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mlwritersguild · 9 months

Note

Adrinette roommates AU with "there was only one bed" please (ily mia)

Fervor Lullaby, by @chy-tea93

AO3 link; Just One Bed, Roommates AU, Aged-Up Characters, Post-Reveal Pre-Relationship, Mutual Pining, Reverse Love Square AU, Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Summary:

“So… looks like we’re sharing a room then.”

Marinette nodded in agreement. “And a bed.”

---

It really should have come as no surprise. They’d gotten a small place to keep rent costs down after all. But the listing had said two bedrooms. What it really should have said was one-bedroom and extra closet. If it could even be considered a closet, there was hardly room for one twin bed and a small dresser and that was if you didn’t like seeing the floor.

Gabriel’s accounts had all been frozen post-defeat and Adrien had only the funds made when modeling – before he decided to quit. Marinette had a little in savings as well from working at the bakery. They both had just enough to pitch in on the security deposit. Whoever had taken the photos of this place did an impressive job, the ‘second’ bedroom looked at the very least, useable online. It was the only available apartment on a top floor in their price range, so they had taken it sight-unseen.

“So… looks like we’re sharing a room then.”

Marinette nodded in agreement. “And a bed.”

Not like they could back out now anyways, money had been paid and they needed this – to be independent. Even if it was going to be more awkward than ever before.

“Don’t worry, I don’t wiggle too much and at least the bed is larger than either of us are used to.”

“It’s quite large, yeah.” She was worried, but not because of him.

Her nights usually ended with the blanket somewhere down on the bottom of her room back at the bakery, head hanging off the side and more often than not, there was drool. And that was when she didn’t have nightmares, she was ten-times worse after one. How on earth was she going to make it through one night without embarrassing herself?

“Honestly, I’m kind of excited. It will be like having a sleepover every night.”

“Heh. Yeah. A sleepover! I sleep love-overs!”

Adrien gave her a quizzical look and dang-it if that signature chat-like glint in his eyes didn’t make her weak in the knees.

“Ookay then. Um… I’m going to go unload my suitcase and then take a shower. We can figure out dinner afterwards?”

“Sure. Yeah. Okay. I’ll unpack the food my parents sent.”

Marinette felt his arms wrap around from behind and pull her into him, his breath tickling as he nuzzled her neck. “Thank you for moving in with me, Mari.”

She stiffened, willing the goosebumps to back down. They didn’t. Adrien hummed behind her before pulling away and heading into the bedroom. Their bedroom. She was doomed. Completely doomed.

---

“It was so nice of your parents to send cookies!”

“And cheese croissants!”

“You two are insatiable.”

Tikki and Plagg had quickly made themselves at home in the middle of the kitchen table, both munching on the aforementioned treats. Marinette could tell how much they absolutely loved being able to be around each other out in the open. Despite the strange atmosphere that had hung around her and Adrien ever since finding everything out, seeing the two Kwamis happy had been worth it.

“So, Pigtails, Tikki here says you are in love with a certain cat boy I know.”

“Shhh Plagg! I told you that in confidence!” Tikki all but yelled.

“I thought there were no more secrets! I’m going to need an extensive amount of camembert if this is how it’s gonna be.”

“Would both of you quiet down? This apartment is small!”

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Kitten gets really into his shower routine.”

“I… didn’t need to know that. And yes. To answer your question, I am and kind of always have been… but it won’t be an issue! He made it clear that in love with someone else and I want him to be happy. Once we both get better jobs, we can find a bigger place with our own rooms.”

The two Kwami stared at each other with knowing looks.

“Right. Like I said. Camembert, stat!”

“Plagg! Be nice!” Tikki tossed a crumb towards the tiny cat that he easily dodged.

Marinette opened the fridge and grabbed a wheel, popping the container open and placing it on the table, much to Plagg’s delight.

She decided she might as well start unpacking her suitcase (they would slowly move the rest of their things over the weekend) and made her way into the bedroom. The one thing this place had going for it at least was the sheer number of pillows stocked in the closet. Those would make a nice barrier to prevent Adrien from being kicked off of the bed. Maybe.

Foregoing her bag for the moment, Marinette collected every last pillow she could find, including a couple from the tiny not-a-bedroom bedroom across the hall, and began creating a wall down the middle of the bed. Getting it right took some wrangling as some of the pillows were just too soft to really create much of a barrier, but after a few tries it looked – decent.

Surveying her work, Marinette leaned against the dresser opposite the foot of the bed. She could do this. Sharing a bed with her best friend who turned out to be her other best friend that she was most definitely not in love with (she totally was) would be easy, especially with the pillows to prevent any sort of contact.

“Wow Mari, your work rivals the great wall of China.”

Adrien’s voice caused her to squeak and look towards him. Her arms flailed as she felt herself tip backwards from the momentum of her turn only to be caught by her partner’s arms.

“Sorry, Mar. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Psh. Me? Scared? Nah. Just felt like flying!”

He raised a brow. She was truly on a roll tonight.

“Well maybe save the flying for the suit, no?”

“Good idea.”

“So, what’s with the pillow wall?”

She felt her cheeks flush, which was just absolutely lovely. “I, uh, kick a lot so I thought it might be safer for you this way.”

“Oh.”

Why did he look so disappointed? She needed a distraction, or the kicked kitten look he suddenly had was going to break her.

“Dinner! We need to have dinner! Otherwise, we won’t sleep well!”

He looked surprised at her sudden change of subject but thankfully didn’t comment on it, instead following her train of thought. “Want to order some takeout? I’m not really good at cooking at the moment and it’s been a long day with signing paperwork and everything.”

“Takeout would be great.”

🗝️🗝️🗝️

Adrien was used to Marinette’s usual quirkiness, but tonight she seemed more on edge. He figured it had to do with the fact that they were unexpectedly sharing a room and a bed. In all honesty, he was excited at the notion. With everything that had gone down after his father had been defeated there hadn’t been much time for them to just be together and he missed the way they used to just hang out and relax.

They had put on a movie to watch during dinner and though things had mostly been comfortable, tonight was more strained, both eating in silence rather than engaging in their usual banter. Hopefully the jitters of moving into their first apartment away from their parents for the first time would wear off quickly.

He was incredibly grateful to Marinette. Before they’d officially revealed themselves, she had supported him after Gabriel was publicly outed. She never once made him feel like he was less of a person for being related to the tyrant. That’s why, when he accidentally saw her detransform on her balcony one night shortly after a now non-eventful patrol, he didn’t hesitate to leap down and reveal himself. This amazing woman who had remained by his side, no matter how bad it could possibly look for her future career or what other people said, turned out to be the savoir of Paris. It made him love her all the more.

“I love this movie.”

“Can we get three kittens? Please? Marie can be yours!”

“Don’t let Plagg hear you say that he might be offended.”

“I’ll just get him more cheese.”

Her laugh rang out and oh how he loved that sound. It was more addictive than any drug in his mind and he quickly decided he needed more of it. Leaning across the couch he reached for her sides and began tickling. It worked like the luckiest of charms. Lured in by the melody of her laughter, Adrien scooted closer to her, reaching up to get her underarms and neck. She squirmed and giggled as he drew closer, until he had her completely pinned underneath him.

Marinette looked stunning with rosy cheeks, eyes alight and a smile on her face. This was how he always loved to see her, something that he hadn’t experienced in months. So caught up in the moment, he let his guard down long enough to allow her to tickle him in return and make him go tumbling to the floor, laughing all the way.

“Crap! I’m sorry! Are you okay?”

“I’m good!”

“Stinker. You play dirty.”

“Nah. All’s fair.”

He chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

“I’m going to go get ready for bed, you okay cleaning up?”

“Absolutely.”

