#do you think she knew even as she pleaded with gabriel to give up on her that he never would.
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do you think émilie agreste knew, on the day she became too weak to leave that house, that she never would again
#having a normal one. don’t worry about it#just thinking about how she never escaped even in death etc etc#do you think she knew even as she pleaded with gabriel to give up on her that he never would.#that no one truly loved her enough to heed her warnings#that adrien was going to be left alone#what must it have been like for her to grow slower and weaker and quieter until she was as still as the bed d#do you think she knew she was becoming another fixture of that house#beautiful and immovable and silent#how long did gabriel have that coffin ready in the basement. how much time did he spend building it. did nathalie help.#did emilie know where they went in those long hours she laid there dying? that they intended to keep her there -always dying and never dead?#is that why she left videos? because she knew they’d build an altar for her haunting and she had to give her ghost a voice?#i think often about gabriel saying that emilie never wanted what she deserved#i think about gabriel and nathalie not letting her die. i think about ladybug not letting chat noir die.#circles and cycles ending up right back where you started#you know. having a normal one#anna rambles#emilie agreste#thirteen
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Guilty by Association
(3939 words)
Marinette respected Adrien’s strength and courage more and more every day. No matter how many times people threw nasty words or literal tomatoes at him; no matter how many companies refused to work with him anymore; no matter how clear it was becoming that he would never be forgiven for his father’s crimes, he chose to greet new people with a smile and hope that this time, someone would recognize the kind heart hidden behind his hated name.
She wished she’d had the chance to meet him before she’d accidentally ruined his life.
Written for the @mlwritersguild September event 'back to school' and inspired by @ladyofthenoodle's fic oh, look now, there you go with hope again
You can read the rest below or on AO3!
Ladybug was going to have to do something about Adrien Agreste.
It had been nearly four months since she and Chat Noir had defeated Hawk Moth, publicly revealed the villain to be Gabriel Agreste, and freed Adrien Agreste from suspicion by making statements vouching for his innocence—well, they’d hoped to free Adrien from suspicion, anyway. But somehow, the public didn’t seem to get the message, no matter how many times Ladybug and Chat Noir swore that Adrien hadn’t known about his father’s dastardly deeds or how many times Adrien witnessed against his own father, submitted to another court-ordered investigation, or chose to remain in the public eye just to reassure them that he had nothing to hide.
Marinette respected Adrien’s strength and courage more and more every day. No matter how many times people threw nasty words or literal tomatoes at him; no matter how many companies refused to work with him anymore; no matter how clear it was becoming that he would never be forgiven for his father’s crimes, he chose to greet new people with a smile and hope that this time, someone would recognize the kind heart hidden behind his hated name.
She wished she’d had the chance to meet him before she’d accidentally ruined his life.
She'd known of him before, or at least, she knew his face. But until Volpina, a jealous model at Gabriel’s brand, had stolen a certain grimoire from the Agreste mansion and cast a new light on the famous designer who lived there, she’d never given Adrien a second thought. She’d rescued him from akumas once or twice, but he was quiet and reserved; he received private schooling at home, so she hadn’t had the chance to really meet and get to know him.
And then she’d busted through the attic window of his home and, along with her partner, tore the brooch off his father’s chest in front of Alya Cesaire, her camera, and the entire world. Thanks to her, he was a target for the public’s wrath and ire now, a scapegoat whose only crime seemed to be having been born into the wrong family.
But Ladybug knew even that wasn’t exactly what had happened.
After she’d defeated Gabriel; after Chat Noir fled, still shocked, to go find Adrien and warn him that the police were coming; after Nathalie Sancoeur tried to plead with Ladybug to let her boss go free and showed her the woman he was fighting for… after all that, Ladybug had decided to speak to M. Agreste alone while he was in police custody. She had some important questions to ask him. He didn’t answer any of them, but what he did tell her revealed the nightmare Adrien’s life had always been, even before his mother died, from the moment he’d been made.
Sentibeings were a new concept to Ladybug. She hadn’t even known there was a Peacock Miraculous, much less about its strange abilities, until her unpleasant chat with Adrien's father(?).
She hid the rings her enemy had given her in her purse, where Tikki could keep them safe, while she tried to think of a way to give them to Adrien without wrecking his life even more. But she failed every time she tried to come up with a solution or plan to enact.
She’d escorted Adrien to and from the courthouse countless times by now, serving as a de facto bodyguard while the Gorilla was under inspection for his part in M. Agreste’s crimes, but each hesitant conversation she’d started with Adrien never led to the topic she needed it to.
She hadn’t even managed to tell Chat Noir yet. She was going to, of course! But she still hadn’t wrapped her head around the concept of human babies being formed out of magic, herself, so how could she possibly explain them to him?
Besides, Chat Noir had been going through a rough time himself. She didn’t want to be the one dropping yet another problem in her troubled kitty’s lap.
All the same, she needed to pull out her old Ladybug courage and tell Adrien, or at least give him the rings, before any more time could pass. And now that school was starting up again, it seemed she would finally have her chance, because one Adrien Agreste had signed up for classes at François-Dupont.
The time for procrastination—er, deliberation! Because she certainly wasn’t procrastinating—had passed. Today, at lunch, Marinette would walk over to Adrien’s table, tell him Ladybug wanted to meet with him outside, transform, go talk to him, and finally, finally be rid of the secret rings weighing her down.
There was only one problem with her plan, Marinette noted as she picked up her tray in the cafeteria. She couldn’t see a way to get Adrien’s attention; he was already surrounded by people. Had he made this many new friends already?
This is good, Marinette told herself as she felt a stab of what couldn’t possibly be jealousy in her heart. He’s been so lonely ever since his father got arrested. I’m glad that he’s finally made some friends!
She sat with Alya at their usual table and absentmindedly carried on a conversation as she waited for an opening in the crowd of students around Adrien. She had to give him the rings, and it had to be today! She’d already wasted too much time.
The crowd of lackeys seemed to be still growing, something Chloe sniffed and made a rude remark about as she proudly declared herself to no longer be friends with “that super-ridiculous son of a supervillain.”
But suddenly, raucous laughter tore through the crowd, and taunts and jeers rang through the cafeteria as the students parted, leaving Adrien alone, shame-faced, at the table. They’d overturned his tray of food, leaving parts of it oozing down his shirt, through his hair, and on his face. Marinette’s stomach dropped as she realized what had really happened. She’d been a victim of bullying, too, but never a target of so much hatred from so many people! Even when Chloe had been at her worst, Marinette had at least known that she still had people who genuinely cared about her, friends who stood up for her on her hardest days.
Adrien didn’t have anyone like that. All he had was one superhero who stuttered through pleasantries with him on occasional walks to the courthouse and a city full of people who went out of their way to make it clear how much they all hated him.
Marinette had to do something to make this nightmare stop before it got any worse! For now, people were only throwing mean words and food, but how long would it be until they threw something a little more solid? Adrien was hated by everyone, even by the police who proved his innocence to the court. It was only a matter of time until he got seriously hurt.
Clearly, now was the wrong time to give Adrien the rings. A janitor was already escorting him to the nearest bathroom to get cleaned up, and from the look on his face, he thought the grossest part of Adrien was inside him, not stuck to his shirt.
She couldn’t really go with her original plan even if she wanted to. Adrien was in most of her classes, but the only thing she could accomplish by talking to him during them was getting both of them detention with Ms. Mendeleiev. No, she would have to talk to him after school.
But then again, what good could Marinette Dupain-Cheng , the ‘miraculous’ Ladybug, really do? What could she possibly say to him to help ease the pain of finding out he wasn’t human in the way most people were? What could she do to convince Paris of his innocence that she hadn’t already done as Ladybug? What good could she ever hope to accomplish, or was she doomed to only make things worse?
She dropped her pencil in history class that afternoon.
Adrien picked it up and gave it to her with a stiff smile and bloodshot eyes. She noticed them with a pang, distracted and almost completely forgetting to say thank you. By the time she blurted the short phrase out, Adrien had already turned back around, and he jumped in surprise when he heard her voice. Kim led the class in a round of snortling laughter as the tips of Adrien’s ears turned red and Marinette buried her face in her hands.
It rained after class.
Marinette stood under the school’s roof for shelter as she waited for a break in the downpour. Her mind wandered again to the problem of how to help Adrien. He had such a good heart! Why couldn’t anyone else see it?
As she stood there thinking, someone walked up behind her, their footsteps getting louder until they suddenly came to a halt.
“Excuse me, you’re Marinette, right?” The soft question, hesitant as it was, startled her out of her thoughts.
Marinette’s heart jumped into her throat as she recognized the voice and realized it was Adrien behind her.
“Ah! Adrien, yes, Marinette I, plight. Right! I didn’t scare you, I mean you scared me, ugh!” She groaned and slapped her forehead.
“Sorry,” Adrien said in a small voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I can just go.”
Marinette’s hand shot out to grab him as he took a slow step forward, and she dragged him back under the overhang, spinning him around to face her. With a petrified face, Adrien let her move him, flinching as she drew her hand back and began to speak.
“You don’t have to apologize! I just scare easily, and words my mess sometimes. I should— wait. Are you afraid of me?” she asked, her face falling as she watched Adrien flinch again and boldly try to deny it.
“No, no, I’m fine! You can do whatever it is you were going to before, I promise. I won’t stop you,” he said, looking right in her eyes with a brave expression that didn’t reassure Marinette at all.
She stared at him. “It’s okay if you are scared. I would be, if I were you. What happened at lunch, what’s been happening to you ever since your father—” she broke the sentence off when Adrien’s gaze jumped to something in the distance over her head.
He was afraid of her. He thought she was like the other kids at lunch, the ones who’d ruined his outfit and made him into a laughingstock just because he was an easy target, the boy the city loved to hate.
Was Adrien’s courage finally giving out? Was he losing the hope that had been so inspiring to Ladybug these past few months?
It should have been impossible. It felt wrong, and the world seemed to shift under Marinette as she peered closer at the boy in front of her and realized that once more, she was too late to save him, too late to protect him from being hurt.
She’d failed again, but this time, she might still be able to reverse the damage. He’d seemed so happy to meet everyone at school, and she knew from a conversation she’d had with him as Ladybug that he’d hoped to make friends at François-Dupont. It wasn’t too late for that, at least. Even if no one else trusted him enough for it, Marinette would love to be Adrien’s first real friend!
She took a deep breath and spoke again, softly this time, so that she wouldn’t scare him.
“Look. I know how it feels to be bullied, and you’re going through a worse form of it than I did. And I don’t know, maybe you’re going to leave here and start homeschooling again, to be safe. I wouldn’t blame you! But if you do want to stay at François-Dupont? You'll need someone in your corner, so let me volunteer. As a friend, that is! Uh, what do you say?”
She stuck out her hand and grinned hopefully, watching as Adrien looked at it warily.
Just then, a group of upper-class students walked through the school’s doors, laughing and talking among each other as they headed outside. But when one of them noticed Adrien, he stopped and pointed him out to the others as he threw a mean joke at him.
“Hey, Hawk Moth Jr! Why are you still hanging around the school? Do you need daddy to come pick you up, or are you going to akumatize someone to transport you home since you're too rich to walk in the rain?”
They all laughed like it was the funniest joke ever told, which it easily wasn’t, and someone else followed the first boy’s lead in taunting Adrien. He didn’t cower from the group, but Marinette could see that he’d clenched his fists, and his knuckles were turning white.
“No, no, it’s Ladybug he’s waiting for. He’s got her so convinced he’s innocent, I bet she’ll do anything he wants her to! That’s why she’s always defending him on the news,” a girl scoffed.
Marinette saw red.
“Hey! Mind your own business! Ladybug’s defending Adrien because he’s been proven innocent, three times, by three separate investigations and judges! She’s defending him because it’s the right thing to do. Which isn’t anything you bullies would know about,” she sniffed, grabbing Adrien’s fist and gently prying it open so she could hold his hand.
The first boy laughed. “Marinette, don’t let his cover-boy looks fool you. Adrien Agreste is just as bad as his father. I don’t know why Ladybug is bothering to defend him. If he were really as good as she says, maybe she’d leave Chat Noir and date Adrien, instead,” he remarked, and the group laughed even louder.
“Marinette, you don’t have to defend me. Just let them have their way, let them make me into their victim, and maybe they'll stop seeing me as the villain,” Adrien whispered in her ear, lightly beginning to pull his hand out of hers.
“No!” she shouted, grabbing his hand even tighter. Adrien flinched. “I mean,” she said, loosening her grasp, “No. You’re all wrong, about Adrien, and about Ladybug, and—”
A crazy, stupid idea struck her. It tumbled out of her lips before she could give it a second thought.
“You’re wrong, because Chat Noir isn’t dating Ladybug. Adrien is,” she said smugly. “She knows he’s innocent because if he were on his father’s side, he would’ve tried to take her earrings while they were on one of their secret dates. But he didn’t, plus the investigations should, you know, reassure you. But I understand if you’re not smart enough to understand that.”
The group of bullies stared at Marinette and Adrien, trading their gazes back and forth between the two.
“Marinette,” Adrien hissed, his cheeks turning red at this new claim.
It was a lie. Ladybug had been dating Chat Noir in secret for almost a year now, but if this was what it took to help Adrien, she’d continue to deny the truth for however long it took for the public to wake up to reality.
“I don’t think that’s true,” the girl said.
Marinette raised her chin challengingly. “Oh, yeah? Then why don’t you ask Ladybug the next time you see her. I’m sure you’ll trust her if she finally comes clean, right?”
The group hemmed and hawed as they kicked the ground and muttered to each other.
“Maybe, if her story matches up with yours. But if it doesn’t? You’ll have to admit Adrien was just lying to you.”
“I didn’t—” Adrien began, but Marinette cut him off, still high on the surge of confidence her idea had given her.
“He didn’t lie. You’re the one who got duped, by the city’s insistence on blaming the innocent!”
Marinette stared the group down until finally, the leaders turned to leave, and the rest followed suit.
The sudden shot of courage Marinette had had gave out, and she sagged against Adrien. He was trembling, lightly enough that she only noticed it now.
“I'm sorry,” she told him. “They just made me so mad! I wanted to do something to help.”
“Ladybug and I aren’t dating,” he said in a wavery voice. “H-how did you come up with that idea?”
She frowned. “They suggested it,” she said. “I just twisted it to fit my argument. I, um, met Ladybug a few times before. I’m sure she won’t mind pretending to date you for a while, until people finally start believing her that you didn’t help Hawk Moth.”
“We can’t count on that,” Adrien breathed. “Marinette, I’m pretty sure she and Chat Noir are dating. It isn’t fair to make her lie and say she’s dating me instead, and anyway, she hates lying! She’ll never go with this.”
Marinette smiled wryly. It was true that most of the time, she avoided lies like this one, but it was for the greater good!
“She’s been checking up on you every night, right?” She looked up at Adrien, raising her eyebrows. Ladybug had said as much in one of her interviews. It was hardly a secret.
Adrien nodded.
“So, ask her when she comes by tonight. I think you might be surprised by how far she’ll go to help you. It’s the least she can do after ruining your life,” she muttered.
Adrien pulled himself up straight. “She didn’t ruin it,” he said insistently. “She saved me along with the rest of Paris. I can’t really complain about the rest of it. I just happened to be unlucky enough to be Hawk Moth’s son, is all. But she couldn’t do anything about that.”
Marinette sighed. “I guess you’re right. So, you’ll give the fake dating thing a try?”
“I don’t see any other options,” Adrien said, but he smiled at her. “If Ladybug doesn’t mind doing this for a little, then do you really think Paris will finally believe her that I’m innocent?”
“I certainly hope so,” Marinette sniffed. “If not, then they’re all a bunch of dummies and you and I should leave Paris together. Anyone who thinks you’re a villain for that long isn’t worth the time of day.”
Adrien tsked. “I don't know about that. But I hope you’re right! I want to stay in public school; I want to make friends and be normal and not worry about my last name ruining everything for me. And… I think you’re very brave, to be willing to trust me the way you have. If you meant your offer, I would very much like to be friends with you, Marinette.”
He said her name so sweetly it made her heart begin to melt.
“Of course friends I will you with! I mean, I’ll be your friend, Adrien! And I’m willing to bet that my friends will be, too, once they see how good you really are. I’m going to reintroduce them to you tomorrow,” she decided.
“Do you really mean it?” His eyes found hers, searching them like he was trying to see into the depths of her soul. “You have every reason to back out, you know. I’m afraid that anyone I get to know might just become another target for those other kids. And you’re so kind,” he said in wonderment. “I don’t want that to happen to you, especially if you already got bullied by them before! It might be better if you just pretend you don’t know me at school.”
Marinette blinked, feeling a little insulted. “I would never do that! Not being your friend, letting you face those bullies all by yourself, just doing nothing, that’s how good people let evil win! Besides, if you think I would be better off not knowing you, why did you bother starting this conversation, back when you walked up behind me?”
Adrien flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought there wasn’t anyone around to see! And besides, it’s raining, but you don’t have an umbrella. I was just going to offer you mine,” he said, pulling out a folded black umbrella. “That’s all. You can take it and leave now. You’ve already done a lot to help me, and I won’t ask you for any more unless you really want to give it.”
Marinette’s cheeks warmed as she looked at the unexpected gift. After the long, torturous first day he’d had, even before Marinette had defended him, Adrien had still been planning to be nice to her? He was going to offer her his umbrella, and then walk home alone in the rain?
She reached out for the umbrella. Adrien started to hand it to her, but instead she folded his fingers over the handle and pushed it back towards him.
“I didn’t mean to make the class laugh at you earlier,” she said, quickly, before he could turn to leave. He kind of looked like he would, like she’d just utterly rejected him and was going to take his advice and forget all about him. “I just wasn’t thinking clearly, and I was a little surprised that you gave me my pencil back. I wasn’t expecting you to come back to class after lunch, honestly. I think you were very brave. And foolish! You shouldn’t let them make fun of you like that,” she scolded. “You should stand up for yourself. I won’t always be able to save you in time.”
Adrien smiled at her. “You saved me today! But you don’t have to worry, Marinette. For a while today I thought that maybe I should give up, that nobody was ever going to want to be my friend. But you reminded me that there’s always hope, even when you forget to look for it. I can’t thank you enough,” he said, delicately taking her hand in his and pressing a light kiss to it.
Marinette fought the blush that was forming on her face. She had a boyfriend!
“Welcome you,” she said. “I mean—!”
“It’s okay,” Adrien laughed. “I understand you just fine, Marinette. Here, take the umbrella, okay? Or if you still won’t, then let me walk you to your house! We can share the umbrella, it’s big enough for both of us.”
“O-oh,” Marinette stuttered. “You don’t have to!”
Adrien pulled out the umbrella and opened it.
“I want to,” he said. “You’re my friend, right? And friends take care of each other. You can think of it as a thank-you for your crazy idea earlier.”
“Hey!” Marinette laughed as she stepped under the umbrella. “It wasn’t that crazy, was it?”
Smiling, Adrien brushed his shoulder against hers as he led her out into the rain.
“I think it was just crazy enough,” he said with a fond smile. “I know we just met, but I feel really lucky to know you, Marinette.”
“Me too,” Marinette said, letting a soft blush flood her cheeks as she looked up at Adrien.
She’d finally done something to help him! She still hadn’t figured out the rest, like the rings, but she’d bought herself time. For now, being Adrien’s friend was the most important thing she could do.
When they reached the bakery door, she pushed it open and called to her parents.
“Maman! Papa! I want you to meet someone! I made a new friend,” she said, meeting Adrien’s eyes with a smile as he stepped out of the rain and into the warm house.
It might have taken her a long time, but now she knew—as long as her gambit paid off, everything was going to be okay.
#ml au#post-HM defeat#adrienette#adrinette#ml fanfic#rosie-b writing#miraculous ladybug#ml leak free#miraculeakless
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Guilty by Association, by @rosie-b
AO3; adrien never went to public school; fake dating (in development); post-defeat of gabriel agreste; bullying; protective marinette; sentimonster adrien; canon-divergence; angst with a happy ending
Summary:
Ladybug and Chat Noir investigate Hawk Moth and defeat him right after the events of Volpina, before he gets the chance to fool them with his Collector trick. Since Gabriel never let Adrien go to public school, he's more willing to entertain the thought that his father might be Hawk Moth, although he doesn't expect that Ladybug is actually right. But she is, and after they take down Hawk Moth, Adrien bears the curse of the city's hate, since no one believes that he's innocent. If only Ladybug could do something to help...
Inspired by oh, look now, there you go with hope again by Missnoodles.
—
Ladybug was going to have to do something about Adrien Agreste.
It had been nearly four months since she and Chat Noir had defeated Hawk Moth, publicly revealed the villain to be Gabriel Agreste, and freed Adrien Agreste from suspicion by making statements vouching for his innocence—well, they’d hoped to free Adrien from suspicion, anyway. But somehow, the public didn’t seem to get the message, no matter how many times Ladybug and Chat Noir swore that Adrien hadn’t known about his father’s dastardly deeds or how many times Adrien witnessed against his own father, submitted to another court-ordered investigation, or chose to remain in the public eye just to reassure them that he had nothing to hide.
Marinette respected Adrien’s strength and courage more and more every day. No matter how many times people threw nasty words or literal tomatoes at him; no matter how many companies refused to work with him anymore; no matter how clear it was becoming that he would never be forgiven for his father’s crimes, he chose to greet new people with a smile and hope that this time, someone would recognize the kind heart hidden behind his hated name.
She wished she’d had the chance to meet him before she’d accidentally ruined his life.
She'd known of him before, or at least, she knew his face. But until Volpina, a jealous model at Gabriel’s brand, had stolen a certain grimoire from the Agreste mansion and cast a new light on the famous designer who lived there, she’d never given Adrien a second thought. She’d rescued him from akumas once or twice, but he was quiet and reserved; he received private schooling at home, so she hadn’t had the chance to really meet and get to know him.
And then she’d busted through the attic window of his home and, along with her partner, tore the brooch off his father’s chest in front of Alya Cesaire, her camera, and the entire world. Thanks to her, he was a target for the public’s wrath and ire now, a scapegoat whose only crime seemed to be having been born into the wrong family.
But Ladybug knew even that wasn’t exactly what had happened.
After she’d defeated Gabriel; after Chat Noir fled, still shocked, to go find Adrien and warn him that the police were coming; after Nathalie Sancoeur tried to plead with Ladybug to let her boss go free and showed her the woman he was fighting for… after all that, Ladybug had decided to speak to M. Agreste alone while he was in police custody. She had some important questions to ask him. He didn’t answer any of them, but what he did tell her revealed the nightmare Adrien’s life had always been, even before his mother died, from the moment he’d been made.
Sentibeings were a new concept to Ladybug. She hadn’t even known there was a Peacock Miraculous, much less about its strange abilities, until her unpleasant chat with Adrien's father(?).
She hid the rings her enemy had given her in her purse, where Tikki could keep them safe, while she tried to think of a way to give them to Adrien without wrecking his life even more. But she failed every time she tried to come up with a solution or plan to enact.
She’d escorted Adrien to and from the courthouse countless times by now, serving as a de facto bodyguard while the Gorilla was under inspection for his part in M. Agreste’s crimes, but each hesitant conversation she’d started with Adrien never led to the topic she needed it to.
She hadn’t even managed to tell Chat Noir yet. She was going to, of course! But she still hadn’t wrapped her head around the concept of human babies being formed out of magic, herself, so how could she possibly explain them to him?
Besides, Chat Noir had been going through a rough time himself. She didn’t want to be the one dropping yet another problem in her troubled kitty’s lap.
All the same, she needed to pull out her old Ladybug courage and tell Adrien, or at least give him the rings, before any more time could pass. And now that school was starting up again, it seemed she would finally have her chance, because one Adrien Agreste had signed up for classes at François-Dupont.
The time for procrastination—er, deliberation! Because she certainly wasn’t procrastinating—had passed. Today, at lunch, Marinette would walk over to Adrien’s table, tell him Ladybug wanted to meet with him outside, transform, go talk to him, and finally, finally be rid of the secret rings weighing her down.
There was only one problem with her plan, Marinette noted as she picked up her tray in the cafeteria. She couldn’t see a way to get Adrien’s attention; he was already surrounded by people. Had he made this many new friends already?
This is good, Marinette told herself as she felt a stab of what couldn’t possibly be jealousy in her heart. He’s been so lonely ever since his father got arrested. I’m glad that he’s finally made some friends!
She sat with Alya at their usual table and absentmindedly carried on a conversation as she waited for an opening in the crowd of students around Adrien. She had to give him the rings, and it had to be today! She’d already wasted too much time.
The crowd of lackeys seemed to be still growing, something Chloe sniffed and made a rude remark about as she proudly declared herself to no longer be friends with “that super-ridiculous son of a supervillain.”
But suddenly, raucous laughter tore through the crowd, and taunts and jeers rang through the cafeteria as the students parted, leaving Adrien alone, shame-faced, at the table. They’d overturned his tray of food, leaving parts of it oozing down his shirt, through his hair, and on his face. Marinette’s stomach dropped as she realized what had really happened. She’d been a victim of bullying, too, but never a target of so much hatred from so many people! Even when Chloe had been at her worst, Marinette had at least known that she still had people who genuinely cared about her, friends who stood up for her on her hardest days.
Adrien didn’t have anyone like that. All he had was one superhero who stuttered through pleasantries with him on occasional walks to the courthouse and a city full of people who went out of their way to make it clear how much they all hated him.
Marinette had to do something to make this nightmare stop before it got any worse! For now, people were only throwing mean words and food, but how long would it be until they threw something a little more solid? Adrien was hated by everyone, even by the police who proved his innocence to the court. It was only a matter of time until he got seriously hurt.
Clearly, now was the wrong time to give Adrien the rings. A janitor was already escorting him to the nearest bathroom to get cleaned up, and from the look on his face, he thought the grossest part of Adrien was inside him, not stuck to his shirt.
She couldn’t really go with her original plan even if she wanted to. Adrien was in most of her classes, but the only thing she could accomplish by talking to him during them was getting both of them detention with Ms. Mendeleiev. No, she would have to talk to him after school.
But then again, what good could Marinette Dupain-Cheng , the ‘miraculous’ Ladybug, really do? What could she possibly say to him to help ease the pain of finding out he wasn’t human in the way most people were? What could she do to convince Paris of his innocence that she hadn’t already done as Ladybug? What good could she ever hope to accomplish, or was she doomed to only make things worse?
She dropped her pencil in history class that afternoon.
Adrien picked it up and gave it to her with a stiff smile and bloodshot eyes. She noticed them with a pang, distracted and almost completely forgetting to say thank you. By the time she blurted the short phrase out, Adrien had already turned back around, and he jumped in surprise when he heard her voice. Kim led the class in a round of snortling laughter as the tips of Adrien’s ears turned red and Marinette buried her face in her hands.
It rained after class.
Marinette stood under the school’s roof for shelter as she waited for a break in the downpour. Her mind wandered again to the problem of how to help Adrien. He had such a good heart! Why couldn’t anyone else see it?
As she stood there thinking, someone walked up behind her, their footsteps getting louder until they suddenly came to a halt.
“Excuse me, you’re Marinette, right?” The soft question, hesitant as it was, startled her out of her thoughts.
Marinette’s heart jumped into her throat as she recognized the voice and realized it was Adrien behind her.
“Ah! Adrien, yes, Marinette I, plight. Right! I didn’t scare you, I mean you scared me, ugh!” She groaned and slapped her forehead.
“Sorry,” Adrien said in a small voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I can just go.”
Marinette’s hand shot out to grab him as he took a slow step forward, and she dragged him back under the overhang, spinning him around to face her. With a petrified face, Adrien let her move him, flinching as she drew her hand back and began to speak.
