beauty! Ready for our afternoon plans?" she exclaimed, giving me a playful nudge. I chuckled and invited her inside, gesturing for her to make herself at home.

"Absolutely! I'm so excited for our adventure today," I replied, feeling a surge of anticipation building within me. We spent a few minutes chatting and catching up on each other's lives before finalizing our plans.

With a sense of spontaneity and a touch of mischief, we decided to explore a new neighborhood known for its trendy boutiques and quaint cafes. It promised to be a day of discovery and indulgence, filled with laughter and shared memories.

We stepped out into the warm Sunday air, our laughter blending with the lively sounds of the city. As we strolled down the bustling streets, arm in arm, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for moments like these — carefree and filled with the joy of friendship. 

As we reached the park, I couldn't help but notice a certain sausage-haired girl standing there, waving at us. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I glanced at Alya, my disappointment evident in my voice.

"Hey... I thought it was just supposed to be me and you today, Alya?" I questioned her, my tone laced with a tinge of disappointment. I had been looking forward to spending quality time with my best friend, and the unexpected presence of Lila unsettled me.

Alya's expression softened, and she hesitated for a moment before explaining, "Well, I figured this was the best way for my new bestie and my other bestie to become besties!" Her words were filled with enthusiasm, but they didn't quite ease the unease I felt.

I knew Alya had good intentions, always trying to bring people together, but her insistence on hanging out with Lila and pushing me to do the same hurt me deeply. The countless lies Lila had spun about Ladybug had damaged the trust I had in her, and I found it challenging to overlook that.

Regardless of my inner turmoil, I decided to keep my silence, not wanting to dampen the mood or cause any tension. As Alya and Lila engaged in a back-and-forth discussion, filled with Alya's enthusiastic theories and Lila's skilled fabrications about Ladybug's heroic exploits, I observed from the sidelines.

Lila's words were like a carefully crafted web, designed to entangle and deceive those who listened. It pained me to see Alya, my loyal and trusting friend, being lured into Lila's web of lies. But I reminded myself that Alya was capable of making her own choices and forming her own judgments.

As their conversation continued, I fought to maintain a polite demeanor, attempting to interject with neutral comments to keep the atmosphere amicable. However, it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, Lila skillfully cut me off every time, seamlessly injecting her own stories that portrayed her as well-loved and popular.

With each interruption, I felt my frustration mounting, but I knew that confronting Lila directly would only escalate the situation. Instead, I resorted to small nods and forced smiles, hiding my growing discomfort beneath a façade of politeness. I could sense Alya's enthusiasm for Lila's tales, but it pained me to see how easily she was captivated by the web of deceit.

As Lila continued to monopolize the conversation, I found myself growing more distant, my mind wandering to a place of skepticism. The stark contrast between Lila's exaggerated stories and the truth I knew as Ladybug only fueled my determination to expose her lies. Yet, I understood the delicate balance I had to maintain, not wanting to jeopardize my friendship with Alya.

Amidst the ongoing stream of Lila's fabricated anecdotes, I sought solace in my own thoughts. I reminded myself of the importance of honesty and integrity, qualities that I held dear and ones that I hoped Alya would recognize in due time. While Lila's charisma was hard to resist, I knew that the truth would always prevail in the end.

However, my thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sudden commotion that erupted in the park. Panic spread like wildfire as people screamed and ran in every direction. It was evident that a new akuma had surfaced, as a villain with a Butterfly-themed appearance emerged, causing chaos and transforming the unsuspecting crowd. Without wasting a moment, Alya and Lila dashed after the villain, determined to capture the thrilling footage for the LadyBlog.

As the chaos unfolded, I quickly assessed the situation, searching for a secluded spot where I could safely transform into Ladybug. Spotting an abandoned gazebo hidden amidst the trees, I swiftly made my way toward it, my heart pounding with adrenaline. Once inside, I closed my eyes and focused, feeling the familiar surge of power as my transformation took hold. In an instant, I emerged as Ladybug, donning my iconic red suit and admiring the vibrant wings that adorned my back.

Taking to the skies, I soared above the chaos, careful to remain unseen. My objective was clear—to identify the akumatized object and put an end to the villain's destructive rampage. However, the task proved to be more challenging than anticipated. The swarm of butterflies surrounding the Akuma created a chaotic spectacle, making it difficult to discern the source of their power.

Hovering in the air, I observed the villain, who had taken on the name "Mariposa," echoing a sense of eerie familiarity reminiscent of past encounters with Le Papillon. The determination in Mariposa's voice sent shivers down my spine, as they vowed to bring justice to the Parisian butterflies.

With my enhanced senses and strategic thinking, I carefully studied the Akuma and its surroundings. I analyzed every detail, searching for any sign or clue that could lead me to the akumatized object. The safety and well-being of Paris were at stake, and it was my responsibility as Ladybug to put an end to Mariposa's reign.