She didn’t move from her spot, both of them sharing a look that felt more intimate than most. He should just pull her to him and kiss her. Really, what was stopping him from doing just that? It had been a few years, but she’d once said she loved him as Chat. He had told her he was in love with someone else, having fallen for Marinette all those years ago on his very first day of public school. There was a chance she still felt the same way, right? She hadn’t dated anyone in all their years as friends, of this he was certain.

Right as he gathered up the courage and began to sit up, she rose. Try as he might, the disappointment was sure to show.

“I’ll be in soon, just let me know when you’re decent.”

“Will do.”

He watched somberly as she softly closed the bedroom door behind her.

🗝️🗝️🗝️

Heart racing, Marinette sat on the bed for a moment attempting to collect her thoughts. Every point of contact he’d made on her had left lingering flames. She needed to dial it back because there was no way in hell she was losing her best friend over her stupid feelings. No way at all.

Her mind wandered back to that night on her balcony, mere months ago. She had landed after an outing with Chat, something she was worried would become less and less now that their main enemy had been defeated, and quickly detransformed. The thud of his boots on the deck behind her had made her jump, but as his detransformation fell she could only smile in pure adoration. Her two favorite people in all the world had turned out to be the same person and she had never loved him more.

Unfortunately for her, she knew Adrien was in love with someone, and that someone was not her. They’d managed to make it through, even if things were more awkward and, with her parents’ blessing, had decided on renting the apartment together.

Adrien could hardly afford to rent even a studio by himself and without hesitation she had suggested they be roommates. Would it absolutely destroy her when he finally brought that special girl home? Yes. Was she going to go through with it anyways? Yes. The whole ‘just one bed’ thing really was a curveball she hadn’t seen coming.

Sighing, mostly to herself, but partially in hopes that Tikki would hear (she didn’t), Marinette changed into her pj’s and did the rest of her nightly routine in the small two-piece bathroom attached to the bedroom. Time for the strangest sleepover she’d ever had.

---

“You’re really sticking with the pillow wall, then?”

“It’s for your safety, trust me.”

“You can’t be that bad.”

“I assure you; she is!” Of course, Tikki made an appearance now.

“Oh?”

“I have a habit of kicking and ending up in odd places on the bed.”

“I mean… I could just hold you so you can’t go anywhere.” He winked. She blushed.

“Ha! Funny one.” She climbed into her side of the bed, forgetting the comforter that was still on the floor from her earlier construction.

“You, uh, gonna be warm enough, Mari?”

“Mmhmm!”

An involuntary shiver gave her away and Adrien laughed softly as he brought the blanket up and over her, tucking it in around her shoulders.

“There. Snug as a bug in a rug.”

A snort escaped her.

“You know you love me.”

He had no idea.

Adrien turned off the light, though the city lights illuminated the room enough that she could still see everything clearly. They would definitely need to invest in some black-out curtains. The bed dipped as he climbed into the bed, causing her to tense as she kept herself from rolling towards the center and into the makeshift barrier.

“Huh. The pillows are quite supportive when I’m on my side.”

“Mmhmm.”

She felt one push into her back a little.

“Squishy too.”

“Goofball.”

“But I’m your goofball.”

“Goodnight, Adrien.”

“Goodnight, Mari.”

---

That morning she woke up by some miracle in relatively the same spot as she had fallen asleep in. It would seem that the pillow wall had remained largely intact as well… except for the arm that had made its way through it and was currently wrapped around her waist. That would explain why she hadn’t moved.

Gently, she lifted said arm and slid out of bed placing her personal pillow underneath, so she didn’t wake him. After gathering some clothes for the day, she stole a glance at him before heading to the main bathroom to shower. Adrien was smooshed up against the barrier, golden locks hanging in his face, mouth partly open as he slept. He looked so incredibly peaceful, something he had long deserved.

She could get used to waking up to this every day.

---

And she did.

A week had gone by with her waking before Adrien, his arm breaking the barrier to snuggle her. Somehow, she had managed not to completely karate kick him off the bed yet, though there had been a few mornings where the blankets were a complete mess.

Today had been long, the bakery busier than usual due to an influx of tourists for the season. Marinette was a walking zombie at this point, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep.

“Welcome home!” Adrien stood over the stove, cooking what looked to be a box of pasta and something else, with a large grin on his face. He wore the light pink ‘life is what you bake it’ apron that he had gotten her on their friendiversary last year.

“Hey. Thanks.”

“I watched a video on how to make pasta. Tikki helped me with the marinara so it’s a little bit on the sweet side. But I haven’t burned the place down yet!”

She walked over and dipped her finger in the sauce to taste. It was on the sweeter side for sure, but in a good way.

“Thanks, Adri.”

“You’ve been working hard lately, and I wanted to try and do something nice.”

“Well, I am certainly not complaining. And lucky for us, my parents sent home some bread!”

“I might have called and asked them to set some aside…”

“You’re too sweet. I’m going to go get cleaned up and then I’ll join you.”

His smile did nothing but melt her heart. If only he realized what it was he was truly doing to her.

🗝️🗝️🗝️

Adrien had been super excited to make dinner but watching Marinette actually enjoy what he had prepared made him giddy. She’d been putting in extra hours at the bakery, trying to save up money for when they were in school next year and couldn’t work as much. He’d been trying to find somewhere to work but didn’t have many qualifications at the moment, aside from modeling. His dream was to teach le primaire music. Not to mention, it was hard to find someone who would hire him, being the son of a former magical terrorist and all.

Much to his delight, the one bed thing hadn’t turned out to be much of an issue. The first night he had tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable spot until he’d finally decided to snuggle the makeshift wall. He’d awoken that first morning with his arm shoved through and holding Marinette’s Pillow. He could only conclude that he had snuggled her throughout the night and that she hadn’t wanted to wake him or make him feel bad. After that he had tried his hardest to fall asleep facing the edge of the bed but always woke up in the same position.

He was surprised at the fact that she hadn’t been as violent in her sleep as she and Tikki had tried to get him to believe. There had been a couple of mornings that she had yoinked the covers right off of him and wiggled around but nothing near as crazy as he had imagined. Tonight, however, she seemed to be thrashing more than she had been the last week.

“N-no. Cht. Pllse dnt do ths.”

Her mumble startled him, more-so because she had mentioned him than her voice itself.

“Mari?”

“Please, no!” Her voice came out as a strangled yell.

Facing away from him, she lunged backwards, nearly knocking him off the bed as she began to kick and knock both the covers and bottom half of the pillow-wall off the bed. Righting himself, he leaned up to look over the leftover pillow. Her arms were wound around her chest as her feet continued to kick, almost as if she was running from something.

Out of the corner of his eye, watched Tikki as she flew over and rested atop Marinette’s head, gently stroking her chosen’s hair.

“Nightmare?”

“She has them about once a week. It only gets worse from here.”

“Oh Jeeze.” His heart was racing. “Is there anything I can do?”

“She’s going to hate me for this, but I think it would help if you held her. She’ll begin to call out for you soon and sometimes will sleepwalk in search of you.”

His heart sank at that. He’d had no idea.

Tossing the rest of the pillows to the floor, Adrien sat up slightly before moving closer to her, cautiously reaching out and rubbing up and down her exposed arm. Marinette stiffened before quickly turning to face him and wrapping her arms around his torso. Thankfully her kicking seemed to have slowed down.

“Kitty. You came back.”

“Always, love. Always.”

He held her tight as her dream seemingly played out, listening as she mumbled incoherently. After what felt like hours, she finally stilled and began breathing evenly once again.

“That was amazing Adrien. She has never calmed down that fast.”

“No?”

The little red kwami shook her head. “No. You remember when she told you about you being akumitized as Chat Blanc?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s what her nightmares are usually about. First you destroy the world, then, sparing her, you destroy yourself. She always tries to stop you but never makes it in time.”