“You don’t have to apologize! I just scare easily, and words my mess sometimes. I should— wait. Are you afraid of me?” she asked, her face falling as she watched Adrien flinch again and boldly try to deny it.
“No, no, I’m fine! You can do whatever it is you were going to before, I promise. I won’t stop you,” he said, looking right in her eyes with a brave expression that didn’t reassure Marinette at all.
She stared at him. “It’s okay if you are scared. I would be, if I were you. What happened at lunch, what’s been happening to you ever since your father—” she broke the sentence off when Adrien’s gaze jumped to something in the distance over her head.
He was afraid of her. He thought she was like the other kids at lunch, the ones who’d ruined his outfit and made him into a laughingstock just because he was an easy target, the boy the city loved to hate.
Was Adrien’s courage finally giving out? Was he losing the hope that had been so inspiring to Ladybug these past few months?
It should have been impossible. It felt wrong, and the world seemed to shift under Marinette as she peered closer at the boy in front of her and realized that once more, she was too late to save him, too late to protect him from being hurt.
She’d failed again, but this time, she might still be able to reverse the damage. He’d seemed so happy to meet everyone at school, and she knew from a conversation she’d had with him as Ladybug that he’d hoped to make friends at François-Dupont. It wasn’t too late for that, at least. Even if no one else trusted him enough for it, Marinette would love to be Adrien’s first real friend!
She took a deep breath and spoke again, softly this time, so that she wouldn’t scare him.
“Look. I know how it feels to be bullied, and you’re going through a worse form of it than I did. And I don’t know, maybe you’re going to leave here and start homeschooling again, to be safe. I wouldn’t blame you! But if you do want to stay at François-Dupont? You'll need someone in your corner, so let me volunteer. As a friend, that is! Uh, what do you say?”
She stuck out her hand and grinned hopefully, watching as Adrien looked at it warily.
Just then, a group of upper-class students walked through the school’s doors, laughing and talking among each other as they headed outside. But when one of them noticed Adrien, he stopped and pointed him out to the others as he threw a mean joke at him.
“Hey, Hawk Moth Jr! Why are you still hanging around the school? Do you need daddy to come pick you up, or are you going to akumatize someone to transport you home since you're too rich to walk in the rain?”
They all laughed like it was the funniest joke ever told, which it easily wasn’t, and someone else followed the first boy’s lead in taunting Adrien. He didn’t cower from the group, but Marinette could see that he’d clenched his fists, and his knuckles were turning white.
“No, no, it’s Ladybug he’s waiting for. He’s got her so convinced he’s innocent, I bet she’ll do anything he wants her to! That’s why she’s always defending him on the news,” a girl scoffed.
Marinette saw red.
“Hey! Mind your own business! Ladybug’s defending Adrien because he’s been proven innocent, three times, by three separate investigations and judges! She’s defending him because it’s the right thing to do. Which isn’t anything you bullies would know about,” she sniffed, grabbing Adrien’s fist and gently prying it open so she could hold his hand.
The first boy laughed. “Marinette, don’t let his cover-boy looks fool you. Adrien Agreste is just as bad as his father. I don’t know why Ladybug is bothering to defend him. If he were really as good as she says, maybe she’d leave Chat Noir and date Adrien, instead,” he remarked, and the group laughed even louder.
“Marinette, you don’t have to defend me. Just let them have their way, let them make me into their victim, and maybe they'll stop seeing me as the villain,” Adrien whispered in her ear, lightly beginning to pull his hand out of hers.
“No!” she shouted, grabbing his hand even tighter. Adrien flinched. “I mean,” she said, loosening her grasp, “No. You’re all wrong, about Adrien, and about Ladybug, and—”
A crazy, stupid idea struck her. It tumbled out of her lips before she could give it a second thought.
“You’re wrong, because Chat Noir isn’t dating Ladybug. Adrien is,” she said smugly. “She knows he’s innocent because if he were on his father’s side, he would’ve tried to take her earrings while they were on one of their secret dates. But he didn’t, plus the investigations should, you know, reassure you. But I understand if you’re not smart enough to understand that.”
The group of bullies stared at Marinette and Adrien, trading their gazes back and forth between the two.
“Marinette,” Adrien hissed, his cheeks turning red at this new claim.
It was a lie. Ladybug had been dating Chat Noir in secret for almost a year now, but if this was what it took to help Adrien, she’d continue to deny the truth for however long it took for the public to wake up to reality.
“I don’t think that’s true,” the girl said.
Marinette raised her chin challengingly. “Oh, yeah? Then why don’t you ask Ladybug the next time you see her. I’m sure you’ll trust her if she finally comes clean, right?”
The group hemmed and hawed as they kicked the ground and muttered to each other.
“Maybe, if her story matches up with yours. But if it doesn’t? You’ll have to admit Adrien was just lying to you.”
“I didn’t—” Adrien began, but Marinette cut him off, still high on the surge of confidence her idea had given her.
“He didn’t lie. You’re the one who got duped, by the city’s insistence on blaming the innocent!”
Marinette stared the group down until finally, the leaders turned to leave, and the rest followed suit.
The sudden shot of courage Marinette had had gave out, and she sagged against Adrien. He was trembling, lightly enough that she only noticed it now.
“I'm sorry,” she told him. “They just made me so mad! I wanted to do something to help.”
“Ladybug and I aren’t dating,” he said in a wavery voice. “H-how did you come up with that idea?”
She frowned. “They suggested it,” she said. “I just twisted it to fit my argument. I, um, met Ladybug a few times before. I’m sure she won’t mind pretending to date you for a while, until people finally start believing her that you didn’t help Hawk Moth.”
“We can’t count on that,” Adrien breathed. “Marinette, I’m pretty sure she and Chat Noir are dating. It isn’t fair to make her lie and say she’s dating me instead, and anyway, she hates lying! She’ll never go with this.”
Marinette smiled wryly. It was true that most of the time, she avoided lies like this one, but it was for the greater good!
“She’s been checking up on you every night, right?” She looked up at Adrien, raising her eyebrows. Ladybug had said as much in one of her interviews. It was hardly a secret.
Adrien nodded.
“So, ask her when she comes by tonight. I think you might be surprised by how far she’ll go to help you. It’s the least she can do after ruining your life,” she muttered.
Adrien pulled himself up straight. “She didn’t ruin it,” he said insistently. “She saved me along with the rest of Paris. I can’t really complain about the rest of it. I just happened to be unlucky enough to be Hawk Moth’s son, is all. But she couldn’t do anything about that.”
Marinette sighed. “I guess you’re right. So, you’ll give the fake dating thing a try?”
“I don’t see any other options,” Adrien said, but he smiled at her. “If Ladybug doesn’t mind doing this for a little, then do you really think Paris will finally believe her that I’m innocent?”
“I certainly hope so,” Marinette sniffed. “If not, then they’re all a bunch of dummies and you and I should leave Paris together. Anyone who thinks you’re a villain for that long isn’t worth the time of day.”
Adrien tsked. “I don't know about that. But I hope you’re right! I want to stay in public school; I want to make friends and be normal and not worry about my last name ruining everything for me. And… I think you’re very brave, to be willing to trust me the way you have. If you meant your offer, I would very much like to be friends with you, Marinette.”
He said her name so sweetly it made her heart begin to melt.
“Of course friends I will you with! I mean, I’ll be your friend, Adrien! And I’m willing to bet that my friends will be, too, once they see how good you really are. I’m going to reintroduce them to you tomorrow,” she decided.
“Do you really mean it?” His eyes found hers, searching them like he was trying to see into the depths of her soul. “You have every reason to back out, you know. I’m afraid that anyone I get to know might just become another target for those other kids. And you’re so kind,” he said in wonderment. “I don’t want that to happen to you, especially if you already got bullied by them before! It might be better if you just pretend you don’t know me at school.”
Marinette blinked, feeling a little insulted. “I would never do that! Not being your friend, letting you face those bullies all by yourself, just doing nothing, that’s how good people let evil win! Besides, if you think I would be better off not knowing you, why did you bother starting this conversation, back when you walked up behind me?”
Adrien flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought there wasn’t anyone around to see! And besides, it’s raining, but you don’t have an umbrella. I was just going to offer you mine,” he said, pulling out a folded black umbrella. “That’s all. You can take it and leave now. You’ve already done a lot to help me, and I won’t ask you for any more unless you really want to give it.”
Marinette’s cheeks warmed as she looked at the unexpected gift. After the long, torturous first day he’d had, even before Marinette had defended him, Adrien had still been planning to be nice to her? He was going to offer her his umbrella, and then walk home alone in the rain?
She reached out for the umbrella. Adrien started to hand it to her, but instead she folded his fingers over the handle and pushed it back towards him.
“I didn’t mean to make the class laugh at you earlier,” she said, quickly, before he could turn to leave. He kind of looked like he would, like she’d just utterly rejected him and was going to take his advice and forget all about him. “I just wasn’t thinking clearly, and I was a little surprised that you gave me my pencil back. I wasn’t expecting you to come back to class after lunch, honestly. I think you were very brave. And foolish! You shouldn’t let them make fun of you like that,” she scolded. “You should stand up for yourself. I won’t always be able to save you in time.”
Adrien smiled at her. “You saved me today! But you don’t have to worry, Marinette. For a while today I thought that maybe I should give up, that nobody was ever going to want to be my friend. But you reminded me that there’s always hope, even when you forget to look for it. I can’t thank you enough,” he said, delicately taking her hand in his and pressing a light kiss to it.
Marinette fought the blush that was forming on her face. She had a boyfriend!
“Welcome you,” she said. “I mean—!”
“It’s okay,” Adrien laughed. “I understand you just fine, Marinette. Here, take the umbrella, okay? Or if you still won’t, then let me walk you to your house! We can share the umbrella, it’s big enough for both of us.”
“O-oh,” Marinette stuttered. “You don’t have to!”
Adrien pulled out the umbrella and opened it.
“I want to,” he said. “You’re my friend, right? And friends take care of each other. You can think of it as a thank-you for your crazy idea earlier.”
“Hey!” Marinette laughed as she stepped under the umbrella. “It wasn’t that crazy, was it?”
Smiling, Adrien brushed his shoulder against hers as he led her out into the rain.
“I think it was just crazy enough,” he said with a fond smile. “I know we just met, but I feel really lucky to know you, Marinette.”
“Me too,” Marinette said, letting a soft blush flood her cheeks as she looked up at Adrien.
She’d finally done something to help him! She still hadn’t figured out the rest, like the rings, but she’d bought herself time. For now, being Adrien’s friend was the most important thing she could do.
When they reached the bakery door, she pushed it open and called to her parents.
“Maman! Papa! I want you to meet someone! I made a new friend,” she said, meeting Adrien’s eyes with a smile as he stepped out of the rain and into the warm house.
It might have taken her a long time, but now she knew—as long as her gambit paid off, everything was going to be okay.
#ml writers guild#september event 2023#rosie-b#mlb#miraculous ladybug#lovesquare#ml fic#miraculous ladybug fic#marinette dupain cheng#adrien agreste#miraculous#lovesquare fic#writer spotlight
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The Replacement - Part sixteen
Negan Masterlist
Series Masterlist
Part 15
Warning: swearing, mention of death
The evacuation had been a success and everyone had made it safely to an old nearby hospital to hide out the impending horde wave that was expected to be led by Beta. Aaron and Alden had volunteered to remain behind at Alexandria in order to keep a close watch on Beta’s moves, keeping the rest informed about his movements, as well as to ensure that the decoy plan to lead him towards Oceanside instead was played successfully through.
You had just gotten off of watch duty and had been staring with amusement at Kelly attempting to teach Gabriel how to sign when you noticed Negan walking by holding a dead possum, you watched as he paused to silently stare at Lydia while she was busy sorting through some berries.
The look on his face told you everything you already so clearly knew; although he did the right thing, Negan felt a huge amount of guilt over having had killed her mother. Although Lydia gave the pretence that she couldn’t care less and that it had needed to be done, Alpha had still been her mother after all. Therefore you had told Negan to give Lydia some space and that when the time was right, the two of them should sit down and discuss it.
“What you making?” you ask walking up to Negan whom was busy stirring at the pot of food in front of him.
“Beef stroganoff…” he smirks at you in response.
“Sounds nice, but I think there might have fallen a possum or two in there by accident…” you chuckle.
“Saw me carrying the critter in, did ya?” Negan chuckles along with you.
“It was hard not to miss it…” you reply.
“Thought everyone would be getting hungry by now, so I decided to make myself useful” Negan remarks with a shrug.
“Good idea…” you agree with a head nod, grabbing the spoon to taste it, “because I know I am.”
“How does it taste?” Negan stares at you for approval.
“For something that reminds me of a rat, it surprisingly delicious…” you answer causing Negan to snicker at you.
It was during this time the two of you notice Judith speaking to Lydia from across the hall. Seeing the torn look on Negan’s face as he watched, you grab hold of his hand. “Maybe you should talk to her.”
“I’m the last person she would want to talk with right now” Negan responds looking deflated.
“She won’t admit it, but her mother’s death has affected her” you tell him, “she needs someone to talk to about it.”
“Then you should go talk to her…” Negan replies, “not the person that killed her mother.”
“You both need to talk it out” you push him, “this way she can let out her grief and anger, and you can relieve the guilt you feel towards her.”
“How do I even approach her?” Negan exhales heavily.
“Take her some Rat Stew…” you suggest.
“A possum is not a rat…” Negan looks at you offended.
“Well, it looks like one…” you chuckle, “a big-ass one.”
Negan shakes his head at you with a sigh of disappointment, scooping some stew into a bowl. “Will you come with…” Negan looks to you with pleading eyes, “just stand nearby. Please.”
Agreeing to Negan’s plea, you follow behind him and stood silently in the doorway as he approached Lydia in the room she was alone in with Daryl’s dog.
“Hey…” Negan walks up to Lydia, “I don’t think you’ve eaten anything today” he remarks nervously waving the bowl in his hands.
“I’m good…” she responds, stroking Dog’s fur in attempt to an avoid eye contact.
Negan lets out a tense breath, “you know, I can’t tell if it’s just one of those things or the craziness of us all moving to the abandoned Tower, or if you’re just avoiding me…”
“I’m avoiding you…” Lydia replies.
Shutting his eyes, Negan nods in responds, “well, shit… that’s honest.”
Lydia’s gaze finally shoots to him, “you want me to lie?” she looks at him void of emotion. “Make you feel better…”
“No. I don’t…” Negan shakes his head in responds.
“Ok…" Lydia suddenly changes the topic . "You can give someone else the Rat Stew…”
“It’s not rat…” Negan stammers staring at it, “it’s possum…” Recalling that you had referred to it as the same thing, he sighs out in defeat, “I mean, it’s basically a big rat. But, I… uh… I just wanted to say that, I liked her…”
Lydia looked up at Negan then as he continued on. “Your Mom, she did some horrible shit, there’s no excusing any of it. But I liked… I liked a lot of things about her and I wish to God that I didn’t have to do what I did, but if there is something you want to say to me; then you should say it…”
Lydia stares him blankly in the face then, “most of us wish you had died too.”
You watched a shattered looking Negan stare silently at the wall in front of him as Lydia leaves the room, walking pass you without saying a single word. “What do you mean; you liked her?” you step in front of him, brows furrowed.
“I… uh…” Negan stutters, staring down at the bowl then.
“Mary told me that you and Alpha were close when you were a part of their group” you remark looking at him with suspicion, “Negan, exactly how close were the two of you?”
“Mary…?” Negan looks up at you in confusion.
“Gamma…” you respond, pressing him yet again “how close exactly, Negan?”
“Oh, her…” he replies with a nervous nod.
“Answer my question, Negan…” you stare at him with narrowed gaze. “Did something happen between Alpha and you?”
“We… uh…” Negan nervously stammers, fidgeting with the bowl in his hands.
“You what, Negan?!” you look at him wide-eyed as your mind began racing at the thought of where this conversation might be heading.
“W-We… we kissed…” Negan finally sighs out in defeat.
“What…?” your voice croaked out in hurt surprise.
Negan looks up at you, guilt written all over his face. “I had to get her to like me… in order to get close enough to her. We kissed…”
Staring at him with a blank look, you nod. “Was that all?”
Negan silently watches your reactions for a few seconds. “That was all... nothing else happened.”
“Ok” you respond with a nod; your mind still trying to wrap around all the information. Not knowing what else to say, you take a step around him to leave.
“You ok?” Negan grabs holds of your arm to stop you.
“Yeah…” you respond looking to the ground to avoid eye contact. “I’m going to see if Gabriel has heard any news from Aaron.”
Realizing that you weren’t really being truthful, Negan reluctantly releases your arm with a heavy sigh and watched as you silently walked away without even having once looked back at his direction.
Negan knew then that telling you the truth of what really happened between Alpha and himself was completely off the cards. If hearing that they kissed had hurt you this bad, then revealing that they had actually slept together would utterly destroy you. For the sake of your heart and the relationship the two of you had, Negan makes the decision to keep the truth to himself then rather than tell you.
You were standing at one of the lookout points in an attempt to clear your mind from the conversation you had with Negan, when you noticed something suspiciously looking off from a distance slowly approaching the tower. As it neared, panic soon kicked in when the objects were confirmed to be the horde that was supposed to have been on their heading to Oceanside. Realizing what was happening you quickly radioed Gabriel as you rushed back inside to prepare for was to come.
Everyone was soon scrambling to their posts in order to secure the tower from infiltration; people were running around to gather more weapons, securing all exits and covering the windows. You were stationed at one of the exits, when Daryl, Judith, Carol and Kelly rushed in through it just in the nick of time before the horde had reached the doors.
“Oh, thank God you guys made it…” you sigh out in relief, crouching down in front of Judith then, “you ok, Kiddo?”
“I’m fine Aunt Y/N…” Judith assures you with a faint smile.
“Good…” you smile back at her, “I want you to go find your brother and the others, ok. They’ll need you and the help of your sword to help protect them.”
“Sure thing Aunt Y/N” she responds with a prideful smile and heads off to find them.
“We need to secure the exits with traps in case they find a way to make it through” you inform Daryl them, Carol and he then volunteer to do it and you head back to Gabriel to devise a further plan.
You were leaning against the wall, silently listening while Gabriel went over the plan with everyone on what to do to get the horde away and everyone to safety.
“Our plan is the same…” Gabriel begins explaining, “we lead the horde away. Just not from Oceanside as we had planned. Once the Walkers are cleared, we evacuate to rendezvous point B. Luke…” Gabriel then looks to him, “you ready?”
Luke then goes forward to explain the plan of using the sound system he had been working on to lead the horde away, but that it needed to be set up onto the wagon in order to make the plan a success. Magna points out that the wagon was currently sitting on the other side of the horde, Gabriel goes on to lay out the rest of the plan then. There would be four groups going out, two in each; one carrying the cargo and the other protecting it.
“We can make it through…” Lydia then speaks up, “I’ll help.”
You then notice the reaction of two of Oceanside’s people at her offer, one of them then speaks up; offering to help but only if Lydia isn’t part of it. “That’s fine…” Gabriel remarks in response, “as it happens, Lydia’s role is in here.”
Pissed at their remark, you then step forward. “I’ll go in her place then” and that’s when you see the look of shocked fear crossing Negan’s face as he stared at you.
As Negan was about to open his mouth in protest, you shoot him a warning glare and just as you thought it was a done deal, Daryl then speaks up. “Look, we’re not all going to make it through. But this is the only way.”
“Then it’s settled” you comment, “I’m going too.”
“No, you’re not” Daryl responds, “this is too dangerous of a mission for you to go out there.” You open your mouth to speak up and Daryl cuts you off again. “You could blackout again while out there” he points out. “We can’t run the risk of loosing you, you’re needed here to keep an eye on the strategic side of things.”
“He’s right” Gabriel comments, “I need you close by for those reasons.”
“Fine then…” you grumble out in annoyance at the same moment that you find yourself having to grab hold of your left of when feeling a heart spasm hit.
Everyone then nods in agreement to the plan and leaves to see to their rolls. Just as you were about to exit the room, Negan grabs hold of your shoulder to halt you in your tracks. “Daryl was right about his decision.”
“What?” you turn around to glare at him.
“You shouldn’t be out there” Negan replies, pointing towards the grip you had on your arm. “They might not have noticed but I did. It’s happening again, isn’t it?”
“I don’t have time for this Negan” you pull away from him dismissively.
Grabbing hold of your face, Negan forces you to look at him. “Just promise me that you won’t do something stupid.”
“Don’t worry” you sneer out at him, “I’ll be right here… playing cheerleader, while everyone else is out there risking their lives.”
“Y/N…” Negan stares deep into your eyes, “please promise me.”
“I don’t have to promise you anything” you withdraw yourself from his grip, “Why don’t you go and be useful. Go out and kiss Beta, that’ll distract him long enough for the others to get through.”
Breathing out a defeated sigh, Negan watches as you storm out of the room leaving him with his own inner turmoil at what to do with the entire situation going on between the two of you.
Part 17
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#twd negan#twdfanfic#twdlovestory#negan x reader#negan x y/n#The Walking Dead#Jeffrey Dean Morgan#negan#JDM
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ML Fic: Soulmate Survey Part 33
Sorry this got delayed for longer than expected. I had a lot of things hit me like a truck (and distractions). Hopefully you all enjoy this. Please comment your thoughts on the chapter. And if you really liked it, Reblog it. Thats the best way to get others to see it.
(Master Post)
_______________________________________________________________________
Nathalie cautiously walked into the school, careful to not stand out. She needed to be quick and quiet, she didn’t know how many akuma were lurking in the building. Hawkmoth has akumatized a good chunk of the student body at this school, so expecting at least a dozen within such a short time frame wouldn’t be out of the question. She was relieved that the akuma alert hasn't gone off, which means no one has caught on yet.
The assistant moved down the hall, stopping once she noticed two akuma heading down the hall. One she recognized as the akuma dark owl, and the other as Lady wifi. Both akuma wearing masks that covered their faces. It was clearly the handiwork of Masquerade. She quickly moved into the nearest room to hide.
“That was close.” Nathalie whispered.
“What was?” a voice from behind her called out. Causing the on edge assistant to jump.
She looked to see it was not an akuma, but an adult with a perplexed expression.
“Nothing, what room is this?”
“This is the nurse’s office, I’m Nurse Angela. How can I help you?”
Nathalie took a sigh of relief. Seems that the nurse hasn’t noticed the akumatized individuals in the hall. Which means that no one has figured out there are akuma active.
“I am fine, I simply stepped into the wrong room.” Nathalie eased herself. “Could you tell me which way Ms. Bustier’s classroom is?”
“Oh its down the hall, make a left and it’s the last classroom on the...”
“Nurse! My ice pack melted!”
The nurse took a calming sigh.
“One moment ma’am. I have a student in here.”
Angela quickly moved to fetch more ice for her patient to help her out.
“Chloé?” Nathalie spoke aloud, recognizing the voice.
Nathalie moved into the room and took notice of the mayor’s daughter watch the nurse impatiently as she waited for a fresh icepack.
“Wait, your Gabriel Agreste’s assistant. Natasha.”
“Nathalie.” The assistant corrected, clearly annoyed.
“Why are you here? Does Adrien have some photoshoot or something?”
“Or something. Now why are you in here?”
The question struck a nerve with the blonde, causing her annoyance to turn into anger.
“Better question, how could you allow Adrien to date that loser!?”
Nathalie blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“She is going to bring down the Gabriel brand. That nobody has no right to be dating Adrien. Does his father know about this?”
Nathalie felt a twinge of annoyance. But kept it in. She remembered the akuma that were out in the hallway. She would hate to have them run in here just from the commotion.
“I think you should keep it down. This is not an issue that concerns you.”
“Doesn’t concern me?! I am Adrien’s childhood friend. You bet your poor dye job it concerns me!”
“I must insist you be quiet.” Nathalie repeats. “This is not the time or the place for such meaningless complaints.”
“Like I am going to listen to Gabriel Agreste’s rebound chick.”
That caused Nathalie to snap.
“Listen here you spoiled brat! There are akuma running the halls and I am trying to find Adrien to get him out of here before things get worse. If you don’t shut your mouth in the next two seconds. I will throw you out there and let them tear you apart!”
Chloé felt her eyes go wide at the out of nowhere outburst. It took her a second to process what just happened. Did she really get told off by this nobody?
“You can’t just…”
Nathalie suddenly fell to the floor. She barely used her hands to catch herself.
“S***, not now.” She mumbled over gasping breathes. Her body was failing on her again. She did not need this of all times. She felt her consciousness fade.
The nurse turned around once she heard the sudden thud.
“Oh dear.”
She rushed to the collapsed woman’s side and helped her up.
“Chloé. Help me get her onto the bed.”
“You want me to…”
“This is not the time for questions! Help me get her on the bed now!” Angela commanded.
Chloé’s protests were snuffed out by the nurse and she moved to help get the woman on the bed.
The nurse quickly checked her for a pulse. Thankfully she had one.
“Okay, she has a pulse. She is breathing, but her body just collapsed. A fainting spell?”
Angela started checking the assistant to make sure there was nothing else wrong.
Chloé watched as the nurse examined Nathalie. Her previous anger fading as she sees the woman that just snapped at her just drop.
“Okay… seems that it is over exhaustion. It’s not uncommon in people who work long hours with demanding jobs. But I have never seen a case like this. I can’t put my finger on it, but there might be another medical issue involved in this. When she wakes up, she should get checked into a hospital for a deeper dive into whatever she has.” Angela explained.
“So… she will be alright?”
“Well she is exhausted. She will need to rest for a bit.”
“Well at least she didn’t die. I can still be mad at her for yelling at me because there is an akuma and junk here.”
“Well you shouldn’t hold a… did you just say there is an akuma?”
“That’s what she was yelling at me about before. Weren’t you listening?”
Angela felt herself go pale.
“Oh that is not good at all. We need to alert the authorities.”
Chloé picked up her phone and started texting.
“Don’t you think you should use that to call the cops.”
“Im texting my dad. He will have the cops here faster.”
Angela remembered that the annoying spoiled blonde in front of her was the mayor’s daughter and for the first time, was happy that the girl was here.
_______________________________________________________________________
For what is a teen, but a pile of hormones and insecurities.
Masquerade delighted as she watched her classmates stare at her. They all were trying so hard to be strong, but she could feel their emotions, they were afraid. She knew that taking the most emotionally secure one in the group would rattle them..
She noticed the teens rushing to their pockets to get their phones.
Masquerade touched the cellphone charm on her bracelet and all of the phones started showing they had no signal.
“Nice try, but no calling for help.” Masquerade commented.
Even the chill Nino couldn’t maintain a steady calm in front of her with that little display. She now removed any chance of calling for help or setting off that akuma alert system. Did she have access to other powers? What kind of monster did Hawkmoth turn her into?
“I’ll save you for last Nino. I want you to watch closely.” She flipped her hair, taunting the cap wearing teen.
The masked theme akuma smiled as she moved her hand, as if deciding on who would turn next.
“Now we know who will be last, but who will be next?” Masquerade asked, watching as her bracelet was glowing. The class was a gold mine of akumas. It was not a matter of how, it was a matter of which one.
“You don’t have to do this Lila.” A soft higher pitched voice pleaded.
The class turned their attention the short haired blond with a fondness for pink.
“Rose…” Juleka spoke up in worry.
Masquerade focused her attention on Rose.
“Oh? And why is that?”
“We know you are hurting. We know that you lied to us and did some nasty things… but that doesn’t have to define you!”
Masquerade found herself a bit surprised at the statement.
“If you are willing to stop all of this, we can help you. We can work through all of the things you’ve done. If we can throw a party for Chloé, we can certainly give you another chance.”
Rose stuck out her hand, a soft smile on her face.
Masquerade took a moment to process before speaking.
“Wow… I had no idea you felt this way.”
Rose walked forward.