Navigating through the flurry of butterflies, I cautiously approached the Akuma, moving with agility and precision. The butterflies fluttered around me, their gentle wings brushing against my suit as I focused on my mission. With each step, I analyzed the energy emanating from the Akuma, searching for any hints or anomalies that could guide me to its source.

Time seemed to slow as I engaged in a silent battle of wits and intuition. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, fueling my determination and sharpening my focus. I knew that every decision I made would impact the outcome of this confrontation.

As I drew closer to Mariposa, I prepared myself for the inevitable showdown. My mind raced with strategies and plans, weighing the risks and considering the consequences. I knew that I had to act swiftly and decisively, using my wit and the power of the Miraculous to restore harmony and peace to the city.

With a determined expression, I faced Mariposa head-on, ready to unleash my Ladybug abilities and protect the people of Paris. The battle had just begun, and I was prepared to confront this butterfly-themed villain with all my strength and resolve.

Although this particular Akuma didn't possess the same level of power and cunning as some of my previous adversaries, it became apparent that facing Mariposa alone presented its own set of challenges. The battle against the butterfly-themed villain dragged on for what felt like an eternity, stretching the limits of my endurance and testing my resolve.

Hour after hour, I engaged in a relentless cat-and-mouse game with Mariposa, each of us maneuvering through the sprawling cityscape. The Akuma's ability to control and summon butterflies added an unpredictable element to the fight, forcing me to remain constantly on guard. The persistent fluttering wings obscured my vision at times, making it difficult to anticipate Mariposa's next move.

As the battle wore on, fatigue began to take its toll. The strain of maintaining my Ladybug form weighed heavily on me, and I found myself gradually losing focus. Recognizing the need to regroup and recharge, I made a swift decision to detransform, seeking a momentary respite.

In a secluded alleyway, away from prying eyes, I closed my eyes and released the Miraculous, feeling the familiar warmth fade away. The transformation left me feeling vulnerable, but I knew it was a necessary step in order to regain my strength. I took a moment to catch my breath, allowing my body and mind to recuperate.

Once I felt a renewed sense of energy surging through me, I reactivated the Miraculous, donning the Ladybug suit once again. Determination burned within me as I returned to the battle, ready to face Mariposa head-on.

With a renewed focus and a clearer understanding of my opponent's tactics, I fought with renewed vigor. I utilized every strategy and technique in my arsenal, dodging the fluttering wings and countering Mariposa's attacks with precision. It was a battle of attrition, testing my endurance and pushing me to my limits.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of relentless back-and-forth, an opportunity presented itself. I seized the moment, striking at the heart of Mariposa's vulnerability. With calculated precision, I purified the Akuma, watching as the butterfly-themed villain's twisted form dissipated into a shower of light.

Exhausted but victorious, I stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, surveying the tranquil city that had been restored to its former glory. The weight of the world lifted from my shoulders as I realized that, once again, I had protected the people of Paris from the clutches of Akumatized evil.

As the adrenaline subsided and my breathing steadied, a sense of accomplishment washed over me. Despite the challenges and the moments of doubt, I had proven my strength and resilience as Ladybug. It was a reminder of the responsibility I carried and the unwavering determination needed to uphold the balance between good and evil.

I stumbled through the front door, my weary body protesting each step after the exhausting battle with Mariposa. A wave of relief washed over me as I entered the comforting embrace of my home, seeking solace in familiar surroundings. The soft glow of the living room lights illuminated my parents, seated on the couch, their attention absorbed by a captivating TV show.

"Hey, Mom," I managed to utter, my voice barely above a whisper. Fatigue weighed heavily on my words as I glanced toward the source of the inviting aroma that permeated the air. "Thank you for dinner."

My mom, Sabine, turned her gaze toward me, her warm smile instantly easing the strain etched on my face. "Of course, sweetheart," she replied with a touch of maternal concern. I grabbed my food out of the microwaved and walked to the living room where my parents were sitting watching some movie. 

As I settled into the comforting embrace of the couch, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, both physical and emotional. The events of the weekend played out like a tumultuous whirlwind, each akuma battle leaving its mark on my weary soul. The absence of Chat Noir's familiar presence in those fights gnawed at me, a reminder of the unspoken tension between us.

Berserker, although a relatively straightforward adversary, had left a bitter aftertaste. The sting of his absence during that encounter lingered a subtle ache that resonated deep within. The thought of fighting alone, without my partner by my side, felt unfamiliar and unsettling.

Then came Noelle, a formidable opponent who pushed me to my limits. Hours of intense combat and strategic thinking had been required to overcome her relentless onslaught. The reward of Ladybug wings, a testament to my victory, provided a fleeting moment of triumph amidst the weariness that settled in my bones.

But perhaps the most challenging of all was Mariposa, an akuma who possessed an ability that tested my resolve. Her ability to disperse into a swarm of butterflies made her an elusive target, and the battle had stretched on longer than anticipated. Each moment of evasion, each calculated move had demanded my utmost focus and determination.

