#ptsd marinette

[galahadwilder]

You are Sabine Cheng. Your daughter isn’t sleeping. You hear her, sometimes, crying in her bed. Her clumsiness is getting worse—except instead of being inattentive, the way she used to be, she’s hyperattentive: any sudden sound makes her jump, makes her leap into a battle stance. She can’t look at the color white anymore without flinching, and she goes quiet at the sound of running water. You find her lovingly handmade puppets carefully torn apart, the fabric scraps squirreled away in corners where they can no longer be seen. She tenses whenever she sees a child blowing bubbles; she can’t watch the weather report without hugging herself so tight you fear she might burst.

You talk to the other parents in her class, commiserating about how Akuma have changed their children’s demeanors, but nobody’s story matches yours. Their children have triggers, certainly, but only one or two each. And for them, it is simple enough to be gentle, to help remove the triggers from the environment, to help their children laugh again. They are not watching their children waste away the way you are. They are not watching their children wither into dust. Your daughter has new triggers by the day, you can’t keep up, you can’t control her environment the way the other mothers and fathers can, because every day something different and unpredictable is too much for her.

You are Sabine Cheng, and your daughter is 14. You are Sabine Cheng, and your daughter cannot sleep. You are Sabine Cheng, and your daughter—your child, because she is a child still—acts like a war veteran.

You are Sabine Cheng, and you do not know what to do.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous #marinette dupain cheng #Sabine Cheng #ptsd marinette #ptsd marinette dupain cheng #ptsd #post traumatic stress disorder #original content #angst #chat blanc #stormy weather #bubbler #puppeteer #syren

[richter10]

Why - in every discussion about Chat Blanc - everybody only think that "Marinette should tell Adrien about it because he deserves to know", which is somewhat understandable... but no one consider the possibility that maybe the events of Chat Blanc traumatized Marinette - that that event hurt her - to the point that maybe she is unable to talk about it, with anyone....

#marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #miraculous ladybug #miraculous the tales of ladybug and chat noir #marinette deserves better #mental health #trauma #ptsd #cat blanc #chat blanc #richter 10's thoughts

[justrandomfanfictionskh]

A Blue Bird and a Black Cat pt1

Selina decides that Marinette would be better as the Cat than Adrien. Five years, later Dick is very confused about this Lady Noire ao3

Five months ago Selina had expected to waltz into the Louvre, liberate a particular Ming dynasty Jade Cat, and waltz out. She had not expected to be stopped by two teenaged heroes, who clearly had no adult supervision. She had definitely not expected them to be quite so skilled at fighting, despite their obvious lack of training. And she had most certainly not expected them to leave their fight in favor of chasing a strange blue child on a flying carpet! She had not gotten the Jade Cat, or even entered the Louvre that night. However, the next night she had gotten her answers. 

The small girl in the ladybug suit explained everything as simply as she could to the rouge, and what Selina heard was both intriguing and horrifying. The idea that a mad man was vilifying children in order to serve his purposes, and enslaving people made her hiss and spit. What was intriguing was the young heroes. Especially the cat boy. Not to mention the girl's response to her reaction. She seemed amused and almost...gratified by such a blatant display of disgust. When Selina asked why the Justice League had not gotten involved the girl just sighed and Selina watched as a huge weight settled on her shoulders. 

"We tried calling them, but they didn't believe us. I don't know if it was because we weren't talking to the right people, or the magic interfering. But it's almost impossible to prove our claims, because the government is actively suppressing the information so that foreign relations aren't strained, and the magic involved means that there is no lasting damage, or casualties, and the identities of the users are protected through the magic. So proving anything we say in order to get the help we need is next to impossible. Besides do you really want to see Superman, or Batman, or worse, Wonder Woman akumatized? No thank you?"

Cat Woman hummed thinking softly. She snapped her fingers when an idea came. "I know lets make a deal!"    

"I'm sorry?" Ladybug asked.

"A deal! I make them with Batman all the time!" A half truth but the young hero didn't need to know that. "I get you Hawkbitch, and you let me take the Jade Cat!"

Ladybug eyed her suspiciously before saying, "You honestly want me to believe that you can find Hawkmoth? and then you really think I'm just going to let you walk away with the Jade Cat? A priceless artifact? Are you crazy?"

"I'm from Gotham," Cat Woman said dismissively, "But that's not the point. The point is, that I can deliver! I get you the name of your villain. You utterly destroy him. And then I walk way with the most precious kitty in France! What do say?"

"I have been looking for Hawkmoth for almost five years, five years, and you think you can just find him like that?" she snapped to illustrate her point. But Selina just smirked. 

"If you think it's impossible, then what do you have to loose? I'll even sweeten the deal, I'll leave Paris, no...I'll leave France, and I won't come back until I have a full file detailing exactly who this Hawkbitch is, including admissible proof of his identity. What do you say?" 

If this was Superman, he would say no. If this was Batman, he'd think about it and then also say no. Wonder Woman was to experienced to get this deep in the hole. And the rest of the hero community that well but she expected that they would all refuse such an offer. She expected the girl to do the same, but once again her expectations were over thrown when Ladybug said, "Ok. You have a deal. Get me Hawkmoth, and you can attempt to steal the cat. But you have to leave first thing in the morning, and you cannot, I repeat, cannot come back until you know who Hawkmoth is."

Now five months later, Selina smiled into her coffee. All she had to do was casually mention to Bruce that there were unsupervised heroes in Paris, and he was on the case like a cat on a mouse, or a bat on a bug. Whichever you prefer. Still she did not want to reveal herself to the heroes just yet. Because she...was curious.

While waiting for Bruce to crack the case, Selina had decided to do some light browsing on exactly who these heroes were. Their identities were apparently protected by magic, which Selina could easily believe. She had seen Ladybug's face that day as clear as the moon in the sky. But like the moon, her memories of the girl's features were obscured behind clouds. But after using a French IP address and watching something called The LabyBlog and The BugCast, Selina had become determined to discover the identities of the young heroes for two very important reasons. One was to rip that ring off of the mangy, feral, tomcat's finger for daring to disgrace the noble and divine species of felines with his carless and flippant ways. And two was to invite Ladybug to have a little Gotham fun. The girl was clearly too stressed for words, but it wasn't hard to see why. With a partner like that and the responsibility of resurrecting the dead, Selina would have cracked years ago. But this girl hung on, and for that the girl disserved a break, without having to worry about akumas, or villains, or anything but the joy that came from bashing in a deadbeat's jewels. 

But after a week of searching and stalking, she had gotten know where. All she could confirm, was that Ladybug, and probably Chat Noire lived somewhere in the vicinity of this lovely patisserie. Not a lot to go on, she knew, but it was better than nothing. And besides, the coffee was wonderful. The pastries were divine. And there the sun was shining. So she really couldn't complain. The sun never shone in Gotham. 

As she took another sip of coffee and looked over at the park where children were playing, she smiled thinking about the current Robin. He was probably too old and too scarred to enjoy the park as a kid. But perhaps one day, he could enjoy the park with a kid. Maybe a little brother, or a little sister. She smiled mischievously, but her thoughts were interrupted by a small cough.

"Oh I'm sorry, excuse me, I didn't mean to disturb you. You were probably really deep in thought, and hate being interrupted, and think I'm annoying, I'm so sorry! This is so rude of me, and you probably hate me, and don't want to talk to me. But I needed to ask you something, but you don't have to answer, in fact it's probably best if---"

"It's alright child," Selina said with a low chuckle and a soft smile. "I understand, now what is your question?"

"Oh, ok," the young girl said softly, "Um, if you're finished with your plate, then I can take it inside for you?" 

Selina arched a brow and examined the girl. She was small, and extremely nervous, which made Selina think that she was probably 12 or 13. However, any careful examination of her features revealed that the girl in actuality was probably older. Perhaps 16 or 17. But it was difficult to tell. First of all her black hair that shone blue in the light was tied up in pig tails (a decidedly younger preference). Secondly, her big blue bell eyes were shining with all of the nervous energy her voice conveyed (the poor girl probably had anxiety and had never been taught how to manage it). Thirdly, her clothes, which were objectionably fashionable and stylish, seemed to convey a softness and timidity that only hung around small children. Selina found her pretty, in an innocent, cute, fairy kind of way. Which combined with the over abundance in nervous energy, convinced Selina that this child should never enter Gotham, unless she quickly received a shot of pure confidence in the next hour or so.

So Selina smiled her warmest smile and said, "Of course you may my dear. Please. Now tell me are you just being kind, or do you work here?" 

"Oh?" the girl said a little confidence edging its way into her voice, "My parents own this patisserie! And I like to help out where I can. I hope you enjoyed everything!"

"Oh I did," Selina said. "I truly believe this is the best cup of coffee, that I have ever had. You must compliment your parents for me..."

"Oh, Marinette!"

"Selina."

Marinette's smile was now so bright and genuine, that it was contagious. And Selina found herself watching the girl out of the corner of her eye for the next half an hour she was there. 

Benevolent and sanguine feelings rolled through Selina, as she watched Marinette clumsily and skillfully clean the outside tables. The girl was entertaining, as she seemed to be a mass of contradictions. One minute she was graceful. The next she was flailing. One minute she was nervous and shy. The next she was talking animatedly with someone she knew. One minute she was day dreaming. The next she was stressing over the smallest details of the tables. Selina was amusedly endeared to the young lady. But she didn't have time to be distracted. She needed to find Ladybug, and give her the Hawkbitch file. However, just as she was finishing her drink something happened that made Selina bristle and hiss.

Marinette was just wiping down a table, when something caught her attention and made her tense. This caught Selina's attention, because it was a different kind of rigidity than her pervious bouts of nervousness. When the girl had addressed Salina she had been fidgety, but upright and clear. Now, Marinette was hunching over, curling in on herself. Her hands, which had flitted about with the need to move, now stilled, and...Selina blinked and almost turned to directly stare at the child. Marinette's hands were shaking and her eyes...oh her big, beautiful, clear, bluebell eyes, where fading as if something was slowly draining away the life in them Selina felt her own shoulders tense as she watched. She knew those actions. She had seen those signs. She recognized those defenses. She did not have to consult Harley in order to recognize a victim of abuse.

Selina settled back as casually as she could and began to watch the pedestrians. One of these people was this bright young woman's abuser, and Selina was determined to discover them. None of them stuck out, everyone kept walking past, or into the bakery. Then a group of teenage girls caught her eye. Unremarkable in and of themselves, just a group of five or six teenagers, probably coming from a shopping spree. They were laughing and talking without a care in the world, but there was something about them that made Selina's hair stand up on end. So she examined them closely. Her eye fell on the girl who was front and center of the group. Her hair looked as if she was trying to imitate sausage links, and her style was decidedly gaudy. The girl walked with an air of entitlement, and obnoxiousness that even a cat would find insulting. Especially since she was not carrying any of the shopping bags and was walking ahead of the group, thus giving the impression that the girls around her, were not her "friends" but her ladies-in-waiting. And though she never looked down at the people around her, she watched them through narrow calculating eyes that reminded Selina of Lady Shiva. Selina did not like that woman.

Selina kept one eye on Marinette, and one eye on the approaching group, sat back, and watched. And what she saw made her quietly hiss into her now empty mug. The lead girl (Selina heard her called Lila) took one look at Marinette and smiled predatorily. She then redirected everyone immediately from their previous goals, to the bakery and sat down at a table Marinette had yet to clean. She then proceeded to cry and sob, blaming Marinette for forcing her to sit at an unclean table, while the rest of the girls began to yell and berate the poor girl for the injustice. Marinette said nothing as she quietly cleaned the table, letting the screams and sobs wash over her without even making a noise. As Marinette attempt to walk away with the dishes, Lila very blatantly tripped her. This time Marinette did not use her graceful reflexes to contradict the clumsiness but silently fell to the ground shattering all the plates. The other girls at the table then began to scream at Marinette for attempting to hurt Lila by dropping plates on her head. 