“See Lila, we can all get along if…”
“You’re so incredibly depressing.”
Rose stopped.
Masquerade’s mouth contorted to a twisted glee. Her charm bracelet glowing brightly as she held her hand up to Rose.
“You always force a smile even when things are downright miserable. You’re terrified of being sad, so you paint this image of a fantasy land filled with stuffed animals and storybook characters. You realize all of the awful things around you yet you simply push it back, push it away as if it can’t harm you if you don’t acknowledge it. You can’t even acknowledge the emotional problems and insecurities of the people you care about because you know you can’t help them even if you did address them, so you give them some encouraging saccharine speech about pushing through, because that’s all you can really do. I have never seen anyone so deep in denial. One day you will wake up and realize that all of that delusional thinking will have pushed everyone away from you as you sit in plushy made prison of your own design.”
Rose felt her lip quiver.
“N-No. That isn’t true. I can …” Rose stumbled over her words.
But before she could say anymore, a mask flung onto her face and Rose shifted into Princess Fragrance, the green skinned perfume super villainess.
“Rose! No!” Juleka cried out.
Masquerade grinned as a perfume bottle charm now adorned her bracelet.
Juleka tried to get the mask off of Rose, but the newly made akuma pushed her aside and jumped to her master’s side.
“Oh, poor Juleka. Don’t worry. I’ll have you join her.”
Masquerade pointed her hand at Juleka.
“Oh wow, social anxiety and a fear of being forgotten. How original. Is that why you dye your hair purple and wear those gaudy clothes? You want to stand out so that you don’t get dismissed like the wallflower you are? Your bad luck with photos really puts a damper on your dreams of modeling. But that’s probably for the best, considering you are constantly overwhelmed. You don’t have the guts to do anything you want, so you just do your best to keep quiet and pray people will still notice and care about you.”
Juleka felt her anger shift to sorrow as she tried to speak up, but sure enough. Masquerade sends another mask out and it makes contact with Juleka.
The purple haired teen shifts into the image replicating akuma, Reflekta. Who after changing moved next to Princess Fragrance. A compact mirror charm appears on Masquerade’s bracelet.
The class couldn’t help but feel the despair in the room. The large drummer tried to keep his small girlfriend behind him as a means to protect her, but unfortunately, Masquerade noticed.
“Oh Ivan, sweet misunderstood Ivan.” Masquerade taunted. “You really think I don’t see what you are trying to do.”
Ivan kept his eyes focused.
“You aren’t turning me into one of your monsters. You already turned my bandmates into them, you aren’t turning me!”
The akuma laughed.
“Monster? I don’t need to turn you into an akuma to do that. The rest of the world already sees you as one.”
Ivan felt a pang in his heart.
“No… no they don’t.”
“Even your own girlfriend is scared of you. You’re a big brute that is loud and bumbling. Ever since your growth spurt, you could see everyone look at you differently, like you were some kind of large freak. But what’s worse is that you’re afraid that everyone else is right. That you a large rage filled monster, undeserving of love.”
“Don’t listen to her. She is lying to you.” Myléne pleaded as she tried to pull her boyfriend out of the quicksand trap of emotion that the akuma was setting up.
“I am not a monster.” Ivan spoke, more to himself than to masquerade.
The akuma capitalized on that moment of weakness and a mask made its way to Ivan, transforming him into his stone giant akuma form, Stoneheart.
Myléne looked in horror of her akumatized boyfriend and took a few steps back. Her fear of remembering this form taking hold.
“Oh, that works too.”
Masquerade flings a mask at Myléne, transforming her into her more monstrous akuma form, Horrificator.
“I was planning on playing on her fears about how she is afraid to face the real world and her insecurities about losing Ivan, but that worked better.”
The two new akuma mindlessly made their way to Masquerade’s side. A piece of paper and a button charm appeared on Masquerade’s bracelet.
The joy the akuma attained from watching her classmates squirm was unnerving. And it was only going to continue.
_______________________________________________________________________
“So, you are certain you left it there Kagami?” a woman with a cane asked sternly.
“Yes mother, I remember I left my text book in the locker room during fencing practice. I was studying between breaks.” Kagami answered. She felt a bit ashamed she had misplaced her book. But was relieved her mother was fine with giving her a ride there to get it. Even if it meant she was late to her lessons.
“This is not an excuse to see anyone, is it?” Her mother questioned.
“No mother, I will be in and out quickly.”
“Very well. I need to make a quick stop at the bank. So be sure to be outside waiting when I come back.”
“Yes mother.”
Kagami got out of the car and the car drove off.
“Well, I could stop by to say hello to my friends if I am quick with getting my book.” Kagami smiled a bit as she was about to make her way into Collège Françoise Dupont.
But before she did, she heard the sound of a bike approaching, she turned to see the cyclist stop short of her.
“Made it.” He said with relief as he took off his helmet to reveal familiar blue dyed hair.
“Luka?”
The cyclist looked and noticed his new fencer friend.
“Kagami? What brings you here? I thought you didn’t go to this school.”
“I don’t, I come here for fencing practice, I left a textbook here and was planning on retrieving it. You don’t go to this school either. So what brings you here?”
“My little sis grabbed the wrong lunch bag, then texted something about an akuma being in the school. I wasn't able to reach her after that. I plan on getting her out and letting the heroes handle the akuma.”
Kagami blinked.
“There is an akuma?”
“Apparently.”
The fencer smiled.
“Alright, let’s get in and try to evacuate everyone. Then I can grab my book.”
Luka looked at the determined girl and smiled. He didn’t even say he would help her. But he knew he would.
“So, what’s the plan?”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Adrien stared down the Volpina duplicate. He was not going to let it pass him and get to Marinette. He realizes that if he had been the one to run off, he would have been able to transform quick. If this didn’t work out, Ladybug might have to take on Lila solo, and that was something he was worried about. If Ladybug is on her own and she gets overwhelmed, who would be able to protect Paris? He needed to figure a way to give this Faux Fox the slip and fast.
“It would have been better if I snagged both of you, but master will be more than happy with your capture.” The sentimonster smiled as it moved to grab him.
The blond jumped back, but the difference in speed was far too great for him to overcome. And he was quickly pinned against a wall. The sentimonster shifted forms, looking similar to the owl akuma that Adrien was familiar with.
“What the…”
“I am not bound to one form. I can shift my form and access to any akuma’s power set that my master has under her control.”
Adrien realized he was far outmatched. If it came to it, he would need to transform. He wished there was some way out of this mess.
But as if the heavens above heard him, a yo-yo wrapped around the waist of the buff owl.
“What the ...”
The sudden pull from the yo-yo made the sentimonster lose it’s grip on Adrien and get flung to the other wall, dazing it.
“Looks like I made it just in time.” A spotted heroine stated with confidence.
“Ladybug!” Adrien called out in relief.
Ladybug rushed to his side.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m a lot better now.”
Ladybug helped the teen up from the ground.
“Lets’ get you somewhere safe first, handsome boy.”
The blond felt his cheeks turn red at the comment.
The sentimonster managed to get back up, it shifted forms, to a smaller form. One that made ladybug experience a chill go down her spine as she saw the roller blades and familiar helmet.
“Timebreaker… We need to hurry!”
Ladybug started rushing with the teen. With the speed of the akuma, she knew Adrien wouldn’t be fast enough to avoid it on his own. So, she quickly picked him up in her arms as they fled.
“Timebreaker? But isn’t that what Alix turned into when she was akumatized.” Adrien inquired as Ladybug ran down the hallway.
“It means that things are getting a lot more dangerous.” Ladybug answered. She knew that timebreaker appearing could only mean that Lila has made her way to the classroom, and this was going to be one of the toughest akuma battles yet. She needed to get Adrien to safety and then make her way to the classroom, hopefully save her classmates before they were all turned into her masked servants.
She made a quick movement into the bathroom. Standing at the door, prepared to fight the akuma if it noticed their quick duck into the washroom.
Ladybug listened closely as she heard the sound of skates roll up to the door. Her eyes went wide as she realized the it figured it out.
“You really think you can hide from me!”
The Timebreaker imposter kicked in the door ready to attack, only to see no one was in the room.
“Like I said….”
“You!” Kicked the first stall door open.
“CANT!” The second stall was kicked open.
“HIDE!” The last one was open, and all of them were empty.
The sentimonster growled in frustration.
“Seems I was mistaken.” The sentimonster grumbles, skating off to find the two.
As the door closes, Ladybug and Adrien sigh in relief. They had taken to hiding over the small statured sentimonster’s line of sight. Ladybug;s yo-yo making for a secure web to hold them up.
Ladybug undid the secure snare and lowered them both to the floor.
“Thanks for the save Ladybug.” The blond smiled. His face a bit red being so close to Ladybug.
‘Easy there Adrien! Remember who you are dating now!’ He mentally told himself.
“N-no problem.” Ladybug smiled sweetly. “Now, you stay hidden and I will take care of this crazy shapeshifter.
“Wait Ladybug!”
Ladybug paused.
“Yes? Is there something…”
“My girlfriend is out there. Well I mean… dating since we didn’t officially say girlfriend and… Look She is out there and that akuma thing is also after her.”
Ladybug’s eyes went wide at that statement.
He called me his girlfriend! Inner marinette screamed. Inside her head, but Ladybug kept her face from showing it. Though a small smile was growing despite herself.
“So the akuma is targeting someone else? Why wasn’t she with you?”
“She went to get help, I was trying to hold off the akuma so she could escape. The akuma was more focused on me thankfully, and you showed up just in time.”
“Oh? And who is the Lucky girl?” Ladybug questioned, a bit bubbly but doing her best to hide it.
“Her name is Marinette, she is around your height and she has these cute …”
“No need for more description, I know her. Well, she is a cute one. Aren’t you lucky?” Ladybug teased a bit.
“I really am.” He smiled sweetly. He remembers that Ladybug did pick Marinette to be a temporary hero, so she should know who she is. Though he isn’t supposed to know that.
Ladybug put a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your ‘girlfriend’ is safe. I’ll also be sure to tell her you were worried as well. She will be happy to hear that.”
Adrien felt himself in a bit of a bizarre situation, was ladybug helping him by being a wingwoman for him? He couldn’t help but find it a mix of ironic and funny.
Ladybug rushed out of the bathroom, realizing that chat noir was rubbing off on her a bit, teasing Adrien like that.
“He called me his girlfriend.” She smiled as she thought this to herself. Though she knew the task at hand was important and would dwell on this happiness much later.
Adrien watched as she ran off, feeling a bit flustered.
“Really needed to let her know you were off the market now.” A voice from his pocket teased.
“I panicked.” Adrien felt his face flush.
“Seemed Ladybug was happy for you. That’s good.” The cat kwami popped out of his pocket. Hiding the fact, he knew a lot more than he let on.
“We do have more important things to worry about. We have an akuma and sentimonster to stop. “
Adrien punched his fist out.
“Plagg. Claws out!”
_____________________________________________________________________________
Masquerade laughed, loving how she was turning everything back on her classmates.
When something smacked into her head.
“Ugh!” She grunted as she grabbed the metal object that flung into her.
“What the hell?!” Masquerade’s eyes focused to see it was Max’s ai companion, Markov that head-butted her.
“Your actions have far exceeded what is acceptable.” The robot responded.
“Markov get away from her. She will akumatize you!” Max called out in worry.
“Akumatize the toaster? How could I akumatize…” Masquerade muttered until she noticed her bracelet glowing.
“Oh, you have got to be f***ing kidding me. You akumatized a sentient rice cooker but not Marinette?! The f*** hawkmoth!?”
“I will have you know that I am an advanced artificial intelligence.”
“And you despise that.” Masquerade points out.
“Quite the contrary, I find my intellect exhilarating.”
“But you already calculated it, the two logical conclusions. That you will either become obsolete and be tossed out for a newer model, or you will advance and grow until you outlive Max.”
Markov paused. He could not come up with a response. The robot felt stumped byt the statement.
“Too easy.”
“Markov!’ Max cried out as a mask landed over his visual face plate. Shifting him into his angry red coated akuma form, Robostus.
Max moved to get to his robot. But Kim held him back.
“It’s too late man.”
Max growled at the akuma.
“Damn it Lila, why are you doing this? You must know that Ladybug and Chat noir will arrive ready to stop you. The chances of you beating them are 0%.”
Masquerade lifted her hand as her bracelet began glowing again.
“Oh. smarty pants Max, the one with all the formulas and the data. You have to be the smartest one in the room or else you have nothing.”
“I know what you are trying to do. It won’t work.”
“Out of everyone here, you have the biggest inferiority complex. Your need to be the best at what your ‘good’ at. Robotics, video games, data analysis, and of course, calculations. You need to show to everyone how smart and skilled you are, because the moment you don’t, they realize there is no personality underneath.”
Max tried to focus on not letting the words get to him, but Masquerade knew exactly what to say to cut him down.
“Go on Max, tell them how to ‘Beat’ my power. Or do you not know?”
Max felt his lip quiver, he couldn’t stay strong. He didn’t know how to beat it. He could feel the horror of not knowing slip into his mind. She had nailed his insecurities like an expert marksman.
“I thought so.”
A mask flew and smacked onto Max’s face. He dropped to the floor only to get up in a black and green spandex suit, His akumatized form, The Gamer.
A game controller charm appeared on her bracelet.
A sudden squeak caught her attention.
Masquerade turned her head to see an orange haired girl trying to sneak away.
“Sabrina, I had forgotten you were here. Just like everyone else usually does.”
Masquerade was about to really lay into her, but a book out of nowhere smacked her in the face.
It was the athletic dare maker himself, Kim.
“I am done sitting around and letting you turn everyone into masked zombies.” Kim exclaimed.
Nino felt himself zone back in as Kim called it out. Now was not the time to lose his head. He needed to focus. Masquerade didn’t mention Adrien, so maybe his best bro was still out there. Maybe they can get to the heroes and have them fix this. But first, he needed to escape.
“Kim’s right. We won’t let you turn anyone else anymore. Sabrina get help!” Nino exclaimed.
“Like she is going to… HEY!”
A waste basket covered the villainess as she stumbled back, with the basket stuck to her head. While she had been too busy gloating, she had failed to notice the tomato haired artist sneak behind her and the mindless akuma line up. He had slammed it on as hard as he could to ensure it was difficult to remove.
“Let’s Go!” Nino announced as the rest of the class rushed to the door. Time breaker being the only one actively ordered prepared to stop them.
“Don’t let her touch you.” Sabrina spoke as they tried to figure.
Kim grabbed a chair and used it like a make shift battering ram in order to keep Timebreaker at a distance, but the akuma reacted quickly by pulling the chair away and kicking the teen in the gut with her roller blade. Sending him flying back into the other teens.
“Ugh! That really was gross!” Masquerade retched as she pulled the waste bucket off her head.
“Well, I hope you enjoyed your little escape attempt. Because you won’t get another chance.”
Masquerade pointed at Kim.
“Since you started this little thing. I will change you next.”
Kim looked at the Akuma with a smile.
“Good luck with that. You don’t have anything that could make me feel gloomy.”
Masquerade’s bracelet started glowing again. She was clearly ready to speak, but stopped herself.
“… Wait.. THAT’s your biggest insecurity?”
“I don’t have an insecurity.”
“You are afraid everyone will realize you’re not smart.”
“What? No, I am not. I am plenty smart. I watch the Alternate Truth all the time.”
“Everyone already knows you’re an idiot.”
Kim looked at the akuma with shock.
“That’s not true! People do think I’m smart. Chloé has called me ‘Genius’ multiple times.”
Masquerade didn’t know how to respond to this.
“I… do you not know what sarcasm is?”
“Of course, I do.” Kim lied.
“Just … just wear the mask you moron.”
Masquerade sends a mask to attach to Kim.
The swimmer did his best to resist but felt himself succumb to the mask and become the dark winged akuma, Dark Cupid. He joined the rest of the akuma in the lineup, and a bow and arrow charm appeared on Masquerade’s charm bracelet.
“I actually feel dumber because of those last few minutes. Okay next one.”
Masquerade points at the Artist.
“Let’s bring the mood back with you Nathaniel, what is your biggest insecurity?”
“Listen Lila, there is still a chance to stop what you’re doing.”
“You’re afraid of opening yourself up to others. That’s the reason you didn’t want to join Soulmate searcher despite Marc’s insistence. You were afraid of putting out all that information on yourself and seeing that you and Marc aren’t meant for each other. You can only express yourself with art. And you know that it’s only a matter of time before he realizes your issues and leaves.”
Nathaniel wanted to dispute the statement, but felt his words die in his mouth.
“Such a pity Nathaniel, I’ll make sure to go after him once we are done here.”
“No! Don’t you…”
Nathaniel tried to say more, but a mask latching onto his face interrupted him.
The artist transformed into his heroic yet villainess akuma form, Evillustrator. Just like the others, the recent akuma joined the line.
A tablet pen charm appeared on Masquerade’s bracelet.
“And next up is Sabrina. I was interrupted earlier. But don’t worry. I have everything I need to get you.”
Sabrina tried to put on a brave face and covering her ears.
“Oh, you think It won’t work if you cant hear me.”
Masquerade’s bracelet glows.
“You don’t get it Sabrina, I am not just saying mean words, I am reading your greatest insecurities. And I am projecting them out.”
Sabrina could hear Masquerade’s words, as if they were in her mind. She couldn’t escape them. Her hands dropped.
“Very good. You learned how futile it is. It’s rare that you have someone’s attention like this. You always never stood out much, but you never minded that, your biggest insecurity is that no one will want to spend time with you. That’s why even with Chloé being mean and nasty, you like the fact that someone is willing to talk to you. You would accept humiliation and embarrassment over being alone. It’s truly pathetic.”
Sabrina felt tear stream down her face.
“Sabrina don’t let her get to you…”
“Im sorry. I don’t want to be alone.”
The mask flew onto Sabrina’s face. But something happened. She wasn’t changing right away.
“What’s this?” Masquerade commented.
“It seems you have more than one akumatizable form? Alya had something similar, but I was ‘missing something’ to access the other one so I didn’t bother with that. But this is different.”
Masquerade felt a malicious glee take hold.
“Why not give you both.”
Nino watched as the masked Sabrina shifted into a costume that looked familiar to him. The power stealing Miracular.
But suddenly, she vanished from his sight. Only to then appear with the other akuma.
“Invisibility and power stealing. Sabrina you maybe my favorite servant yet.” Masquerade exclaimed. Two charms appeared on Masquerade’s bracelet, vanishing cream and a tonfa.
Nino took a look at the line up of akuma.
“Dude… this is so not cool.”
Masquerade started to walk towards the DJ with a confident stride, stopping short, looking down at him. An aura of malice emanating from her presence.
“Don’t worry Nino. You’ll be joining them.”
_______________________________________________________________________
(End of Chapter)
So all the pieces are coming together. Will Nathalie be okay in a school filled with akuma? Will Ladybug and Chat noir be able to fight the army of akumatized classmates that Masquerade has been building? Will Kagami be able to get her text book. Will Kim learn that everyone loves him because he is a himbo? Find out by staying tuned.
Thanks for reading and be sure to comment if you want to see the next part. I am an author and live off validation.
#ml#miraculous ladybug#ml fic#soulmate survey#ml au#soulmate searcher#miraculous fanficiton#ladrien#adrinette#miraculous#masquerade#masquerade akuma#adrien agreste#nathalie sancoeur#chloé bourgeois#ladybug#chat noir#max kante#kim le chien#sabrina raincomprix#nathaniel kurtzberg#rose lavillant#juleka couffaine#julrose#Ivan bruel#mylene haprele#angst#fluff#drama#ml fics
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What the future holds, we'll never know
Summary
Marinette didn't know what the future was made of—but the glimpse of the one featuring her akumatised partner she had seen taught her one thing: she and Chat Noir should never be together.
Which currently wasn't really a problem considering that she was in love with Adrien, and that they had been getting closer lately.
Read it on AO3
Hiiii @ladynoirist Lisa gemini bro ♥♥♥ I was soooo happy to be your totally secret (yes pretend you never guessed it was me okay I was so subtle) santaaaa for the @mlsecretsanta !!! (also pretend we're totally in December and not in May ho ho ho! Reindeers are still roaming!)
I'm so sorry for how late I am, but I hope you'll enjoy this fic 😄
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, 1h after the reveal
Marinette stood in front of the bistro door, pacing. Pretending to look at the menu, pretending to think of what to choose, pretending that everything was absolutely normal and fine and this was just a perfectly normal day.
It was, however, not normal nor fine inside her head.
She had to push that door. She was already a good half an hour late and it wouldn’t do good to make her friends wait longer—excuses were harder and harder to explain the more she shied away.
Please, don’t be here. She never thought she would hope for that. Please have your bodyguard bring you home. Your father forcing you to go home.
Please, go home by yourself and find some stupid excuse.
She would feel bad for having all these unfair hopes if she hadn't been feeling completely panicked inside.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Gulping, she chanced a glance at it.
Alya
girl where are u?? we’re waiting to order!
Well. She couldn’t delay for much longer. Taking a deep breath, Marinette pushed the door open and scanned the room.
Please, please don’t be inside.
She wasn’t being fair, she knew that—it wasn’t his fault if she didn’t feel like facing him.
“Marinette!”
She turned in the direction of her name where Alya was waving at her, hand held up high, while Nino was grinning and—he was there.
Swallowing—though her mouth had been dry for a while now—Marinette headed towards them despite her legs screaming at her to turn around and run as fast as possible away from here.
“H-hey,” she stuttered, “sorry for...for being late.”
She sat next to Adrien (because of course she had to be seated next to him). Their eyes met for a split second and he gave her a timid smile that she couldn’t return.
“It’s fine,” Alya waved off, “the most important thing is that you’re here now! But quick, choose what you want to eat, I’m staaarving!”
She, for one, clearly wasn’t.
Adrien was giving her quick glances and she tried her best to ignore him.
It was him, it was him, it was him.
And it was oh so unfair. She picked up her menu to hide her face as tears threatened to escape the corners of her eyes.
───※ ·❆· ※───
5th of October, 108 days before the reveal
“Try that.”
Marinette turned around, abandoning the search for her size amongst the many red skirts on the clothes rail.
Adrien was holding a tacky glittery dress, reflecting the light of a multitude of disharmonious colours, supporting two red fabric-flowers on each shoulder straps. It was positively horrendous, the kind of clothes you wonder who would ever buy when passing in front of it in the store.
She looked up to Adrien’s innocent smile and had to bite down the disgusted expression she suspected she must have shown for a split second. She hoped he hadn’t noticed—the last thing she wanted was to offend him. Growing-up in the fashion industry didn’t make him a good judge in the field, it seemed.
“I… You want me to...to try that on?” she stammered.
He gave her a nod, humming enthusiastically.
Maybe it was the kind of dress Adrien saw on girls at fashion shows, and she just hadn't seen it before. Maybe he liked it on them.
Maybe he would find her pretty in it.
Against her better judgement (because her judgement was always lost when it came to him, wasn’t it?), Marinette stretched a hand towards the piece of clothing, gulping. She raised her eyes to his, offering a tight smile.
Adrien’s mouth twitched, and his eyes held a new mischievous glint that hadn’t been there a few seconds ago.
“You...you’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” she said, deflating.
He burst out laughing, a genuine, happy laugh that reminded her of a certain day in the rain, and she couldn’t help but smile despite herself.
“You should have seen your face!”
He hadn't made fun of her in a while—in fact, he hadn’t laughed at her since that day, in the rain. The thought of him being comfortable enough with her to allow himself to do it again made her cheeks heat up.
“I could...I could call your bodyguard or...or your dad! Yes! I could call your dad and out you, you know!” she threatened, fighting back the nerves that always messed up her words when she spoke to him.
She wouldn’t mess up today.
It stopped Adrien momentarily and suddenly he was pleading her, begging with joined hands.
“Marinette,” he said, and he did sound serious—she would have been convinced had his eyes not looked a tad too much like a kicked puppy’s, “please, you can’t do that. Please please please please, I’m sorry for ruining your shopping day and running into you and insisting to tag along and—”
Marinette giggled. “I’ll wear it,” she said, snatching the terrible (terrible!!) dress from his hands, careful to not brush his fingers and make it awkward. “Because unlike you who’s trying to hide, I’m no coward.”
Adrien straightened up. “I’m no coward either!”
She could feel her heart beating erratically in her chest. She wasn’t nervous. She wasn’t gonna be nervous when talking to Adrien. Not again. Not this time. She could banter with him—this was known territory. Not with him though, never with him, but…
“Okay,” she crossed her arms. Her eyes scanned the different clothing items before landing on a pink plastic fur dress on a mannequin. “Prove it.”
He choked on a laugh before grinning at her. “Oh, you’re so on.”
───※ ·❆· ※───
16th of November, 66 days before the reveal
Adrien opened his diary, ready to write down the homework of the day Mrs Bustier was dictating.
The sound of ruffling papers and rummaging in bags filled the classroom, but he tried to focus on one sound in particular, resisting the urge to smile.
Any moment now.
Just a little longer before—
A loud groan resonated from behind him, and this time he let the grin slip onto his face, thankful that she couldn’t see it.
“What’s wrong?” Alya’s whisper made its way to his ears.
“Someone drew me with a towel on the head, swimming glasses and an ugly party dress!”
Adrien couldn’t help the snort that escaped him.
Teasing Marinette, he found, was very entertaining. He didn’t know exactly when he started to feel comfortable enough to do it. Didn’t know what exactly it was that was making it deliciously familiar yet all so new—and above all, warm.
Her reaction had been worth the wait. He silently delighted in the way she battled between raging against him and finding him hilarious (because with the way she giggled, or stammered, or even bit her lips the few times he had joked with her, before getting ahold of herself and teasing back, she had to find him hilarious, right?).
He guessed he deserved the ruler slap he received on the head.
Yes, Adrien liked her reactions, he thought while rubbing his head. He liked that new, teasing dynamic he’d been having with her for a couple of weeks now. He liked it.
But above all, he loved—
Adrien let a soft fond smile pull at his lips when he opened his diary that evening, once seated at his desk. A drawing quickly scribbled in the margin lit up by his many computer screens welcomed him of what he assumed was a new Gabriel ad featuring him in an atrocious fur dress coloured in fluro pink highlighter.
Above all, he loved her witty and sneaky comebacks.
───※ ·❆· ※───
8th of December, 44 days before the reveal
“What are you thinking about?”
Ladybug saw a smile stretch across her partner’s lips. He let out a fond chuckle, throwing his head up towards the sky. His eyes were closed, but she could tell that he was seeing more stars that way than if they had been opened looking up at the Parisian sky. She envied him a little.
“I’m thinking,” he simply said.
And didn’t say anything after that.
She waited a little, just in case, but he remained silent. His feet dangled above the edge of the roof and he started gently swinging his legs one after the other. He let out a breathless giggle, as if he couldn’t control it, and hummed a song her ears caught only because of the wind blowing towards her.
Her heart did a somersault in her chest at the sight. She felt a weird mix of emotions, not unpleasant but not entirely enjoyable either, bittersweetness and happiness mingling together.
He did look happy—but tonight it felt like she wasn’t a part of it. That he was in his own bubble of joy, a bubble she once had complete control over but, in that instant, was slipping through her fingers. If she was being honest, it had been slowly and subtly escaping her for a while now.
He was in love, she realised. Her gaze on him softened, before she turned away from him to look towards the sky, too, and exhaled a puff of hot air that dissipated in the cold and continued to grow as she joined him in his humming, closing her eyes.
If she wasn’t the one he was shining for tonight, she would still share that moment of exhilaration with him.
Besides, she had reasons to feel giddy herself too.
───※ ·❆· ※───
29th of December, 23 days before the reveal
“Hey.” Plagg’s voice wasn’t loud enough to pull Adrien out of his reverie completely, but enough to bring the cloud he was on a little bit back down to Earth. “You’ve been staring at the ceiling for the past twenty minutes now. What’s up?”