“Oh wow. I never knew it had affected her so much.” He lightly brushed the hairs that had collected around her face away, tucking them behind her ear.

“I think having you here is going to be a really good thing. You both need each other, she’s just too scared to do anything about it.”

Scared? Marinette? He had never known her to be too terribly scared of anything. Nervous, sure, but never scared. Even when she had told him the story of his akumatization, she’d been calm and levelheaded. Marinette began to stir in his arms, pushing against him slightly, her brows arched in confusion, seemingly unsure of where she was.

“Mari?”

Her eyes slowly blinked open.

“Adrien?”

“Yeah, its me. You had a nightmare.”

“Oh. OH.”

“You alright?”

“I… I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Not at all, love.”

She looked up at him, confusion written in her eyes.

“Tikki filled me in. She thought that my holding you might help, and she was right.”

“Love?”

“A new nickname I thought I’d try… if you like?”

She frowned and looked away for a moment before locking her gaze back on his.

“Love. But… what about…”

“Mari, there’s no one else. It’s always been you. From the moment we met.”

Her eyes widened as the information sank in.

“M-me?”

“You. I love you Marinette.”

Though he didn’t expect what came next, he would forever be grateful it had. Marinette’s arms wrapped around his neck as her lips crashed into his, desire and longing coursing through her. His hands reached up to cup her face, pulling her closer as he deepened their kiss. It was everything he had ever dreamed of and more, the woman of his dreams here in his arms holding him like she never wanted to let go. Deep down he knew she never would.

🗝️🗝️🗝️

Life so far had been a whirlwind of emotions and crazy clichés, but lying in Adrien’s arms, knowing he loved her just as much as she loved him, Marinette had never been more thankful for this little home they’d quickly made, complete with ‘just one bed’.

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masilvi · 2 years

Photo

Comic commission for @deinde-prandium for the @miraculers-for-ukraine drive, based on their fic “The Clark Kent Effect”

🌸🌞 BONUS! a discarded sketch because he looks cute!

#miraculous ladybug #ml fanart #ml comic #adrinette #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #lovesquare #fic rec #ml fanfiction #miraculous ladybug fanart #my art #slowly but surely finishing all my commission batches TTuTT #long post

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ladyofthenoodle · 8 months

Text

i think there should be more marichat enemy aus. i DONT mean marichat stories where ladynoir are enemies and marichat bonds. i mean actual marichat enemies where marinette and chat noir are actively trying to destroy each other’s lives. something goes wrong during evillustrator and somehow they both come out of it thinking the other hates them. the idea of chat noir hating her civilian self pisses marinette off so she decides to hate him too. marinette constantly has the upper hand here because ladynoir are still partners. chat noir does not understand why his lady is upset with him or why marinette is so mean.

meanwhile adrien is ABSOLUTELY terrified marinette will find out his secret identity and start going after him in real life too. so he avoids her at all costs. marinette is devastated by this and knows in her heart this is somehow chat noirs fault. meanwhile they are making out as ladrien.

#miraculous ladybug #lovesquare #noodling #fic ideas

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coffeebanana · 3 months

Text

It felt eerily familiar, kneeling ghost-like beneath a vermillion sky. Doom crept though Antichat's chest, as thick as the acrid smoke scorching his lungs. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. There was a weight in his arms—an inexplicable solace. And yet… Suddenly it didn’t weigh as much as it should. No. His eyes flicked downwards. No, no, no, no— All he held was a pile of ashes, moulded into the shape of a girl.

Some nightmares refuse to fade.

***

[Read the full fic below the cut or on Ao3!! CW: panic attacks, dissociation, depression]

Please, no.

Chat squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head to rid himself of a sudden, blinding panic pounding through his skull. But it was too late. Ladybug’s slate-stained image was seared into his mind, her face frozen in pain, devoid of everything that had once painted comfort across his soul.

Her mask was half-torn, such that Marinette's bare cheek was cradled closest to his chest. Like maybe he'd tried in vain to protect her from the blast.

From his own destruction.

A choked sound ripped itself from his throat, a painful lump following in its wake. He had no way to fix this, nothing to do but pull her in closer. To tighten his arms around her precious, fragile remains.

Another mistake.

She crumbled in his grip; ashes floated up like a mosaic, blinding his vision. Frantically, he pawed at the air—trying to gather her fragments, to force her back together. If he caught enough, perhaps he could papier-mâché her likeness. He could use his tears as glue.

But there was no time for that before a fiery breeze tore through the street. Marinette’s remains were swept away, and only Chat’s strangled cries could follow.

The further away they fled, the more he came undone. There was nothing left to tie his mind together, to keep his pain from exploding like a supernova.

Nothing to keep the world from collapsing in on him.

“What did you expect?” Nightormentor’s voice sliced through the smoke. “You’ve always been poison to the ones you loved most.”

NO!

With a frigid gasp—one that curdled his tar-slicked insides—Adrien awoke. Once again, there was a darling weight in his arms. Only this Marinette was warm and solid. Her limbs were tangled in the blankets she'd pulled to her side of his bed, and one of her hands curled slightly into his T-shirt as her breath tickled the fabric.

She was alive.

Adrien just wasn't sure his heart still knew how to beat.

He was too hot and too cold all at once, both drenched in sweat and trembling. His chest felt like someone had trampled it, and every attempt to breathe sliced further into the wound.

When he closed his eyes, the world was still on fire.

Stomach lurching, he carefully rolled Marinette’s weight off his chest. He couldn’t stay here, couldn’t listen to the even sounds of her breath without hearing echoes of his own sobs slip between them.

The room spun around him as he stumbled to the bathroom; the world still appeared as though through smoke—muted and unreliable, the air too thick to breathe. He collapsed to his knees in front of the toilet, his empty stomach convulsing, only to realize the sickness inside him wasn’t the kind he could expel.

He remained there, braced against the toilet seat, until his limbs eased their shaking enough for him to crawl away. Even so, he barely made it to the wall beside the sink before one of his arms gave out, and his cheek slammed a little too hard into the handle of one of the cupboards he twisted into a seated position. Hissing in pain, he let his face press against the wood there, shuddering at the way the cold surface shocked some life inside of him.

Time ceased to make sense after that. One moment, his chest was burning, pain reverberating through his back as he struggled to fill his lungs. The next, it seemed he’d become a giant cloud. A numb expanse of icy droplets, ready to fall at a moment’s notice.

Light gradually awakened the room, a subtle warmth flickering near the edge of his awareness. He only fully realized the day had come when, somewhere beyond the door he’d left ajar, the bed creaked.

“Adrien?” Marinette called. Her voice was gentle, but pierced through him all the same. “Everything okay?”

No.

Panic set in anew as footsteps approached. He swore he could somehow taste the blood pounding in his ears, and he clamped his mouth shut to keep from crying out. To keep from breathing, even.

He didn’t want to be found. Maybe, if he held his breath until his lungs screamed again, he’d remain concealed in his lifeless fog.

But ironically, it was harder to keep from breathing when that was his actual goal. He sucked in sharp breaths, timed to his heartbeats, and hid his face in his hands.

“Oh, Chaton...” Marinette’s slippers scraped across the bathroom tiles, coming to a stop within his sight. Too close. “Did it happen again?”

He managed a nod, bottom lip quivering as he bit back a sob.

A long exhale piqued his attention; it started as a noise from above and ended as a warm breath against his cheek. Kneeling at his side, Marinette rubbed her hands against her thighs.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

Adrien shifted his jaw from side to side, guilt hooking its talons into his gut. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

It wasn’t a lie; he felt plenty bad about inadvertently dragging her here every night. She deserved the comfort of her own bed, regardless of whether he could actually get any sleep without her. So the least he could do was actually let her get enough rest.