Selina could not hear this Lila's voice, from where she was sitting, but the affects of her gross, and obvious manipulation and abuse made Selina want to scream and claw her eyes out as she watched. The sweet charming girl silently and cautiously pick up every shard of ceramic as the other girls screamed and surrounded her. The commotion drew out the two adults that Selina had seen behind the counter. Knowing these to be Marinette's parents, Selina decided not to kill a minor, trusting them to defend their daughter. The yelling stopped for about five seconds when they appeared. Long enough for Lila to say something through her hands, and for the bakery owners to turn on their daughter and begin to reprimand her and not the other girls. Selina had to bite her tongue against a scream as she watched the previously bright and kind girl that was Marinette silently stand up and slink back into the bakery without ever making a sound. When she passed, Selina felt stabbed, because her beautiful blue eyes were rendered dull and grey in the wake of her abuse. 

Once Marinette was gone, Selina watched as her parents filled the group's table with the best free pastries with growing hatred and disgust. Selina shook her self she could not get akumatized. She could not risk all of her plans falling apart, because of one incident. However, she smirked deviously. There were other ways to punish bullies and abusers. But as she walked past the table, something happened that completely other threw all of her expectations once again. This was becoming a pattern in Paris. 

Marinette blinked at the woman in her room. "What the hell?!" she exclaimed. Cat Woman smiled mischievously and removed her cowl throwing Marinette into even more open mouthed confusion. Mme. Selina is Cat Woman! her mind screamed. Marinette stared at the new patisserie regular in shock and horror, as the older woman chuckled at her reaction.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Ladybug, but I had to be sure of you identity before I could give you this." She held up a thick manila folder with the word Hawkmoth written on the side, and the word Hawkbitch scribbled on the front.

Marinette held up her hands in protest. She had to breath. Her mind was swirling, and she could barely process all of this new information. Mme. Selina was her new favorite customer. She came in almost everyday and always had a kind word for her. Cat Woman was a thief who stole priceless artifacts. She had known Selina for about three weeks now. And Cat Woman was a world renowned thief. A thief who knew her identity...Marinette took a deep breath before she could spiral and closed her eyes. This was not helping. 

Ladybug, she thought desperately, I need to be Ladybug. She took a deep breath and settled into the mindset of the hero of Paris. Ladybug could save the day. Ladybug would save the day. Ladybug can deal with Cat Woman with ease. Ladybug would make sure that nothing went wrong. She felt her energies settle into calm, heavy, order as confidence and surety took over her bones. When she opened her eyes, Cat Woman was watching her with undisguised curiosity and fondness. Ladybug could not understand it. She cleared her throat.

"So how did you discover my identity?" 

"Well it wasn't easy," Cat Woman said dismissively. "But lets just say, you were perhaps a little too tired after that last akuma. Neither you nor that filthy alley cat noticed that I was following you. But then again he never notices when I follow him." She spoke of Chat Noir with disgust, as if he were the epitome of everything wrong with the world. Ladybug let the information settle in the back of her mind before she continued.

"So you're here about our deal. Hawkmoth's identity in exchange for a free attempt at the Louvre." It was a statement, but Ladybug was curious to see how Cat Woman would respond to it. 

"Yes," Cat Woman said with a smile, "But also no."

"No?" Ladybug said with unaffected surprise. "Don't you want your Jade Cat?"

"Hmm," Cat Woman mused as she eyed Marinette's room. "I think I remember saying that I want the most precious kitten in all of France. And at this point I don't think it's the Jade Cat."

Ladybug sighed and crossed her arms. "Do I want to know?"

Cat Woman smiled sardonically. "Lady Noire."

Ladybug blinked. That was not the answer she was expecting and it almost rocked her out of her persona. She recovered by giving Selina a very pointed look and said slowly, "Lady Noire? The persona I take when I wear the cat miraculous?"

"Mmhm," Cat Woman hummed with a smile.

"I don't understand."

"Well it's quiet simple really. I don't like that tomcat running around with the black cat miraculous. As the original, feline identity I take anyone who attempts a feline persona very seriously. And I don't like the reputation he is giving us nighttime predators."

"You do know that the black cat hero is older than most civilizations."

"All the more reason to take his miraculous from him. He doesn't deserve it, not with the way he treats you. Come now kitten, you can't tell me that you haven't ever questioned his suitability for the role. He's skilled, yes. And he's passionate. But he's hardly capable. How often does he leave alone in a fight? How often does he get distracted or impede your abilities? How often has he assaulted you?"

"Woah, Chat Noire has not assaulted me," Ladybug declared. 

"Oh so you like it when he kisses you're hand, and calls you pet names in professional settings? Or how about when he decided he was in love with your civilian identity? Did you like him coming up to your balcony every other night? Based on how often the CCTV cameras caught him here, I assume he had an open invitation? You did invite him to sit on your balcony for hours on end, correct?"

Ladybug stiffened. She couldn't deny it. She couldn't deny any of it. She couldn't deny her wish that Chat took things more seriously, or was more reliable. It was becoming more of a question of if he would even show up! And when he did appear, she often found her self watching him as much as their enemy. When he decided that he was in love with Ladybug, she always had to make sure that there was at least five feet between them so that he wouldn't try to pull her against him, "Because that blast was going to hit you m'lady!" he would always say even as his hands began to wonder. And when he decided he was in love with Marinette, she could barely go out on her balcony to water her plants without him trying to corner her, or get into her space. She used to love lying back in her bed, and watching the sky out of her sky light. Or going out on her balcony at night to let the cool air wash all of her troubles away. But now there was paper over the glass, and she had to lock the window the moment the sun went down in case Chat Noir decided to shift his attentions again.

She looked away but Cat Woman moved so that she was in her line of sight. Ladybug looked at her and saw something she had not seen directed at her in a long time. Not since Luka and Juleka left with their father for his world tour, and Kagami had been sent to a fencing camp by her mother. It was sympathy, understanding, and a righteous fury on her behalf. Ladybug shifted, she could feel her mask slipping, and she was almost tempted to call on her suit in order to cement it in place, but Cat Woman wasn't done. 

"You know," she said softly, "I had plans to steal you away as the new cat holder, before I ever realized you were Ladybug." Marinette started and stared, but said nothing. She did not trust herself. Selina continued, "That first day we met. I saw what those girls did to you. What your parents did to you, and I'll admit I was almost akumatized. But I wasn't because the moment I went over to steal that Lie-la's wallet, rip her knock-off designer bag, and spill coffee in her lap, something happened. The moment I heard her voice I started to believe her. Despite everything I felt and witnessed, I started to believe that she was right, and you deserved what they did to you." Ladybug stiffened, but said nothing, she was too confused and too conflicted. So Selina continued almost conspiratorily. "And that's when I realized. That Lie-la is a meta!" 

Marinette gasped. Her mask had slipped. The Ladybug persona was on the floor. There was no recovering it. The realization and the understanding hit her like a truck as the reality fit everything into place. For years she had wondered how Lila had done it. How had she turned everyone who had always loved and supported her through thick and thin against her as if she was a rat in the pantry. But it made sense. Lila was a meta! She was controlling them. Marinette never stood a chance. She looked up and saw the gleaming satisfaction in Selina's eyes as hope and vindication filled Marinette's. And Selina continued,

"It's the only explanation. Because I know what I say. I know what they did to you. And over the past few weeks I have seen who you are as well. You are kind, and generous, and beautiful. So how could anything she said be true, even if I believed her when I heard her voice. I knew right then and there, that very first day what was happening. But Marinette...I also knew right then and there that the only way for you to be free of them, of her, would be to escape. The only way you're going to be able to get out of this toxic dumpster fire of a life is to run away from it as fast and as far as you can. Now you're 18. You'll be graduating soon. And with this," she tapped the almost forgotten file, "You'll be able to put the mask aside. You can choose how you want to escape. All I ask is that you let me help you do it...It is your decision Marinette. I'll make sure that it is only your decision. If you let me."

Marinette breathed deeply, her scattered and shattered mind desperately trying to put all of the pieces together. She tried to summon Ladybug. She tried to shut down. She tried everything, but that did not stop the buzzing in her head so she just stared, at the woman in front of her. The woman who was offering the only thing her heart could ever want. As she stood and stared the kwamis began to slink out of their hiding spots, but only Tikki came up to comfort her and pull her out of her deepening spiral. "You're unbalanced, Marinette," the kwami whispered. "And I'm sorry, I don't know how to help you. I can only offer you creation and order, and I'm afraid you might have a little too much of that right now. Please, please, please, let this woman help you! We, all of us, will support you no matter what." 

And with that, Marinette fell to her knees and began to cry. And she didn't stop not even when the small hands of her kwami were joined by the warm, tight embrace of a human. So she knelt and cried, as sixteen deities protected her, and a warm, kind woman embraced her. 

Next

(let me know if you want to be tagged for this fic.)

#maribat #miraculous ladybug #batfam #batman #dcu fic #marinette dupen chang #dickinette #dick grayson #nightwing #ladynoir #lila salt #class salt #adrien salt #ptsd problems #mlb x dc #dc x mlb #since when did selina have a clone?

[mae-dwrites]

Tom and Jack are brothers - mainly DPxMLB (can be DPxDCxMLB)

It was clear from the moment Jack was born that he was Gina’s son, no one could doubt that overzealous nature, and while Tom didn't have the same level of entustatsum as his mother and brother it didn't mean he wasn't an excitable person either. Truly Roland had no idea how he didn't die living with them, the man didn't realize how much he was like them nor really saw how much Jack would go on to be like him in some ways.

One thing was for certain the boys loved their parents, the Fenton luck and sanguine as well as the Dupain passion and vigor were ever-present in the household growing up. Gina loved her boys very much, they were the only reason she stuck in one place for so long. However, she was able to convince Roland to take them all over the U.S. and Europe.

Jack went on to have a passion for inventing and ghosts, both of which Roland looked down upon but Gina was his biggest supporter followed by Tom. Tom ended up enjoying baking with his father. (Jack tended to forget a meal or two when he got too into his work. So it worked out.)

Jack would move out (taking his mother’s maiden name) and go to college in Wisconsin and meet Vlad and Maddie and fall in love and all that! Tom though opens a bakery a few years of baking for some personal events and such, and meets Sabine who moved to Paris to go to school, they fall in love and she takes business courses to help better run the bakery. Roland does his…thing and he never approved of Jack’s hobbies either, “that's not what job a family man takes on” or something, he of course doesn't try to contact him. He gets to be a grumpy old man in (guilty) peace.

Tom and Jack have never missed anything, they're best friends and each other’s biggest supporters. Best man, holiday’s, etc. So of course they make sure their kids have plenty of meetings despite being an ocean away. They couldn't have been happier that their kids were so close in age, which meant they wouldn't struggle to connect.

It was quick to be seen none of the kids showed signs of the Dupain shape, oh well maybe they’d still get the strength? Or perhaps the Fenton luck would just be much stronger. To say where the kids got their size from was an understatement, and to say very amusing to their wives and mother.

Marinette loved her cousins and didn't like how it was only every so often she got to see them. And her aunt and uncle were very cool, and reminded her of Nonna Gina. It was fun to see Uncle Jack lift her papa up, he was the only person she’d ever seen who could pick up her papa.

Jazz and Danny loved the Dupain-Chengs, they seemed to help level their parents out and they actually set aside their ghost obsession to just be a family. Not to mention they made the best food, going to their home was the best, you never got attacked by the food!

Jazz, Marinette, and Danny were as thick as thieves as their dads were, they were a unit. Which meant Marinette had called Jazz and Danny after she had taken the earrings off, and Danny had called Marinette to tell her about how he was dealing with his powers after dying.

And the next time the Fenton’s came to the Dupain-Cheng’s maybe Marinette and Danny hugged a little longer and a little tighter than usual, and Jazz spent her time glued to the younger girl’s side.