Adrien let the thread of his lucky charm pass through his fingers, feeling the beads between them rolling from one to another. “I have?”
Plagg stayed silent for a few seconds. “Yes. Are you alright?”
Adrien chuckled. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I am.” I have been for a little while now, he didn’t say.
Suddenly, he got up, walked towards his computer, picked up his phone from his desk and opened Instagram. His fingers quickly found Marinette’s name and pressed her icon to see her latest story. He smiled as a selfie of her and Alya appeared, and played it again once it was over.
“Ah. I see.” Adrien hadn’t noticed Plagg flying above his shoulder but he couldn’t care less. “You like her?”
“I love her,” he simply corrected.
“Really?! Planning on asking her out? Sweeping her off her feet?”
Adrien shook his head, chuckling. He put his phone back on his desk and let himself fall further in his seat, pushing his feet against the desk leg to propel himself back.
Marinette, Marinette, Marinette.
“We’ll see,” he stretched his arms above his head. “We’ll see what happens and when I feel that the time is right. I don’t want to mess it up. Not this time.”
Not with her.
───※ ·❆· ※───
11th of January, 10 days before the reveal
When she found Adrien waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs that morning, blushing, a hand rubbing the back of his neck, the other holding a yellow rose with red tips on the petals and stammering a simple yet powerful “I think I love you”, Marinette was glad she had been on time for school for once.
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, 1h before the reveal
“I can’t believe you made me wake up at eight o’clock on a Saturday morning,” Marinette shook her head.
Adrien laughed and held her hand tighter as he pulled her along with him, striding alongside the Seine. “But you have to admit that it was worth it.”
Spending time with you is worth the world, she thought. I could wake up at five if that’s what you wanted. She didn’t say any of that out loud. They had only barely started dating, after all. It could scare him off.
Instead, she let half a smile pull at her lips. “I suppose.”
Adrien stopped in his tracks and turned to her. “It was worth it! It just snowed during the night—for once! It’s so rare, we have to enjoy it! And the sunrise was beautiful!”
She crossed her arms, pretending to think about it and evaluate her morning.
“It was,” Adrien insisted, pleaded for her to agree.
“Fine,” she conceded, giggling. “It was beautiful. I’m glad you forced me out of bed.”
She was rewarded by a brilliant smile, that melted her heart despite the cold January air on her cheeks, and a kiss on her forehead (that melted her whole).
A giddy laugh escaped her and she couldn’t help but kiss his nose, making him giggle, the sound sweeter than the glockenspiel a busker was playing a few meters away.
Adrien’s cheeks were red when she pulled away—from the cold or from her kiss, she didn’t know, but she hoped for the latter. She decided to grab his winter hat, leaving his hair all messy on top and wide eyes of outraged shock on his face. Adrien, she had realised, really liked when she was messing with him and she berated herself for never having dared to do such a thing before.
In retaliation, he grabbed her own hat and put it on his head. “Jokes on you,” he said, “now I have a pink pompom while you have a lame black one!”
She laughed as she put his hat on her own head. He likes me, she chanted in her head. He loves me even. He loves me, he loves me, and I love him. All was well that day. All was perfect.
“When are we meeting up with Alya and Nino for lunch, again?”
“I think we still have an hour,” Adrien replied.
It felt like nothing could disrupt their date, their day, them, really.
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, the reveal
Accidents were stupid, most of the time. One second of miscalculation, one careless mistake and every neatly protected secret could be disrupted forever.
Detransforming in the same alleway was probably the stupidest, lamest and most careless way to reveal their identities, Marinette and Adrien thought, as they faced each other with wide eyes and heart beating too fast in their rib cages with their kwamis hanging incriminatingly at their side.
Marinette didn’t think. She ran.
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, 1h30 after the reveal
To say the atmosphere was awkward was an understatement. They were barely glancing at each other, passing each other the salt without brushing a finger or looking where they handed it.
Marinette overfilled Adrien’s glass when pouring him some water; Adrien startled when Marinette’s hand accidentally brushed his arm while trying to clean his table up.
They were a mess.
In a way, Marinette was glad that Alya and Nino were here to provide distraction.
She just hoped they wouldn’t notice the tension between her and Adrien.
“So, how have you two lovebirds been doing? Still in the chummy-chummy phase?”
So much for that. There was an awkward silence, none of them knowing what to really say.
“Sure,” she decided to take the plunge and ate a mouthful of fries so she wouldn’t have to explain further.
Alya and Nino said nothing, looking between the two of them.
“We’ve been, uh…we went walking around the Seine this morning,” Adrien mumbled. “To see the snow and, uh…”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Marinette cut. She couldn’t believe she was managing to talk to him. “Y-your...your winter hat.”
She handed it to him and Adrien looked at it for a few seconds before taking it back, his face crumbling and disheartened.
“...Thanks. Um, here is yours, I suppose.”
Marinette closed her eyes tight as she snatched her hat from his hands, feeling nauseous all of a sudden.
Where did they stand, now? They had barely even started dating. Could they brush off the massive new developments that were their identities? Could superheroes even date?
White flashed before her eyes. Her heart did a somersault, and the nausea intensified, making her head spin.
Stupid. Idiot, superheroes couldn’t date, least of all her and Adrien.
It was unfair that she was having these thoughts now, when she still didn’t know what was going on in her head—Adrien, Chat Noir, her partner. The same… so similar yet so different.
He had given her a rose when he had confessed. It was such a Chat Noir thing to do...she should have known.
They were the same person and it was awkward and she needed time she didn’t get the luxury to have. The second she thought she had acknowledged this information, it would all come back the next with the panic accompanying it.
The silence following must have been long and heavy because Alya took in a sharp breath. “Okay. What’s going on between you two? You’ve been acting awkward since we’ve got here.”
───※ ·❆· ※───
23rd of January, 2 days after the reveal
“So, this is it?”
Adrien felt the knot in his throat tighten a little more and more as Marinette kept looking to the side, silent, avoiding his gaze. He didn’t know why he asked; he knew the answer. And he knew that hearing it would cut like a knife, but maybe that’s what he needed instead of foolishly pretending there was hope.
“This...this is it,” she finally said in a breath.
He swallowed. “Okay.”
“Okay,” she repeated.
“I… okay.” Okay. Because what could he say? It wasn’t like he could decide for her.
If it was only on him, of course he wouldn’t want anything to end. Of course he would fight for them, and try and see where they’d go, identities be damned because...well, it was still them, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?
“I’m sorry. I...I really am. It’s just… It’s…” Marinette sighed. “It’s just that it’s a lot to take in, you know?”
She had finally raised her eyes to his, and Adrien had to fight back tears; maybe it would have been better if she had continued to avoid him.
So he was the one to turn his eyes away this time.
“I guess,” he couldn’t help the bitterness in his voice to show through. “I just...I didn’t know it would be so bad.”
“It’s not! It’s not that! It’s just that… we still...we still need to get used to this,” she gestured between them, “and… superheroes ca—”
“—can’t date, I know. I understand. I mean—not completely, but... I get it.”
And he did; really, he did get it.
It was selfish of him, probably, to not want things to stop. He found that it was also maybe a little selfish of her to want them to.
None of them had decided to be heroes—and yet they had to bear the consequences of such a responsibility.
Looking back at her, she had now dropped down her eyes and wasn’t watching him anymore. A strong gust of wind blew on the balcony, making Marinette’s hair wave with it.
“It’s getting late,” Adrien spoke. “And you’re freezing out here. I should get going. We’ll see each other tomorrow at school.”
He extended his baton.
“Adri—Chat Noir! Wait!”
She grabbed his tail, stopping him in his tracks. He turned around. She was fidgeting, and looked tentatively into his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I hope it’s not...I hope it’s not too hard but…”
He sighed. “I’m not gonna lie and pretend it doesn’t hurt. It...it does. A lot. It’s like…” he sighed. “It’s like we had everything, and then…” He paused. “But I guess… none of us can control the way we feel, right?”
She nodded numbly. He attempted to give a smile, but he knew he wasn’t doing a good job at it.
“I just wished I knew what’s wrong with me, “ he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
“I… it’s not… I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you,” Marinette tried. He could hear her voice trembling. I don’t think there’s anything right with me either, he didn’t say—and she didn’t say either, he noted with a bitter smile. “We’re just a mess right now.”
She bit her lip and he had to force to keep his eyes on hers. He felt terrible. Worse than all those times she had rejected him, because—well, because now he knew just how much he was losing.
“That we are.”
“We’re still...we’re still friends, right?” she asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.
“It’s you and me against the world, so… of course.” He shrugged.
And with that, he left, finally letting the tears blur his vision on his way home.
Tonight, their old promise sounded more bitter than comforting. Them against the world, the heroes fighting for the city, forced together by their duty and pulled apart at the same time.
───※ ·❆· ※───
23rd of January, 2 days after the reveal
Marinette rushed back inside her bedroom as soon as Adrien had left and threw her head in her pillow, crying her heart out. Screaming to Tikki how unfair it was to have to be responsible, at Master Fu for choosing this life for her, at herself for following it, at Adrien and Chat Noir for being the same people.
Shouting at Adrien again, at another Adrien she hadn’t even really known that it was all his fault. His fault, his fault, his fault, all his fault. She knew it was unfair of her—but she needed to put the blame on someone, and Chat Blanc, who didn’t exist anymore, seemed like a good candidate, no matter how wrong she knew it was.
───※ ·❆· ※───
24th of January, 3 days after the reveal
“...My father wanted us to break up.”
Marinette shrunk on herself. She wished she had been able to come up with a better excuse on the spot. Anything that would have avoided Adrien’s cold and numb tone when he repeated her flimsily excuse.
But nothing sounded plausible enough; nothing else could explain this sudden change in their dynamic.
“It...it was a surprise, really, we weren’t expecting it,” she tried, hoping he would follow her lead.
Adrien clicked his tongue. “A surprise, indeed.”
“Aaaand you didn’t think of dating in secret becaaause…?” Alya drawled, the cease in her brow increasing the longer she looked between the two of them.
“Because… well… because…” Marinette fumbled, trying to think of a way out because Alya wasn’t wrong and it was a flaw in her carelessly crafted plan.
“Because Marinette didn’t want to,” Adrien supplied curtly.
Alya and Nino’s heads snapped towards her with incredulous looks in their eyes, making her involuntarily shrink on herself even more.
“She said it wasn’t worth a try,” he shrugged and sat down, his back now to her.
Alya looked between the two with a mix of worry, incomprehension and a hint of pity. Marinette didn’t dare look at Nino to see what emotions would flicker in his eyes.
“That’s not it, it’s…” she struggled, took a deep breath, and tried again. She had to roll with what he came up with. “If he were to find out we...we’d be in trouble. You’d be in trouble… and I don’t want that,” she whispered the last words.
“Like I said,” Adrien said coolly, half turning towards them. “Not even worth a try.”
Her heart crumpled.
───※ ·❆· ※───
26th of january, 5 days after the reveal
“Chat Noir, you’re here!” Marinette exclaimed, relieved.
He twirled his baton, deflecting a spurt of gooey green liquid she could only dread to know the composition of—some akumas truly were more disgusting than others to deal with. “As for every akuma.” He raised a brow. “Don’t act so surprised.”
She startled. In the midst of all the action, in the hope and wait for his arrival—because she always felt bolder and stronger once her partner was by her side—she had forgotten.
This was Adrien, her ex-boyfriend with whom she had broken up and had upsetted. And who still wasn’t talking to her much. Thinking about him as ‘ex’ suddenly hurt as she realised it was the first time she was referring to him as such in her head.
Marinette blinked back remorseful tears and tried ignoring the tightness in her chest to focus on the akuma again. She still needed to find where the akumatised object was, and she couldn’t let her emotions get in the way of her job.
She decided to pretend things were fine. “His name is Snowtty, we don’t know the victim but it’s a kid who was made fun of for having a runny nose after receiving a snowball in his face. Try to avoid his green spurts, they would freeze you on the spot!”
Adrien barely nodded before jumping into action, without so much as a word of acknowledgement like he would usually do. It hurt more than she would care to admit.
She knew they hadn’t talked since that evening on her balcony, but she had hoped he just needed time to process and that it wasn’t deeper than that. He had said they were still friends, hadn’t he?
Trying to ignore the sting in her eyes, she jumped after him into the fight.
“Ladybug! I see your pet has arrived to the scene as well,” Snowtty sneered. “All the better for me, I need both your miraculous after all!”
“I’m my own person, thank you very much,” Chat Noir said, none of his usual teasing in his voice. “And you won’t be getting any miraculous. Why don’t you give us your akuma instead and save everyone’s time? You’re just gonna lose like the others do, anyway.”
The akuma let out a growl of frustration and double-fired in their direction. Marinette ran for cover using her yoyo as a deflecting shield, Adrien using his baton.
He didn’t take cover with her.
She called him and was almost relieved when he picked up.
“Okay, he’s angrier than I thought he was. Any idea where the akuma could be?”
“You’re telling me you don’t?” he raised a brow. “He’s throwing his substance from that bracelet he has on his left wrist, and there aren’t any other objects.”
It seemed obvious now. But she wasn’t at the top of her game and was far too focused on her relationship with her partner than she was on the fight at hand, and she realised how detrimental it could be—not letting her personal life interfere with her duties as Ladybug was one of the rules she had promised herself to never break, yet here she was.
“Right,” she said, voice wavering. “I… Right. You’re right. Good job, Kitty.”
She regretted the nickname as soon as it left her mouth.
“‘tis nothing, Ladybug,” he shrugged. “Guess you cast your lucky charm and I distract him as usual.”
“Not yet, I need to first figure ou—” She let out a sigh as he ended the call, and turned to see him heading back straight for the akuma.
Well. The message was clear.
Throwing her yoyo angrily in the air, she called on her lucky charm. And was rewarded for her effort with an umbrella.
She wanted to scream.
She glanced up and closed her eyes, temporarily blinded by the brightness of the sun. “And it’s not even raining,” she grumbled.
She stomped away from her hiding place, only to be thrown on the ground a second after.
“Wha—”
Adrien was hovering over her and spared a glance behind towards Snowtty before standing and helping her up.
“Thank you,” she mumbled.
But he ran back towards the akuma without so much as a glance in her direction. The momentary relief she felt when he saved her evaporated right away. She ran after him.
She hated how he could be upset with her in the middle of an akuma fight but still be able to focus on the task at hand. Because he was paying great care to the akuma and his surroundings and was trying to actively find a solution to put an end to the fight—something she had a harder time doing when her personal feelings were getting overwhelming. She couldn’t reproach him for that. It was just incredibly infuriating.
“Adri—Chat Noir, will you please talk to me and stop ignoring me?” Marinette exploded, frustrated. “It’s been two days and now is not the time!”
“Bold words from someone who ran away and avoided me for two days after discovering my identity,” Adrien snapped back, avoiding another blast of green.
Her heart stuttered painfully. He was right, but it made it no less hurtful to hear. She and Chat Noir had argued in the past, and while it had never been pleasant, it was something they knew how to navigate through — how to come out stronger from. She and Adrien, however? Never. She hadn’t even fathom the possibility of it ever coming up one day. Any comebacks she could have had died on her tongue, and Ladybug found herself speechless.
They both ran for cover once again behind the safety of a rooftop chimney, leaving Snowtty growling at having lost their track.
She swallowed painfully. “Listen. I know you’re hurt, I understand and you have every right to be. But we need to work together right now.”
He kicked some of the remaining snow from the roof, fidgeting with his hands. “I don’t know. I don’t think my father would approve of that.”
She frowned. “Of what?”
“Us working togeth—” he sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “Sorry. Forget I said anything, that was rude. Let’s...let’s just get back to the fight. I’ll behave.”
She grabbed his hand before he could vault away. “Wait.”
“Ladybug, I don’t think we have the time to talk or—”
“And I think it’s important that we talk now,” she said, giving him a pleading look. “Please.”
He kept eye contact with her for a few seconds before glancing hesitantly towards the city, nibbling at his lower lip. “Okay,” he finally murmured.
She involuntarily squeezed his hand in relief. He didn’t squeeze back, but he didn’t take it away either.
She hadn’t taken the time to focus on her feelings for him in the midst of her freakout about his identity; the warmth of his hand and the tips of his claws barely grazing hers and enhancing its delicacy made her realise that if anything, they had only gotten stronger.
It was painfully heartwarming.
“Are you...are you still… upset, about us, um… about me… you know…” she gestured between them.
“Breaking up with me?” He shook his head. “No. I’m hurt, yes. But that’s your right. That’s not what I’m angry about.”
“Then what…” she trailed off.
He sighed. “I thought I had made it clear, but I guess not.” He paused and kicked some more snow. “I didn’t like you telling everyone that my father forced us to break up,” he mumbled, and she had to listen carefully to pick up every word.
She blinked. “That’s… it?” She threw her hands in front of her at the glare he sent her. “I mean, don’t get me wrong… I agree it wasn’t my best excuse, but we had to find one that sounded plausible and…”
“That’s the thing, Marinette,” he said. “You decided to use my father as your excuse without asking me first.” He wrapped his arms around himself and looked to the ground. “I know my father isn’t… isn’t the best and that he can be… a little strict, but… He wouldn’t do that.”
There was a beat of silence.
“He wouldn’t do that,” he repeated more quietly.
She didn’t know if he was trying to convince himself or her; but she didn’t know Gabriel Agreste much and thus couldn’t confirm nor refute his words.
He shook his head. “But the thing is… How would you have felt if I had told everyone that...that your parents had forced us to break up?” He lifted his gaze towards her, green eyes piercing through her.
“Oh,” she said, understanding dawning on her. “Oh. I see.”
“Yeah.”
“I hadn;t...I hadn’t thought about that,” Marinette admitted.
“Well.”He sniffed, angrily wiping at his eyes. “You should have.”
She hadn’t noticed that he was on the verge of crying, but she instantly felt shame coursing through her.
He kicked the snow harder. “And the worst part is… the worst part is that… it workedI he almost spat. “They...they believed your excuse. They didn’t even doubt it, they just….” He gestured with his hands .“...Bought it as if it was obvious and that...that hurt.”
She stayed quiet for a few seconds, taking it in. She didn’t want to start the conversation now as to why it had been that easy for their friends to believe his father would do such a thing—it was something that they would have to discuss another day. A day on which he’d be more ready.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered. “I panicked because I...I realised I hadn’t thought of a reason for our breakup. My mind was busy with something else.” She chuckled dryly with a hand gesture in the air. “But you’re right, I crossed a line and that’s not an excuse. I probably would have killed you if you had told them my parents were the reason for our breakup.”
A timid smile appeared on his lips. “Good thing it was just me, then.”
She giggled tearily. “Yeah, good thing. But still. I hope you can forgive me. I promise I’ll be more careful.”
He sighed. “You know I can’t stay mad at you for very long, Marinette. Thank you. And I apologise too. I… I probably overreacted. And I should have known better than to snap during a fight.”
She smiled. “It’s okay. But maybe now, don’t wait until there’s an akuma to talk to me. Now that we know each other’s identities, you don’t need to.”
“I think I needed time to… digest that. But you’re right, will do.”
They looked at each other, smiling shyly as an awkward silence settled between them.
“So, Ladybug,” Adrien spoke with a wobbly smile, glancing towards the lucky charm in her hands, “shall we go back to the fight so you can play Mary Poppins?”
It still wasn’t a ‘my Lady’ or a ‘Buguinette’, and there was no wink to accompany his teasing, but he was back to joking. She would take it.
“Of course.” She smiled. “But let me recharge first.”
───※ ·❆· ※───
15th of February, 25 days after the reveal
“Psssst, come here, kitty kitty! I just want to be your frien—”
Marinette groaned as the ginger cat ran away, joining a tabby cat further up the alleway.
A chuckle from behind her startled her. “Looks like you’re having cat troubles.”
She turned around to meet her partner’s cat-like eyes, and yes, she was having cat troubles, indeed.
“They don’t like me,” she just said.
Adrien seemed to search her eyes for a second or two, his expression unreadable. “You know that’s not true.”
She didn’t know if the conversation was about the cats in the street anymore, and she wasn’t sure whose fault it was. But soon after, Adrien shook his head, blond hair softly sweeping against his cheeks, and let a smile pull at his lips.
He crouched down, grabbed his belt tail and slowly moved it around.
“You need to let them come to you.”
Marinette watched the tail slither, half hypnotised by the movement, until she heard the soft tapping of his claws on the ground. His fingers drummed in a steady rhythm, and she couldn’t help but marvel at how delicate the motion was.
It seemed that some cats around agreed because, soon enough, one advanced towards him, while another had laid down and began wiggling his butt and tail, ready to pounce.
She looked back at Adrien and he was smiling widely at them, anticipating their every move and excited to see their reactions. He looked so happy, so carefree and her heart did a somersault at the sight — she knew that she shouldn’t think like this, but she wished she had been the one he was looking at. She wished she could be one of these kittens, ready to tackle him to the ground, so they could fall in a heap of laughter together. So they could suddenly stop, and gaze into each other’s eyes, getting lost in each other, and maybe, just maybe, lean a little bit closer and ki—
“Wow.” Adrien’s loud laughter shook her out of her reverie. “No need to bite me, little one!”
While a small grey cat had attacked his tail and was nibbling at it, rolling on the floor, another one was more focused on his hand.
The white one with blue eyes.
“Careful,” she told him, “that one’s nasty.”
Adrien continued to play with the cat, moving a finger around and hovering it above his nose that the kitten tried to take a mouthful of.
“What? Why do you say that?”
“Well, he bit you. And earlier, he scratched me. Good thing my suit could protect me or my arms would have been covered in blood,” she informed.
Adrien smiled. “That doesn’t make him nasty.”
She spluttered. “Wha—? How—of course it does! He’s a mean cat, trust me on this! All white cats with blue eyes are!”
He chuckled, giving him a fond look the kitten didn’t deserve. “Good thing I’m a black cat, then.”
She shuddered.
“And he’s not mean,” he went on, “he’s broken.”
Marinette frowned. “What do you mean, ‘broken’?”
Somehow, Adrien had managed to pet the cat on the head, making him let out a contented meow. “Cats who have been abandoned or rejected by their mother too young tend to be more aggressive,” he explained, a pained smile she wasn’t quite sure how to interpret. “They scratch and bite a lot because in a way, they’re kind of lost.”
He took him in his arms and kissed his nose, to which the cat answered with a small ‘meow’. Staying close to his face, he scratched under his chin that the cat was exposing happily to him as a sign of complete trust. Adrien’s smile melted when a purr rumbled out of the kitten, and Marinette hung on it with both fascination and envy.
He let out a breathy chuckle. “See? He just needs someone to show him they care.”
“Show him they care,” she repeated dumbly. She could do that. She coul— “What if...what if it still doesn’t change anything?”
Adrien’s gaze left the kitten to turn to her. “What do you mean?”
“What if...What if even if someone cares about him, and cares about him so much they would sacrifice their own happiness for him if it came to it, and shows him everyday and tells him everyday but he still…” She stopped, fumbling with her words for a second. “...He still keeps biting and scratching and feeling lost and alone a-and no one can save him?” She lifted her eyes to his, only to find her vision blurry.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, what are you talking about?” Adrien breathed.
“M-maybe, this cat is doomed from the start. Maybe he’ll be like that forever, no matter what and maybe they’ll all be like that and—”
“My Lady,” a hand landed on her shoulder, stopping her from spiralling further—and here it was, the ‘my Lady ‘she’d been craving for so much, at the most unexpected time. “That’s stupid. I’m not sure if it’s about cats anymore,” he chuckled, “but I’ll pretend it is.”
She blinked back tears. He kept on, “Yes, some of these hurt cats never change. But not all of them! You can never really know what will happen, how they’ll evolve, because they’re all different, and they’ll all live different lives.”
He smiled at her, his delicate hand never leaving her shoulder, while the other continued petting the purring white kitten. “We can’t guess what will happen to them. All we can do is try, and take the risk. And maybe the owners of this lovely kitty will be lucky and have a loving ball of fur”— he bopped the cat’s nose who in turn let out a small ‘meow’— “or they’ll be less lucky and have a little monster that—ouch,” he said, as the cat chased his bopping finger to bite it, “bite them from time to time but still would be worth caring for.” He sighed a chuckle.
Marinette swallowed, taking it in. “So you mean that… the future of this cat isn’t… set in stone?” she asked carefully.
“Of course not! No one can know what he’ll grow into now, it will depend on a lot of factors.” He took his hand off her shoulder to lift the cat off his lap and nuzzle his nose with his. “Isn’t that right, little one? You’ll be a good kitty, won’t you?”
She let a smile pull at her lips at the sight. Adrien turned to face her with a big goofy grin on his face.
“If our future was written in our DNA, we’d have known all about our futures a long time ago,” he chuckled.
She let his words sink in, closing her eyes. What if...what if.
What if their love wouldn’t destroy the world, this time.
But what if it did again.
...But what if it didn’t?
She heaved a sigh, releasing some of the tension that had been weighing down on her. When she opened her eyes, it was to see that Adrien was back to playing with the kitten.
“And what are we gonna call you, hm? Ooooh, I know! See, I’m Chat Noir, so that would make you Chat Bla—”
“—FLOCON!” Marinette interrupted him.
He blinked at her. “Chat Flocon?”
“No, just...just Flocon. He’s white as snow, and fluffy like a snowflake, so it makes sense. And,” she added after a beat, “it’s cute.”
And it reminded her of that date they shared, just before revealing their identities, strolling through a snowy Paris. It was a memory she cherished, even if it didn’t end quite well.
Adrien grinned. “Okay. Flocon it is.” He scratched the cat’s chin, who purred in turn and tried to bite his finger again. “No,” he told him, “I said no biting, you thickhead.”
She could watch him bicker with a kitten for hours, she thought.
“Hey, Buguinette,” he called out to her, pulling her out of her momentary reverie, “you wanna hold Flocon?”
She blinked. “Errr… I don’t know if that's a good idea or…”
He laughed. “He’s not that aggressive. It’s up to you; but if you want to try befriending him again…” He held a half-wiggling and meowing Flocon in the air towards her.
Marinette bit her lip, and took a deep breath. Maybe it was a bad idea to cave, but... “Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll give him a try.”
───※ ·❆· ※───
26th of April, 95 days after the reveal
“Adrien, aren’t you gonna snap her in half?” Alya asked with incredulous eyes.
It made both him and Marinette giggle. “It’s like she doesn’t know that you’re usually the one snapping me in half between the two of us,” Adrien whispered in her ear, which made her laugh harder. “She said she wanted to!” he told Alya louder.
“Yes, Alya,” Marinette added, “I’m a strong girl and I can carry him! Right, Adrien?”
“Right!” he replied enthusiastically, clinging harder on her back.
He wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but he was too busy feeling lighthearted and free on this spring afternoon. It was the first warm day of the year, with only a slightly chilly breeze coming to ruffle his hair at times that only contributed in increasing his giddiness. For the fifth time this day, he thanked the star that made his father allow him to go out to the temporary funfair with his friends—though he thought they were studiously working on a school project.
“It’s not because you can carry him that you should,” Nino said, shaking his head fondly.
“You’re just jealous because Alya isn’t carrying you.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “Let’s ride to the moon and back!”
“To the moon and back!” Adrien repeated, one hand raised in the air.
Marinette let out a warrior cry before attempting to run, albeit slowly because of his weight, and he could tell they wouldn’t go far as he already felt himself slide down and her grip on his legs slacken.
He should have known they’d fall face first before she got too exhausted. If he had, maybe he’d have had the time to react and avoid it.
As it was, he just found himself on top of Marinette on the ground. He lifted himself up and sat down, Marinette soon doing the same.