But it wasn’t the truth, either.

And as she took his hand, carefully smoothing his fingers over hers, he had a feeling she knew it.

“Adrien…” She tugged his arm upwards, pressing a kiss to his fingertips. “You’re not going to hurt me.”

Biting his lip to keep from disagreeing, Adrien squeezed his eyes shut. With one less sense at his disposal, he was all too aware of the way she lifted his hand further, unfolding his fingers to press against her cheek.

“See?” she whispered, breath tickling the inside of his wrist. Her head twisted to the side, lips planting a kiss on the heel of his palm. “Everything’s fine.”

He swore he could feel the remnants of destruction prickling against her cheek. It took everything he had not to jerk his hand away.

Nothing was fine.

No matter how he’d come into this world, and no matter how much he despised the fact, Adrien would always be—in some way or another—his father’s son. Sometimes he swore he saw a glimpse of the man when he turned too fast in the mirror. Other times, a flash of fury would seize him; with a sickening sense of satisfaction, he’d know what it might felt like to be a villain.

Even worse, he was his mother’s son. His very existence had killed her.

He’d killed both his parents, in the end.

So no matter how much Marinette tried to console him, Adrien knew the voice of his nightmares had a point. He was a danger to her, to himself, to the world.

It might not even end up being his choice. All it would take was someone finding out what he was, and stealing the two rings he still couldn’t stand the sight of.

He was, at most, a liability. And Marinette deserved more than that.

She never agreed with him on that point.

“Look at me,” she said now. An edge crept into her voice, one that shocked him into listening.

His heart jumped at the blue of her eyes—filled with all the warmth that the fiery world of his nightmares had failed to hold.

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice cracking.

“No, no, no. I don’t want you to be sorry. I just…” Tears filled her eyes. “I love you, okay?”

Adrien couldn’t say it back. He couldn’t find enough truth to shove into the sentiment—not when that was all buried beneath his own misery. It was like he’d returned to his nightmare, with smoke charring his throat and one all-consuming fear.

Just the tiniest wrong movement could ruin everything.

But if he didn’t give some kind of response, Marinette would only worry. So he tugged on her hand—maybe a little too hard considering her yelp of surprise—and guided her to sit between his legs. She moved readily into place, and Adrien forced himself to ignore the fear spiking through his veins, hugging her back to his chest.

Once settled, she twisted around and tried to crane her neck upwards, reaching a hand half-blindly up to his cheek. Heart squeezing in his chest, he tightened his grip around and pressed a kiss to her head.

She remained tense for a moment too long, but finally sighed and melted back against his chest. Her hand trailed lazily back down to her side, and her breath spilled into a hum of contentment. With her gaze fixed firmly ahead, Adrien could finally breathe again.

He didn’t want her to see the few tears he’d finally let slip down his cheeks—even if she’d no doubt hear his sniffles or feel the way the cries rumbled in his chest. And he didn't want her to examine him to deeply, to discover what he already knew.

One day, he would surely disappoint her.

#coffebanana fics #miraculous ladybug #lovesquare #post-reveal #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #antichat #nightormentor #post-s5 #angst #bittersweet ending #cw panic attack #cw dissociation #cw depression

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frostedpuffs · 2 years

Text

silly doodles based on silly convos

that kid has the coolest parents

#these can be seen as standalone doodles but theyre actually from a fic ive been drafting lol #ladynoir #miraculous ladybug #adrienette #adrinette #miraculous #miraculous fandom #ml fanart #miraculous tales of ladybug and chat noir #chat noir #ladybug #cat noir #ash art #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #love square #lovesquare #minibug #minibug au

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rosekasa · 2 months

Note

58 for the kiss prompt??

HI ILY THANK U FOR THIS

58. “It’s been years since we’ve seen each other and I didn’t know what happened to you because of secret identities” kiss from this list by @kisspromptsforthelovesquare

The train of her dress catches in the jamb when she slams the door. "Are you fucking kidding me?" she says.

Adrien looks down at his loafers. The floor has been freshly polished. This room is probably booked for another wedding later today. After Marinette finishes taking her vows at hers.

She takes a step forward, fingers clutching so hard at her bouquet that the stems start to split. "Adrien," she says. "What did Tikki mean when she said you're Chat Noir?"

Music floats through the corridor from the other hall. He knows no one's going to wonder where he is, but what about the bride?

He swallows, still looking at his loafers. "...You weren't meant to find out today," he says quietly.

She scoffs. "So after the reception was your idea of good timing?"

Adrien says nothing.

She reaches her hands up, like she wants to scrub them down her face, then thinks better of it. They still haven't even gotten around to the actual ceremony yet -- she can't ruin her makeup.

"God, Adrien, I just--" She sighs. "How could you not have told me before?"

"...There was never a good time," he says.

"Never?" she repeats. "You came back to Paris six months ago!"

He bristles. As if he didn't think about it back then. As if he wouldn't have told her at the airport on the very first day, when she'd outrun Alya and Nino and jumped on him when her engagement ring brushed against his neck.

Does she feel differently about that hug now? Now that she knows he's Chat Noir, her ex-boyfriend, the boy who disappeared as soon as Hawk Moth was arrested?

"I don't know what you want me to say," he says. "It's not like it would've changed anything."

Her eyes cut towards him. "Adrien, do you really think I'd be getting married today if I knew who you were?"

The words hang in the air, reverbing in his ears long after it stopped in the empty room. She can't possibly mean what he thinks she means. She's been with that guy for two years, they have an apartment together, he's pretty sure she's mentioned adopting a cat soon--

"That's not--" He struggles for a moment. "Of-- of course you would, I mean, you love him--"

"Then what stopped you from telling me in the first place?"

He swallows hard.

He knew. He knew full well what would've happened if he'd told her.

Her eyes are moist behind her mascared lashes. "I can't go back out there," she says.

"What?" he says. He steps forward, edging around the skirt of her dress. "Marinette-- no. You have to."

"I can't, I--" Her voice cracks. She turns her eyes up, holding back tears.

"Marinette." He grabs her hands, almost desperately, and squeezes. "Marinette. This is your future. Your life."

"It was my life," she says. "When I thought I wouldn't see you again." Her gaze shifts back to his face. "How can I promise myself to someone that isn't you?"

Her ring feels like a blade against his thumb.

"You kind of already did," he whispers.

She sighs. Her head drops to rest on his chest. Her veil looks like a white tulip petal, spreading across the floor behind her.

Careful not to dislodge her bun, he cups her head. Leaning his face down, he kisses her hair.

"You'll be okay," he says softly. He takes her by the arms and helps her straighten. "You'll be more than okay. I mean, he has much better hair than me anyway."

She laughs wetly, dabbing at her lashes with a finger. "That's impossible and you know it."

He cracks a pained smile.

He wonders when the next flight out of Paris is tonight.

#miraculous ladybug #adrienette #lovesquare #mlb fic #ml fic #♡alizeh writes♡#ask

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mostmagical · 8 months

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Green & Red & Black

my mind has been inundated with misternette thanks to @spicysummer22's art (go LOOK) so I promised I'd write a fic

fits in canon somewhere between Passion and Elation

Ao3

Lady Noire touched down to the street, the miraculous on her finger ringing only more desperate by the second. Hurriedly, she flung herself into the alleyway with only a single cursory glance to ensure she was alone.

“Claws in,” she huffed, her transformation melting over her shortly after.

Plagg groaned despondently as she caught him in her hands. The swap had been last minute and unexpected, being that their fight with Safari had only been a few days prior. She would have thought Monarch would have come up with a better half-baked plan after that defeat, knowing she and her kitty would always figure out a way to beat him.