#jack and tom are brothers #danny and jazz are practically marinette’s siblings #dp x mlb #this could totally also be a dp x dc x mlb #danny and marinette totally comforted each other through their bb #blond bullies #jazz tries to help Marinette through her crush ptsd. especially after socquline goes and can't be there for her #jazz definitely went and threatened chloé and kim after that. NO ONE hurts her baby cousin #that's why chloé wasn't so hands on the next year of school. she was scared of it getting back to jazz #in my head it’s marinette was born between jazz and danny #which means danny dies the year following ladybug becoming a thing #i haven't seen a single jack and tom being related and that is a crime. like ITS RIGHT THERE PEOPLE!!! #gina dupain’s madian name is fenton #like the similarities between the dupain’s and the fenton’s make my brain go brrrrr #blue eyed dark haired child who ends up being a hero because it’s needed and have parents that don't really pay attention to them so #it makes it easier to be a hero and has a very clear crush and has an older but close-in-age figure who will kick ass for them #also danny and marinette like getting the greatest responsibilities in the universe (if you ghostking danny route) #also let all three of these scrawny kids the dupain strength!! #it would be so funny #dp x mlb prompt #dp x mlb crossover

[dramatic-in-autumn]

!SPOILERS S5!

I just watched Emotion and

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

-Adrienette dance like a power couple, but, NOT ADRIENETTE

-Felix being the happiness boi who wants nothing bad

-Felix, Adrien and Kagami being a The Trio

-KAGAMI IS A SENTIMONSTER!!!???

-Felix loving Adrien so fing much, he saves Mari

-[Nino low key roasting Mari 😂]

And...

FELIX CRYING, SCREAMING, SHUTTING HIS EYES BECAUSE HE COULDN'T WATCH WHILE MURDERING HIS OWN SISTER!!!!!!!!!! MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS BOYYYY!!!!

In conclusion, this was some wilde ass shit, idk how to process this. Like my mindset on characters was one way in 2020 and NOW IT IS COMPLETELY KSNDKDKMDFMKFPFLRND. Like you did this shady shit, BUT I LOVE YOU????

#miraculous chat noir #miraculous tales of ladybug and chat noir #miraculous lb #miraculous #miraculous ladybug #marichat #ladynoir #ladrien #adrienette #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #mlb 5 #felix graham de vanily #kagami tsuguri #what the fuckity fuck did i just watches #but adrien and kagami being such a good friendship duo #scene of marinette and felix dancing did something to be #it was such a power and someting crawling up your spine like slow realisation and plot twist #knowing it's felix cunning little inteligend bastard and marinette who has ptsd from him #enemies dancing like a powercouple #that scene #ml s5 spoilers #miraculous spoilers

[theravenclawladybug]

⚠️SPOILERS⚠️

TW: PTSD mentioned

Marinette has PTSD which is why she is so afraid of falling in love with Adrien

The last year of school before Alya and Adrien showed up was a living nightmare for Marinette all because of Chloé. Chloé made it her mission to make Marinette’s life miserable, and to her that meant getting Kim to prank her.

Because if this Marinette is so afraid of telling Adrien how she felt. She told Socqueline that she wouldn’t fall in love with anyone until she knew everything about them.

All of this is why Marinette had such a hard time confessing to Adrien

#miraculous ladybug #mlb season 5 spoilers #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #chloe bourgeois #socqueline wang #lê chiến kim #ptsd

[aura-can-draw]

So when is this bish gonna teach me how he does his eyeliner

#Chat Blanc #MLB #Miraculous Ladybug #stfu i need to brainrot on this fandom for a few days then I'll be back to normal i promise #Marinette is so deeply traumatised vy him she has PTSD lmao #digital art #art #artists on tumblr #my art #Roses #Chat Noir #didn't he split the moon in half #Which caused the earth to flood #And make roses extinct???? #Yes but stfu let him have his moment

[lawbreaker13]

In the middle of my graduate clinical diagnostics class. Good news! Marinette has diagnosable PTSD. Bad news: Marinette has diagnosable PTSD.

#Chat Blanc done DESTROYED THAT GIRL #Chat Blac #Marinette Dupain Cheng #Miraculous #Miraculous Ladybug #PTSD #Clinical diagnostic #ML #Miraculous Ladybug Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir #Mine

[mari-monsta]

I'm gonna mix it up tonight. What if we thought about marinette instead today

#crazy guys crazy i know #this is a joke because i also think about marinette constantly #however i dont torture her into blorbo microwave brain soup like i do to my beloved adrien #honestly my adrien brain thoughts are like #'isnt it fucked up that-' isnt it fucked up that-' WOULDNT it be fucked up IF-' #while marinette is like 'oh my sweet girl when you are older you will run the world' #but also sometimes i am like what if marinette had more ptsd #MORE because she already has some

[lily-drake]

I KNOW it’s been a hot second, and I’m sorry. Personal stuff has been kicking me in the butt and I haven't been able to write something for myself in literally 3 weeks. I hope this makes up for it. Requested from my Ao3 here is part 2 of, Why Can’t Bats Rest in Peace?

Sorry. I missed the part where you said to post requests here. This is an idea to follow up your resurrected Marinette story.

What about Marinette struggling with her time as ladybug but also the fear and anxiety from her resurrection. Like having flashback from the worst akumas and her having new fears like being underground or in small spaces. The bat family helps her with the akuma trauma and Jason helps with the trauma from her resurrection. Does this work? I’m good at brainstorming ideas but am really bad at writing my ideas out as a story.

Ground me, Not Bury Me

Previous

Falling, she was falling!  The air had left her lungs and all she could feel was wind whipping around her.  She screamed and reached for the hand of an unknown man with blonde hair and bright green eyes.  She could feel a strong pull to him, but she couldn’t remember what for.  She gasped for air, but everything was still blurred around her as she came crashing down, down, down!  She screamed and screamed and screamed as she was suddenly stabbed by an unknown person with a blurred face.  She wasn’t falling anymore, instead she was on her knees holding her side where warm liquid dripped down around her.  Someone was speaking, but she couldn’t make out a word.  She looked around and saw people with black hair wearing strange clothing around her.  She felt the strongest urge that she knew them. She wanted to crawl towards them to make sure that they were alright, but suddenly something cold and hard was clasped tightly around her wrists.  She looked up at the blurred figure as they laughed manickly.  She didn’t feel afraid of them, but for some reason she was afraid of what they would do to her and the other people.  She could glimpse bits of white and green from the blurry figure, and then they hit her and she fell over.  When she tried to get back up, she found that she couldn’t even sit up.  She felt soft material surrounding her, and something flowing at her legs.  She screamed again as there wasn’t a single speck of light.  It was dark, it was so dark, and something was trickling down her face!  She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t breathe, why can’t she breathe?!  She banged her fists against the plush material, but it did nothing.  She scratched and clawed, shredding her skin to bits, but she ignored the pain.  Her panic only increased as the more she struggled the faster the unknown substance came down into whatever was holding her.  She sobbed, she couldn’t even remember the last time she had cried.  She couldn’t take it anymore, why was all this happening?!  Why couldn’t she be free?!  She was going to die, she was going to disgrace her family and die because she was to incompitent to escape!  She just wanted this to be over.

***

Bruce, Damian, Dick, Jason, and Alfred hurried to the room Marinette was in.  They had heard her screaming and needed to make sure she was okay.  Marinette had been getting better as of recent months, but it was still a long way to go for her recovery.  Nobody knew what had brought her back, not even the Flashes, but she was here, and they weren’t going to lose her again.  She had on and off days where she was able to be fully awake and conscious for a few hours at a time, her record was currently 6, before fading back into a cloudy sort-of daze.  These hours were often few and far between, often happening only once or twice a month at random.

As they neared the door the horrid screams were replaced by heart-wrenching sobs and muffled pleading.

“Let ‘e out!”

She gasped out as they slowly opened her door.  Marinette wasn’t moving, but her body was tense in a way that showed her fear of being trapped.  

“Too small!  Dark!  Help!”

She cried out causing Jason to instantly run to her side.  Gently he picked his baby sister up so that he could sit on her bed and have her lean against his chest as he caressed her head.

“Shh.  It’s okay Pixie.  You’re not there, you’re out.  You won’t ever go back there again.”

Jason whispered soothingly into her ear as his eyes began to water with unshed tears.  Slowly Marinette’s erratic breathing began to slow as Jason continued to whisper sweet nothings into her ears while rocking her slightly.  Her eyes began to open, tears still falling down her oh so pale cheeks.  Her eyes were still clouded over and not a word escaped her as she stared into nothingness.  She simply leaned closer into her big brother's chest seeking out the warmth she desperately wanted.  

The others watched from the doorway hesitant to ruin the moment.  But Jason simply looked up at them with a sad smile and with a quick movement of his head invited them to join them.  Jason moved to the center of the bed and let everyone surround the two.  Damian was the first one, moving to hug his sister’s right while wishing he could do anything to relieve her of this pain.  Tim came on their left, resting his head against Jason’s shoulder as he stared worriedly at his baby sister.  Dick plopped on next to Damian and wrapped all of them into a hug as he looked into Marinette’s clouded eyes.  Bruce simply sat on the edge of the bed staring lovingly at all of his children promising himself that he’d keep watch.  He’d keep them all safe.  Alfred smiled at his family while wrapping the large duvet around all of the members cuddled together in the center of the bed.  He gave Bruce a small squeeze on the shoulder before he silently left the room keeping the door open just a crack.  All would be well, not now, but one day.

***

Marinette leaned her head against Dick’s shoulder.  She was conscious today, and she didn’t know how to feel about it.  She had died, she knew she had died, she remembered the way she had died.  She wished she didn't because it always made her finicky and it made her feel like she wanted to claw off her own skin at times.  Besides, if she began to actually think about it, she would go back to the mazy mist that clouded her brain.  That was almost worse because every time she came back she lost once again and didn’t know how long it had been, where she was, what had happened to her, it was a truly awful and disorienting feeling to exist.  The worst part was because she was trained to never let herself be that adrift in the first place, so the fact that it happened so often and for so long made everything even worse.  It was always the worst when she came to when she was alone.  Nobody was there to ground her and all she could do was panic until the haze overtook her senses once more.  She glanced around the den feeling the heat from the flames caress her unnaturally cold skin.  It was nice, that was until a flash of a burning city came into her mind.  It was so hot, the scent of charred skin hung heavy in the air and she couldn’t breathe!  Screams resounded in her head and despite her attempts to cover her ears to quiet the sound, it only made the cries of agony grow lounder, and louder, and LOUDER!  

“Marinette, it’s okay.  You’re not in Paris anymore.  It’s all over.  Please Mari, I need you to breathe.”

Someone was holding her wrists in a firm yet gentle grasp as her head was gently against something firm yet comfortable.  The first thing she noticed was the slow rise and fall of object she could now decipher as her older brother's chest.  Then she heard the constant ba-dump of a heartbeat.  She tried her best to match her breathing to the rhythm, taking her time and trying her best not to fall back into the cloud.  She didn’t want to go back, she wanted to stay here in this moment, able to comprehend the world and people around her.  She didn’t want to miss anything else.

“You’re not in Paris.  You never have to go back there again.  You did such a good job, and we’re so proud of you.”

She tuned into the sound of her brother’s voice and took in the scent of his aftershave.  She was okay, it would be okay.

“Th-thank you.”

She murmured.  Because of how long she went in her hazes unable to properly speak her voice had been quiet and almost inaudible due to disuse.  She hated it.

Dick gave her a gentle smile and placed a gentle kiss to the crown of her head.  

“I’ve got you Mare.  You’ll be okay.”

Marinette leaned into her brother’s gentle touch and was so very thankful that the void hadn’t taken her right then.  In fact, she was able to stay like that for another good hour before the haze washed over her once more.

***

She wasn’t going to kie, this was the worst time to come out of haze, no doubt about it.  It was slow, but she knew what was going on.  There was warm water rushing down her body and somebody was scrubbing her hair.  She nearly screamed when she realized what was going on.  Her head snapped to the side in full awareness and the person bathing her almost fell from shock.  It was Selina, she internally sighed with relief.  They stared at each other for a few moments before Selina smiled at her and whispered,

“Is it alright if I finish, I was just about to rinse the conditioner out.”

Marientte stared at her for a bit longer contemplating whether or not she was actually okay with that.  When she was unable to move her arms from her side and unable to stand up from the stool she was situated on she reluctantly agreed.  