Distantly, he heard Alya and Nino running towards them shouting “are you okay”s and “are you hurt”s at profusion, but he didn’t pay them any mind as Marinette looked up at him with eyes glinting with mirth and they both fell in a heap of laughters.
Some passersby looked at them funnily while others whispered some “that must hurt”s or “everything alright?”s to them.
“It’s okay,” Adrien told them. “We’ve had it worse!”
“Yes,” Marinette chimed in. “One time we were thrown by an akuma—”
“—A big tuna," he quickly corrected.
“—a big tuna, he’s right,” she repeated, “and we both fell right into a moving bus, and we survived!”
“And you find that funny,” Nino deadpanned, putting his hands on his hips as Adrien helped Marinette up.
Adrien just grinned at him. “Yup! We’re the survivors.”
“And we’re gonna make it!” Marinette sang.
“You’re insufferable,” Alya chuckled. “The both of you. I don’t know how you two can be more unhinged than me with Marinette, but—”
“—That’s because we’re exes besties,” Adrien chirped. Despite the months that had passed, it always hurt a little to call each other “exes”. But he had long since learned that laughing at his suffering was better than crying over it. He just wondered when and if he’ll ever be over her one day. He probably never really would.
“Hey,” Nino said indignantly. “But you’re my best friend!”
“Maybe, but are you also exes, hm?” Marinette asked him. “Because we are, and it makes us the unstoppable exes besties! And now, our next stop will be…” She jumped on Adrien’s back without warning and he caught her with a ‘oof’. “...to that splashing boat attraction over there!”
“Dudes, you already fell once, what are you doing?”
“We’re getting back up, Nino, and we try again,” she announced proudly, raising her fist up. “Let’s go to the boat, Adrien, and may our ship sail! Go, go, go!”
Adrien faintly heard a ‘they’re beyond help’ from Alya as he ran towards the attraction, both his and Marinette’s laughters echoing in the wind.
───※ ·❆· ※───
28th of May, 127 days after the reveal
Adrien landed with a grunt on the pavement. The suit was a good protector, but it didn’t stop his back from hurting from the impact with the ground. This akuma — Firebender as he called himself — truly was more violent than usual.
“Wow,” he managed to breath between two gasps, “you’re on fire today!”
He tried to push himself up with an arm, and raised his head towards Firebender with a half-closed eye. The fireball he saw coming towards him arrived so fast that he didn’t even have the time to do so much as widening his eyes. An anguish cry was the last thing he heard before it faded and he saw nothing at all.
───※ ·❆· ※───
28th of May, 127 days after the reveal
Marinette realised she was screaming when she felt her lungs were empty.
Usually, when an akuma took lives, the victims just disappeared into thin air, as if they had never been. They weren’t lying there, unmoving on the pavement like Adrien was. Somehow, seeing was worse than not.
She felt dizzy, as if everything around her was moving in slow motion. She staggered, trying to turn her head away from the sight of her unresponsive partner who was becoming blurrier and blurrier the longer she looked at him. She needed to breathe, she needed to—
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” she screeched instead, the sound reverberating into the street, bouncing from building to building.
She took a ragged breath, and another, closing her eyes as she took in the dead silence that greeted her scream.
She swallowed her first sob and squeezed her eyes tight shut, taking yet another heavy breath. She turned towards the akuma before opening her eyes, otherwise she knew she wouldn’t be able to tear her gaze away from Adrien’s dead form. She gritted her teeth as soon as the thought of him being gone entered her mind again.
“You’re a monster,” she spat, low and cold, the last word echoing through the silence and carrying her voice to Firebender’s ears — to Hawkmoth’s.
All these days worrying over the possibility of a devastating future she had seen, all this time doing everything she could to avoid it no matter how little she knew of it, and she hadn’t considered the possibilities she hadn’t been a witness of. All these days flirting with the line between caving and resisting only for her regretful indecision to hit her in the most cruel way.
“Give up, Ladybug,” Hawkmoth spoke through Firebender, “you no longer have your pet. All you have to do is surrender your miracu—”
“And what?” she spat. “Let my partner die? Listen to me, Hawkmoth. I have a chance to save him, and for that I need to defeat you. You think I’m stupid? I’m not giving up on Paris. I’m not giving up on him!”
And I’m not giving up on us, she told herself.
“Lucky charm!” she roared, rage and determination coursing through her veins.
She knew nothing about how Chat Blanc had really happened, she realised, catching the spotted chain falling from above. Nothing about her current future, as she scanned her surroundings for a solution. Nothing but the crushing weight of the present and her fear of the unknown, as she opened her yoyo to retrieve the dragon miraculous and put it around her neck.
“Tikki, Longg, unify!”
As she surrounded herself with water and ran towards Firebender with only one goal in mind, she promised herself to never let the gifts the present gives her slide in favour of hypothetical futuristic tragedies. She was finally done running away and sacrificing her life to her fears.
───※ ·❆· ※───
28th of May, 127 days after the reveal
Light suddenly flooded Adrien’s vision as he took a sharp and deep intake of breath. His lungs were burning with the sudden air filling them up, and he squinted his eyes, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He groggily lifted himself up on his elbows when—
“Chaton!”
—a red blur threw herself at him. He caught her, her hair in his nose and her warm breath and hot tears in his neck.
He let her sob and squeeze him as understanding washed over him. He gently threaded his clawed fingers through her hair and massaged her scalp, noticing absent-mindedly that she was also wearing the dragon miraculous.
She slowly detangled herself from him but stayed close, looking into his eyes through her wet ones and caressing his cheek with her thumb.
“Kitty,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, “my Kitty.”
He didn’t have the time to react before her lips were on his and she took her time to savour him before ever so slowly pulling away. He let her do.
She didn’t stop there. Gently cradling his face in her trembling hands, she kissed his cheek. And his other cheek. And his forehead. His nose. His jaw. Puncturing each of her kisses with whispers of “mon Chaton”, or “Kitty”, or “my love”, to which his heart made a somersault at, before diving for his neck.
Each time he kept on letting her do, keeping her close to him as she sobbed through her kisses and yet another nickname for him.
He could feel her breathing him in; so, with his nose in her hair, he inhaled her scent too. Her hot breath left his neck once again, and she came back for his lips.
This time, he kissed her back, and as soon as his lips moved against hers, she choked on a sobbed whine and pushed her mouth closer to his, if that was even possible
He hadn’t forgotten the taste of her lips on his, even after all these months; but he also knew their kisses had never burnt so intensely, driven by despair, the need to memorise the present and the aroma of being alive.
───※ ·❆· ※───
1st of June, 131 days after the reveal
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
Marinette smiled sadly. “Oh, I don’t know. Hurting you. Putting us through this mess. Not telling you about Chat Blanc. Take your pick.”
She let her arms rest on the railing of the bridge, looking across the Seine. The clouds were getting darker and darker, though a sunray pierced through one of them, lighting up a few buildings on the shore in a powerful atmosphere. Her eyes followed a barge floating further and further away, waiting for the moment it would cross the ray of light.
“You’ve been hurting too,” Adrien said after a few seconds. “You’ve been shouldering it all on your own. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
His hand slid into hers and she welcomed it, intertwining her fingers timidly with his. She glanced at him with a tentative smile and he smiled back, looking at her with soft eyes. She looked back towards the Seine just in time to see the barge slicing through the sunbeam.
“Still. Maybe, if I had told you… if I hadn’t let my fears get the best of me…” She trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
“And maybe,” Adrien spoke when it was clear she wouldn’t add something more, squeezing her hand once, “if you had told me earlier, I would have given up Chat Noir.”
She gasped and turned to him, but he was looking at the Seine with saddened eyes.
“What do you mean?” she breathed.
“I’m not sure I’d have been able to handle hearing that I could destroy the world as an akuma,” he whispered, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb as if to reassure her. “It’s… really hard already, but I feel like it would’ve been worse before.”
He turned his head towards her again and she held his gaze, gripping his hand harder as if to dare him to leave.
“You said it yourself,” he went on, “just like we have no idea about what the future can really hold, we can’t know how things would have played out if we had done things differently. What really matters right now is what you want us to be from now on.”
She searched his expectant eyes for a few seconds before looking back at the Seine. A tourist boat coming towards them had replaced the barge in the sunspot before the window of clouds closed on the light, leaving only a dark atmosphere in its place. The clouds grew darker and a warm gust had picked up, making their hair fly in every direction and their clothes ruffling in a frenzy. Marinette felt her emotions growing with the wind, begging to be said and to explode.
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and feeling the wind coursing through her as she gathered her thoughts, and opened them again.
“I love you, Adrien,” she spoke, her declaration followed by a distant rumble in the sky. “I love you so, so much. Discovering that you were Chat Noir, once I took it all in… it was the best thing in the world, but also the worst.”
She faced away from the Seine to face him instead and take both his hands in hers, gripping them as tight as she could to ground herself as she felt a flow of tears coming in.
“It made me fall in love with you so much more it hurt, but I knew I couldn’t be with you or I knew I shouldn’t because…” She paused, taking ragged breaths. “...Because it wouldn’t be responsible. Because we’re superheroes and because I had this warning with Chat Blanc, and as the guardian it’s my role to keep us grounded and to do the right thing.”
A lighting bolt pierced through the sky, accompanied by a loud thunderstrike a few seconds later. Adrien was looking at her with a pain in his eyes that she knew meant he was hurting for her and not him.
“But I don’t want to do the right thing this time,” she murmured, as she felt a first drop of water slide down her cheek. “I’m tired of doing what’s supposedly right. Not when...not when we’re both hurting so much that it feels like it’s more dangerous to stay this way instead of just… giving in.”
At this point, she didn’t know who out of her and Adrien were gripping the other’s hands the tightest. She felt more and more raindrops falling on her face and clothes. She didn’t know if the water in his eyes were because he was tearing up or not.
“So maybe our love destroyed the world, once,” she continued, “but I think there’s enough far more damaging hate in this world; and ever since these akuma attacks started, what saved it is our love — for Paris, for our family and friends… and for each other.”
Adrien’s eyes now held a glint of adoration. His now damped hair was sticking to his face while some strands curled with the water. She supposed hers wasn’t faring much better.
“So to answer your question,” she swallowed a sob, “I want us to be together… if you’ll have me.”
Lightning ripped through the sky accompanied by deafening thunder as Adrien pulled her into a crushing hug. She put her arms around his neck to pull him even closer to her and let the flow of her tears finally mix with the rain on her cheeks.
“Marinette,” he whispered, voice wavering and lips barely touching her ear, “I love you, of course I’ll have you. I’ll always have you.”
The rain fell even harder as they hugged closer and cried, soaking them, yet they couldn’t care less. Their clothes were sticking to their bodies, growing more and more uncomfortable, which was worsened by them being in each other’s arms, but Marinette hadn’t felt so good in a long time.
She suddenly pulled away from the hug and cradled his head between her hands. He took her face in his and they stayed closed, forehead against forehead, breathing each other in. Another rumbled resounded and Marinette’s last resolve snapped with it—she brought her lips to his and kissed him.
He responded in kind, and she drank him in and pressed her mouth closer as she felt him doing the same. She should care about the rain falling and the thunder rumbling, but the battering of the elements were just making her feel freer, finally allowing her to get away from all her self restraints.
She sighed against Adrien’s lips as they kept coming back for more. They kissed their reunion, the relief of finding each other again, at last—unlike when he had come back from the dead earlier, these kisses tasted of the promise of more to come, because they knew they would stay together this time.
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, 1h45 after the reveal
“Okay. What’s going on between you two? You’ve been acting awkward since we’ve got here.”
What was going on. What was going on.
“We’re fine,” the lie rolled out of her tongue easily. “Really.”
Alya raised a brow. “Adrien?”
She saw him smiling from the corner of her eyes. He was a much better actor than her—always had been.
“It’s nothing. It’s… we just… we’re working on it.”
...And much more honest than she was, be it with his feelings or with his heart. Always had been.
“Well,” Nino said, “I hope it’s not too big of a deal and that you’ll get over it soon. You guys are the cutest out there.”
Marinette smiled painfully. She glanced at Adrien who was looking at her with soft eyes that she didn’t deserve considering her reaction, and she felt his warm hand timidly covering hers.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I have hopes we will. We always do.”
───※ ·❆· ※───
21st of January, one year after the reveal
“You’re heavy,” Adrien gasped.
“That’s a rude thing to say to a lady,” Marinette commented from atop him, head resting on the arms she had folded on his chest. “And even more so to your girlfriend.”
He groaned and attempted to lift himself up. Fail. She was grinning at him and he pouted in fake-annoyance. “Not when said girlfriend is purposefully putting all her weight on you! I can’t breath!”
Marinette giggled and pressed herself further on him to which he let out a choked whimper, before pushing away from him after a few seconds, ending his suffocation.
“I could report you for attempting murder, you know,” he threatened with a finger. “‘Ladybug slips into teenage model Adrien Agreste’s room and proceeds to suffocate him’, now that would make the newspapers talk for months.”
She laughed and came back to hover over him. “‘And Adrien asked her to do it again’,” she smirked, and she bent down to peck his lips.
He couldn’t even argue with that.
He discreetly brought his hand close to where his head was lying to grab a pillow. When she pushed herself up and sat next to him, he quickly hit her head with it.
She gasped, betrayed and that sent him into a fit of laughter. She glared at him playfully, grabbed his other pillow, and swatted him way harder than he had.
“You’re dead, Kitty! You hear me?” she said, trying and failing not to laugh. “You’ve just signed your death contract!”
“No, my Lady, please I’m just a defenseless citizen!”
“I’ll knock you out with my yo-yo!” she threatened.
They fought again for a few minutes before stopping, Adrien breathless but Marinette only slightly out of breath due to being transformed.
“I hope your father won’t come in,” Marinette said.
“Don’t worry, if he or Nathalie come, you’ll just say you’re investigating here because, uh...because you suspect me of being Hawkmoth!”
She laughed. “Kitty, that’s such a stupid idea.”
“Why not?” Adrien wiggled his eyebrows. “After all, I do disappear during every akuma attack.”
Marinette smiled and crawled into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as he steadied her with his hands on her hips. They lost themselves into each other’s eyes, faces close but not close enough to exactly touch.
“Then,” she murmured against his lips, and he felt his cheeks heating up. “I’ve come to seduce my enemy. Is it working?”
“I’d rather be your partner if that’s okay,” he whispered.
“Yes, but is it working Adrien?”
He chuckled—she didn’t even need to try, he’d always been too far gone when it came to her. “A bit too much.”
He kissed the proud and satisfied giggle from her lips.
#ml fanfic#miraculous#adrinette#ladynoir#identity reveal#pre-reveal post-relationship#but then#post-reveal pre-relationship#yes I made it both okay#breakup & getting back together#angst & fluff#happy ending#mention of chat blanc#hurt/comfort#temporary character death#but like it doesn't last long okay it's just an Akuma thing#myshitwriting
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“Discordant Sonata” Chapter 20
>>Click here to read on Ao3<<
>>Click here to read on Wattpad<<
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CHAPTER 20: PRESTISSIMO
Music glossary:
Prestissimo - "Extremely quickly”; to be played as fast as possible
* Fun tidbit: The name “Gaspard” means "bringer of treasure" *
–––––
(Mood Music: “Dead Things” - Philip Glass)
Adrien cursed into his gag, feebly squirming on the back seat of the car he’d been dragged into. The windows were heavily tinted, so there was no chance that anyone would be able to see him. Not that that mattered right now anyway, as he couldn’t even sit up at the moment. In fact, he couldn’t feel any of his appendages due to whatever drug his bodyguard (or... whoever he was) had injected into him.
One thing was certain: since neither of these men was the real Gaspard, they must be akumas, and his father had used their likeness to trick him.
Damn it. Why had he left his guard down back there? He should’ve known not to trust anyone. And now thanks to his idiocy, Marinette had gotten dragged into this giant mess, and he had no idea where “Fake-Gaspard #2” had taken her. He’d never forgive himself if anything happened to her. He seethed silently, consumed by fear and anger, both simultaneously raging for control.
He could feel Plagg behind him trying to fiddle with the zip ties that bound his arms together; but it wasn’t as simple as merely unlocking a safe or a door. Having Plagg with him was his only ace in the hole, so he had to remain hidden. Adrien had to plan his escape carefully for when the effects of the drug had worn off enough. Even if Plagg wasn’t able to remove the ties, he could still unlock the car door, so Adrien could roll out and... hopefully not be crushed to death by traffic. He let out a muffled grumble.
Okay... maybe that wasn’t the best idea.
He had to do something soon though; there wasn’t much time left before they arrived back at the Agreste mansion, and the only feeling he’d regained was in his hands and feet. He supposed he should consider himself lucky. If the dosage had been any higher, it could’ve interfered with his lungs, or worse.
Not that Father would care, he huffed impassively. If anything, it would get him out of the picture permanently, and he’d no longer be an inconvenience to Hawkmoth’s schemes.
Adrien’s thoughts drifted back to Marinette; worry and anxiety about what had happened to his beloved roommate clouded his mind, interfering with his concentration. He replayed her scuffle with the bodyguards over and over in his head, the overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame causing his entire being to ache in agony and self-loathing. This was all his fault. He was pathetic. Degraded from superhero to hostage with no one but himself to blame.
If Gabriel locked him away, would he ever find out what happened to her? Memories of being locked in a small, almost completely barren room for days at a time as punishment for misbehavior flashed in his mind, causing his insides to churn and his hands to get clammy. He fought the panic that threatened to boil over within him and firmly shoved the memories away. He needed his wits about him at the moment, and getting sucked into a spiral of panic would prevent him from being able to think logically.
His thoughts were interrupted as the car screeched to a halt, and had his Not-Bodyguards not partially strapped him into the lap seatbelts, he would’ve been thrown onto the floor from the momentum. He managed to turn his head and shake it slightly to try to get the hair out of his eyes, letting out a small grunt of puzzlement. What was happening??
His confusion didn’t last long.
An enormous force hurtled down from the sky onto the hood of the car, squashing it like an empty aluminum can, crushing the engine and rendering it useless. Once the dust and debris settled, Adrien peeked as high as he could, trying to catch a glimpse of what had landed on the car. Despite his meager view from the back seat, coupled with his blurry eyesight (as he’d lost his eyeglasses sometime during the scuffle), he could still make out the unmistakable red boots and black leggings that stood on top of the broken metal.
A million questions swirled around in his head in a jumbled tornado of confusion and elation. He tried calling out her name, having completely forgotten that he couldn’t, and he doubled his efforts trying to squirm out of his bindings so he could get her attention.
His endeavors were cut short though. Despite his impaired vision, he saw the distinct glowing masks form in front of the men’s faces.
I knew it!! he thought, glaring at them with distaste.
They rushed out of the car without a word, and he couldn’t help but utterly loathe the thought of Ladybug fighting both of them by herself, despite her partner being mere feet away, albeit totally useless.
God, I hate being a damsel in distress, he frowned. I hope she’s gonna be okay.
In a vicious display of skill that shocked onlookers, barely a minute later Ladybug had the two men strung up with her yo-yo from a street light. They hung several feet above the ground, expressions slightly miffed but otherwise still rather blank, which, for an akuma, was unusual to say the least.
“Ugh, not in here either,” Ladybug remarked crossly, discarding a broken watch onto the floor, joining the plethora of other torn items and belongings scattered all around them. “Where the hell is it?!” she grumbled after tearing a shoe in half and still not seeing any blackened butterflies.
She frowned, twisting her mouth in annoyance. If I keep going like this, they’ll end flashing all of Paris, she thought. Best to turn them over to the authorities and continue this search at the police station. She needed to check on Adrien anyway.
Right on cue, the police arrived and secured the area. After making sure the police had a handle on the situation, Ladybug rushed to the busted car to retrieve Adrien.
She jerked the car door open––or rather, tried to– accidentally yanking the entire door handle off and warping the metal of the door itself. She cursed in irritation, deciding to bypass the door altogether, and leaped onto the top of the car. With a strained heave, she peeled off the entire roof like a can opener, all the while muttering a colorful string of expletives Adrien had never heard his mild-mannered, even-tempered partner say before.
She dropped down next to him onto the back seat, releasing the seatbelts and assisting Adrien into a seated position. She reached up to touch his face, apologizing sheepishly before carefully peeling off the tape that covered his mouth.
Despite the gag being gone, Adrien remained speechless, staring at Ladybug with an intensity she’d never seen coming from him before. With a small, flustered stutter, she summoned a Lucky Charm. A pair of small, polka-dotted scissors landed onto the palm of her hand. She made quick work of his bindings and briefly inspected the red marks on his skin to make sure he was unharmed.
Adrien threw his arms around her, bringing her into a bone crushing hug, his entire body shaking like a leaf.
“Oh, Adrien,” she whispered, her voice still a bit raspy, and squeezed back firmly. “I’m so glad I found you. I was so scared.”
He didn’t reply, as he was near-hyperventilating, but his grip around her shoulders tightened and he buried his head into her neck, seeking comfort.
A few moments later, Ladybug gently lifted Adrien out of the car, careful not to touch the jagged metal edges. She hopped down to the ground and gingerly sat him on a nearby bench. He wobbled unsteadily, but managed to stay upright as she examined him.
“How are you feeling? Can you tell me what happened?” she asked, seemingly snapping him out of a haze.
Without a word, his head whipped up and his eyes developed a determined glint. He shot up to his feet– or, at least, he attempted to– barely managing to take a single wobbly step before crumpling onto the ground.
“Adrien!!” Ladybug called out as she halfway caught him. “Are you injured?! What’s happened to your legs?”
“Paralyzing drug,” Adrien slurred. “I’ll be fine,” he continued as he clumsily broke away from her hold, successfully taking a couple of shaky steps forward.
Ladybug exclaimed, horrified, “They drugged you?! What did they want?” She stepped in front of him, placing her hands gently on his chest, halting his attempt to flee. “Where are you going?? You’re in no condition to be running around right now, we need to take you to a hospital!”
Adrien shook his head, his tone becoming increasingly desperate, his pace becoming faster and more frantic as he stumbled ahead. “No no, please, I need to go look for her!”
“What’s wrong?” Ladybug asked, perplexed. “Look for who?” she said as she rushed beside him.
“I have to go back!” he pleaded. “I have to make sure she’s okay! She could be in danger, I need to find her!”
At this point, they’d reached a grassy portion of an adjacent park, and the uneven ground caused him to trip over himself. He cried out as he fell on top of Ladybug, who had surged forward to catch him.
“Please…” he looked down at her, barely able to hold himself up with his arms in their weakened state. “I have to find Marinette. She got hurt trying to save me,” he uttered quietly, his voice quivering and eyes glossy. “If anything happened to her, I don’t think I could–” his voice cracked, unable to continue. He inhaled slowly, then uttered with a trembling voice, “Please, I need to go back. She’s really important to me, I can’t go anywhere else until I know she’s alright.”
Ladybug’s face softened, touched by his concern. “She’s fine!” she blurted out. “Marinette’s fine!”
Adrien gave her a puzzled look. “What?? But how do you know?”
She attempted to give him a reassuring smile, trying her hardest to avoid looking like a demented clown. Think, you knucklehead, think!! Ladybug screamed inwardly in a panic.
“Uhh, she’s the one who contacted me!” she lied, then lowered her voice, as if she were letting him in on some forbidden knowledge. “She’s been secretly helping me and Chat Noir, so I gave her a way to contact me privately in case of emergency. But of course, this has to remain a secret; so please don’t tell anyone.” She helped him to a sitting position on the ground and added, “Can I trust you with this?”
Adrien’s face and posture relaxed, his eyebrows upturned with both amazement and affection. “Always,” he breathed out softly. “You can count on me, always,” he murmured, a kind smile etched on his handsome face as he reached for her hand and squeezed.
Ladybug smiled fondly in return, remembering why it had been so easy to fall in love with him several years ago. He was truly a selfless and sweet person at heart.
He lifted his hand up to her face, rubbing his thumb across a cut on her lower lip and wiping away a spot of blood which, unbeknownst to him, she’d gotten as Marinette. Her breath hitched, face suddenly feeling rather warm.
“It seems like we always meet under less than ideal circumstances,” Adrien chuckled softly. “Fate has a cruel sense of humor sometimes. I’m sorry.”
Ladybug’s stomach tingled, a sense of familiarity descending on her yet again. She must have been staring because Adrien swiftly withdrew his hand with a quick apology, muttering sheepishly how he’d never been very good at recognizing the need for personal space.
Not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable, Ladybug forced herself to pretend to have a functioning brain and smiled politely, helping him to stand and letting him use her as a support. “It’s okay, no worries!” she added amiably. “Would you let me take you back to the school? My yo-yo’s better than a taxi, or so I hear.”
He grinned widely, then nodded. “Yeah. I’d appreciate it.”
Ladybug picked him up, acutely aware that crowds were beginning to gather around the area. As she was about to take off with Adrien, she heard one of the cops call out her name.
“What is it, Officer Raincomprix? Do you have the situation under control? I’m taking Adrien back to the school to get him checked out by a medical professional. You can get a statement from him there, away from the public and from–” she added, an annoyed crinkle forming on her forehead “–from all the reporters. Be on the lookout for any possible akuma.”
Officer Roger Raincomprix’s face was one of pure bewilderment. “Uh– well, ma’am, something’s happened. I’m not sure how to explain. You’d better come take a look for yourself.”
Ladybug and Adrien exchanged puzzled glances, then she nodded as she and Adrien made their way to where she’d detained the kidnappers.
Upon arriving back at the scene of the battle, Ladybug gasped, almost dropping Adrien in shock, with a look on her face like she’d just witnessed an alien invasion.
“WHERE ARE THEY?!” she shrieked. “How did they escape?!?”
“We’re not sure,” Officer Roger stated. “Somebody caught it on camera, maybe you can get some clues from the video.” He called over one of the cameramen from a local news crew. “Rewind it, please,” he instructed him.
Ladybug and Adrien stared at the tiny screen in awe. The two men had been released from the lamppost and were being walked towards the police car in handcuffs. Once they’d almost reached the vehicle, they halted mid-step, then fell to the ground, faces twisting in agony, and they let out a bloodcurdling wail, like their insides were being ripped apart. A cloud of dark, indigo smoke engulfed them, obscuring them completely; and when it cleared, there was nothing.
Ladybug gaped in total confusion. “So they just… disappeared??” she cried. “Vanished without a trace??”
The officer shook his head. “Not entirely. These were left behind,” he added, presenting two small, white feathers.
Ladybug accepted them, even more confused than before. “And you’re absolutely certain you saw no akumas leave their bodies?”
Roger nodded. “Positive. There was nothing else. We’re searching the area for clues; we’ll let you know if we find anything.”
Ladybug exhaled sharply, feeling like she’d been thrown into a freezing lake, the tiny hairs at the back of her neck standing on end. What in the world was happening??
(Mood Music: Ballet from “Orpheus and Eurydice" - Christoph Gluck)
By the time Ladybug had gotten Adrien situated at the school nurse’s, the effects of whatever neuromuscular drug he’d been injected with had waned somewhat, and he’d regained most of the feeling and mobility in his limbs. Since he waved off the need to actually lie down in one of the beds, she helped him sink into a small sofa, adjusting the pillows, fussing over him, asking if he needed a blanket or something to drink. All the while, he kept trying to reassure her that he was fine (although his face did look a bit flushed during this exchange, which didn’t ease her apprehensions).
As the nurse examined his vitals and gave him a quick check-up, Ladybug’s thoughts slowly shifted from doting concern to one of regret and guilt. This was all her fault. She should have listened to Tikki and transformed instead of rushing in headfirst without knowing the full situation.
Her earrings rang out their second beep, reminding her that her time was beginning to run short. She knew she needed to part ways, but a pressing question rooted her to the spot. She couldn’t leave just yet. Not until she knew.