“Sorry, Plagg,” Marinette sighed. “I only have a strawberry macaron. Is that okay?”

He opened one green crescent eye to look at her, remaining spread eagle in her palm. “I guess it’ll do,” he agreed.

Marinette smiled and fished the snack out of her purse.

“Eat up.”

She couldn’t believe her luck. Her cataclysm had missed early on, and the battle continued. The bad timing had forced her to duck away before Chat– er, Mister Bug could even call for his lucky charm. Hopefully, he was managing out there okay on his own.

She would never forgive herself if anything happened to his pretty face while she was gone.

Plagg was taking his sweet time biting into the macaron, all the while dribbling crumbs all over her hand. It was as though the little cat kwami had no sense of urgency anywhere in his tiny body. Marinette tapped her foot impatiently.

“Can you hurry?” she worriedly asked, peeking out of the alleyway and into the open street. It was too quiet.

“I’m going as fast as I can, Pigtails,” Plagg replied with a roll of his eyes. “I swear, you kids have no idea how to savor your food.”

“Time and place, Plagg.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

Marinette cast another distracted glance out into the street. “I’m just worried about him,” she said, chewing on her lip.

“I get it,” Plagg replied around a mouthful of macaron. He made a loud gulping sound as he swallowed. “But he’s smart, you know. He can take care of himself just like you can take care of yourself.”

“Sure, sure…” She waved at him with her free hand, no longer fully listening as the air became stiller.

“Actually,” Plagg continued, chewing thoughtfully, “why are you worried about him? Since when do you–” His eyes went wide, and his chewing halted. He groaned. “Tikki wasn’t joking. It’s you, too.”

Marinette wrenched her eyes away from the street, narrowing them instead at the little cat kwami in her hands. “Me too, what?” Her face wrinkled in confusion.

Plagg opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get anything out, a wave of ladybugs passed over them.

Oh. He did it…

Marinette felt a swell of pride fill her chest for her partner. He was getting better and better at wearing her earrings. Maybe they should plan to swap every once in a while. And not just because she wanted to see him in her colors more often.

(Okay, maybe it was a little of that.)

“See?” Plagg smiled, his tiny arms placed on his hips in pride. “I told you he was fine.”

Marinette giggled at his display. She reached out her pointer finger to give him a scratch between the ears, earning herself a quiet purr. “Yes, you did,” she said. “We better get back out there to swap miraculouses again. Claws–”

“M’Lady!”

A tumble of red and black crashed into her, throwing her body hurtling towards the ground with a grunt. Marinette braced for impact, but there was none. Instead she found herself suspended in the air by two strong hands clasped around both her wrists. Slowly, she opened her screwed-shut eyes to green.

Mister Bug stared down at her, his mouth dropped open in a gasp.

“Ma-Marinette Dupain-Cheng?” he stuttered. (Since when does Chat Noir stutter…?)

Marinette tried to speak, but nothing came out. She could only vigorously nod her assent. Yes, that was her name, but she would have answered to anything he called her, surely.

At her silence, Mister Bug took notice of her position, still hanging in the air by her arms. With a worried breath of air, he pulled her up, one of his hands landing on her waist and sending fire up her spine.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” he fussed. His green eyes roved over her body as if checking for any scratches, despite the fact that he had saved her from feeling even a brush of the pavement.

Marinette blinked up at him, still disoriented from her near-fall and the cosmic pull of his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I only just fell for you,” she said.

What.

Mister Bug’s eyes widened, blinking owlishly at her as red pooled his cheeks.

Oh, she loved how much that mask allowed her to see more of his handsome face…

Stop that!

“I mean—! Um!” Marinette scrambled to halt the unintelligible mess threatening to pour out of her mouth, but all she succeeded in doing was tying her own tongue into knots. “Don’t worry about me! You saved me! From falling!” She laughed awkwardly, punching the air with a curled fist.

He smiled, and it was so soft and endearing that she nearly whimpered at the sight. “Yeah, I saved you. Right after I crashed into you.”

“Yeah…” she sighed dreamily. “You can crash into me any day…” She followed that one with an airy giggle.

Mister Bug’s smile curved into something more mischievous—that same flirty smile he’d toss Ladybug’s way anytime he made a pass. “Oh? And would you… provide me a safe place to land?”

Marinette’s heart stuttered in her chest, her stomach bubbling with anticipation. “Of course I would,” she replied, breathy. “Anytime.”

He stepped just a bit closer and she was so, so aware of the hand still placed on her waist, burning her skin through her clothes. She couldn’t decide if she wanted him to move it away for her sanity, or keep it there forever and let her melt away into the embers.

“What are you doing all the way out here anyway?” her bug asked, a wrinkle in his mask between his eyes to match his frown.

She wished she could smooth that wrinkle out, but instead she settled for a gulp to try to clear her dry throat. “I, uh, akuma displacement,” she answered, the usual excuse rolling off her tongue. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I was looking for Lady Noire, actually,” he explained. “You didn’t happen to see her pass by, did you?”

“Yes– I mean, no— Wait–” Marinette cut herself off. Her brain was already too scrambled to come up with more excuses. “I mean, yes. She, uh, passed by here. Said she needed to run home for something.”

Mister Bug tilted his head, and, god, he was so cute. She had to force herself not to whimper again.

“She said she’d meet you at the usual spot later,” she added, hoping her voice didn’t sound as shaky as she felt. For good measure, she flashed him a thumbs up.

He seemed to accept her answer. “Oh, okay.”

Marinette sighed in relief.

His smile returned. “In that case, it looks like I have some free time,” he said. “Why don’t you let this charming bug fly you home, huh?”

“I’d love to go home with you,” she responded without much thought. “I mean– I’d love for you to take me home– I, wait, uh. My house. Yes. Please.” Her whole body cringed. “Thank you.”

To her relief, Mister Bug appeared completely unbothered by her constant tumbling over words, instead just grinning wider at her. The hand on her waist moved to wrap fully around her body. Marinette only had a second to snake her arms around his neck before he had tossed his yoyo above their heads to hook on a chimney.

“Ready?” he asked, turning to look at her. Every detail in his summer green eyes glittered at her through his red and black-spotted mask, and she felt like she might melt. Oh, she loved those eyes. She loved him in that mask.

Face hot, all Marinette could do was nod at him, and then they were zipping through the air. It was impossible to tell if the swooping feeling deep in her stomach was from the flight or her proximity to the pilot. Either way, she loved the familiar safety of his arm around her back and the solid strength of his shoulders beneath her fingers.

Before she knew it—in fact, it felt like no time at all, really—they had reached her balcony, and he gently set her down on her feet.

“Well, ma cher, we’ve arrived.”

Marinette blinked up at Mister Bug, not quite ready to part from him. Nervously, she played with her still connected fingers behind his neck.

“You should stay,” she told him. “We can sit up here and chat, or you can come in. I’ll bring some chouquettes up from the bakery. It would be nice to talk to you.”

Wait… Was that too familiar? She had to remind herself that she was Marinette; she wasn’t his partner right now. Marinette couldn’t even remember if she was supposed to know that Chat Noir was Mister Bug, so what was she doing right now?

Luckily, he was seemingly totally nonplussed by her suggestion. Instead, he smiled warmly down at her, a rosy tint to his cheeks that she was sure must have mirrored her own. He opened his mouth, looking incredibly agreeable. To her displeasure, however, his earrings chose exactly that moment to protest, beeping angrily in a way that she could just imagine was Tikki’s voice chiding her.

His smile turned regretful. “I’m sorry, Marinette,” he said. “I’d love to, but I have to go.” Gloved hands gently grasped her wrists, pulling them away from his shoulders.

She mourned the loss.

Marinette’s lip stuck out in a pout. “Do you really have to go?”