Yet, as I reflected on these triumphs, an undercurrent of loneliness and frustration coursed through me. The absence of Chat Noir's witty banter, his unwavering support, weighed heavily on my heart. The burden of fighting alone had begun to take its toll, chipping away at my confidence.

To compound my worries, the persistent pressure from my friends to spend time with Lila had become an unwelcome source of turmoil. The constant push to embrace someone who harbored deceit and manipulation grated on my nerves. In those moments, I yearned for respite, a chance to catch my breath and escape from the web of Lila's lies.

Amidst the chaos and turmoil, there had been a brief respite—a vulnerable moment shared with Luka. Tears flowed freely as the weight of my responsibilities, my doubts, and my longing poured out. In his comforting presence, I found solace, a temporary sanctuary from the demands of being Ladybug.

As I sat in the silence of the living room, my thoughts swirling in a sea of mixed emotions, I couldn't help but wish for a reprieve, a fleeting moment of calm. The turmoil of the weekend had left me yearning for a respite from the constant battles, both physical and emotional.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, allowing the weariness to wash over me, and made a silent vow to find moments of peace amidst the chaos. 

Finishing my meal, I made my way upstairs to my room. I turned on some music to create a soothing ambiance while Tikki and I engaged in light-hearted conversations. With the gentle melodies filling the room, I let the music guide my hand across the paper, translating my creative visions into intricate sketches. Tikki, my loyal and supportive companion, flitted around the room, offering encouraging words and suggestions. Our light-hearted conversations brought a sense of comfort and familiarity, reminding me of the unique bond we shared.

As I delved deeper into the designs for Jagged Stone's new album and Clara Nightingale's upcoming video, a wave of excitement and nervous anticipation washed over me. These were no longer just fictional characters or imaginary clients; they were actual celebrities, individuals whose artistry had inspired and touched the lives of countless people. The weight of their expectations and the pressure to deliver designs that truly captured their essence weighed heavily on my shoulders.

However, amidst the overwhelming feelings, I found solace in the realization that these celebrities had become more than mere clients. They had become like family, collaborators in a creative journey that transcended the boundaries of fame. Their trust in my abilities and the connection we had built over time filled me with a sense of purpose and determination.

With the deadlines for both projects looming on the horizon, I focused my energy on channeling my passion and creativity into the sketches before me. Each stroke of the pencil, each intricate detail, was a testament to my dedication and commitment to my craft. The designs began to take shape, capturing the essence of Jagged Stone's rock-and-roll spirit and Clara Nightingale's ethereal elegance.

As the hours passed, the sketches evolved, refined by countless revisions and meticulous attention to detail. Tikki offered invaluable guidance, her wisdom and support guiding me through the creative process. Together, we forged a path of inspiration and innovation, seeking to exceed expectations and bring the visions to life.

While the weight of responsibility and the sense of overwhelm remained, I reminded myself of the ample time I had to finalize the sketches. The deadline on Friday offered a sense of structure, a goal to strive towards, and I was determined to meet it with unwavering determination and unwavering passion.

As the night grew deeper and the moon cast a soft glow through the window, I finally set aside my sketchbook, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction settling within me. The designs, though unfinished, held the promise of greatness, a testament to my growth as an artist and my dedication to my craft.

With a contented sigh, I turned off the music, allowing the silence to envelop me. In this quiet moment, I reflected on the journey ahead, the challenges that awaited, and the boundless possibilities that lay within each stroke of the pencil. As I slipped under the covers, ready to surrender to the realm of dreams, I held onto the belief that my designs would bring joy, inspiration, and a touch of magic to the lives of those who encountered them.

With that thought, I closed my eyes, the melodies of the music still echoing in my mind, as I drifted into a peaceful slumber, ready to face the next day's adventures with renewed creativity and unwavering determination.

XoXo Rowan

#writing #spilled ink #miraculous au #miraculous fandom #prose #badass marinette #Miraculous season 4 rewrite

[echoing-gravity]

can someone give me fic recs for maribat where there's lots of fight scenes

forget romance lemme read about Marinette beating up criminals pls.

It can have romance but I wanna read a fic that doesn't turn Marinette into a damsel in distress, like c'mon guys Marinette fights a magical emotional terrorist like- daily, she should be way OP against the normal no-powers criminals of gotham.

I've already read angel of Gotham (Mar fights the riddler and the joker in that one and it's written extremely well)

I've also just finished reading Canary but in that one mar is more anti hero than hero hero

I've also read journey to you and I really really don't wanna go digging thru all the extremely ooc daminette fics to find more badass fighty Marinette fics Any fic recs?....ANYONE ??

#miraculous ladybug #maribat #mlb x dc #marinette dupain cheng #bamf marinette #badass marinette #Anyone? #I feel like I'm to only one who reads batman crossovers for the combat like marinettes whole magic jewels stich is awesome and I wanna see #Her fight other villains