Adrien must’ve sensed her discomfort; as soon as the nurse excused herself to fill out a health report and speak to the police, he touched her arm and asked quietly, “Is everything okay?” He motioned for her to sit next to him, patting the cushion with a friendly gesture.
She complied, trying to appear as calm as possible as she took a seat. “Well, it’s about… earlier,” she began hesitantly, then lowered her head to whisper, “Do you think this had anything to do with those photos of us from a few months back, when we went to the movies together? Maybe the pictures got leaked after all, and the wrong people got ahold of them. I can’t help but feel like that’s why you were targeted.”
Adrien’s eyes popped wide open as he jerked his head up. “Oh, no!! No, it wasn’t!” Adrien replied, arms waving in emphatic denial. He tried to calm his voice again as he continued to insist, “Believe me, it’s not connected to that at all!”
“What?? B-but how are you sure? You can be honest with me; you don’t have to downplay it for my sake,” she insisted. “I accept all responsibility for everything that happened that evening. I should’ve known it was too dangerous and that it would put you at risk. I just want to fix things and make sure what happened today won’t ever happen again.”
“The timing was just a coincidence, I promise,” Adrien assured her, reaching forward and giving her shoulder a squeeze. “This has nothing to do with you... and everything to do with my father,” he added darkly.
Ladybug’s jaw dropped as a realization dawned on her. “Oh no, your father… he’s going to be so upset!! The police have probably already notified him, he must be worried sick!” Ladybug groaned in dismay, her head dropping into her hands, entirely missing the way Adrien’s eyes rolled sardonically. “Would it help if I escorted you to your home myself? Just to make absolutely sure that you arrive home safely? It’s no trouble, really! I’d just need to go recharge real quick and–”
Adrien looked like he’d just been set on fire. “NO!!!’ he cut her off, unable to keep the terror out of his voice. “Please, don’t!!”
Ladybug recoiled back like she’d been slapped in the face, utterly bewildered at his response. Adrien’s hands began to tremble, and he gripped the fabric of his pants to try to keep them still.
“Uhh, what I meant to say was, ‘no thank you, that won’t be necessary.’ M-my Father is, uhh... very particular. Fastidious, really. Someone will drive me back.” He grimaced as if his words tasted bitter, then he exhaled, seeming to compose himself. “I appreciate the offer, it’s very kind of you. But there’s really no need.”
“I… b-but…” she stammered, twiddling with the hem of her skirt, unconvinced. “Are you absolutely, positively sure you’ll be alright?”
Adrien nodded. “I’ll be fine. Trust me.”
Ladybug let out a deep sigh. “Well… alright. Sorry I kept pushing, it’s just…” She bit her lip, trying not to think about the chillingly blank stares of the impostor bodyguards. “It’s just that those men were no ordinary akumas. Actually, I don’t even know if they were ever really human in the first place. Or akumas. Something is very wrong here. I don’t like it.”
She felt Adrien shuffle nervously beside her, and her posture straightened like she’d been smacked with a rod, her head whipping up to meet Adrien’s concerned eyes again.
“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t be blabbing all this stuff to you, especially after what you’ve just been through. You’re safe now and I’ll make sure it stays that way, alright? I swear it! So, please try not to worry about it. I’ll discuss this incident with Chat Noir and see if he knows anything about this weird phenomenon, okay? We’ll protect you.” She grinned and took his hands into hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.
An odd look crossed his face, but it shifted into a cordial smile before she could think much of it. “Right. Thanks, Ladybug. I’m sorry you had to get dragged into this.”
Ladybug sputtered, “Not at all! Please don’t be sorry! It’s my job! I was happy to do so! W-well, I mean– not happy you almost got– I mean, obviously not that, but happy that you... that I—“ she stopped her ramblings with a loud, embarrassed facepalm. “Ow. Anyway, you know what I mean,” she finished with a self-deprecating grin.
Adrien was about to reply when the door to the infirmary swung open, crashing into the adjacent wall with a loud bang.
“ADRIEN!!! BRO, ARE YOU OKAY??!” a despondent-sounding Nino rushed to his side, throwing his arms around him without even noticing Ladybug’s presence, a concerned Alya following closely behind.
Adrien hugged him back, touched at his concern. “Nino!! Boy, am I glad to see you! I’m fine, really!”
“You’re not hurt?? You’re really okay?!”
“Of course! I’m fine now, all thanks to Ladybug and Mar— wait…” His head whipped around the room, squinting his eyes as he searched (the action reminding Ladybug that Adrien’s glasses were still missing). “Where’s Marinette? She’s not with you guys?”
Ladybug let out an odd squeak, then tried covering it up with a cough.
Alya shook her head. “I tried calling her, but there’s been no answer. But someone pulled the fire alarm and called the cops, so maybe that was her? I was able to squeeze some info out of one of the officers. He said a young woman called and claimed she saw Adrien Agreste get taken away in a vehicle against his will. He mentioned that she sounded out of breath, almost like she was running or chasing after them. If that doesn’t sound like Marinette, then I don’t know what does.”
Adrien bit the side of his cheek, brows upturned in concern. “She saw us and tried fighting the assailants. She could be injured, I have to go find her,” he said as he stood up, still wobbly but able to do it unassisted.
“NO!!” Ladybug yelped, leaping off the sofa like it was made of hot coals, and they all looked up at her. “I mean, you shouldn’t push yourself. D-don’t worry, I’m sure she’s on her way! You should stay here so she knows where to find you! No sense in having you both running around and potentially missing each other, right?”
Adrien crossed his arms, not quite convinced, but deciding to follow her instructions. “Well… I-I guess. We should try her cell phone again.”
Ladybug continued, words dribbling out like a broken faucet, “Anyhoo, my earrings are about to beep again, so I’d better get going! But you all know how to get a hold of me if anything happens, right guys? Right?? Right... Anyway, bug out!!”
And with that, Ladybug scampered away like a white rabbit late for a tea party.
A few minutes later (the entirety of which Adrien spent answering Nino and Alya’s worried queries as well as filling out a police report) a rather rumpled-looking Marinette quietly entered the room, not wanting to interrupt.
She didn’t stay undetected for long, however. Upon seeing her, Adrien’s features morphed from surprise into joy, followed by relief, then concern. He’d never seen her look quite so… tired .
He must’ve uttered her name out loud because she approached them sheepishly. “Umm… hi. S-sorry, it took me a little while to walk back to the school and my phone ran out of battery on the way. Are you oka––”
Adrien sprung off his seat and shuffled towards her, halfway dragging his still-sluggish legs. He threw his arms around her, clutching her as tight as he could, as if she might disappear again at any second.
“Marinette, thank God,” he cooed, gently cradling the back of her head. “I don’t know how to thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, I would’ve been–”
“You would’ve done the same for me,” she said as she embraced him with matching fervor. “I’m just glad you’re okay now.”
They felt a large thwump as someone wrapped their arms around them, followed by another set of arms joining the pile.
“This most definitely calls for a group hug,” Nino said, squeezing hard.
“Especially after what Adrien told us happened,” Alya added. “Girl, you are so brave! I’m so proud of you!! Ladybug and Chat Noir better watch out or you’ll be stealing their jobs soon!” Adrien heard Marinette let out an amused snort as he and Nino chimed in in agreement.
Now that the danger had passed and the adrenaline had subsided, a moment of calm was exactly what they needed.
As the group pulled apart and he was able to get a better look at her, it was then that Adrien noticed how truly beaten up Marinette appeared, physically. Her hair was out of place, her clothes torn in a few spots, her usual hair accessory was missing, and she was covered in grime, cuts, and bruises.
“Oh, Mari…” he whispered sadly as he slowly turned her head by the chin, gently thumbing a large cut on her lips and ghosting the tips of his fingers over a darkening black eye, moving her hair out of the way.
Marinette then realized that, in the midst of all the commotion, Ladybug had forgotten to use her Miraculous Cure.
Damn it! Screwed up yet another thing today.
She wondered if she could summon another Lucky Charm later today and try to fix things then . She’d never tried using a Lucky Charm outside of battle once the danger had already passed. Would it even work?
Marinette winced. “That bad, eh? Do I have to wear a paper bag over my head for a few days to avoid frightening the children of Paris?” she joked. She instinctively stuck out her tongue to search for the cut on her lip, then flinched when the wetness of her saliva made it sting.
Adrien frowned. “Nonsense. Here,” he said, leading her by the hand back to the sofa. After she sat down, he began gathering some of the first aid materials that the nurse had left on the countertop, then rummaged through the drawers and cupboards for more.
Marinette let out a flustered squeak as he brought the supplies over and pulled up a chair, sitting across from her.
“Oh! Don’t worry about it, it’s totally not necessary,” she said, holding her hands up. “I can take care of it later, it’s no big deal, you should really get some rest–”
Adrien leaned forward in his seat, reaching for her hand. “Please. Let me do this.” he murmured, insistent. “It’s the least I can do.”
Marinette could feel her face getting flushed from all the attention, but didn’t want to argue with him. He was clearly blaming himself for what had happened, and maybe this would be a way to help him feel better, even though it wasn’t his fault whatsoever. She shyly tucked some hair behind her ear, then nodded in consent.
As Adrien treated Marinette’s wounds, they overheard Principal Damocles and Madame Bustier conversing as they walked down the hallway outside of the nurse’s office.
“—And now there isn’t even anyone left behind for Monsieur Agreste to press charges, since the police claim that the perpetrators disappeared into thin air!” Mr. Damocles lamented as he paused in front of the slightly ajar infirmary door. “It’s not like he can sue Ladybug or the authorities for their negligence in capturing the culprits. Or, come to think of it, maybe he can! He is friends with the mayor, after all,” he pondered, continuing his musings. “Regardless, the blame will surely fall upon us!”
“Perhaps this isn’t the time to worry about that, Principal Damocles,” Mme Bustier spoke in a more hushed tone. “Surely M. Agreste must be feeling absolutely distraught after what nearly happened to his son. He’s such a caring and devoted father, always worrying about Adrien’s well-being, especially since his wife’s disappearance. His son is all he has left. We should try to be more considerate.”
“Hmm, yes, I suppose you are correct. Perhaps if we send him a basket of fruit to show our condolences about this incident, he’ll let the whole thing slide and we can avoid a lawsuit.”
“Sir…” Caline Bustier let out a troubled sigh as the two continued down the hallway.
The room was quiet again and Marinette had to work really hard to suppress an irritated groan, as her acting skills were put to the ultimate test of avoiding outwardly cringing at her principal’s misdirected priorities.
Her attention turned back towards Adrien, and at this point she realized that his actions had halted. His arm hovered in mid-air holding a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic, glassy eyes staring blankly at the ground. He looked rather pale, almost like he’d seen a ghost, and his face was downcast, yet somehow still unreadable. She supposed that years of concealing his emotions came naturally for him as well.
Marinette knew that Adrien’s relationship with his father was rather strained, particularly over the past year, with him becoming more and more strict and Adrien having to deal with increasing pressure to maintain a near-impossible standard of conduct. But judging by Adrien’s dramatic shift in mood, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it than that.
She reached forward, lightly touching his opposite forearm to get his attention. His gaze whipped up to meet hers, his eyes revealing an ocean of sorrow. But he cleared his throat and gave her a small smile, that perfect default smile, the one that she hated seeing on him. Then he resumed tending to her various wounds, briefly apologizing for getting distracted.
She noticed in her peripheral vision a miffed-looking Nino pulling Alya to the other side of the room, speaking in hushed tones. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it sounded like they were disagreeing about something.
“–You can’t just go around making those kinds of accusations!” Alya hissed, almost too quiet for Marinette to hear. “It’s literally the worst time for that!”
“I won’t!” Nino whispered back. “... For now. But it doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop suspecting him. I’m telling you, he’s not a good dude! If he’s such a ‘perfect’ father, why isn’t he here right now?! After what just happened?” His posture drooped and he crossed his arms. “I just… I’m worried about Adrien, babe. What if he’s not actually okay?” he asked with a slight quiver in his voice.
“Oh, Nino…” Alya’s face softened as she brought him into a tight embrace. “Everything’s gonna be fine, hon. Don’t worry.”
She glanced over and made eye contact with Marinette, giving her a small smile; then she and Nino walked off together to a more secluded area to continue their private conversation.
Adrien finished wrapping up a nasty-looking gash on her shin, which had bled through her pants leg. He’d rolled up the fabric to treat the wound, and was now rolling it back down.
“Thank you, Adrien,” she said quietly. “I should get going, my parents are probably worried; they usually keep the news radio turned on in the bakery, so they’ve probably already heard about what happened.”
Adrien stood when she did. Always a gentleman, she thought with a smile.
“Will you be alright? Can I walk you home?” he asked.
Marinette spluttered incredulously. “You’re asking me if I’m alright?! After all that you just went through??”
He shrugged slightly, giving her a tiny, contrite smile. “Well… you went through it with me. And, as amazing as you are, you’re not unbreakable. I just wanna be there for you like you were for me today. And like every time you’ve been there whenever I needed someone.”
Marinette’s heart thumped loudly in her chest, touched by his concern and gratitude. He spoke so sincerely, and she could sense that many things were left unspoken, and there was a weight behind his words that she couldn’t decipher. “What about your car ride?”
“I…” he faltered slightly. “I’ll tell them to pick me up from your place. No biggie.”
“Well… if you’re sure. The company would be nice,” she relented.
“Great!” he said cheerfully, offering his arm. “You can be my seeing-eye mouse.”
“A what? A seeing-eye mouse?” she giggled. “Actually, that reminds me–” she paused, opening her purse and rummaging through it.
Adrien’s eyes grew wide as she conjured up his missing eyeglasses from within.
“I went looking for them before coming to find you. It was lucky that they were still there, in the locker room. One of the lenses has a small scratch, but they should still work fine until you can buy a new pair.”
Adrien let out a small, incredulous laugh, then put on his glasses. “I can’t believe you went back for them. You’re a lifesaver, Marinette; in so many ways. Thank you.”
Marinette’s face warmed at the compliment, despite trying hard to smolder the remainders of a flame that was once there. She cleared her throat and teased, “Can I still be your seeing-eye dog?”
“You mean, my ‘seeing-eye mouse’!”
She raised an amused eyebrow. “Why a mouse?”
“You’d be a mouse ‘cause you’re little and cute!”
Marinette blew a raspberry as she giggled. “You’re such a dork! Alright, I’ll do it, but you’d better be there when I need someone to fetch something from the top shelves!”
Adrien chuckled and gave her a wink. “That’s a promise.”
–––––
As some of you correctly guessed: YES! The peacock miraculous was used to create sentimonsters in the image of Adrien's old bodyguard to deceive him and take him back to Gabriel.
There's some plot decisions I have to make (whether to follow my original outline of what comes next or if I need to tweak some things to improve the flow of the story), so it's back to "normal" updates again, but I'll do my best to update a bit more consistently :)
#CW: kidnapping#Miraculous Ladybug#Ladynoir#Enemies AU#enemies to lovers#Marinette Dupain Cheng#Adrien Agreste#Chat Noir#Ladybug#fanfiction#Discordant Sonata#ML AU#aged up#Eden writes
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“Hey Brother” Carl Grimes & Sister!Reader
GIF CREDIT: @thetruthwecanthandlee
REQUEST: From anonymous: “Hello! Just wanted to let you know that your writing is amazing! Also, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to request a Carl x platonic reader where the reader is either his older sister or his close friend and she intervenes when he's about to be bitten, saving his life. You can decide if the reader dies as a result or not, I just think Carl deserved better than he got. If you don't feel like writing this, no worries!”
Word Count: 2748
Warning: Swearing, Angst
Song I Wrote To: “Hey Brother” by Avicii
Note: Carl is not someone who I generally write, but I do like Chandler and the character so I am giving it a shot!
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Even after years of being out in the world riddled with the Dead, you never got used to the groans of Walkers.
Stepping over one rotten corpse, you encountered another. You held your weapon in your hand, an old fire ax you had found in Woodbury when rescuing Daryl and Merle. Being a firefighter was something you once really wanted. However, when the world ends, becoming a civil servant becomes impossible. Still, being able to wield the equipment did put a smile on your face most days.
As the Walker approached, you jabbed the crowbar end of the fire ax into its skull. Kicking it away, you continued moving the woods that surrounded Alexandria in search of your brother, Carl. When the turn happened, you had been with Carl and his mother, Lori. Your dad was in the hospital after being shot on the job and you had come home from college to help Lori with your younger brother.
You and Lori had never gotten along and you didn’t know if that was because she never liked your mother, Dianne, or because Rick had tried everything to keep you in his life. Regardless of what Lori Grimes thought, you weren’t going to let anything happen to Carl and you had kept the promise.
Even now.
When Rosita told you that she had seen Carl leaving Alexandria earlier, you had grabbed your weapon and went in search of him. Right now was not the time for him to be out beyond the walls. Not when Negan and the Saviors could show up at any moment and make another move against you and your allies. With Rick and Michonne out in the world as well and Daryl being difficult, you had to be the one to drag Carl’s ass back home.
Negan was a headache for you, but you had a feeling that he wasn’t the worst thing out there. When he had killed Glenn and Abraham, you hadn’t been there. You had been with Tara and Heath, searching for supplies. After finding Oceanside and losing Heath, you had arrived home with Tara to a grieving family and a missing Daryl.
The first time you had met Negan, Carl had almost shot two of his Saviors. You had arrived just in time to grab the gun from him before he could. That was when Rick introduced you to Negan and he had offered you his hand. Not wanting to piss him off any further, you had shaken his hand, squeezing a bit too hard. He had seemed amused by you, but also wary. Growing up on the streets of Atlanta, you knew how to survive and you also knew how to deal with power-hungry men. Negan concerned you, but you weren’t afraid of him.
Carl, however, had another opinion. At first, the teenager wanted nothing more than to fill the man with bullets, but after his outing to the Sanctuary, he seemed to have a change of heart. Carl had come to you only a few days earlier and proposed an idea of a truce. He didn’t think the fighting was going to stop any time soon and while you agreed, you knew Negan would never agree to it. The war would only end when either he or your father was dead.
When you had told Carl this, he had stormed off annoyed. As the older sibling it was your job to tell him how the world worked and when it came to men like Negan, you either had to kill him or appeal to a new side. That was where your plan came to mind, but you knew that Carl would never go for it.
You didn’t even want to know what your father would think about it if it came up in conversation. However, for now, you had to focus on finding the kid before he did something even more stupid considering the last time he had gone off, he had attacked the loading dock of the Sanctuary with a rifle.
Shouldering your ax, you picked up the pace a bit.
“Carl!” you yelled, hearing your voice echo off the trees. “Carl!”
The woods answered with silence and you could feel the anxiety growing in your gut as you searched. Climbing up another small hill, you finally heard a commotion in the distance. Not knowing what you were running towards, you sprinted through the dying land. Nearly tripping on roots and downed Walkers, you came across a scene that made the air fly from your chest.
Carl was on the ground as Walkers pinned him down. There was another man nearby, exhausted and trying to get to his feet. Charging forward, you swung the ax, taking off the head of the Walkers closest to Carl. Another grabbed you, baring its teeth and you slammed your boot down on its jaw, separating it from its head. A third Walker then grabbed you and took you to the ground. Shoving your arm under its chin, you managed to get enough leverage to push it off. Your shirt sleeve tore from the force and then blood sprayed you as you pierced its skull with the steel weapon.
Laying there for a second, you turned to look at your brother who was looking over at himself in worry. “You good?” you asked, your eyes also scanning his body for cuts or bites.
“All in one piece,” he said with a relieved sigh. “You?”
“Pissed that I just washed these jeans,” you said with a huff as you sat up, pushing the corpse off your legs. Getting to your feet, you offered your hand to Carl who took it and stood up with your assistance. “Who’s this?” you asked, gesturing to the timid man.
“Siddiq,” Carl said. “He needs our help.” Sighing, you glanced between your brother and the newcomer.
“Carl, we shouldn’t be taking in strays when we are at war,” you said, needing him to understand.
“Since when did we stop helping people? I thought that was what this place was all about,” he argued.
“Last time we helped people, they sent us into a lion’s den that eventually pissed off the leader of the Saviors. We have to be careful and you know it.”
“I’m not okay with just turning the other way anymore,” he said.
“Carl…” you began, but he wasn’t done.
“Aaron helped us!” Carl said. “He brought us here and he saved us when we were starving and on the road. Jesus helped us when we needed food, Ezekiel, too! We took in people at the prison and even helped Gabriel when nobody wanted to. We help people, that is what we do.”
Looking at him, you started to see more of your father in him by the moment. When he was younger, all you could see was Lori, but in the new world and as he matured, he was beginning to act and look more like your father every day.
The looks weren’t the only thing that he had from Rick, he also had his heart and while your father’s head was a bit all over the place at the moment, you knew that he had always stood by the fact that people were needed for survival.
“You’re right,” you said and then took off your canteen from your belt and offered it to Siddiq who took it timidly. Carl nodded to him and he began to drink the cool water. Letting him recuperate, you turned back to your brother. “I know you want to help people, but going off on your own right now is suicide.”
“Because of Negan?” Carl asked and then shook his head. “He would never hurt me.”
“How are you so sure about that, huh?”
“Because he has had lots of opportunities and he’s never done it. He just likes to piss me off and make jabs, but he won't kill him.”
“Negan may not be the one to worry about. I’m sure there are plenty of Saviors out there that would love to see Rick’s son on a pike.” Carl frowned at that. “Look, just think before you do or you’re going to end up dead and you’re going to be taking down any new friends with you,” you said, pointing to Siddiq.
“I don’t want to hear this,” Carl said, turning away.
“I have an idea that may sway Negan,” you said and he paused, turning back to look at you. “Though, you and Dad may hate it. Well, I know for a fact you’re going to hate it.” Carl furrowed his brow as he looked at you, trying to see where your head was at. Then, he remembered the comments Negan made about you when he first met you and the jokes he said in front of Amber and Sherry when he went to the Sanctuary.
“No,” Carl said quickly.
“You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” you challenged.
“You want to marry him,” Carl said and you sighed, hating how well he knew you.
“I don’t want to do anything, Carl,” you said. “But yes, that was the idea.”
“No,” he said again.
“It would work,” you said with a shrug.
“Bullshit,” he countered. “We don’t even know if he’d even want that and then what? You basically sell yourself for a ceasefire that’s not guaranteed to even happen. Then you’d be a damn prisoner in that place.”
“Daryl got out, so can I,” you argued.
“He got out only after one of Negan’s wives felt she owed Daryl! This is the most ridiculous plan you have ever had!” he shouted at you. Siddiq had taken a few paces back to give you and your brother some room to talk, but he was looking more nervous every time one of you went up an octave.
“This is my decision, Carl,” you said, lowering your volume a bit.
“What would Mom think?” Carl said, crossing his arms. His eyes were boring into yours, almost pleading. With a shrug, you brushed off his question.
“Your mother never fucking liked me,” you said with a scoff.
“She treated you like you were one of her own, especially after the Turn.”
“No, she didn’t,” you disagreed, “and I’m not. I am not her daughter, but I am still yours and Judith’s sister and Dad’s daughter. It is my job to keep this family safe and if marrying Negan is the way to do it, then so be it!”
“Who says it's your job to be a martyr?”
“Me,” you argued, sounding very much like Dianne.
“And you think Negan will keep you safe?” he asked, throwing his hands up.
“He has to have some kind of honor, right?” you asked, thinking of the broad-chested man with a habit for bloodshed.
“I don’t trust him.”
“Who says I do?” you asked. “Carl, I don’t want to do it, but if it stops more people from dying then isn’t it worth it?”
“You have already made too many sacrifices for this family,” he said, his tone softer. “Ever since the world turned, you have been putting yourself in danger. You were the one who stopped Shane from going after Andrea on the farm when he was going crazy; You were the one who exchanged yourself for Maggie with the Governor; You were the one who tried to take Noah’s place at Grady trying to save Beth; You were the one who nearly died trying to get Cyndie to work with us in the war. When are you going to stop trying to fix everything and start looking out for yourself?”
“Says the one who hitched a ride into the Sanctuary and went all Al Capone on Negan’s men,” you reminded him.
“I was angry,” he rationalized.
“And you don’t think I’m not? I’m furious! When I found out what he did to Glenn and Abraham, I couldn’t breathe. Then the way he gutted Monroe in the street as if he was nothing more than a sack of meat? Fuck, Carl, I have never felt more anger towards anyone.”
“Because he’s killed people?”
“What? No, not because he’s killed people, we’ve all killed people. I’m angry at Negan because he made me realize that this is how humanity is now. I was happy to keep believing that we could get back to who we used to be, but let’s fucking face it, humans have never been saints. Negan proved that to me.”
“And yet you want to marry him?”
“I want to stop him from killing more of us! I want the damn fighting to stop and if there is even a chance that it does with both him and Dad alive, it’s worth it because if I’m being honest, Carl, I don’t see us winning this war.”
“You have to have faith,” he said and you snorted.
“I stopped having faith the day the fire fell on my city,” you said.
“I’m willing to fight him,” Carl said, stepping closer to you, placing his hand on your shoulder. “You don’t have to be the only one to make sacrifices.”
“But I can’t let you,” you whispered. “Judith needs you, Carl. She needs you alive and fighting for her future.”
“She needs both of us,” he urged. “When I was growing up, you were a hero to me. All I wanted to be was like my big sister and I know now that to do that, I have to tell you when it's time to stop taking on the world alone. When the prison fell and we lost you, I thought I’d never see you again. When we found you with Maggie, I promised I would never let you go again. Don’t make me break that promise, please.”
“Carl, stop,” you said, running a hand over his face, just below his bandage. “You’re giving me way too much credit, kid.”
“You deserve it,” he said. “You’ve never let me down, but if you go with him, you will. We’re Grimes, and that means we don’t take shit from anyone. Alright?” With a deep breath, you swallowed thickly, looking at your baby brother for a moment, trying to take in his newfound resilience and courage. It warmed your heart.
“I was going to say that it’s your time to step up as the older sibling, but it looks like you already have,” you said through a thick voice. Carl rolled his eye.
“Shut up,” he said as he tugged you into a hug. You wrapped your arm around him, clutching him close to you.
“I love you, Carl,” you whispered in his ear.
“Yeah, yeah, I love you, too,” he said. “And don’t start thinking you're out of a job just yet just because I stopped taking orders from you. I’m happy with being the middle child for now.” Pulling back, you nodded to him, adjusting the brim of his hat.
“Fair enough,” you said, wiping at invisible tears on your face. Finally realizing Siddiq was still standing around, you snapped out of your thoughts. “You should take him back home,” you said with an awkward cough. “He does need help and we should do it, you’re right. As always.”
“You’re coming too?”
“In a bit, I’m going to do a final sweep, just in case anyone else is lurking around,” you said and he nodded, picking up his gun that had fallen when he was accosted by the Dead.
“Come on, man,” Carl called to Siddiq. “Hey!” he called to you as you turned toward the South. “No, Negan,” he said, his face pleading.
“I won’t,” you said with a sigh. “I promise you.” Carl smiled at you softly, happy with your answer. Carl helped Siddiq as they headed back to Alexandria. You watched him walk away until the trees swallowed up the pair.
The lump in your throat was suffocating as you struggled to stay on your feet. Carl was right, Grimes never gave up, but sometimes they didn’t have a choice. With a shaky breath, you pushed up the sleeve of your right hand, the one that the Walker had torn. Through fresh blood, you could make out a double crescent shape wound in the tanned flesh of your arm.
The bite was burning as blood streamed down your arm and dripped off your fingers. Repressing the urge to scream in sorrow, you tugged your sleeve back down and with glistening eyes, looked back towards Alexandria.
“I’m sorry, little brother.”
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Better Than Regretting (au / 2.5k words / secret relationship / arranged marriage)
ao3 link
“You marrying a woman? Now that’s something I’d like to see,” Dean laughed from where he was stretched out on Castiel’s bed.