“Yes, I really have to go,” he replied sadly. Then, brighter, “But if we’re going to make a date of it, at least give me time to buy you flowers first.”

Her heart skipped a beat, butterflies beating furiously inside her chest.

“Oh,” was all she could say.

Mister Bug’s grin returned at her quiet utterance. Somehow, without her noticing, one of his hands had traveled from her wrist to wind affectionately around her fingers, and he squeezed.

He bowed deeply, her hand still in his, the perfect image of a chevalier encased in red and black.

“Until next time, mademoiselle,” he purred. His lips burned like the sun as they pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “And when I see you again, I’ll be sure to remember your rose.”

Marinette remained silent and red as he straightened to his full height. Her mouth stubbornly refused to move, even as he waved at her in farewell and leapt from her balcony. She pressed her burning hand to her chest, dreamily watching her red bug become nothing more than a dot on the city skyline.

A whine sounded from her purse, and— Oops. She hadn’t even thought to worry about Plagg once that entire encounter.

“That was disgusting,” Plagg groaned, floating up into the air next to her. “I’m going to have to hear about that all night!”

Marinette sighed happily, sinking backwards into her lounge chair before her legs gave out on her. Plagg continued his grumpy buzzing around her head, but she remained lost in her thoughts and memories of bright green eyes in red masks.

She had no idea how she was going to face him later to return his miraculous to him.

Maybe they could stay swapped just a little while longer.

And if Lady Noire brought a bag full of chouquettes to their usual spot later to make up for the lost opportunity, well, that was her business.

#ml fanfic #misternette #marichat #misternoire #miraculous ladybug #ml #ml fic #lovesquare #love square #mister bug #miraculous s5 #kwami swap #buginette #maribug #while writing this i thought oh wouldn't that be a cute series if they just kept getting too distracted to switch back #but i have many wips and i am being Responsible #miraculous #my writing

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citrus-and-lavender-fan · 5 months

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for the refined enjoyers of citrus and lavender around these parts 😌

#🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨#EXCLUSIVE C&L CONTENT #selkie draws #behind the scenes #fan highlight #original art #fan art #fic: citrus and lavender #citrus and lavender #enemies au #ladynoir #lovesquare

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gale-gentlepenguin · 8 months

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The first chapter of my new fic.

After Monarch's 'Defeat', Paris has become the closest thing to a Utopia. Ladybug and Chat noir are still in search of the butterfly miraculous and it is still on the top priority. However there are no akuma and with the new heroes in the mix, Paris has never been safer. Our heroes can finally enjoy themselves a little bit. But little do our heroes know, there is a new threat making its way there, and it will turn this new peaceful city as well as what they think they know completely upside down. How will Ladybug and Chat noir handle this new threat? Will they be able to save Paris from becoming a Dystopian Nightmare? Or will they lose sight of everything?

post season 5 finale.

#miraculous ladybug #ml fic #miraculous fanfiction #ml #Dystopia #ladynoir #adrinette #lovesquare #please share

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anna-scribbles · 10 months

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Adrien loved Ladybug.

He loved the smooth timbre of her voice and the firm set of her eyes, the way her mouth would dig its way deeper into a scowl the more she tried not to laugh at one of the rare jokes he managed to pry beneath her red-and-black spotted armor. He loved the way she spoke of justice with such reverence, of peace with such passion. Adrien loved the idea of Ladybug, at least—the thought that there could be a person who embodied so much of what he cherished, the grace and goodness and compassion of his childhood. He loved what Ladybug stood for. What she pretended to stand for.

Sometimes, Adrien thought that he could have loved Ladybug if he didn’t hate her so much.

read on ao3

#CHAPTER 2 DAY #ml #miraculous ladybug #ml fic rec #ml fic #lovesquare #ladynoir #adrinette #chapter 2 has been my baby I have cradled and nurtured and chopped into bits for months #call it even adrien has such a place in my heart. drives me nuts #if youre into ladynoir dynamics that make me insane. welll. this would be a good read for you #also happy speak now tv day for anyone celebrating <3 #what a day !

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mlwritersguild · 7 months

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Guilty by Association, by @rosie-b

AO3; adrien never went to public school; fake dating (in development); post-defeat of gabriel agreste; bullying; protective marinette; sentimonster adrien; canon-divergence; angst with a happy ending

Summary:

Ladybug and Chat Noir investigate Hawk Moth and defeat him right after the events of Volpina, before he gets the chance to fool them with his Collector trick. Since Gabriel never let Adrien go to public school, he's more willing to entertain the thought that his father might be Hawk Moth, although he doesn't expect that Ladybug is actually right. But she is, and after they take down Hawk Moth, Adrien bears the curse of the city's hate, since no one believes that he's innocent. If only Ladybug could do something to help...

Inspired by oh, look now, there you go with hope again by Missnoodles.

—

Ladybug was going to have to do something about Adrien Agreste.

It had been nearly four months since she and Chat Noir had defeated Hawk Moth, publicly revealed the villain to be Gabriel Agreste, and freed Adrien Agreste from suspicion by making statements vouching for his innocence—well, they’d hoped to free Adrien from suspicion, anyway. But somehow, the public didn’t seem to get the message, no matter how many times Ladybug and Chat Noir swore that Adrien hadn’t known about his father’s dastardly deeds or how many times Adrien witnessed against his own father, submitted to another court-ordered investigation, or chose to remain in the public eye just to reassure them that he had nothing to hide.

Marinette respected Adrien’s strength and courage more and more every day. No matter how many times people threw nasty words or literal tomatoes at him; no matter how many companies refused to work with him anymore; no matter how clear it was becoming that he would never be forgiven for his father’s crimes, he chose to greet new people with a smile and hope that this time, someone would recognize the kind heart hidden behind his hated name.

She wished she’d had the chance to meet him before she’d accidentally ruined his life.

She'd known of him before, or at least, she knew his face. But until Volpina, a jealous model at Gabriel’s brand, had stolen a certain grimoire from the Agreste mansion and cast a new light on the famous designer who lived there, she’d never given Adrien a second thought. She’d rescued him from akumas once or twice, but he was quiet and reserved; he received private schooling at home, so she hadn’t had the chance to really meet and get to know him.

And then she’d busted through the attic window of his home and, along with her partner, tore the brooch off his father’s chest in front of Alya Cesaire, her camera, and the entire world. Thanks to her, he was a target for the public’s wrath and ire now, a scapegoat whose only crime seemed to be having been born into the wrong family.

But Ladybug knew even that wasn’t exactly what had happened.

After she’d defeated Gabriel; after Chat Noir fled, still shocked, to go find Adrien and warn him that the police were coming; after Nathalie Sancoeur tried to plead with Ladybug to let her boss go free and showed her the woman he was fighting for… after all that, Ladybug had decided to speak to M. Agreste alone while he was in police custody. She had some important questions to ask him. He didn’t answer any of them, but what he did tell her revealed the nightmare Adrien’s life had always been, even before his mother died, from the moment he’d been made.

Sentibeings were a new concept to Ladybug. She hadn’t even known there was a Peacock Miraculous, much less about its strange abilities, until her unpleasant chat with Adrien's father(?).

She hid the rings her enemy had given her in her purse, where Tikki could keep them safe, while she tried to think of a way to give them to Adrien without wrecking his life even more. But she failed every time she tried to come up with a solution or plan to enact.

She’d escorted Adrien to and from the courthouse countless times by now, serving as a de facto bodyguard while the Gorilla was under inspection for his part in M. Agreste’s crimes, but each hesitant conversation she’d started with Adrien never led to the topic she needed it to.

She hadn’t even managed to tell Chat Noir yet. She was going to, of course! But she still hadn’t wrapped her head around the concept of human babies being formed out of magic, herself, so how could she possibly explain them to him?