Of course she trusted Selina, but this was just so embarrassing and goodness this was awkward.  Why of all times did she have to come to know.  She tried to sit still and not think of the water trickling past her face and how it reminded her of the attacks made by Stormy Weather.  The rain that fell down her face as cries from civilians resounded as some were killed in tornadoes and twisters, others in collateral damage, and how many froze to death trapped in giant blocks of ice.  The sound of mourning parents and children as the rain continued to beat down upon her.  Once the water was off she was glad to be wrapped in the warm and fuzzy towel.  She was shivering though, more so than a normal person would after getting out of a warm shower and attacked by cold air.  No, she assumed this was the consequence she got for pulling a Jason, a broken internal heating system.

“It’s going to be alright dear.  Let’s get you dressed then I’ll bring you down for dinner.”

Marinette didn’t bother asking for the date at this point, it was worthless until she was fully healed and able to stay continuous for more than a few hours a day.  She let Selina dry her hair, brush and braid it, dress her into a warm pair of sweats, a thick cozy sweater and warm fuzzy socks with the grippies on the soles.  It was nice really, and the chill wasn’t as bad now.  She let Selina pick her up, as her legs just would not hold her, and bring her down stairs to the dining room.  She leaned into all of her touches, nearly basking in it in hopes that she could bring the feelings back with her when she went back to the void.

There was loud chatter from the dining room and when they entered everyone glanced up.  She was glad that instead of falling silent their smiles simply got brighter when they saw her eyes were indeed cognizant. 

“Angel, tell these hooligans that it is acceptable to hit someone when they offer it!”

Damian said as he crossed his arms and puffed out his chest.  Marinette smirked as she was carefully deposited in her seat next to her brother.

“That depends, how was the offer phrased?”

She asked playfully.

“I think it is okay to follow through when the imbecile askes, ‘what are you going to do, hit me?’”

Marientte giggled a little and nodded as if she were in thought.

“I agree with Damian, at that point they are asking for it.”

Dick pouted,

“Blueberry, we’re trying to not encourage him to hit his fellow students.”

Marinette raised a brow at that and shrugged.

“Not like I knew he hurt anyone because of that line.”

Jason nodded at that and pointed at her with his fork.

“She has a point.  Can’t blame her when she was asked a question with no background knowledge.”

Dick nodded with fake seriousness.

“True, true.  But now that you know it, do you still stand by that statement?”

He asked with an obvious fake serious voice.

Marinette mirrored him and set her face into one of full concentration before she gave a curt nod.

“Yes, I do.  They asked for it, thus it is still okay.”

Damian smiled triumphantly while Jason gave her a subtle thumbs up while Dick pouted and Bruce just gave a TiredDad™ sigh.  Marinette was so happy while she ate that she completely forgot about any thoughts of Paris or her gruesome demise.  She was even able to watch a full movie with her family in the Den.  Unfortunately, she was still consumed by the haze once again, but she was getting better.  Soon, maybe she would never be forced into a haze again, but until then she would take as much as she could get with her short bouts of consciousness. 

Taglist:

@aespades @adrestar @astrynyx @doll246 @queenz-z @toodaloo-kangaroo @crazylittlemunchkin @seraphichana @miraculous-ninja @dorkus-minimus @mysticsoulgirl @ritacrow-blog @snow-leopard-777 @fidget-eep @sometandomstuff333 @lady-phoenix-of-tardis @shreeing @achaoticmess1 @liquid-luck-00 @buginetye @stainedglassm @prettylittlebutterflie @laurcad123 @iloontjeboontje @heartsong18 @raeuberprinzessin @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @jennifer-rose123 @moon5608 @corporeal-terrestrial @skitarii-alpha-c6-555 @saltysugarysembei @phantom120 @kking13 @depressed-bitchy-demon

#maribat #ask #dc x mlb #mlb x batman #mlb x dc #marinette wayne #dick grayson #angst #fluff #hurt/comfort #sibling daminette #tim drake #jason todd #bio!dad bruce wayne #part 2 #lots of hurt #trapped in a haze #selina kyle x bruce wayne #selina kyle #ptsd #nightmare #damian wayne

[burningstarfishqueen]

In the crowd, all he saw was her. Dancers’ dresses swirled together; faces of friends and acquaintances served only as a backdrop to her. 

She stood by the window. Cloth draped about her body, mirroring the midnight sky. Red chickweed braided into the darkness of her hair, scarlet against her skin. 

He got too close, ensnared in her eyes’ blue fire. 

Her glossy lips moved. His name on her tongue, high in her delight. “Adrien!” 

“Dance with me?” It was too bold a question, surely. 

Her hand was in his. Calloused fingers pressed into his palm with a confidence he prayed to emulate. Her thumb brushed over his knuckles. 

“Are you alright?” 

How long had he been staring? 

“I was merely overwhelmed by your beauty. An everyday occurrence.” 

A flush rose on her cheeks, obscuring all her little freckles. “Is that always your excuse?” 

“It’s the truth with you, ma lady.” 

She leaned in, so, so close. His breathing stuttered. Her lips brushed his ear. “Be a good kitten, and only call me that when we’re alone. Understand?” 

He tried to form words, but his mind clung to the fading warmth of her breath on his neck. 

Her delicate touch burned into his shoulder. She steered him across the floor, the pressure of her hand enough to command him utterly. The evening’s chill sharpened the heat of her fingers. 

She stepped back, leaning against the railing. He oriented to her, matching her position, angled to catch her every expression. She watched him back, brow furrowed. 

“What’s going on with you?” 

It wasn’t something she’d wanted to hear, so he hadn’t said it. He couldn’t lie, not after she’d learned his identity and let him give all of himself to her. 

“Marinette.” Her name was so beautiful. “The day after we met I knew I loved you. You were strong through all your fears, determined, confident. That’s just grown. When you showed me all of you, nothing could compare. Ladybug and Marinette. I love you, Marinette.” 

Her face tensed up. 

He clasped his hands together and despaired. 

“Mon chaton…” 

Were those tears blurring her eyes? That was much worse than just being upset himself. He’d hurt her. 

“We can’t be together.” 

“Because you love the other boy.” 

She took her time to answer. “Yes, that’s it. That’s the problem here, Adrien.” Her voice strangled. 

A thread of bitter hope let him wonder if that meant she felt something for him. 

——

She touched down on her balcony. “Detransformation.” Ladybug vanished in a flood of sparks. Tikki blinked at her with blue eyes. She flew inside, leaving Marinette out in the night. 

Curling up in her deckchair, she hid her face in her hands. She didn’t cry. In the silence, dreams claimed her. 

She swam through debris of a fallen city. Her corpse stood forever, enshrined in ash. Eternally reaching out to him. 

Coming to match her was a twisted parody, bleached in white. Rage twisted his face unrecognizably. 

Chat Blanc broke before her. Tears trailed down from blue eyes. In that expression she found her Adrien. She couldn’t help it, reaching out to him. 

He was gone. All that was left in him was cold. A cataclysm burned in his hand, and she knew he was coming for her. “Our love did this. Marinette!” 

#adrien is in love #marinette is in ptsd #romance #fluff #angst #hurt no comfort #prpr #adrinette #adrienette #adrien agreste #marinette dupain-cheng #marinette dupain cheng #miraculous ladybug #ml fanfic #ladybug #chat blanc

[galahadwilder]

One thing I’ve noticed when I write my ML PTSD headcanons is that I always write Marinette’s triggers as being from Akuma… while Adrien’s triggers are always from his home life.

I always thought that was odd for me to do—why have the imbalance? But as I think about it, I realize that there’s a special kind of horror in it.

Marinette is a child soldier. She’s a tweenager tasked with fighting forces of nature that wear the faces of her family and friends, where a slightest misstep can mean the end of all of humanity. She is one of two people responsible for the continued existence of the entire world. The pressure is enough to break her, and it has.

Adrien’s home life is so bad that he finds that exact same situation to be RELAXING.

At the end of the day, when the Akuma is gone, Marinette gets to go home. The horror is over.

Adrien’s horror doesn’t end. He’s living in it.

The worst thing Hawkmoth can do to Marinette is attack her. The worst thing Hawkmoth can do to Adrien is continue to exist.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #chat noir #ladybug #original content #ptsd #post traumatic stress disorder #child soldiers #child abuse #abusive parents

[verfound]

WIP Wednesday: 7/20/22

I was gonna try and have this finished to post today, but that’s not happening.  There’ve been some busy days, and there’s a bit in the fic that’s not working how I want it to.  But yeah, more Winters in the works...  👀

It was still dark outside when Sabine first heard the banging on the door, but that wasn’t necessarily a problem for the older witch.  She was a baker first and witch second, and early mornings were just something that came with that.  Still, those early morning hours were usually her time, when she could gather and prepare for the day in peace and solitude with her husband.  Their customers wouldn’t come until later.

So, she had to wonder as the knocking – banging – continued, who could possibly be so desperate so early in the morning?

Her answer came in the wide, terrified eyes of her daughter.

“Mama,” Marinette breathed as she opened the door. Sabine’s eyes narrowed as Mariette pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.  The poor girl was shaking. What on earth had her so spooked?

“What’s wrong, dearest?” Sabine asked, ushering her inside.  Tom looked up as they entered the kitchen, but the smile under his bushy mustache disappeared the second he saw her pale face.

“I have a favor to ask,” Marinette said, her voice as unsteady as her body.  Sabine eased her onto the bench by the table and set about making some tea.

“Of course, dear, anything you need – you know that,” she said, nodding.  Tom slapped his dough onto the floured surface of the table and walked over, wiping his hands on his apron.

“What’s happened, mon choux?” he asked, his face hard. “Is Luka all right?  Clara?”

She sucked in a breath at their names, her hands flying to her stomach.  Sabine paused her stirring of Marinette’s tea, and her parents shared a look as Marinette stared blindly at the table.

“They’re fine,” she said quickly.  “Of course they’re fine.  They’re…they’re not why I’m here.  Or…not…they’re fine.”

“All right,” Tom said, nodding as he sat on the bench behind her.  His hand clapped on her shoulder, and he frowned at how tense she was.  “Then what’s this favor you need?  You’re scaring us, Marinette.”

“Sorry!” she squeaked, shaking her head furiously as her hands pressed harder against her stomach.  “Sorry.  I just…I need you to take care of the village this winter.  The villagers.”

Tom and Sabine shared another look as Sabine brought her tea over.  Marinette picked it up with shaking hands, and she hesitated as she stared at the liquid. She put it back on the saucer without taking a sip.

“Of course, Marinette,” Sabine said, laying a hand on hers and squeezing as she sat across from her.  “But why can’t you take care of them yourself?  I know you live closer to the Forest, but you’ve never had a problem traveling through the snows before.”

“We’re leaving,” she said quickly, her voice curt. Sabine’s eyes widened.  Marinette was glaring at the tea, her hands back on her stomach.  “Luka will not be brumating this winter.  We are going south and will return with the spring.”

“…all right,” Tom said gruffly, nodding.  His hand slipped from her shoulder to her back, rubbing firm circles into the tense muscles.  “May we ask why?”

Marinette pursed her lips.  Sabine’s eyes narrowed on her untouched tea.  On the skittish look on her face.  On the way her hands wouldn’t leave her stomach.

…oh.

“Is that wise, dear?” she asked, folding her hands on the table.  She didn’t want to react until Marinette confirmed her suspicions.  “The last time Luka went south…the last time he interrupted his brumation –”

“I am well aware what happened last time, Mother,” Marinette said quickly, harshly, her eyes snapping up to glare at her mother, “which is why he won’t be brumating in the first place.”

“…Marinette?” Tom asked, his voice odd.  Sabine didn’t take her eyes off her daughter, her eyebrows furrowed as they stared each other down.  Tom had sounded like he wanted to reprimand Marinette for her tone, but her words had given him pause.  “Mon choux. Are you…?”

The question made Marinette suck in a breath, her eyes going wide as tears filled them.  Sabine’s heart broke for her girl.  She wondered if she had even let herself say the words yet.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” Sabine sighed as she pushed herself up from the bench and quickly walked around the table.  A sob caught in Marinette’s throat as Sabine wrapped her arms around her and pulled her against her.  Marinette clung to her dress as she shook.

“Mama…Mama…” she choked.  Sabine hushed her, nodding as she rubbed her back.