Castiel stopped his pacing across the room to glare at Dean. “This isn’t funny, Dean. My family are trying to arrange a marriage that I want no part of.”
Dean’s expression didn’t change and Castiel rolled his eyes. He wished his boyfriend would take things seriously sometimes.
There was no logical reason why Dean and Castiel would even know each other, let alone develop a relationship. And yet, here they were.
Castiel and his family came from old money. The wealthy life was all he ever knew. Though he would never call himself spoiled, Castiel knew he was privileged in more ways than one.
Dean, however, was orphaned at sixteen and was now helping to raise his younger brother, Sam, and send him to college in the fall.
They’d kept their relationship a secret from Castiel’s family from the beginning. Old money meant old traditions and Castiel knew his family wouldn’t approve of his sexuality or his choice of partner.
It worked for them for two years. Until now.
Upon him turning twenty-five, Castiel’s parents decided it was time for him to get married and they’d lined up a nice girl, Daphne, from a family that they knew from the country club. It just so happened that Castiel’s father also wanted to go into business with Daphne’s father. A coincidence that was not lost on Castiel.
“Come on, Cas,” Dean implored, “this is crazy. There’s no way you’re gonna marry this girl. I don’t care how much money her family has.”
Castiel was quiet, a million thoughts racing through his head. He was carefully avoiding Dean’s gaze.
“Wait,” Dean sat up straight on the bed. “You’re not thinking about actually going through with this?”
Castiel looked at Dean’s confused expression and quickly looked away again. “We could still see each other. It wouldn’t be any different to what we’re used to,” he murmured.
Dean stood up to come face to face with Castiel. He forced Castiel to make eye contact and looked into Castiel’s eyes with a pleading gaze.
“Cas, I love you,” Dean whispered. “I know I don’t say it enough, but I do. And I know you love me. You can’t do this.” He reached out a hand to hold Castiel’s.
“But my family.”
“Fuck your family, man.” Dean hissed. “They don’t care about you. If they did, they wouldn’t be doing this.”
“You know I can’t tell them about me, about us.” Castiel begged.
“For fuck’s sake, Cas. I’m not saying you gotta out yourself or tell them about us. I know how dangerous that could be for you.” Dean sighed. “Just stick up for yourself and tell them you want to live your own goddamn life!”
“It’s not that simple! I don’t see why we can’t just carry on as normal. You know I’ll never feel for her what I feel for you.”
“I know that. But to everyone else, everyone you know, she’ll be yours. And I don’t want to be the reason someone cheats on their wife.” Dean shook his head sadly. “That’s what my dad did to my mom, and you know how that ended. That poor girl you’re gonna marry doesn’t deserve that.”
“What are you saying, Dean?” Castiel asked, heart beating hard against his chest.
Dean sighed wearily. “I’m saying either tell your family to go fuck themselves, and come be with me and Sam. Or you stay with them and we end this.”
Castiel didn’t know what to do. He truly loved Dean more than anything. He wouldn’t take back one second of his time with him.
But he didn’t feel strong enough to leave his family. Castiel couldn’t imagine his father’s reaction if he said he wasn’t going to marry Daphne.
Castiel knew something like this would happen. His relationship with Dean was always too good to be true. They were too different. And those differences would always find a way to tear them apart.
Looking into Dean’s eyes as he made the realisation of Castiel’s decision was the most heart-breaking thing Castiel had ever witnessed.
Dean nodded to himself. He tried to avoid Castiel’s gaze but Castiel could see the tears forming in his boyfriend’s eyes.
They stood in silence for a few moments before Dean cleared his throat and looked back to Castiel. He took a deep, steadying breath and walked towards Castiel.
Castiel held his breath and stayed still.
Dean lifted a shaky hand to Castiel’s cheek and wiped away a tear Castiel didn’t realise was there. He looked lovingly into Castiel’s eyes before pulling him in for a soft kiss.
It was the most gut-wrenching kiss of Castiel’s life. It was a goodbye.
When Dean pulled away, he looked one last time into Castiel’s eyes, gave him a sad smile and moved away.
Castiel watched as Dean collected his jacket and keys. He watched as Dean walked out of his bedroom and didn’t look back.
Castiel remained frozen on the spot, tears now flowing freely down his face. He only moved when he could hear the deep rumble of Dean’s car starting up outside and fading into the distance.
Then he was left in silence.
* * *
Castiel felt sweat drip down his back under his shirt and suit jacket.
He hadn’t wanted to get married in the height of summer, but time had clearly been of the essence. The deal Castiel’s father made with Daphne’s family would only be complete once the wedding was over so Castiel’s father was eager to rush through the marriage. The wedding was set for a Saturday in late July – only two months after the initial engagement.
Which also meant two months since Castiel last saw and spoke to Dean.
He sighed a little in relief when the doors to the church opened, letting in a waft of air that, though wasn’t necessarily cool, was cooler than the oppressive heat of the church. Standing at the altar waiting for the ceremony to start was starting to feel like a lifetime in the sweltering heat. The doors were left wide open, along with the windows, to get an airflow through the building.
People were starting to arrive and take their seats. Castiel couldn’t say he even knew most of them. They all seemed to be associates of his father. Castiel didn’t have many friends and the only friends he did have he made through Dean. He hadn’t seen them for months either. Though, he didn’t blame them for staying with Dean.
He felt a wave of sickness go through him at the thought of Dean. He truly did miss him.
The feeling of a soft hand on his shoulder made him turn. It was his brother, Gabriel, the only person in the church who knew what Castiel was going through.
Soon into the beginning of their relationship, Dean and Castiel had been caught in Castiel’s bed by Gabriel.
Castiel had thought they were alone in the house. His parents had just left for a vacation and Gabriel was meant to be visiting friends. It turned out that those friends cancelled, and Gabriel came back to the house to hang out with his brother.
Castiel had panicked for a minute before Gabriel just laughed and held out a hand to Dean who had shaken it awkwardly, painfully aware of his near nakedness. After a little teasing and promising not to tell anyone, Gabriel had eventually left them alone.
Gabriel gave Castiel a reassuring smile and patted his shoulder. “Hang in there, bro.”
Castiel smiled nervously in response. He couldn’t muster the energy for anything else lest he break down and cry right in front of everyone.
He didn’t want to do this at all. He regretted what happened with Dean ever since it happened. But he knew he had to be loyal to his family. And Dean would never take him back now anyway. Castiel had thrown away any chance of that.
The priest walked up to Castiel. “The bride is here. We’re ready to begin.”
Castiel simply nodded and got into position. They’d rehearsed the wedding countless times so everything ran smoothly. Castiel had felt it a little unnecessary but he wasn’t going to argue with his father.
The music began and Castiel looked at the entrance to see Daphne walk down the aisle. She truly did look beautiful in her dress. Castiel felt another wave of nausea hit him at the thought of dragging her innocently into this mess.
The ceremony soon began. It was quiet around the church as the priest went through his sermon.
Castiel muted the words. Again, he hadn’t been involved much in the content of the ceremony. It all felt fake. Like if God was really looking down on them now, he’d curse Castiel for making a mockery of marriage.
Sweat once again dripped down Castiel’s back. He was sure he might just pass out from the sheer exhaustion of the heat and the thoughts rushing through his head. He hadn’t been right ever since Dean left.
Zoning out from the sermon completely, Castiel let himself drift to some of his favourite memories with Dean.
The sticky heat on his skin reminded him of last summer with Dean. He’d managed to convince his parents to go to their summer home without him. He’d had three whole months of summer without his parents and spent all that time with Dean.
Castiel remembered the warm smell of Dean’s skin against his own one night after they’d had sex. Dean was laughing at something Castiel had said that Castiel didn’t even intend to be funny. But Castiel never minded. Dean’s laugh was beautiful.
Dean had whispered against Castiel’s ear, as he placed delicate kisses along Castiel’s skin, that spending the summer with Castiel had been more than he could ever dreamed.
Castiel hadn’t understood at the time. He loved spending the summer with Dean too, but all they’d really done was hang out with his brother a little and take long drives in Dean’s Impala.
But now, he got it. It had been the simple things that Dean had treasured most. Castiel would give anything to be back in that car with Dean at his side, singing along to whatever rock album he’d put into the tape deck that day. They’d pull over, after a while, to a deserted area and trade lazy kisses until the sun started to fade in the sky. Then Dean would drive them back, this time with only the sound of the engine to accompany them.
Castiel was sure he could still hear the sweet rumble of the engine.
He blinked back to reality when he realised the priest had stopped talking and was looking past Castiel and frowning.
Castiel knew then that he wasn’t imagining the sound. The Impala could be heard roaring in the distance. And it was getting closer.
Frowning a little in confusion and barely daring to hope, Castiel turned and faced the same way as the priest. Daphne and many of guests also shifted to see what could be causing so much noise.
The frown left Castiel’s face when the shiny bonnet of a sleek black car pulled up onto to curb directly outside the church doors.
Castiel was frozen in place and held his breath as he saw Dean get out of the car and walk around to lean against the side door. He made eye contact with Castiel but otherwise made no move to enter the church.
Castiel could feel eyes start to turn back to him. No one knew of him and Dean but Castiel’s demeanour must have clued them in that Dean was there for him.
In his peripheral vision, Castiel noticed Sam in the backseat of the car. Boxes were piled up next to him.
Then it clicked.
Sam was going to Stanford for college. Dean was taking him and probably not coming back. This was Castiel’s last chance. Dean was giving him one last chance.
Castiel finally unglued his gaze from Dean and turned to Daphne next to him. She just gave him a small reassuring smile. Perhaps Castiel hadn’t given her enough credit when he’d thought she was just a naïve girl.
He turned to look at his brother stood behind him. Gabriel just grinned wildly, slyly, like he may have had something to do with this.
The priest cleared his throat and it spurred Castiel into action.
Regaining eye contact with Dean, he stepped down hesitantly from the platform.
The movement was tracked by Dean whose face went from one of determined nonchalance to one with a slight flicker of hope. It was a change that onlookers might not have noticed. But Castiel did. He knew Dean better than anyone.
It was the smallness of hope in Dean’s eye that made Castiel know he had all the information he’d ever need.
Without a second’s more hesitation, Castiel broke into a run, not looking back. He only kept his eyes on Dean as he saw the man’s face turn into an ever-widening grin.
The intense heat of the Kansas sun hit Castiel as he flew out of the church doors, but it was nothing compared to the sheer strength of the arms that immediately came up to wrap around Castiel’s body.
Castiel put his face into the crook of Dean’s neck, taking in his scent and reassuring himself that this was really happening.
Dean squeezed him again and breathed in Castiel’s scent too.
They were only broken apart by the sound of the window being lowered in the car and Sam’s voice coming out.
“Um, guys? I hate to break up the reunion, but Cas’ dad is coming, and he doesn’t look happy,” he warned.
With wide eyes, both men snapped out of their trance and turned to see Castiel’s father storming his way down the aisle, his face redder than Castiel had ever seen it. Gabriel was making a feeble attempt to calm their father down but the grin on his face betrayed his attempted determination.
Dean and Castiel quickly scrambled to get into the car.
Just as Castiel’s father reached the car and was about to open the passenger door, Dean turned the ignition and they peeled off down the street towards the highway.
Once they were clear of the church, Dean chuckled. “So Cas, how does California sound to you?”
Castiel looked at Dean and knew he was trying to hide his nerves. He reached over to grasp Dean’s hand. Castiel had let go of Dean once before. He was never going to do it again.
“It sounds perfect.”
Dean smiled and brought Castiel’s hand to his lips, not taking his eyes off the road in front of them. “Good.”
Castiel smiled too. But, despite the sure feeling that he’d finally done the right thing, he couldn’t help but feel guilty for leaving Daphne like that. She may not have been that happy with the arrangement either, but he felt bad for leaving her without a word. He thought that, perhaps when they arrived in California, he’d write her a letter explaining everything and hope she’d forgive him.
As if sensing Castiel’s thoughts, Dean gave Castiel’s hand a little squeeze and shot him a cheeky grin.
“Not having second thoughts already?” Dean teased.
“Never,” Castiel shook his head. “I’m glad you crashed the wedding.”
-
A/N: Based loosely on the song ‘Crashed the Wedding’ by Busted
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Passengers - day 5
Chapter 14 - Take These Words (And Make Them Right)
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In order to see the full fic description, please go to Chapter 1 where you can find everything as it is on ao3.
Chapter notes:
Shout out to Mia for prompting the best part of this chapter. you'll know it, I love how it turned out so much. And for making this chapter better in general. Silv too, dude, you're a godsent.
BUT DID YOU SEE THE AMAZING ART MADE BY @saytr IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER? IF NOT, PLEASE GO CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!! SHE CAPTURED THAT SCENE PERFECTLY!!!!! It's around halfway through the chapter for the scene where mari is thinking about hetaing Gabriel up and Adrine is thinking about marinette giving him a massage.
Anyway, tonight's title is from Take Yours, I'll Take Mine sung by Matthew Mole (YouYube, Spotify). I hve the vague impression that this song actually has a religious theme but like. In this house everything is lovesquare, sorry, i don't make the rules. Plus, with how much I obsess over it, Lovesquare is basically my religion anyway.
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@mlbigbang
The receptionist knew. She must have connected the dots. It was impossible for her not to have connected the dots.
She wasn't saying anything.
Adrien didn’t know how to proceed if she didn’t give him a cue, and he was frankly too scared to look at Marinette.
He looked at Marinette.
The faintest crease marred her brow and her eyes sparked with nervousness as they met his. He could see her biting the inside of her lip and he couldn’t take it anymore.
He cracked his knuckles, hoping to break away some of the tension he felt. He needed to be calm for this — or at least look the part.
He needed to look the part of someone who knew what they were doing, but there were too many different ways to go about it. Friendly? Someone inspiring trust? Someone inspiring fear? Someone that wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer?
In the brief two seconds he got to think it over and choose his course of action, he barely had the presence of mind to tell himself to actually keep calm and decide that anything was better than inspiring fear. So he went with the flow.
He leaned in, closer to her, and breathed in deep. When he spoke, he let his words out too soon. They sounded a bit like he was out of breath — but with how anxious he felt in that moment, that wasn’t far from the truth.
“We might need a favour,” he said, and, crossing his arms on top of the receptionist’s desk, he watched her expression for every detail.
It stayed neutral, but she didn’t seem confused.
So many things could go wrong he didn't even want to take into account all the possibilities. So he went on, hoping his eyes looked serious rather than scared.
"We want to make sure our privacy will be respected."
***
Adrien sneaked another glance at Marinette as the receptionist put away their papers, all the while telling them about all the facilities they could enjoy during their stay.
She’d assured them no one would be informed of their stay at the hotel — and then made it so they could check in under a fake name.
But still, the idea that someone knew didn’t sit all that right with him. And it didn't look like Marinette enjoyed it any more.
They hadn’t had that problem at any of the previous hotels. They had been given forms to complete, of course, but they hadn’t been asked to actually show their IDs.
No booking involved, no room service, no card, no cheque. Just cash and their word for everything.
They’d been lucky, it seemed.
They gave each other mirroring shrugs and Adrien heard Marinette sigh beside him.
“So,” she started when the receptionist was finished. Her eyebrows were slightly raised and there was the beginning of a dimple in her cheeks — her tell-tale sign of a nervous smile. Her expression looked almost pleading as she asked, “How can we check the availability of the spa?”
***
Marinette stopped two steps into the room and, focused on the luggage he was carrying instead of what was ahead of him, Adrien promptly bumped into her after closing the door.
She put a hand on his arm to steady him and looked him straight in the eyes.
“This hotel doesn’t feel like a hotel. It feels like a fucking movie set,” she whisper-shouted, looking almost panicked.
Adrien was weirdly focused on the feel of her hand on his arm. They’d held hands, they’d cuddled — her hand on his arm shouldn’t have felt like an important thing. But she was gripping him tightly, like it was him that was giving her support, not the other way round, and it flustered him — and freshened him. With how much had happened in the last fifteen minutes, Marinette’s touch felt like the absolute, most perfect thing to focus on.
He let his bag down, shooting her the most encouraging smile he could muster.
“And you’re going to feel like a movie star, then,” he said, putting his hand over the one gripping his arm and rubbing it gently, trying to offer comfort without prying it away from him.
She still took it away, leaving a cold handprint behind.
Adrien’s arm fell limp by his side as he watched her rub her face and turn around to plop down on the bed. In the corner of his eye, he saw Tikki and Plagg taking a seat on one of the night stands beside the bed, and he knew they were following every word they were saying, but just chose not to get involved yet.
“The reception alone gave me anxiety,” Marinette said, and Adrien couldn’t help a snort.
“I wonder why.”
“Independent of the incident, I mean. How do people manage to relax in places like this? Everything feels too stuffy and posh!”
She did have a point. Even independent of the incident, he still felt like he used to all those years ago — a child looking up at all the adults who seemed to know what they were all doing.
“It feels like everyone would notice if you took a wrong step, right?”
“Yes!” she almost-shouted again, the expression on her face as exasperated as validated. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees and head supported by her palms. “It didn’t help that we did a million wrong steps, either!” Her palms covered half of her face and squished her cheeks in the most adorable way. And made her voice sound funny.
He cringed. “It was just one and I choose to believe it doesn’t count. But yeah, I kinda hoped this feeling would pass if we were here together,” he trailed off with a sigh, sitting down on the floor and letting his head rest on his palm.
He looked at the bed — the high mattress, the sheets, the slight dip where Marinette sat.
He breathed in, and looked at her again.
“But hey,” he said again, trying to sound encouraging. “With this attitude, we really won’t change anything, will we? I still think we’ll make this stay enjoyable, because it’s you and me and we’ll find a way to.”
“What if we really do take a wrong step?” she asked, biting her lip.
“We deal with it, I guess? We dealt with monsters, we can deal with a poshy guy giving us the stink-eye. What even is a wrong-step anyway?”
The corners of her lips lifted in a shy smile. “Breaking a bed is definitely a wrong step, let’s not do that again.”
It put him at ease, her smile, and he broke into one of his own. “I think that can be arranged,” he said with a laugh, and, catching his knees, he leaned backwards. “Honestly, I think as long as we don’t break anything, we’re good,” he mused.
Marinette nodded, but she went back to biting her lip, so he felt compelled to elaborate.
“I mean, what can we do so bad? We know how to behave in a restaurant — and we don’t even have to eat here, after all. And you can’t go wrong with sleeping on a lounge-chair at the pool. And we dress nice so no one can look at us and say we’re inappropriate in any way.”
“Are we allowed to drink in our rooms? What if they learn we planned to drink in our room? Adrien, after today, I need more than a drink in this room.”
Her words had gotten more rushed by the second and her face looked more than just a little panicked. Adrien more than understood the sentiment. So he laughed, and let himself fall to the floor.
“I definitely need a drink after today, too,” he admitted with a snort, looking at the white ceiling for all five seconds until he raised himself on his elbow so he could watch Marinette again. “The receptionist did say we have a minibar in the room. I don’t think they care whether we drink anything as long as we don’t break anything.” A small pause. Then, “But I hate the idea of them knowing Ladybug and Chat Noir drank in their hotel. I guess we were inspired to get our own wine.”
“I hate the fact that they know Ladybug and Chat Noir are in their hotel at all.”
“I mean, not all the staff know we’re here.”
“Anyone at all is horrible,” she whined, falling back on her back with a muted thud. “This was such a horrible idea!”
“It’s kind of too late to back down now. We can only make the best of it, I guess.”
She sat up again and looked at him with pleading eyes. Her hair was wild, falling over one of her eyes and sticking up.
“I’m more stressed than I was before this vacation started,” she said, looking at him like he could fix it. He didn’t want anything more than to fix it.
He sat up fully, too, looking at her with equally pleading eyes. He didn’t even know what he was pleading for. For her to be happy maybe. For her to tell him what to do. For their luck to come back with a vengeance.
He stretched his arms in a silent invitation and she didn’t take more than a second to accept it. She pushed herself off the bed and straight into his arms, curling against his chest like a touch-starved kitten as Adrien wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
Over her shoulder, Adrien noticed Tikki and Plagg looking sympathetically at them. They seemed as much at a loss as Adrien felt.
“It’s gonna be okay, Bugaboo,” he said anyway, rubbing a palm over her arm.
“What if word gets out?”
“It won’t,” he said, sounding as sure of himself as he wasn’t. “But if it does, we deal with it as we did with everything else.”
He felt her head move so he turned his eyes to her; she was peeking at him with half a smile and a glimmer in her eyes.
“Leaving on another vacation?” she asked, quietly, a secret between them.
He winked. “Being bad-ass superheroes no one can beat.”
“A bad public opinion might beat us.”
Maybe. He didn’t know. He hated the fact that he tended to believe it, and he hated the fact that he thought about it too much. He didn’t know how to reassure her when he didn’t have any reassurance to give.
But Marinette was Marinette, and her eyes were warm, and her half-smile was warm, and she was warm.
“But we’d deal with that too, wouldn’t we?” she said herself.
So he dared a half smile too.
“Us against the world?”
She buried her head back in his chest, and her words came out as more of a whisper.
“You know it, Chaton,” she said. Then, she jerked away from him, far enough to look at him properly.
“We should’ve gotten more snacks.”
“We just ate.”
“I went through so many emotions, I burned everything I ate. I need a ton of sweets. And biscuits. Or maybe chips. Why didn’t we get any chips?”
Adrien laughed and pulled her back against his chest, craving her warmth more than she craved her snacks.
“How about this,” he started, sneaking an arm under her legs and preparing to play super-hero. “We go call your parents and Alya and Nino. Maybe take a shower too?” He made a brief pause then; a second to consider the idea better. “Is it too early? Did we do anything exhausting today?”
“All of today was exhausting and you’re trying to do something exhausting right now,” she said, arching an eyebrow at him as he flexed his muscles and got ready to stand up with her in his arms. “Chaton. Minou. I love you, but please don’t try to stand up carrying me.”
His mind positively short-circuited and his heart started racing. He felt dizzy.
She said she loved him.
And he knew, he knew she loved him. After so many years and with everything she’d done for him, he knew she loved him. At least as a friend.
But it went without saying. It was said in all the little hugs, and all the soothing words, and all the moments she’d given him.
And when she said it aloud? What did it mean then?
He couldn’t just choose to believe it meant that she loved him more. Or maybe just differently, not necessarily more. Was there a “more” when they already reached the point of doing everything for the other to be happy?
He just wanted differently. And he let the idea of a possibility get to his head.
He tensed all his muscles and lifted her enough to get his legs out of the lotus position he’d been staying in. And then he leaned forward, trying to stand.
And kept leaning.
Marinette ended up on the floor, with him half fallen over her.
Adrien met her eyes, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks specifically, not just to his head generally, and Marinette burst into a fit of laughter so loud and copious, he couldn’t help a smile even with all the embarrassment he felt.
He tried to disentangle himself from her, but she didn’t let him go far. Instead, she grabbed him by his arm and pulled — forcefully, sure, but it was Marinette, and for her, Adrien would’ve bent over backwards anyway. So he let himself be pulled as much as he let himself fall.
And, sprawled on the floor right beside her, their eyes met again.
Hers were crinkled with laughter. He felt like he was staring. Taking all of her in and trying to figure out if she truly loved him. Taking all of her in.
“Told you,” she said, and they were so close, he could imagine he was feeling her breath.
He brought a hand to his face and rubbed over his eyes sheepishly. “Sorry,” he tried, too embarrassed to admit he’d just wanted to impress her.
She scooted closer to him and somehow managed to wriggle herself so her head was on his arm, almost nestled in the crook of his neck.
“That’s ok,” she said, her voice smaller, no more laughter in it, maybe just a smile.
He didn’t have it in himself to move.
“If we stay like this too long, I’ll fall asleep,” he said instead.
She hummed a non-response, and didn’t move a muscle, only to jerk up five seconds later and startle Adrien.
“We gotta put the wine in the minifridge!”
***
“Should we tell Alya to send us the photos earlier?” she asked after a couple of minutes of silence, neither of them having moved from their spot on the floor.
“So we can translate the pages and then go out and walk around?”
She hummed in confirmation and waited to see what he’d say.
“Sure,” he agreed. “I like the sound of that.”
But when they finally stood up and called, Alya was out doing groceries with Nino. She couldn’t send everything right away, not until she was back home. At least they got her to promise she would.
Neither she and Nino, nor Marinette’s parents had been happy to hear someone had recognized them. They’d all had their worries that something like that would happen in the end, but they’d all hoped their luck would hold.
“No one’s saying anything about you on the Internet yet,” Alya had assured them. And as she promised to keep an eye out and let them know if anything got out, they at least felt calmer with the certainty of finding out quickly and promptly.
***
“So,” he started after ending their calls. “Did we do anything actually exhausting today?”
“I mean,” she started, from where she was beside the window, peeking at the room’s terrace, but not opening the door. “Not really, but we did go to a cheese shop.”
***
“So,” she started, barely out of the bathroom, as she threw herself on the bed. “What do we do until Alya sends us the pictures?” She didn’t raise her head to look at him when she talked, keeping her eyes on the ceiling instead.
Adrien had as many ideas as she did, so shrugging more for himself than for her, he sat down on the bed as well and, scooting slightly more to the middle, let himself plop backwards next to her.
The ceiling was a boring white, two red lines bordering it but somehow making it worse instead of more interesting.
“I don’t know,” he finally said, although at that point it was redundant to say it out loud.
“Could’ve used that massage appointment now.”
“I mean. Tomorrow’s not that far away.” And because his mind liked to run, an idea sparked in his mind. So, looking at her instead of the ceiling, he gave voice to it and hoped he sounded nonchalant about it. “I could give you a massage now, though.”
She hummed and he felt her turning her head to him, too. Their eyes met.
“You’d do that?”
Every day, he didn’t say.
“Of course. You deserve all the relaxation you can get after today’s stress.”
“You do too,” she responded, still not making a move.
“That’s why we still have tomorrow’s reservation.”
“A couple’s massage nonetheless,” she said with a snicker, turning fully to him.
He followed her example and prayed he didn’t blush much like he did when they made the reservation.
The change of position brought them closer.
“Two birds, one stone…”
It was simply more convenient. Like taking a double bed instead of two rooms or a room with two beds.
It was simply more convenient.
“So…” he tried again, raising his eyebrows in a silent question.
“Well. If you insist…” she trailed off squirming and turning until she was on her belly, face still in his direction. “I’m putting all my hopes in you.”
Adrien had trouble processing the fact that Marinette was, in fact, letting him give her a massage, but he tried to ignore his giddiness and seem up for the task instead.
He sat up, scooting closer to her and cracking his fingers.
Then, he hovered them over her back, and promptly did nothing.
“How do I give you a massage?” he asked sheepishly, frustrated with himself.
He didn’t know what to do. He wanted her to have an amazing time; he wanted to help her feel better after the rollercoaster of emotions they’d gone through. He wanted to help take some of the stress off her shoulders.
But it seemed that saying he’d give her a massage didn’t suddenly make him capable of doing it too.
She’d closed her eyes, but there was a gentle smile on her face as she spoke, “Just rub my back. Do some kneading, add some chop-chop moves…”
Adrien pretended to know what that meant and finally let his hands fall on her back.
He started with her shoulders, rubbing his hands back and forth slowly, trying not to add too much pressure that it’d hurt. At first he thought he was doing something wrong — she’d clenched her muscles and let out a small grunt that completely discouraged him. So he hesitated.
She opened her eyes and peeked at him. She must’ve noticed the frown on his face, because she hurried to reassure him.
“You were doing perfectly!” she said, turning ever so slightly so she could look at him better. “Really! But I think you just found a nasty crick. You can absolutely put more force into it, don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you if it starts being too much.”