Besides, Chat Noir had been going through a rough time himself. She didn’t want to be the one dropping yet another problem in her troubled kitty’s lap.

All the same, she needed to pull out her old Ladybug courage and tell Adrien, or at least give him the rings, before any more time could pass. And now that school was starting up again, it seemed she would finally have her chance, because one Adrien Agreste had signed up for classes at François-Dupont.

The time for procrastination—er, deliberation! Because she certainly wasn’t procrastinating—had passed. Today, at lunch, Marinette would walk over to Adrien’s table, tell him Ladybug wanted to meet with him outside, transform, go talk to him, and finally, finally be rid of the secret rings weighing her down.

There was only one problem with her plan, Marinette noted as she picked up her tray in the cafeteria. She couldn’t see a way to get Adrien’s attention; he was already surrounded by people. Had he made this many new friends already?

This is good, Marinette told herself as she felt a stab of what couldn’t possibly be jealousy in her heart. He’s been so lonely ever since his father got arrested. I’m glad that he’s finally made some friends!

She sat with Alya at their usual table and absentmindedly carried on a conversation as she waited for an opening in the crowd of students around Adrien. She had to give him the rings, and it had to be today! She’d already wasted too much time.

The crowd of lackeys seemed to be still growing, something Chloe sniffed and made a rude remark about as she proudly declared herself to no longer be friends with “that super-ridiculous son of a supervillain.”

But suddenly, raucous laughter tore through the crowd, and taunts and jeers rang through the cafeteria as the students parted, leaving Adrien alone, shame-faced, at the table. They’d overturned his tray of food, leaving parts of it oozing down his shirt, through his hair, and on his face. Marinette’s stomach dropped as she realized what had really happened. She’d been a victim of bullying, too, but never a target of so much hatred from so many people! Even when Chloe had been at her worst, Marinette had at least known that she still had people who genuinely cared about her, friends who stood up for her on her hardest days.

Adrien didn’t have anyone like that. All he had was one superhero who stuttered through pleasantries with him on occasional walks to the courthouse and a city full of people who went out of their way to make it clear how much they all hated him.

Marinette had to do something to make this nightmare stop before it got any worse! For now, people were only throwing mean words and food, but how long would it be until they threw something a little more solid? Adrien was hated by everyone, even by the police who proved his innocence to the court. It was only a matter of time until he got seriously hurt.

Clearly, now was the wrong time to give Adrien the rings. A janitor was already escorting him to the nearest bathroom to get cleaned up, and from the look on his face, he thought the grossest part of Adrien was inside him, not stuck to his shirt.

She couldn’t really go with her original plan even if she wanted to. Adrien was in most of her classes, but the only thing she could accomplish by talking to him during them was getting both of them detention with Ms. Mendeleiev. No, she would have to talk to him after school.

But then again, what good could Marinette Dupain-Cheng , the ‘miraculous’ Ladybug, really do? What could she possibly say to him to help ease the pain of finding out he wasn’t human in the way most people were? What could she do to convince Paris of his innocence that she hadn’t already done as Ladybug? What good could she ever hope to accomplish, or was she doomed to only make things worse?

She dropped her pencil in history class that afternoon.

Adrien picked it up and gave it to her with a stiff smile and bloodshot eyes. She noticed them with a pang, distracted and almost completely forgetting to say thank you. By the time she blurted the short phrase out, Adrien had already turned back around, and he jumped in surprise when he heard her voice. Kim led the class in a round of snortling laughter as the tips of Adrien’s ears turned red and Marinette buried her face in her hands.

It rained after class.

Marinette stood under the school’s roof for shelter as she waited for a break in the downpour. Her mind wandered again to the problem of how to help Adrien. He had such a good heart! Why couldn’t anyone else see it?

As she stood there thinking, someone walked up behind her, their footsteps getting louder until they suddenly came to a halt.

“Excuse me, you’re Marinette, right?” The soft question, hesitant as it was, startled her out of her thoughts.

Marinette’s heart jumped into her throat as she recognized the voice and realized it was Adrien behind her.

“Ah! Adrien, yes, Marinette I, plight. Right! I didn’t scare you, I mean you scared me, ugh!” She groaned and slapped her forehead.

“Sorry,” Adrien said in a small voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I can just go.”

Marinette’s hand shot out to grab him as he took a slow step forward, and she dragged him back under the overhang, spinning him around to face her. With a petrified face, Adrien let her move him, flinching as she drew her hand back and began to speak.

“You don’t have to apologize! I just scare easily, and words my mess sometimes. I should— wait. Are you afraid of me?” she asked, her face falling as she watched Adrien flinch again and boldly try to deny it.

“No, no, I’m fine! You can do whatever it is you were going to before, I promise. I won’t stop you,” he said, looking right in her eyes with a brave expression that didn’t reassure Marinette at all.

She stared at him. “It’s okay if you are scared. I would be, if I were you. What happened at lunch, what’s been happening to you ever since your father—” she broke the sentence off when Adrien’s gaze jumped to something in the distance over her head.

He was afraid of her. He thought she was like the other kids at lunch, the ones who’d ruined his outfit and made him into a laughingstock just because he was an easy target, the boy the city loved to hate.

Was Adrien’s courage finally giving out? Was he losing the hope that had been so inspiring to Ladybug these past few months?

It should have been impossible. It felt wrong, and the world seemed to shift under Marinette as she peered closer at the boy in front of her and realized that once more, she was too late to save him, too late to protect him from being hurt.

She’d failed again, but this time, she might still be able to reverse the damage. He’d seemed so happy to meet everyone at school, and she knew from a conversation she’d had with him as Ladybug that he’d hoped to make friends at François-Dupont. It wasn’t too late for that, at least. Even if no one else trusted him enough for it, Marinette would love to be Adrien’s first real friend!

She took a deep breath and spoke again, softly this time, so that she wouldn’t scare him.

“Look. I know how it feels to be bullied, and you’re going through a worse form of it than I did. And I don’t know, maybe you’re going to leave here and start homeschooling again, to be safe. I wouldn’t blame you! But if you do want to stay at François-Dupont? You'll need someone in your corner, so let me volunteer. As a friend, that is! Uh, what do you say?”

She stuck out her hand and grinned hopefully, watching as Adrien looked at it warily.

Just then, a group of upper-class students walked through the school’s doors, laughing and talking among each other as they headed outside. But when one of them noticed Adrien, he stopped and pointed him out to the others as he threw a mean joke at him.

“Hey, Hawk Moth Jr! Why are you still hanging around the school? Do you need daddy to come pick you up, or are you going to akumatize someone to transport you home since you're too rich to walk in the rain?”

They all laughed like it was the funniest joke ever told, which it easily wasn’t, and someone else followed the first boy’s lead in taunting Adrien. He didn’t cower from the group, but Marinette could see that he’d clenched his fists, and his knuckles were turning white.

“No, no, it’s Ladybug he’s waiting for. He’s got her so convinced he’s innocent, I bet she’ll do anything he wants her to! That’s why she’s always defending him on the news,” a girl scoffed.

Marinette saw red.

“Hey! Mind your own business! Ladybug’s defending Adrien because he’s been proven innocent, three times, by three separate investigations and judges! She’s defending him because it’s the right thing to do. Which isn’t anything you bullies would know about,” she sniffed, grabbing Adrien’s fist and gently prying it open so she could hold his hand.

The first boy laughed. “Marinette, don’t let his cover-boy looks fool you. Adrien Agreste is just as bad as his father. I don’t know why Ladybug is bothering to defend him. If he were really as good as she says, maybe she’d leave Chat Noir and date Adrien, instead,” he remarked, and the group laughed even louder.