“Have you told him?” she asked.  Marinette shook her head, pressing her face against her stomach as her hands fisted in her apron.

“Mon choux, you must,” Tom sighed, rubbing her back.  “We will do whatever necessary, but you must discuss this with your mate before making such a decision.”

“I’m so scared,” Marinette breathed, her voice sounding so small.  “I can’t…I can’t go through that again.  I can’t do this again.”

“You both said you wanted more,” Sabine reminded her gently.  Marinette whimpered, her fists tightening on her apron.  “You were excited for more, Marinette.  Dear, you built an entire second floor onto your cottage simply so you’d have the space for more.”

Sabine was chuckling as she said it, but Marinette still looked terrified.

“That was before…I do, Mama.  Papa.  I do.  Of course I do,” she said, pulling away.  She stared up at Sabine with wide, tear-filled eyes.  “I can’t…I can’t stay here, though.  I can’t do this alone again.  I need…I need Luka awake. I need him with me.  I can’t…it’s still early, Mama.  The snakelet will come before spring, and Luka will be sleeping, and Lila…”

“Is dead,” Tom said firmly, bringing her attention to him.  She bit on her lip, and he sighed as he pulled her into a crushing hug.  “Oh, mon choux.  How I wish we could have spared you such heartache.  But the shifter is dead, and she cannot hurt you again.  No one is coming for this little one.”

“Speak with Luka,” Sabine said, her hands squeezing Marinette’s shoulders.  “It is very likely he has the same fears.  If you both still wish to leave, then of course we will stay and mind the village. But I wish you would stay, dear heart.”

Sabine bent and kissed the crown of Marinette’s head, squeezing her shoulders encouragingly.

“We missed everything the last time, after all,” Sabine said with a wink. “And I’d love to see another shifter try and get through me this time.”

Marinette smiled, albeit weakly, at that.  They talked a bit more, and she left not long after.

Neither Sabine nor Tom were pleased to see she had not touched her tea the entire time.

#wip wednesday #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain-cheng #sabine cheng #tom dupain #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #winters verse #post-winter's fury #marinette has baby ptsd

[justrandomfanfictionskh]

"Was Selina cloned?" Was all Dick could think when he first met Lady Noire on the roof of the Gotham Museum of History. Little did he know that the truth would be even more incredible, and more aggravating than he ever could have imagined. He just did not know what to do with the woman in front of him, since she seemed to take such obvious delight in torturing him! Meanwhile, Marinette was having her own problems. After five years with the Ladybug Miraculous and five years with the Cat, Marinette's energies are finally balanced. Now she can start living a life of her own choosing. But with so many personas and identities, does she even know who she is anymore?

Taglist @tails-and-scales @the-ghost-trader @kanamexzeroyaoifangirl @the-dumber-scaramouche @yoonjae20 @robyalix @seraphichana @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 #fanfiction #maribat #mlb x dc #batfam #marinette dupen chang #batman #miraculous ladybug #batfamily #badass marinette #marinette x dick grayson #dick grayson #dickinette #ptsd problems #class salt #adrien salt #lila salt #lila is evil #since when did selina have a clone?

[kasienda]

Aftermath: Ch 2 - Lifeline

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3

Read on Ao3

Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation, Severe Depression, Severe Anxiety, PTSD

Chapter 2 - Lifeline

“Marinette,” Tikki began in the same concerned tone she had every single time they were alone since her night on the Eiffel Tower. “You need to talk to someone.”

Marinette didn’t bother to respond. She turned away from the little red kwami. They had already had this conversation. Many times. Tikki might be right, but what was the point if Marinette couldn’t really talk about anything.

And even if she did decide that she could tell someone her secret, could anyone  truly understand?

They wouldn’t be able to help her, and then she’d be risking her friends and family by letting the secret potentially get out for no reason.

There was no point.

“This isn’t something that you can just will yourself out of, Marinette,” Tikki was saying. “You need help. And there’s no shame in that. You have been through so much and you still grieve so much. You’ve been so strong and so resilient. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished as Ladybug and as Marinette.”

Marinette clamped her hands over her ears, trying to tune out the positive affirmations that only felt like sandpaper on her skin.

She knew Tikki was trying to help, but Marinette couldn’t stand the optimism, the determination to look for the silver linings or bright side in a situation. She couldn’t feel any of that, couldn’t believe any of that, even if she wanted to.

Not anymore.

But Tikki kept talking.

“Tikki!” Marinette finally snapped.

Bright blue eyes blinked at her in surprise. “Yes, Marinette?”

“I renounce you.”

Tikki shot her a look of betrayal before she shimmered away in a flash of pink light.

Marinette quickly tore the earrings out of her ears and forced them into her permanently tightly fisted hand. She let the posts cut into her palm. She deserved the pain.

She tried not to cry and she managed it at first, but then she lost the battle all at once. Her sobs exploded violently out of her throat and invaded the air around her.

“Marinette?!” her mother called from downstairs, her quick footsteps pounding up into her loft. Her head popped through the trap door less than a minute later. “Marinette! What’s wrong?!”

Sabine climbed up the ladder to her bed and began stroking her hair in calm even passes.

But Marinette couldn’t have explained why she was crying even if she could get words out, which she currently couldn’t do anyway as her cries came too fast and too hard, clogging up her airway.

She let her mother hold her, but Marinette remained limp in her embrace, and soon her mother was crying, too.

“Please, let me help you,” her mother begged into her hair, barely audible. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

And Marinette only cried harder, hating herself more for making her mother feel like this. It wasn’t her mother’s fault that Marinette couldn’t live up to what she was supposed to be. She was the disappointment. Her mother only deserved good things.

She definitely deserved a better daughter.

A daughter who could get out of bed and get dressed on her own. A daughter who didn’t have to be coaxed into eating two meals a day or dragged to her own appointments.

She was only weighing them down.

Soft hands cradled her face. “Marinette, please tell me what’s wrong.”

Marinette shook her head slightly. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“That  was not nothing.”

“It was just a dream,” Marinette lied. “It’s not real.”

Her mother’s lips pressed together, as her dark eyes searched Marinette’s face. Marinette couldn’t stand it. She pulled out of her mother’s arms and rolled over in bed, the Ladybug miraculous still cutting into her hand. “What time is it?” she muttered.

She didn’t care about the time, but it was a normal enough question to change the subject.

“Just after one in the afternoon. I’ll bring up some brunch?”

Marinette nodded, meekly staring into her hands. Her mother left. And Marinette pretended not to hear her mother break into sobs the second the trap door was closed.

She squeezed her own eyes shut, wishing she could do better. Better for her maman. Better for Tikki. Better for her friends.

Her mother returned fifteen minutes later with a plate of pastries and a side of cottage cheese. And as she watched Marinette slowly take a bite of a croissant, Marinette tried not to squirm. She didn’t want the food, but that’s why her mother stared her down. She wouldn’t let Marinette  not  eat.

Halfway through the slow plodding tasteless meal, Marinette’s phone chimed with a familiar text tone. It was Adrien’s tone.

She dived for the device and unlocked it awkwardly with her left hand.

 Adrien:

    Can you come over today?  

 Marinette:

    Of course! What time?  

 Adrien:

    Whenever you can.    

Her heart twisted in her chest. She knew that meant he hoped she would be there as soon as possible. She gripped her phone in her hand and glanced across her room urging herself to climb out of bed.

But she didn’t move. She made herself take a breath and count silently to ten, and she tried again. And she still didn’t move. She swallowed a soft cry, but her mother was at her side immediately.

“Adrien?” her mother asked.

Marinette nodded rapidly.

Her mother offered a hand, and Marinette clutched at it gratefully, and then her mother hauled her to her feet. And then, once standing with Adrien’s text echoing in her head, she could push through her simplified morning routine of throwing on some clothes.

“Do you want me to do your hair?” her mother offered softly.

Marinette considered the question for a second, contemplating her pale reflection in the mirror. She let her free hand run through her hair a few times just enough to make sure it didn’t look like she had just rolled out of bed.

“No,” she finally said. “It’s fine.” She turned back to her mother with a forced smile. “It’s better if I just go.” She didn’t want to sit back down. It was easier to keep moving forward if she stayed on her feet.

But before she could bolt down the escape hatch, her mother stepped into her path, and pulled her into a hug. She cradled Marinette’s head under her chin, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’m proud of you for wanting to help your friend, but don’t forget yourself, xīngān băobèi.”

“I’m trying, maman,” Marinette whispered back, letting her arms squeeze tightly around her mother’s tiny frame.

Her mother kissed her again. “I know. I know.” And then she pushed Marinette away just slightly, and held up her purse. “Grab some more pastries from your papa, and text me when you’re on your way back.”

Marinette nodded, slinging the purse over her shoulder before descending to the floor below her room. The second she was free from her mother’s concerned gaze, she paused. She used her left hand to pry open her perpetually locked fist, revealing the ladybug earrings. Before she could think about it too hard, she dumped the miraculous into the secret side compartment in the interior of her purse.

She probably should have left the earrings with the miracle box. That was the safer, more responsible choice. The choice her former heroic self would have made. But she wasn’t that person anymore. She needed the earrings and she needed them close.

Because there was still an empty space next to the Eiffel Tower with her name on it.

Once Adrien was better and didn’t need her anymore.

Someday, she promised herself as she propelled herself back into motion. Someday, she would stop being a burden on everyone around her.

Someday she would be a part of the sky.

She took the transit to the hotel, and moved through the lobby and up to Adrien’s room on autopilot. She used the keycard Nino had given her weeks prior even with her left hand with practiced ease, and slipped into his room.

He had a light on, but he was rolled away from her. He turned at her entrance and managed a small smile that she returned threefold.

“Marinette,” he said. His voice sounded like sandpaper. “You got here so fast. I didn’t mean for you to drop everything and rush over.”

She dismissed his concern, setting the box of pastries on a table so she could pour him a glass of water.

“You didn’t interrupt anything,” she assured him. “My afternoon was already completely open.”

Completely open for laying in bed all day in self loathing. Didn’t he realize that she would much rather lay around all day with him than by herself?

But she didn’t  think  that he knew quite how badly she was struggling, and she really hoped Nino and Alya hadn’t told him the full extent of it.

It wasn’t because she didn’t want him to know. With how hard things were for him, she thought he might be the only one who might even come close to understanding.

Chat Noir was the only one who could come closer.

She dismissed the thought.

Chat Noir was gone. Adrien wasn’t.

The truth was she didn’t want him to know because she didn’t want him to stop asking for her. Because if he didn’t need her, she really only had one plan left.

She knew that clinging to Adrien as her lifeline wasn’t fair to him, especially when he was struggling so hard himself, but she didn’t know what else to do.

He didn’t ask for her  that often. Usually once a week or so. Sometimes twice.

She had pulled off a spontaneous visit once. It had been exhausting even to get out of bed, get dressed, and get through town without the aid of his request serving as motivation to keep her moving forward. And when she had shown up he had been embarrassed at not being “presentable,” as if she cared about such things. But she had just felt guilty about coming over uninvited for days afterwards.

So she hadn’t attempted it again.

Now, she waited for him to ask.

She placed the glass of water on the nightstand beside him so he didn’t have to sit up to take it if he didn’t feel up to that.

“I brought you some pastries,” Marinette said, returning to pick up the box before taking a seat on the covers on the unoccupied side of the bed. She placed the box between them on the bed. She didn’t open it. It would be easier for him to do it anyway.

“Thank you,” he croaked, offering her another small smile, but it faded before it had finished fully forming. He sat up and took a gulp of the water and placed it back on the nightstand before turning his attention to the white box of pastries.

She longed for the days when such a treat would have been enough to have him glowing and bouncing in excitement instead of this almost feigned polite interest. But she was pleased when he took the time to fish out a fruit and cheese danish rather than just snagging whatever was closest to the top.

It meant he was having a bad day, but that they weren’t at the bottom of the pit of despair.

“Papa’s experimenting,” she told him when he took a bite. “Looking for some new fruit and cheese combinations or something.”

“Cheese?” he asked after a few seconds.