“Marinette, you don’t have to defend me. Just let them have their way, let them make me into their victim, and maybe they'll stop seeing me as the villain,” Adrien whispered in her ear, lightly beginning to pull his hand out of hers.

“No!” she shouted, grabbing his hand even tighter. Adrien flinched. “I mean,” she said, loosening her grasp, “No. You’re all wrong, about Adrien, and about Ladybug, and—”

A crazy, stupid idea struck her. It tumbled out of her lips before she could give it a second thought.

“You’re wrong, because Chat Noir isn’t dating Ladybug. Adrien is,” she said smugly. “She knows he’s innocent because if he were on his father’s side, he would’ve tried to take her earrings while they were on one of their secret dates. But he didn’t, plus the investigations should, you know, reassure you. But I understand if you’re not smart enough to understand that.”

The group of bullies stared at Marinette and Adrien, trading their gazes back and forth between the two.

“Marinette,” Adrien hissed, his cheeks turning red at this new claim.

It was a lie. Ladybug had been dating Chat Noir in secret for almost a year now, but if this was what it took to help Adrien, she’d continue to deny the truth for however long it took for the public to wake up to reality.

“I don’t think that’s true,” the girl said.

Marinette raised her chin challengingly. “Oh, yeah? Then why don’t you ask Ladybug the next time you see her. I’m sure you’ll trust her if she finally comes clean, right?”

The group hemmed and hawed as they kicked the ground and muttered to each other.

“Maybe, if her story matches up with yours. But if it doesn’t? You’ll have to admit Adrien was just lying to you.”

“I didn’t—” Adrien began, but Marinette cut him off, still high on the surge of confidence her idea had given her.

“He didn’t lie. You’re the one who got duped, by the city’s insistence on blaming the innocent!”

Marinette stared the group down until finally, the leaders turned to leave, and the rest followed suit.

The sudden shot of courage Marinette had had gave out, and she sagged against Adrien. He was trembling, lightly enough that she only noticed it now.

“I'm sorry,” she told him. “They just made me so mad! I wanted to do something to help.”

“Ladybug and I aren’t dating,” he said in a wavery voice. “H-how did you come up with that idea?”

She frowned. “They suggested it,” she said. “I just twisted it to fit my argument. I, um, met Ladybug a few times before. I’m sure she won’t mind pretending to date you for a while, until people finally start believing her that you didn’t help Hawk Moth.”

“We can’t count on that,” Adrien breathed. “Marinette, I’m pretty sure she and Chat Noir are dating. It isn’t fair to make her lie and say she’s dating me instead, and anyway, she hates lying! She’ll never go with this.”

Marinette smiled wryly. It was true that most of the time, she avoided lies like this one, but it was for the greater good!

“She’s been checking up on you every night, right?” She looked up at Adrien, raising her eyebrows. Ladybug had said as much in one of her interviews. It was hardly a secret.

Adrien nodded.

“So, ask her when she comes by tonight. I think you might be surprised by how far she’ll go to help you. It’s the least she can do after ruining your life,” she muttered.

Adrien pulled himself up straight. “She didn’t ruin it,” he said insistently. “She saved me along with the rest of Paris. I can’t really complain about the rest of it. I just happened to be unlucky enough to be Hawk Moth’s son, is all. But she couldn’t do anything about that.”

Marinette sighed. “I guess you’re right. So, you’ll give the fake dating thing a try?”

“I don’t see any other options,” Adrien said, but he smiled at her. “If Ladybug doesn’t mind doing this for a little, then do you really think Paris will finally believe her that I’m innocent?”

“I certainly hope so,” Marinette sniffed. “If not, then they’re all a bunch of dummies and you and I should leave Paris together. Anyone who thinks you’re a villain for that long isn’t worth the time of day.”

Adrien tsked. “I don't know about that. But I hope you’re right! I want to stay in public school; I want to make friends and be normal and not worry about my last name ruining everything for me. And… I think you’re very brave, to be willing to trust me the way you have. If you meant your offer, I would very much like to be friends with you, Marinette.”

He said her name so sweetly it made her heart begin to melt.

“Of course friends I will you with! I mean, I’ll be your friend, Adrien! And I’m willing to bet that my friends will be, too, once they see how good you really are. I’m going to reintroduce them to you tomorrow,” she decided.

“Do you really mean it?” His eyes found hers, searching them like he was trying to see into the depths of her soul. “You have every reason to back out, you know. I’m afraid that anyone I get to know might just become another target for those other kids. And you’re so kind,” he said in wonderment. “I don’t want that to happen to you, especially if you already got bullied by them before! It might be better if you just pretend you don’t know me at school.”

Marinette blinked, feeling a little insulted. “I would never do that! Not being your friend, letting you face those bullies all by yourself, just doing nothing, that’s how good people let evil win! Besides, if you think I would be better off not knowing you, why did you bother starting this conversation, back when you walked up behind me?”

Adrien flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought there wasn’t anyone around to see! And besides, it’s raining, but you don’t have an umbrella. I was just going to offer you mine,” he said, pulling out a folded black umbrella. “That’s all. You can take it and leave now. You’ve already done a lot to help me, and I won’t ask you for any more unless you really want to give it.”

Marinette’s cheeks warmed as she looked at the unexpected gift. After the long, torturous first day he’d had, even before Marinette had defended him, Adrien had still been planning to be nice to her? He was going to offer her his umbrella, and then walk home alone in the rain?

She reached out for the umbrella. Adrien started to hand it to her, but instead she folded his fingers over the handle and pushed it back towards him.

“I didn’t mean to make the class laugh at you earlier,” she said, quickly, before he could turn to leave. He kind of looked like he would, like she’d just utterly rejected him and was going to take his advice and forget all about him. “I just wasn’t thinking clearly, and I was a little surprised that you gave me my pencil back. I wasn’t expecting you to come back to class after lunch, honestly. I think you were very brave. And foolish! You shouldn’t let them make fun of you like that,” she scolded. “You should stand up for yourself. I won’t always be able to save you in time.”

Adrien smiled at her. “You saved me today! But you don’t have to worry, Marinette. For a while today I thought that maybe I should give up, that nobody was ever going to want to be my friend. But you reminded me that there’s always hope, even when you forget to look for it. I can’t thank you enough,” he said, delicately taking her hand in his and pressing a light kiss to it.

Marinette fought the blush that was forming on her face. She had a boyfriend!

“Welcome you,” she said. “I mean—!”

“It’s okay,” Adrien laughed. “I understand you just fine, Marinette. Here, take the umbrella, okay? Or if you still won’t, then let me walk you to your house! We can share the umbrella, it’s big enough for both of us.”

“O-oh,” Marinette stuttered. “You don’t have to!”

Adrien pulled out the umbrella and opened it.

“I want to,” he said. “You’re my friend, right? And friends take care of each other. You can think of it as a thank-you for your crazy idea earlier.”

“Hey!” Marinette laughed as she stepped under the umbrella. “It wasn’t that crazy, was it?”

Smiling, Adrien brushed his shoulder against hers as he led her out into the rain.

“I think it was just crazy enough,” he said with a fond smile. “I know we just met, but I feel really lucky to know you, Marinette.”

“Me too,” Marinette said, letting a soft blush flood her cheeks as she looked up at Adrien.

She’d finally done something to help him! She still hadn’t figured out the rest, like the rings, but she’d bought herself time. For now, being Adrien’s friend was the most important thing she could do.

When they reached the bakery door, she pushed it open and called to her parents.

“Maman! Papa! I want you to meet someone! I made a new friend,” she said, meeting Adrien’s eyes with a smile as he stepped out of the rain and into the warm house.

It might have taken her a long time, but now she knew—as long as her gambit paid off, everything was going to be okay.

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