“Yeah, apparently it balances the sweetness in some instances really well. I’ve really liked everything he’s made me try so far.”

Not that she had been any good at expressing that to her father. And in that moment she realized she was rambling to Adrien about the same things her parents rambled to her when she was trapped in her own head.

But she didn’t have her own things to talk about. Maybe their efforts to help her might at least help her offer some comfort to Adrien even if they didn’t seem to help her.

“Hmm,” Adrien responded a solid moment later, clearly not really processing her words, but she didn’t mind. She understood.

She kept talking anyway.

“Mari?” he interrupted a few moments later.

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry for asking you to come,” he said.

She frowned. “What? Why?!”

He shrugged, not making eye contact. “I just… really didn’t want to be alone today, but I’m having a hard time really being  here  with you. My mind keeps wandering and I’m not really hearing anything you’re saying.”

He was at least kind enough to admit it. Unlike her.

“I understand,” she soothed, taking his hand with her good one even though she had to awkwardly reach over her own torso to do so. She understood far better than she hoped he realized.

“But I’m still really glad that you’re here,” he whispered, letting his head fall to her shoulder.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “Me too,” she told him, and for once, she wasn’t even lying. She liked being here when he was next to her, even if all of existence was a struggle the rest of the time for both of them.

Her visits weren’t always like this. Some days it almost seemed normal. Like when they were together and reminiscing over some deranged plan Alya had roped them into in lycee or some project they had muddled through together. Days where they could pretend that Hawkmoth’s identity and defeat wasn’t a ghost looming over both their heads.

But other days were like this. Where Adrien was quiet and distant, but she stayed with him anyway. She didn’t feel like enough, but she wanted to be there for him even if she couldn’t really do anything.

She hoped she wasn’t disappointing him.

He did keep asking her to come back, so she tried to take that as a good sign.

She returned home, and she even managed to sit with her parents in the living room for a bit of the evening while they talked about their day in the bakery.

She didn’t hear much of what they said, but she did make sure to smile and nod when it seemed appropriate. If they noticed her distance, they didn’t say anything.

When she couldn’t even manage the fake smiles, she crawled back to her room and the bed that had become both her sanctuary and her prison, hating herself for not being able to be present with her parents the way she had been for Adrien.

She wished so hard that she wasn’t so completely dependent on Adrien’s requests to be capable of anything at all.

She hugged the purse that still held the ladybug miraculous within its hidden pockets, promising release and freedom.

Someday.

…

Marinette started awake when her phone buzzed loudly on her nightstand.

She had no idea how late it was, but it wasn’t early judging by the angle of the light streaming through the circular window above her bed.

She immediately reached for the phone, but the incoming text wasn’t from Alya or Adrien. It was from Nino.

 Nino:

    Hey dudette. I need your help.    

Marinette stared at the notification, the phone suddenly feeling like a lead weight in her hands. Her vision went blurry and her lungs spasmed painfully in her chest as she struggled to breathe.

She wasn’t sure she could help anyone else at the moment, but she didn’t want to let Nino down either.

She was such an awful friend. She collapsed back into her blankets, dropping the phone, as tears sprang to her eyes and she gasped for breath.

But the buzzing texts from the device kept coming, every few seconds, each one shooting a pang of guilt through her heart and mind.

She covered the phone with her blanket, but that didn’t stop the final chime of the incoming string of texts. And then it was silent once again without even Tikki there to provide a distraction or encouragement. Marinette laid there staring blankly at her pink walls still feeling guilty that she was already letting Nino down.

She hadn’t even read what he wanted. It didn’t matter because she knew that unless it was for Adrien she wouldn’t be able to do it. She dissolved into another round of tears.

Nino deserved better.

She had never felt so useless or so defeated. It was a good thing Hawkmoth was no longer a thing because surely he would have akumatized her by now if he hadn’t been.

Of course, if he hadn’t been uncovered she might not be feeling this low. She would have still been able to attend classes, hang out with her friends, and run patrols with Chat Noir.

Right now, she couldn’t even bring herself to read messages from her friends.

She should have been able to  read  it. How pathetic that she couldn’t. What if Nino  was  asking for something for Adrien? And then, she’d be letting him down too.

That thought finally had her moving to unlock the device.

 Nino:

    Hey dudette. I need your help.    

    I found Adrien an apartment. It's already furnished. It’s closer to me, and is nothing like the mansion. And it’ll get him out of the public eye.  

    He needs this move.    

    And I need him to make this move.    

    But I can't get him to make the transfer. He’s literally paralyzed in fear at even the idea of walking outside.    

    Will you please come?  

    PLEASE! You have a magic way of calming him and I think he’ll listen to you.    

Marinette stared at the text thread in disbelief. Did Nino really think  she  could coax Adrien into something that he couldn’t? Nino was the only one that could get Adrien out of bed most days.

Marinette didn’t even try. She knew how hard it was to get out of bed on a bad day.

But her anxiety evaporated. It wasn’t for Nino. It  was  still for Adrien who she owed so much more than she could give. She could do this. She could.

 Marinette:

    I’m on my way.    

She was lying. She was still lying there, staring at her feet, not moving. She counted to ten, telling herself she would get up at the end of the count. When that didn’t happen, she counted to twenty.

She still didn’t move.

She buried her face in her pillows, and let the tears spring from her eyes.

Why couldn’t she get up?!

Her friends needed her.  Adrien needed her.

Just sit up, she told herself. Just sit up. She could do that much.

And after another minute she did.

Okay, now she just needed to get her legs over the edge. And then stand.

That was it. That was all.

“You can do it,” she whispered to herself.

And another minute later, she did.

She felt no sense of accomplishment in her success, but maybe a bit of relief that she was on her feet because once she was standing, she could keep moving.

She was out the door ten minutes later with a wave to both her parents. She didn’t bother to grab pastries this time, knowing that Nino would have already taken care of breakfast.

When she arrived, Nino was slumped over on the side of the bed beside Adrien, his hands clamped on either side of his hat, having clearly long ago given up trying to coax Adrien up and out of bed by himself. Adrien was turned away from him, his eyes blank.

Adrien’s gaze shifted to her as she entered the room.

“I see you’ve called in the cavalry,” he commented dryly.

Nino’s head snapped up with such clear relief. Marinette’s chest tightened, and she froze momentarily in the walkway, uncertain she could live up to Nino’s hopes. She really hoped she wouldn’t disappoint him.

“Are you mad?” she asked Adrien, biting her lower lip. Last time she came over unannounced hadn’t turned out well for either of them.

His green eyes flew back to her. “No, of course not,” he whispered. “I get it. I just… I wish I didn’t need cavalry.” His eyes squeezed shut and she knew he was trying not to cry.

She came rushing to the side of bed opposite Nino, kneeling on the floor. “I totally get that. I want that for you, too. But until then, know that the cavalry will always be here when you need them.”

He tried to smile at her, but it came out more as a grimace. “Thank you, Marinette.”

He glanced between Nino and Marinette on either side of the bed, his eyes flooding with tears. “I’m sorry that I’m so difficult, so useless.”

He shook with silent sobs. Nino’s head fell to the bed, hiding his face and Marinette had no idea what he was thinking. She turned to Adrien instead, stroking the back of his pale hand soothingly.

“It won’t be like this forever,” Marinette promised. She was determined to make that true for him even if she doubted it could ever be true for her. After all, she had made it her life’s mission to help him heal after everything she had done to him. She couldn’t give up.

“Do you want to make this move?” she asked him.

He closed his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I want,” he said. “I can’t…” his voice cracked, “I can’t do it.”

She stroked his hair the way her mother did for her. “Shh,” she soothed. “Do you  want  to make this move?” she asked again.

He nodded, his green eyes pleading.

“Then we will make it happen,” she promised. “Can you sit up?”

He didn’t meet her eyes this time, so she swept to the other side and pushed Nino aside who was watching her curiously. She handed Nino the blanket, and then turned back to Adrien.

“Can you give me your hands?” Marinette asked.

And that, he could do. He complied almost immediately.

“Don’t let go, okay?”

He nodded.

“Do you want help?” Nino offered.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she took a deep breath, praying that the echoes of Ladybug’s strength that she had used before to win arm wrestling matches and push people out of the path of danger, even as Marinette, were still there.

She pulled hard.

Adrien didn’t actively help, but he came launching forward anyway. She did apparently still have some enhanced strength.

Once moving though, he had a lot of momentum, and he came crashing into her. They probably would have fallen backwards except Nino was there steadying them both.

Adrien and Nino both stared at her with wide shocked eyes.

“How did you do that?!” Nino exclaimed.

Marinette shrugged.

“I could’ve helped,” Nino said with a slight frown.

Marinette ignored him, her attention on Adrien. His hair was flying every which way, he was wearing a plain white shirt and some pajama bottoms. He already didn’t look much like the Adrien Agreste the world recognized, so at least they had that going for them.

“Don’t sit back down,” she whispered, still holding his hand, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb.

“We’re going to do this. But Nino and I will be here with you the whole time. You don’t have to do anything really. Just… don’t sit back down, okay?”

He didn’t pull away or object, but she could feel the rigid tension in his arms and shoulders.

He licked his lips, staring at her. “What if, what if someone recognizes me?”

“Adrien, don’t take this the wrong way, but you look way too terrible right now to be Adrien Agreste, fashion model of Paris.”

A nervous laugh bubbled from his stomach, but he was still rigid under her hand like a wild animal that might bolt at any second. She smiled, still stroking the back of his hand.

“But we can probably spruce it up a bit,” she said. “Nino? Can Adrien borrow your hat?”

Nino already had it off his head, and was flipping it onto Adrien’s without hesitation.

“And I brought some sunglasses.” Nino pulled up a plastic bag from the floor to the bed and fished through it and then handed Adrien the pair of oversized very cheap looking off brand sunglasses with neon yellow frames. Something else Adrien Agreste wouldn’t normally be caught dead in.

“Perfect,” Marinette said, releasing Adrien’s hand so she could brush her fingers through his oily hair. “I wish I had a hair tie,” she mumbled. But she had stopped carrying them around since she lost the ability to use them.

“I have some,” Nino chimed in, searching through his bag once again.

“You do?”

“Yeah, Alya threw together some things she thought we might be able to use. She would be here, but she had a midterm.”

Nino handed her the hair tie, but she immediately pushed it back into his hands. “Can you tie up his hair in a low ponytail at the nape of his neck?”

Nino quickly realized why she couldn’t and moved forward. And to his credit, he tried. But it was clear he had never handled hair in his life.

“Oh my god!” Marinette exclaimed. “Have you never tied Alya’s hair back before?”

“Uh… Alya doesn’t let me touch her hair,” Nino said. “Her hair is a wild beast and takes hours to tame. You don’t mess with that or she’ll kill you.”

And Marinette laughed. “Well, Adrien’s hair is far less kinky and much easier to wrangle.” She gathered it up with her left hand. “You pull it together like this-“

“I can do it,” Adrien interrupted, his voice subdued but firm. His hands reached back to take care of the task.

Nino slipped the hair tie into his hands, and Adrien’s hair was tied back a few seconds later. Then they flipped him back around.

Marinette choked back a laugh. Adrien looked awful, but more importantly, he didn’t look like Adrien.

“That bad?” he whined, covering his face with his hands.

Nino tossed him an oversized dark blue hoodie. “No time for the model in you, dude.”

They dragged him over to the mirror before he could put on the hoodie.

“What do you think?” Marinette asked. “Do you think anyone will recognize you?”

Adrien blinked at his own reflection. “Mari, I’m not sure my father would recognize me.”

Nino scowled. “He didn’t ever see you enough for that to be a high standard.”

Marinette scowled at Nino behind Adrien’s back. “Not now!” she mouthed.

Nino held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

Marinette slid her left hand into Adrien’s once again. “How are you feeling? Are you willing to give stepping just outside the door a try?” she asked, smiling at him through the mirror.

He was silent for a long time. She held her breath, waiting for his answer. If he agreed to that much, she knew they could make the rest happen, though he might be pissed at her later for the stunt that she was about to pull.

“Let’s try,” he whispered.

She smiled brightly. Hopefully, he would forgive her.

And if he didn’t… there was still that open space right next to the Eiffel Tower.

He let go of her hand to put on the hoodie, and when his head was inside the sweater, she made eye contact with Nino and left her key card on the dresser.

Nino nodded in understanding.

Marinette urged Adrien forward, never letting go of his hand, while Nino followed from behind.

They stepped into the hallway, and Adrien immediately became as stiff as a statue, his gaze shifting up and down the hallway like a scared kitten.

The door to Adrien’s hotel room clicked closed.

He immediately tensed. “Maybe… maybe we should go back inside,” Adrien suggested, his whole body taut like an overstretched violin string.

“We can’t,” Marinette told him gently, squeezing his hand. “We left the keys inside.”

Adrien’s free hand immediately covered his face and his glasses clattered to the ground. His eyes, now visible, were wild and unfocused, like a feral animal. His breathing came too fast, never giving his lungs a chance to take a full breath. His eyes darted back and forth between her, Nino, and the open hallway.

Marinette cradled his face between her closed fist and her open left hand. The tips of her fingers gently stroked his cheeks. “Adrien, look at me.”

His eyes locked onto hers, but they were still pulsing. His whole body shook.

“Breathe,” she ordered.

He sucked in a breath.

“Again.”

He was still quaking, and his breathing was still too fast, but his eyes were still locked on hers.

“Just look at me, okay?”

His adam's apple jumped up and down in his throat. He nodded.

“Take my hand.”

And he did, he took it, and held it like she was the only thing keeping him standing. He held her so hard that it hurt.

But she dared not let go, dared not to flinch or react. Ladybug had taken far worse anyway.

He trembled underneath her hold.

She squeezed his hand. “You’re doing amazing.”

“For walking out the door?” he bit out sarcastically.

“Yes,” she told him seriously.

“She’s right,” Nino agreed.

With him clinging to her hand, and Nino on his other side, she led him forward, and he followed, his ragged breathing loud in her left ear. But he didn’t stop.

The elevator ride was the worst even with only the three of them in its confines. Adrien let out a pitiful sob and she continued to offer meaningless reassurances.

When the doors slid open, half a dozen people walked through the lobby. Adrien’s breathing became frantic and he remained frozen in place.

Marinette whirled in front of him, blocking his sight of the lobby. “Breathe in with me, okay?” And she took in a slow dramatic breath. He started to follow suit, before it broke off again. “It’s okay,” she soothed. “Try again.”

And they repeated the process.

“Can we use the elevator?” A voice asked from behind her.

Marinette cursed as Adrien’s gaze shifted over her shoulder to the stranger, and the panic on his face visibly exploded. His face crumpled and his body immediately folded. She fell to the ground beside him.

“Hey man, can you give us a minute?” Nino was saying, gently pushing the small group of people back.

“Of course,” the man said. “Anything we can do to help?”

“We’re almost there,” Marinette whispered to Adrien, but his eyes were wild behind his sunglasses, and she wasn’t certain if he was hearing her. “We just have to turn the corner to the other set of elevators.”

He clung to her hand so tightly it was hard not to wince. But she stroked his hand and arm with her fist. She watched as he fought to regain control.

“Close your eyes,” she urged him. “Don’t think about anything or anyone outside. We have as much time as you need. Just focus on breathing, okay?” She figured they could go up and down the elevator shaft multiple times if they had to.

Adrien was openly sobbing at this point. “Shhhh,” she whispered. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Nino and I are both right here.”

She kept saying it, kept urging him to slow his breathing, and she kept stroking his arm with the back of her closed hand. The elevator doors closed, but they didn’t go anywhere. Nino was at the control panel so she didn’t worry about that either, keeping her attention on Adrien.

Minutes passed. Marinette had no idea how many. But Adrien’s panic seemed to have broken. His breathing evened out. He was soaked in sweat and slumped over with pure exhaustion, but his green eyes were clear.

“I-I’m sorry,” he croaked, suddenly crying. “I’m sorry I’m so difficult. I’m sorry I’m such a burden.”

Nino flopped to the elevator floor on Adrien’s other side. “Dude! Look at me!”

Adrien looked up.

“It’s your human right to be a burden,” Nino told him, his golden eyes swirling with intensity. “I love you. I’m not going anywhere even when you’re a pain in my backside, you got it?”

Adrien started crying harder.

Marinette cradled his head against her shoulder. “Shh. You’re fine. You’re worth it. This isn’t your fault. And we just have another corner to turn to go to the other set of elevators and the worst will be over.”

“I don’t…” Adrien started.

“You know I’m always down for chilling,” Nino interrupted. “The elevator is stopped. I will fight anyone that tries to kick us out.”

Adrien laughed through his tears.

They all lay there at the back of the elevator. At first no words were spoken. But eventually Nino asked after her parents, and Marinette was grateful for the distraction, though her fingers continued to stroke Adrien’s head and face. Adrien didn’t say anything, but his breathing was evening out. Marinette asked about Alya next, and the two of them continued to chit chat as they often did when their visits to Adrien overlapped and Adrien wasn’t having a great day.

“We should go,” Adrien interjected.

“You sure?” Marinette asked.

He nodded. She rose to her feet, and offered him her good hand, while Nino did they same. They both hauled Adrien to his feet a second later. Nino flipped a switch on the panel and then pressed a button and the doors flipped over.

Adrien’s hand squeezed hers harder, but he remained steady, and she led them forward. They walked through the open lobby. Adrien kept his gaze down, but his form started to shake once again. But they didn’t have far to go. Just around the corner, and she was pulling him into another small elevator.

Less than a minute later, they were in the parking garage.

“Wait here,” Nino said, taking quick large strides deeper into the garage.

Adrien leaned heavily on Marinette as they waited. She stroked his hand and his arm. His muscles were rigid and tight, and she wished she could fix all of this for him.

Nino pulled up a second later, and Adrien collapsed into the back seat like his bones were made of jello. Marinette took the seat beside him, made sure they were both buckled in, and then they were moving.

She breathed a sigh of relief. They had done the hard part. She turned to Adrien only to discover tears streaming down his face.

Marinette squeezed the hand she had never relinquished. “It’s okay. You did it.”

But Adrien shook his head angrily. “Why is everything so hard?” he sobbed. “Why can’t I walk through a fucking hallway without losing it?”

“Shhh…” she soothed. “You were so strong.”

He laughed bitterly, though his tears never slowed.

Marinette pulled his head to her shoulder and let her fingers card through his hair as he cried. He nuzzled into her shoulder and neck, and they remained like that for the duration of the drive. And when Nino finally pulled into another parking garage - this one smaller and luckily without any human traffic at the moment, Adrien was calm.

“Do you think you can handle one more walk today?” she whispered.

He didn’t speak, only nodded. And the three of them were able to make it into the new apartment without further event. The moment they were inside, Adrien sagged in relief. He threw his arms around both of them.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “You both put up with a lot from me. And maybe someday, I’ll be able to repay you.”

Marinette was shaking her head in disagreement. He didn’t understand. She owed  him  more than she could ever make up for.

“That’s not how friendship works, dude,” Nino said. “Now come on, let’s get you to bed. I know that this place isn’t exactly what you’re used to,” Nino continued.

Nino wasn’t wrong. The apartment featured a small couch opposite a television in the main living area, a small white rectangular dining table with its short end against the wall next to a bar that revealed an alley kitchen on the other side. The one hallway led to a small bathroom on the left, and a bedroom with a queen sized bed on the right. The whole apartment could have fit twice over in Adrien’s old bedroom. But the only thing that bothered Marinette about it was that it was completely spartan. There weren’t any decorations, color, or even bland artwork.

“But I figured that might be a good thing,” Nino was saying.

Adrien said nothing of what he thought of the place, he just willingly let himself be guided to the bedroom where he fell into the bed immediately.

“You’ve got a fully stocked fridge with things Alya said can just be reheated. But we’re only two blocks away, so if you can’t get up, just shoot us a text and one of us will be here in the morning or the evening. I’ll probably be stopping by once a day or so anyway. I’ll whip us all something up right now.”

“Thank you,” Adrien said again, his voice small and his eyes glassy.

Marinette squeezed his hand as Nino left, but he didn’t react. He was clearly exhausted.

“I’m sorry for tricking you,” she told him. “I hope you’re not mad at me.”

He didn’t say anything, but he suddenly threw his arms around her and clung to her harder. He was shaking his head, and he was trembling slightly so she knew he was crying. She cradled his face, kissed his forehead and hair. And eventually his shaking stopped and his breathing evened out, and he was asleep.

Marinette slipped out and found Nino filling up three plates from a steaming tupperware of some kind of pasta casserole.

“He fell asleep,” Marinette told him.

He nodded. “Not surprising. I’ll just put it on his nightstand.” Then he handed her a plate of her own. “Thank you for your help today.”

She hung her head. “You don’t need to thank me.”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t have gotten him outta there without your help.”

“Surely you could’ve dragged him out by the back of his shirt if you had to.”

He nodded. “The thought occurred to me. But he would have resisted, and then he would have ended up on the front page of some tabloid. Better to do it your way.”

She put her plate down, so she could wrap her hands around herself as if she could fend off his undeserved appreciative words. “Nino, I know I haven’t been here. Not the way Alya has been.”

His hand squeezed her shoulder. “Nettie, it’s okay. You are going through your own stuff. We all know that. You’ve been here every time he’s asked in the last few months.”

She made herself look up at him. “I want you to know that I’m here now. You can rely on me for anything with regards to Adrien.”

“I don’t need you to do anything, Nettie,” he said, taking a bite of his meal. “I have it all worked out. But I know it’d mean a lot to him if you could just be here during the day every now and again. I think he could use the company.”

She nodded. She would be there every day.

“Now, eat,” he ordered, handing her a fork. She took a bite with her left hand, and for once she was able to taste it, enjoy the flavors of tomato, mushrooms, and spices on her tongue.

“Alya made this?” she asked.

Nino nodded with a huge smile.

“It’s really good,” she said.

“I know, right? She spoils me. And now, Adrien, too.”

"Lucky him."

"She'd be happy to spoil you, too," he said through a mouthful of food.

Marinette smiled, and for once it felt genuine. "I know. I'm lucky, too."

She wasn't sure she believed it, but she wanted to.

…

Chapter 3: Turning Point (Link to be added)

#miraculous ladybug fanfiction #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #adrinette #love square #post hawkmoth defeat #pre reveal #suicidal ideation #severe anxiety #panic attacks #severe depression #ptsd #hurt comfort #codependency #starts dark #gets fluffy #eventually #happy ending #aftermath #my own content

[the-delta-42]

Princess Justice

Princess Justice

Marinette absently bounced her leg as she sat in the pews while her father stood at the altar. Marinette was supposed to speak but had been unable to say a word when she saw the picture. Marinette could still remember what happened. The incident was seared into her mind.

It was a quiet day, with only a few people coming to the Bakery. Ms. Mendeleiev had come in to buy a pastry and was speaking with Marinette’s mother. Marinette was helping around the bakery and didn’t think anything of how quiet Mendeleiev, and her mother had gone a moment after the door opened and closed. Marinette entered the front of the store carrying a tray of croissants and found both her mother and Mendeleiev being held at gunpoint while an unkempt man raided the cash register. The man didn’t notice her at first, allowing Marinette to quietly place the tray down and sneak her phone out of her pocket. She’d just finished dialling for the police when she decided to make her presence known.

“What are you doing?” Marinette demanded, keeping her phone behind her back, “You’re not supposed to be here.”

The man whirled around and snarled at Marinette, before pointing the gun at her, “Go stand with the dyke and the chink.”

“What did you just call my mother?” Demanded Marinette, as both her arms snapped to her side.

The man saw the phone, paled, and pointed the gun at Marinette and shot at her. Marinette felt something hit her chest and send her tumbling to the floor. She looked up at her mother and Mendeleiev, just as Mendeleiev was shot in the face. Marinette’s mother was shot three times in the chest and abdomen, before the man ran out of the bakery.

Marinette struggled to get back up, just as she heard the door to the bakery open.

“Thanks for coming to help,” Marinette heard her father speaking to someone, “we have a big order to fill- OH MY GOD!”

Marinette let out a groan as she tried to get back up again, a face appeared above her. Her grandfather, Roland.

Marinette coughed up something, before rolling over onto her side, as she flutily tried to get up.

“Hello?” The voice that said that was female and sounded familiar, “We need an ambulance at Tom & Sabine’s Bakery. We…we think our friends have been shot.”

Marinette finally recognised the voice, Alya. Alya was her friend.

“Tom,” Called Roland, “I think Marinette’s hurt.”

Tom finally spotted Marinette, trying to get up, as his father tried to climb over the counter.

To Marinette, everything was hazy, she saw something with banana shaped hair appear over her. She giggled at the banana headed person, whining when they put pressure on her chest. It hurt. A lot. Everything seemed to be a blur, because she suddenly found herself in a hospital.

Marinette jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced at Alya, who gave her shoulder a reassuring squeezed, and looked back down at her lap. Mendeleiev was already dead when the ambulance arrived, Marinette’s mother died enroute to the hospital, bleeding out as the paramedics tried to prevent the punctured artery from losing too much blood.

Marinette didn’t find out about her mother for three days, because she’d been in and out of consciousness. Marinette still had yet to say anything since the news was broken to her. The attack had been given a large amount of media coverage, especially since Nadja had left the studio mid-broadcast. Alec Cataldi didn’t have any problems with harassing them for a statement, which had the studio’s praise, but the publics scorn.

Tom had just finished his speech and stepped away from the Alter, when a reporter was tackled and forcibly escorted out of the church, but not before they shouted a question at Tom.

“Mr. Dupain, what’s your opinion on the Police dropping the case of your wife’s murder?”

Marinette froze, before everything became a blur and the next thing she knew, she was back in her room, her legs were aching, and her chest was burning.

“Princess Justice, your mother was murdered, and the authorities have refused to bring the murderer to justice.” Said a voice in Marinette’s ear, “I can give you justice, all I require in return are Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s Miraculous.”

“Yes, Shadowmoth.” Said Marinette, as a purple butterfly covered her face and her body in darkness. When Marinette stood up, her face was pale and she was wearing a white toga, with a red sash around her waist and a white blindfold covered her eyes. Her hair was loose and on her head was a tiara. Her feet were bare, and Marinette appeared to be floating an inch from the ground. In her right hand were a set of scales and in her left was a broadsword with a red hand grip and a gold pommel, a silver cross guard and a shining steel blade.

“Remember, Princess Justice, bring me the Ring and the earrings and I’ll let you have your justice.” Said Shadowmoth, as Princess Justice cocked her head to the side.

“No.” Said Princess Justice, the butterfly around her eyes turning red and disintegrating, “Justice is blind and has no master.”

Shadowmoth grabbed his head as a stabbing pain passed through his mind. In an instant, Shadowmoth felt his control over Princess Justice vanish. For the first time since he began, Gabriel felt afraid of his Akuma.

Princess Justice exited the Bakery and floated over to the nearest Prison. The first victims of Princess Justice were the unrepentant prisoners and guards. Blood dripped from her sword, the heads of her victims now adorning the gate. Princess Justice didn’t make a sound.

Princess Justice then went to the church, the blood from her sword dripping to the ground. She stopped before Alec Cataldi. The bald reporter froze at the sight of the Akuma. The scales tipped to the left and Princess Justice sneered, before removing Cataldi’s head. Almost immediately, people started screaming. Ignoring them, Princess Justice entered the church. The entirety of her class was inside. Princess Justice cocked her head to the side, and she looked around, before approaching Lila and place the tip of her blade under her chin.

“Repent.” Came the emotionless voice.

Lila swallowed, before glancing up fearfully. Princess Justice lowered her sword, before her head snapped to Chloe. The blonde heiress looked down her nose at Princess Justice, the Akuma tilted her head, before she snapped her fingers and chains erupted from the ground and bound Chloe to the floor.

“I will see to you shortly.” Said Princess Justice, before looking at Lila, “Repent or die.”

“I-I don’t know what to say!” Exclaimed Lila, as Princess Justice returned the point of her blade to Lila’s chin.

“You have made false promises to your followers, you have willingly deceived them with no thought of the consequences it may bring. Repent or die.”

Lila whimpers, getting a sneer from Princess Justice. Princess Justice raised her sword and swung it down onto Lila. The sword passed straight through Lila, leaving her unharmed.

“You have repented.” Intoned Princess Justice, turning to Chloe, “Repent or die.”

“For what?” Shrieked Chloe, “What did I ever do to you?!”

“Bullying, harassment, false incrimination, trespass, public endangerment, assisted in terrorism,” Listed Princess Justice, “the list goes on, and on, and on. You have placed innocent lives in unnecessary danger to feed your narcissistic and egotistical delusions.”

Chloe swallowed, “I mean, besides that.”

Princess Justice frowned, “I can feel your hatred, for those around you, for your mother, for your father, for your sister, and for yourself. Your hatred is like a fire, I see what you do, how you hide the scars, how you keep people at arm’s length, to stop yourself feeling the pain you felt at your mother’s departure.”

Chloe bit her lip, her eyes starting to burn with tears.

“Your penance is too great for even I to handle.”

Princess Justice turned and floated away from the group. Quickly removing the head of the journalist that had invaded the funeral.

Princess Justice was half-way to Le Grand Paris, when she heard someone land behind her.

“I was wondering when you would arrive.” Said Princess Justice, turning to face Chat Noir, “Remain out of this, I have no quarrel with you.”

“You know I can’t do that, Princess.” Said Chat, readying his staff, “Please, just wait for Ladybug to arrive, we can help you.”

Princess Justice smirked, “Silly, Kitty. Your Lady isn’t going to come.”

Chat blanched, before growling, “What did you do to her?”

“She has not been harmed,” Assured Princess Justice, “the pain she felt was caused by another.”

Chat swung his staff at Princess Justice’s head, only for the Akuma to grab the staff in her hand. Chat watched in shock, as cracks started running down the length of his staff. The weapon exploded, sending him flying away from her.

Princess Justice resumed her path to the hotel, idly dispatching anyone who got in her way. She’d just arrived at the hotel, when Shadowmoth landed in front of her.

“What were you hoping to achieve by coming here?” Asked Princess Justice, raising an eyebrow.

“I am Shadowmoth. I command you. You will obey my commands.” Snarled Shadowmoth, raising his sword above his head.

Princess Justice parried the blow, before jabbing her blade towards him. Chat skidded to a halt, staring at the sight of Princess Justice and Shadowmoth fighting. He also spotted Felix creeping up on Princess Justice. Félix got within striking distance, and had his head removed from his shoulders.

“Hmm,” Muttered Princess Justice, while Shadowmoth stared at her in shock, “no blood. I guess Pinocchio really wasn’t a real boy.”

Shadowmoth snarled, before swinging at her. Like with Chat, she caught the weapon and, again like with Chat, Shadowmoth stared in horror as the cracks reached the handle, before it shattered in his hand.

Unlike with Chat, Shadowmoth felt the sword pierce his chest. Shadowmoth saw Princess Justice grab his Miraculous and rip them from his front. Chat stared on as his father, revealed to be Shadowmoth, stared at Princess Justice.

“Gabriel Agreste,” Intoned Princess Justice, ignoring the gathering crowd, “your crimes are murder, terrorism, manipulation, emotional abuse, mental abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, attempted murder, neglect, coercive control, and too many for even I to count.”

Gabriel felt blood gurgle up his throat.

“The judgement,” Said Princess Justice, sweetly, “is death.”

Gabriel barely had a moment, before Princess Justice’s sword was forced upwards, vertically bisecting him from the chest upwards. Princess Justice glared down at the corpse, before Chat’s staff knocked her backwards.

The blindfold that had been covering her eyes drifted to the ground. Chat stepped backwards, upon seeing the cold, ice white of Princess Justice’s irises, it was only now that he noticed that her tiara wasn’t made of metal, but of thorns with blood flowing down to her eyes, joining the twin rivers of blood that ran down her face in place of tears.

Chat swallowed and fell into a fighting stance. Princess Justice stared at him, before turning around and floated towards the hotel’s entrance. She curled the fingers of her free hand, pulling a man from the entrance.

“Mason Tueur,” Intoned Princess Justice, levelling the point of her blade at his neck, “two weeks ago, you robbed Tom and Sabine’s Bakery, murdered two innocent people and attempted to kill a third. Repent or die.”

Mason swallowed, be trying to run away. Princess Justice grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and rammed her sword into his chest. The hand guard punching him in the chest. Mason stared into the eyes of the girl who phoned the police in his attack, the girl he’d tried to murder.

Princess Justice dropped the corpse to the ground, before turning to face Chat Noir, she presented a blackened ribbon and the three miraculous to him.

“Tikki will tell you what to do.” Said Princess Justice, “My purpose is now complete, I have no reason to harm anyone else.”

Chat nervously swallowed, before taking the ribbon and miraculous and then vanishing. A wave of red ladybugs flew past them, before the akuma’s hold over Marinette vanished. Marinette collapsed to the ground, just as Mr. Bug landed a couple feet away from her.

Everyone Princess Justice had executed was brought back, which, unfortunately, included Mason. He drew a gun and aimed it at Marinette, before a yoyo wrapped around his arm and severed his hand. Mr. Bug watched Police tackle Mason, before turning his attention to Marinette. The girl was curled into a fetal position, quietly sniffling and muttering apologies. Mr. Bug’s heart sank, before carefully picking Marinette up and headed towards the bakery. He carefully dropped Marinette onto her bed, before cancelling his transformation and sitting next to her.

Marinette’s sniffles slowly became heart-wrenching sobs. Adrien carefully wrapped himself around her and held her as she cried.

PJ

Adrien quietly looked around the classroom. Marinette had a full mental breakdown a year ago, during Tueur’s trial, and was placed in a mental hospital. As if by overnight, the class had lost its light. Every greeting was half-hearted and barely anyone spoke. His father was given life imprisonment, Chloe and Lila were attending therapy and everyone Princess Justice executed was investigated, leading to some cold cases to being solved. Adrien was given some Guardian training by Su Han, while Marinette was in hospital.

“We’re thinking on visiting Marinette, later.” Said Alya, her voice scratchy

Adrien jerked as he realised that she was talking to him. He nodded, before looking back towards the front. He’d heard Marinette had been making progress, he hoped she’d be back soon.

PJ

Marinette chewed the end of her pencil. She’d been receiving constant treatment for the past year. One of the psychologists reminded her of Tikki. Marinette, as far as she knew, was the only Akuma victim that remembered their time as an Akuma. Her eyes, once a warm blue, were now a cold grey. This also had a side effect of Marinette now requiring glasses.

“Hey, Mari!” Grinned Christine Chapel, “How’s your test going?”

“I finished it.” Said Marinette, holding it up, “Am I really going home today?”

“We’ll see.” Responded Christine, slipping Marinette’s test into a folder, “You’ve got some visitors in the waiting room.”

Marinette all but ran to the waiting, barrelling into Adrien.

“Guys!” Cried Marinette, pulling Adrien and Alya into a bone crushing hug, “I’ve just done a bunch of tests.”

“What, mental tests or psychological tests?” Asked Alya, quirking an eyebrow.

“Educational tests.” Rushed Marinette, “I think they’re getting me caught up so I can come back!”

Adrien grinned, before a grumpy looking doctor ducked his head into the room.

“Dammit, girl, some people are trying to sleep.” Groused the Doctor, before vanishing.

“Who’s that?” Asked Adrien, after a moment.

“Doctor McCoy, he acts grumpy, but he’s actually a Labrador.” Said Marinette turning back to the group.

PJ

Marinette nervously chewed her bottom lip as she stood at the base of school’s steps. Adrien stopped next to her.

He gently took her hand, “Ready?”

Marinette took a deep breath, nodded and started walking up the steps.

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #sabine cheng #tom dupain #rolland dupain #chloe bourgeois #lila rossi #gabriel agreste #ms mendeleiev #tikki #plagg #alec cataldi #delta writes #original characters #tw: racial slurs #tw: death #tw: ptsd #tw: homophobia #tw: violence