So she resumed her previous position and he started again, not completely sold on what she’d told him.
But she kept reassuring him, and even Plagg and Tikki floated over to give him advice. Even he could tell he was getting the gist of it, though it was hard for him to accept that he was doing a good job when every now and again Marinette would let out a groan that only sounded painful.
Then she moaned. And Adrien didn’t quite know how to react, but at least he had his guarantee that he’d truly gotten something right.
But with how warm his face felt, he was grateful she’d kept her eyes closed.
“You’re fantastic at this,” she said, lifting one of her hands to give him a crooked thumbs up. “Do the funny thing now.”
With half of his thoughts focused on her compliment, and the other half on the way she’d moaned, processing the rest of what she’d said was hard. Especially since he had no idea what she meant.
His confusion must’ve shown on his face because Plagg tried to help him — or at least Adrien guessed that’d been his intention. He was moving his tiny, little arms up and down like he was dancing the craziest dance Adrien had ever seen. Or playing the maracas.
When Adrien just stared at him uncomprehendingly, he gave up quickly, facepalming and giving Tikki an exasperated look.
Somehow, Adrien felt even more lost. That was too much information for him to process in just seconds.
So he tried to continue with the motions that Marinette had seemed to like, and admitted to his confusion.
“I don’t know what the funny thing is,” he said, and he had expected Plagg’s tired sigh, but he hadn’t expected Marinette to lift herself up on an elbow and turn to look at him with a half-indignant, half-surprised expression.
“You don’t know the chop-chop?!” she asked, and he cracked his fingers in a futile try to look less lost than he felt.
“Should I?”
She sat up fully, looking at him with a look that looked far too calculated for her to be mad at him. He really hoped she wasn’t mad at him.
“We’re switching places, you need to experience the chop-chop. And a massage. At all. I hadn’t realised no one’s actually given you a massage at all. We need to change that.”
“But I haven’t finished with you,” he tried to protest, though it sounded meek even to him.
“No, no, I’m more than relaxed now. And I think you got rid of at least one crick in my back. We can leave the rest for tomorrow. This is much more important.”
He wanted to prosted more, but he didn’t really. “I could’ve waited until tomorrow too,” he still said, but he was already moving.
He had wanted to help Marinette feel better — not even just because he’d felt guilty for the impromptu reveal, but because he wanted her to have a good time. And because a massage felt like a fairly intimate thing when it was just the two of them alone. There was trust, and there was closeness, and there was a connection he didn't know how many opportunities he’d get to replicate.
But that made him crave a massage from her just as much. He knew it would be different than what he’d get from a professional — better different. Because she’d care.
“That doesn’t count,” she said, echoing his thoughts. “That’s different.”
Adrien let himself lie down completely, hiding a smile in the duvet.
He heard her crack her knuckles, and the feel of her hands on his back sent a tingle down his spine.
“I’m doing this properly,” she said, jostling the bed a bit as she found herself a more comfortable position. “But you’ll know when the chop-chop comes.”
There was a snicker in her voice as she said that, and Adrien felt giddy.
And when she finally started the massage properly, he very much understood her reaction from before.
His first urge had been to groan. But it wasn’t an unpleasant experience — especially not when it was Marinette stretching his muscles and kneading the tension out of him. So he barely managed to suppress the moan that’d wanted to follow.
“You are fantastic at this,” he managed to say after a while, as she rubbed in a particularly sore spot. It hurt a bit, but he had the feeling she knew what she was doing.
“I’d give mom massages from time to time. I have the experience.”
He’d wanted to respond, but Marinette chose that moment to change her tactic. Rapid, stuttery hits dome with the edge of her palms startled him, and he recognized what it was in an instant.
It really was like she was playing the maracas. Just on his back.
“The chop-chop,” he tried to say, but his voice came out as stuttery as her movements, startling a laugh out of him.
Marinette joined him with a giggle of her own, though she tried to keep her rhythm — not too fast, not too slow, not too light, but not too forcefully either.
“It makes my voice funny,” he continued, giddy with the staccato in his voice. Even his laughter sounded funny like that.
He wanted to talk more just to hear it more.
So he did. And Marinette encouraged him wholeheartedly with playful quips and more giggling.
When he started outright singing, they both dissolved into a fit of laughter that had Marinette flopping beside him.
She put a hand under her head, facing him and smiling so widely, Adrien thought he’d never seen her more radiant.
He turned to face her properly, wincing at the way his back muscles protested at the movement. He chose to ignore the slight pain. Too much relaxation had left him feeling like a blob of goo that forgot bones existed. The reminder wasn’t pleasant
“Did you enjoy it?” she asked, and he nodded, adjusting his position to mirror hers.
“Best massage I’ve ever had.”
She snorted, raising an eyebrow at him. “I’m curious if you’ll change your answer tomorrow.”
He hummed as if he was actually considering the answer. “I don’t think so.”
“If you say so…” she conceded, closing her eyes.
They fell into a comfortable silence, and Adrien told himself he’d close his eyes too — just for a second, just to bask in the boneless feeling and in Marinette’s closeness a little bit more.
He didn’t know what he’d expected, really. Sleep overcame him — and in all his basking, he forgot to fight it.
End Notes
I did my boy right. He can die happy now. He'll die happier in following chapters. Which I don't know when will come. I kinda doubt I'l be able to have next cha[ter ready by next week, not to mention the other ones... I'm really really really sorry, but I'm finishing this fic if it's the last fic I do. Then I go on to the mermaid fic, then I'm finally getting started on the witch au I can't stop thinking about and somewhere in between all the other 7273647 wips i have.
Didn't feel like this chapter needed timestamps so no tumblr post today.
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Nothin’ Like You ~ Cale Makar
In honor of reaching over 200 followers, here is a song fic based on Dan and Shay’s Nothin’ Like You. I have a few requests in my inbox that I will be working on. If you have any, feel free to send them in using this prompt! Thank you for 200!!!
Master List
I remember when I first met you
Sipping coffee in a corner booth
You were twirling your hair
And I just had to stare
For a minute or two
Cale was with Tyson and J.T. after practice one Wednesday afternoon. The three of them decided to stop and get some coffee as it was a cold winter day outside. They were waiting in line talking about something E.J. had said earlier that day when Cale’s eyes landed on you in the back corner by a window. You had a cup of coffee and were staring at your laptop, completely oblivious to the world around you. He couldn’t help but stare as you wound and un-wound a strand of hair around your finger, every so often stopping to type something. Tyson kept talking as J.T. realized their defenseman was completely distracted by something. Following his line of sight, he chuckled. “See something you like? Or someone?” he chirped his teammate. Cale started to turn red as he looked away from you.
“I thought maybe I knew her,” he muttered. Tyson had stopped his monologue and was paying attention also now. He looked over as you had your head buried in a book, slowly typing something out.
“How did she carry all those books?” he asked with a slight laugh. Cale had noticed the numerous books you had scattered around the table. Didn’t people just do their research online now? “You like studious girls Makar?” Tyson elbowed him.
I was laughing at your stack of books
Then you shot me that smile
Hey beautiful girl, in your own little world
Let me in it
“Man shut up,” Cale said turning on his friend. Unknowingly to them though, you had actually heard all the commotion. It was why you enjoyed doing your research in coffee shops; the garbled noises made it easier for you to concentrate. This doesn’t mean that you had heard what they said exactly, but who could really miss three hockey players walking into a small coffee shop in the middle of the week.
You looked up right as Cale was glancing back over at you. As you locked eyes, you sent him a shy smile and looked back down, trying to focus on your work again. Of course you knew who they were, all of Denver practically did. You were just an overstressed grad student with too many deadlines coming up though; he was probably just looking around the place.
The three of them ordered their coffees, and Cale noticed that you had looked sadly at your cup after taking a sip. He walked up to the counter and got the attention of the barista. “What did that girl in the corner order?” he asked, and was told it was a caramel latte. “I’ll take one of those too,” Cale said, paying for a second coffee. J.T. gave Tyson a look before he could say anything as they watched Cale walk over to you with two coffee cups.
You got all of my attention
And you ain't even trying
Yeah, you're my kind of different
And I never seen nothin'
Nothin' like you
“Um hi. I hope you don’t mind, but I thought you could use this,” Cale said, announcing his presence at your table. You looked up, slightly startled as you had been engrossed in a thought you had while typing out your research. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckled nervously.
“No, you’re fine! Sorry, I had a train of thought going,” you sputtered out just as nervous as him. “Thank you, that’s very kind. What do I owe you?” you asked, instinctively reaching for your wallet. Cale shook his head.
“Nothing,” he said, trying to think of what the guys on the team might say in this situation. “Your number maybe?” he made a face like he couldn’t believe he just said that, and you couldn’t help but giggle.
“Um, sure, yeah,” you squeaked out, writing your number on a piece of notebook paper and ripping it out to give to him. “I’m Y/N,” you introduced yourself.
“Cale,” he said, taking the paper from you. He was about to ask what you were doing when Tyson called out to him.
“Makar, are you coming?” Cale turned toward his friends who had big, goofy grins on their faces watching the interaction. You blushed slightly at the thought of others watching you.
“I’m sorry. I’ll text you,” he stuttered out, putting your number into his pocket. You smiled softly at him and nodded.
“Thanks for the coffee,” you said and he smiled at you.
“My pleasure.”
Shades on spinning in a summer rain
Dancing when there ain’t no music
Just the right kind of crazy, baby
Cale had texted you like he said he would that same evening. You honestly weren’t expecting it, but felt completely giddy when you saw the unknown number and read his message. He explained that he would be gone on a road trip with the Avs for the next week, but would like to take you to dinner when he got back. You accepted and plans were made; the two of you talking regularly throughout the week getting to know each other better.
The Avs returned home on Thursday, and a few hours later Cale was at your apartment knocking on your door. He had brought you flowers and you couldn’t help but smile at the kind gesture. The two of you made your way to dinner, talking the whole time. He had just finished telling you a funny story from the trip, beaming at the giggle he had enticed from you when your food arrived. As you looked down at your plate, you started moving your head and shoulders in an excited fashion. “Are you dancing?” Cale questioned you with a chuckle. You stopped immediately.
“Oh my gosh, sorry. I tend to have a happy dance with food. It’s a weird family thing. I don’t even realize I do it until it’s pointed out to me,” you rambled on, face turning red. Cale shook his head.
“Don’t be sorry. I though it was cute,” he said in a low tone. You smiled and giggled nervously; Cale deciding then and there that he wanted to continue seeing that smile for as long as you would let him.
Something about you
Rocking that rock 'n roll t-shirt
Whole party dressed up
But you just doin’ your thing
Ain't nobody ever seen nothin' like you
You were working on your research the following Friday night, having the game on in the background. Cale had taken you out to dinner once more since your first date, and the two of you had been nonstop texting. The Avs had won, Cale scoring that night. After the game you were about to text him a ‘congratulations’ when your phone started to ring, the caller ID showing it was him. “Congratulations!” you said as you answered and heard him chuckle on the other end of the line.
“Thanks Y/N. Hey, what are you doing tonight?” he asked, and you heard a few wolf whistles behind him with muttered ‘shut ups’ coming from the defenseman.
“I’ve just been working on my research since I got out of class earlier. Why?” you asked, trying not to laugh.
“Come out with us. We’re all going out to celebrate,” he said in a more hushed tone, and you could imagine him trying to avoid the whole locker room from hearing.
“Cale, I would love to but I’m not dressed to go out,” you said.
“Who cares. Please? I would like you to come,” he pleaded with you ever so slightly. You looked down at your outfit, deciding it wouldn’t take much to put on some jeans quickly. Your Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt didn’t look terrible at least.
“Text me the address,” you said into the phone, and you could hear the excitement in Cale’s voice as he said he would.
When you're wearing them worn out jeans
Purple untied shoestrings
You're a light in the dark
And you're stealing my heart like a gypsy
Showing up to the bar, you became a little self-conscious. Maybe you should have changed? The second Cale spotted you though, he thought you were the most beautiful girl in the room. The front of your band tee was tucked into your ripped black jeans, your white converse showing years of wear as they were no longer exactly white and the shoelaces were frayed at the ends. Cale knew you were probably stressed with your research, and yet you still had the softest smile and a sparkle in your eyes when you found him in the crowd. “You made it,” he whispered into your hair as he hugged you close. He felt you giggle into his chest.
“Couldn’t let you down,” you answered simply. Cale smiled at you and took your hand, leading you over to a table where some of the team was sitting.
“Coffee shop girl!” A slightly tipsy Tyson shouted.
“Oh my God,” Cale muttered as you giggled. You were introduced to everyone as you took a seat between Cale and someone he called Gravy.
“So what is your research on?” Gabriel Landeskog asked when you said you were a grad student at the University of Denver.
“The archaeology of Zoroastrianism,” you said, and caught many blank stares.
“Zoro what?” Andre asked.
“It’s an ancient Persian religion. Today’s modern practices of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have common ties to it,” you briefly explained.
“Wait, that was the religion Freddie Mercury practiced,” Sam Girard commented, looking interested. You nodded.
“That’s how most people have heard of it now,” you responded.
“What is your research trying to say about it?” he asked.
“So I’m basically writing a big literature review to make sure it is preserved in the archaeological record. It was the first dualistic religion in a time where civilizations had their pantheons to believe in. It spread with the Persian conquest, but no one they conquered was ever forced to convert to it. Now it’s a rare religion to come across, and their numbers keep getting smaller. With it being one of the oldest organized religions, it needs to be preserved and the traditions documented before we lose it all through modernization attempts.” To you, your explanation was simple and one that you had said many times whenever asked what you were studying. It seemed you had impressed the table though, and you slightly blushed as a few questions started flying your way. You didn’t notice Cale softly smiling at you while you talked about a topic that you loved so much; he couldn’t take his eyes off of you. His teammates noticed though, and boy were they going to give it to him at practice.
I love the way that you kiss me
In front of everybody
So baby come and kiss me
They ain't ever seen nothin'
Nothin' like you
The following day at practice, the guys were giving Cale crap for how head over heels he seemed for you. The fact he hadn’t kissed you yet was another source of ridicule. Everyone who had met you ended up adoring you within the time span that you spent with them at the bar; and they could easily see that their defenseman was taken by you as his cheeks would turn red at the mention of your name. They were all happy for him, but that didn’t mean the chirping would stop.
They had another home game to play the following day, and Gabe convinced Cale to invite you and have you sit with Mel and Linnea. Later that day Cale went to your apartment and handed you his jersey, asking you to be there for the game. You couldn’t say no to him, not that you wanted to anyways. That Sunday you put on the jersey and headed to the stadium. Meeting Mel at the front, you quickly got along and enjoyed the game. The Avs came out victorious again, and you followed the captain’s wife to the locker rooms. You stepped aside as Gabe made his way over to his wife, feeling a little out of place. Luckily for you, Cale wasn’t far behind.
He didn’t know if it was from the guys comments or seeing you in his jersey, but one second he was smiling widely at you, then the next his lips were on yours and his hands on your waist. Without a second thought, you kissed him back, your hands holding his face to yours. You were both grinning ear to ear as you separated, chirps flying all around but all in good nature. Giggling, you hid your face in Cale’s chest as his face turned bright red.
Shades on spinning in a summer rain
Dancing when there ain’t no music
Just the right kind of crazy, baby
Something about you
Rocking that rock 'n roll t-shirt
Whole party dressed up
But you just doing your thing
Ain't nobody ever seen nothin' like you, yeah
A year had passed and you were at the end of your grad program. You were set to present your research at the graduate fair, having been selected to present your research on behalf of your department. The Avs were scheduled to be flying back home that day, but Cale wasn’t sure if he would be there in time to see you present. You told him that it was fine, that you understood; and you really did. He was hell bent on making it though. You weren’t that surprised when you saw Cale sneaking into the back of the auditorium. What did surprise you was that half the team had followed him in. Having become good friends with them, they wanted to be there to support you too. As your name was announced, you swear you had the loudest applause.
You calmly presented your research, smiling at Cale when you finished and a few questions were thrown your way. Having worked so hard, the questions were simple to answer. Finding Cale afterward, he took your poster from you and the two of you made your way to his apartment so he could unpack from the trip. Changing into some leggings and one of his shirts, you showed him the bound copy of your 105 page thesis. He was so proud of you and couldn’t help but share the cover on his Insta story. The two of you cuddle and slept better that night then you had in a while. For him it was being back home with you, and you finally had the stress of your research gone since the first time you met him.
Nothin' like you
Shades on spinning in a summer rain
Dancing in the rain no music
Nothin' like you
Rocking that rock 'n roll t-shirt
Whole party dressed up
But you just doing your thing
Ain't nobody ever seen nothin' like you, yeah
Once you graduated, Cale asked you to move in with him. You had secured a job at a museum as a curator in their Antient History section. Setting up an exhibit all morning, you met up with Cale at the same coffee shop you had met at two years prior later that day. “Sorry I’m late” you muttered to Cale as you found him. He smiled and gave you a quick kiss.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. I already put your order in,” he said as you sat across from him, taking a sip of the coffee he got you.
“You know me so well,” you hummed with a giggle, the caramel latte tasting sweet. Cale grinned at you.
“Technically, your coffee order was the first thing I learned about you, so I better get that right,” he chuckled. “That and you seemed like a huge nerd.” You faked offense, but laughed anyway.
“It was all those books that got you. I knew my tactic of sitting in a coffee shop would work for me one day,” you winked at him.
“It did. I’d never seen nothing like you,” he grinned, reaching into his pocket to take out a small velvet jewelry box.
Never seen, never seen nothin' like you
Ain't never seen anything like you
Mmm
Never seen nothin' like you
Tagging: @yeahcalesy @avsfans95 @tysojost
#nhl imagines#nhl x reader#nhl fic#nhl fanfiction#cale makar imagine#cale makar x reader#colorado avalanche imagine#nhl imagine
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in only a moment’s time: a tarlos fic
Carlos looks over his shoulder and connects some dots in his head. “There’s a flower shop two or three blocks down,” he recalls. “We can save time if I go pick up the ones we want for my mom while you finish here,” he suggests. “Or whoever finishes first can meet up with the other.”
“Yeah, that sounds good,” TK agrees and then returns the soft kiss Carlos brushes against his lips.
*
It was supposed to be a quick in and out at the florist before going to Andrea and Gabriel’s, but Carlos and TK’s day is quickly turned upside down and their plans ruined by a police chase gone wrong.
for bad things happen bingo: tarlos + ambulance ride
major character injury, hurt carlos reyes, worried tk strand, off duty injury, whump, angst, nonlinear narrative, gun violence, hopeful ending
3.7k | rated T | on ao3
thank you to jamie @firefighterreyes for reading through this and giving me feedback! and the title from I knew this would be love by imaginary future
*****
“You’re okay, Carlos. Stay with me, babe, stay with me,” TK pleads, ignoring how his voice breaks and instead tightens his hold on Carlos’s slack hand.
His bloody slack hand. And TK’s hand is covered in blood, too. It’s covered in Carlos’s blood. TK’s stomach churns and twists in an unnatural way when his eyes move from Carlos’s ashen face and land on the amount of blood coating their joint hands, staining their matching silver bands.
There’s so much blood. Carlos is losing so much blood.
But he doesn’t have much time to think about it because in the next moment, his head is quickly snapping up at the paramedic’s urgent voice. TK watches with horror as Carlos’s vitals drop dangerously and his own heart sinks into his knees.
The ambulance starts to move, the sirens wailing in its wake as they speed towards the hospital. TK watches the paramedic work frantically from the corner of his eye, work to stabilize Carlos but TK can’t really spare him a full glance, his attention solely focused on Carlos.
The officer’s skin is pale and clammy, beads of sweat collecting on his forehead and his breaths coming short and quick, fogging up the oxygen mask covering most of his face. Tears build in TK’s eyes, terrified he’s about to lose Carlos.
He feels helpless, he feels that Carlos is slipping right through his fingers and—
No. He can’t lose Carlos. He can’t.
TK can’t help but wonder if there were anything he could have done differently, if anything could have changed this outcome. If anything done differently could have made it so that Carlos wasn’t currently lying on a gurney, barely stable.
TK can’t control his mind when it takes him back in time. When it takes him just thirty minutes back in time, when he and Carlos were walking side by side, holding hands and laughing, the silver spark TK loves glittering in his fiancé’s eyes. And now Carlos is fighting for his life, now TK can’t see that spark and it feels like his own light is slowly fading away…
*****
“We have space in the fridge, right?” Carlos asks, he and TK stopping to stand in line to use the ATM.
TK thinks back for a moment before nodding. “Yeah.”
“Good, because you know mom will be packing up some food for us to take home with us,” Carlos chuckles. “I think she automatically adds portions for us while she makes lunch.”
TK nods, a smile spreading on his face. “Her food is amazing.”
“It is,” Carlos agrees. “And the food she packs for us lasts a while, makes me think I could stop cooking and we can just have her food.”
“Carlos Reyes, that implication wounds me, don’t you dare stop cooking,” TK gasps, playfully hitting Carlos’s shoulder. “As much as I love your mom’s food, and trust me, I do love your mom’s food, your cooking has a special place in my heart.”
Carlos chuckles again, lifting their connected hands to brush a kiss to TK’s knuckles. “Well, in that case…”
TK’s smile widens, brilliant and bright. “I am excited to have lunch with your parents, it’s been a while.”
It was deemed near impossible for Carlos and TK’s schedules to line up together for a day off in the past month. They’ve both had hectic shifts that seemed to drag and never end, shifts that were always opposite each other. One of them gets home just as the other is about to leave, barely giving them time to spend together. Their time together was either spent taking a quick shower together or having breakfast or dinner before one of them had to dash out the front door with a soft kiss brushed to the other’s lips and a promise of I’ll be careful.
And aside from their frustration at the lack of quality time they had together, they were also pretty down by the fact they couldn’t go over to Andrea and Gabriel’s as it had been established.
Since their engagement, Carlos and TK would go over to the Reyes’ once a week and it had become a ritual all of them loved and looked forward to, until the misalignment of Carlos and TK’s schedules had broken what was becoming their tradition.
They would make it work when their schedules were in sync and even opted for breakfast or brunch when Carlos and TK had shifts on the days that worked best for Andrea and Gabriel. It was important for all four individuals to have that time together, for them to grow even closer and strength their relationship.
There were the infamous Sunday dinners at the Reyes ranch they go to as well, Carlos and TK always happy to see Tia Lucy and the rest of the Reyes family, and the feeling was reciprocated, with the family always happy to see the young couple, too. But they had regrettably missed a few of those, courtesy of their jumbled work lives. TK remembers coming home from shift to find Carlos on the phone with Tia Lucy, promising they’d make it to the first Sunday dinner their schedules allowed for.
And soon, it seemed a higher form was finally in Carlos and TK’s corners and they found themselves at the Reyes ranch the following Sunday.
“Mom and dad are really looking forward to it, too,” Carlos replies. “They really missed having us over. And mom is making your favorite.”
The line moves up just as Carlos’s phone pings in his pocket. He fishes it out and his smile widens at the screen.
“Mom just replied,” he tells TK. “They don’t need us to pick up anything on the way, she says they just want us to hurry over because they miss us.”
TK chuckles. “As soon as this line moves some more.”
Carlos looks over his shoulder and connects some dots in his head. “There’s a flower shop two or three blocks down,” he recalls. “We can save time if I go pick up the ones we want for my mom while you finish here,” he suggests. “Or whoever finishes first can meet up with the other.”
“Yeah, that sounds good,” TK agrees and then returns the soft kiss Carlos brushes against his lips.
Carlos squeezes TK’s hand before letting go and making his way down the street, almost speed walking down the block.
TK’s eyes follow Carlos until he disappears down the road and then moves up on more spot in line. He pulls his phone from his jeans back pocket and starts scrolling through his Instagram feed to kill some time while he waits.
TK isn’t sure how much time had passed by when the all-too familiar ring of a shot has TK’s head jerking up so fast he thinks he gives himself whiplash.
And with a sinking feeling, he realizes the sound came from the direction Carlos had walked in.
*****
The ambulance hits a small bump but TK barely feels it. He closes his eyes, sending a prayer that today isn’t the day he loses the love of his life.
He squeezes Carlos’s hand, his heart breaking some more at the lack of response from his fiancé. At the absence of his loving and comforting touch, at the absence of the warmth that always radiates so brightly from him. The warmth that has become TK’s home and his sanctuary.
Part of him is scared beyond words he’ll never get to feel that warmth again.
TK’s a paramedic and he knows Carlos is in rough shape, he knew the moment he found him. He’s seen this so many times, how quickly it happens, how—
TK shakes his head, he’s never given up on Carlos and he isn’t about to start now.
He does his best to expel those intruding thoughts and he faintly registers the paramedic’s voice saying they’re three minutes away from the hospital.
“Stay with me, babe,” TK whispers, his voice catching in his throat. “Please.”
Dread stirs in his stomach when Carlos’s numbers keep dropping, the only response he gets…
*****
Carlos had just finished paying for the bouquet when his ears pick up on the sound of commotion getting louder and louder outside. It’s a stark contrast to how calm and quiet it was when he first made his way to the shop. He frowns, quickly thanking the florist and makes his way out of the store.
The door hasn’t even fully closed behind him yet when he spots three uniformed officers running in his direction, and his eyes track their movement to find a middle aged man running ahead of them. He immediately recognizes him as the perpetrator, and the atmosphere around turns heavy and tense.
His training kicks in and his concern shifts to the civilians standing around. He wants to help get them to safety, to move and guide them away from this chase. There aren’t that many people but it’s still a considerable amount, but they start yelling and dispersing when they notice what’s going on.
It turns into chaos and the fact that any of them can get hurt, that an innocent person can get hurt, powers Carlos’s legs to move. He’s about to speak up while digging his hand into his pocket for his phone to call TK when he spots the gun in the perp’s hands.
The gun that is being waved around and is being aimed at the officers.
He follows the trajectory and Carlos’s eyes go wide when it leads straight to a little girl standing alone in the line of fire, fear etched on her features.
They make eye contact for a moment, Carlos immediately noticing the tears staining her cheeks and her shaking body. His heart pounds harshly against his ribcage and the next thing he knows, he’s in the middle of the sidewalk, directly in the line of fire, his body curled around the little girl and a loud bang is heard.
Everything is still and silent for a few seconds and Carlos doesn’t move.
And then he feels the pain, it comes all at once, spreading and flaring up through his entire body and tears start stinging in his eyes. He draws in a deep breath but the smallest of movements makes the agony worse, makes the fire in his nerves burn hotter and he feels paralyzed. He pushes through it, wanting to make sure the little girl is okay and that no one got hurt. He vaguely recognizes his own voice when he asks her if she’s okay and he only half registers her small nod in response.
His hand goes to the source of the pain and it comes back wet and sticky.
Add pressure, his tired head supplies. He does his best but he has to stifle a groan at the wave of pain that shocks his system.
His vision blurs, the sounds and voices around him fading away, even the ones coming to his aid and the ones yelling to call 911, it all feels so far away now. He sways dangerously to the side, losing his balance and then everything is sideways.
A moment later, his sight narrows and darkness creeps up on him. And his last thought before he gives into the darkness is a name.
TK.
*****
TK hears the paramedic in the front radio dispatch about Carlos’s condition, giving them live updates so the hospital is prepared when they arrive. He’s done that himself so many times, taking updates from Tommy and Nancy and had that back and forth with dispatch but it never had his hands shaking like they are now.
He sucks in a lungful of air and shakily exhales. He leans closer to Carlos, and even though his eyes are closed, TK hopes he can hear him.
“You’re going to be just fine, babe, I’m right here and I promise I’m not going anywhere. We’re almost at the hospital and they’re going to help you and you’ll be back on your feet in no time,” TK sniffs. “You’ll get better and we’ll continue planning the wedding, you know our parents have so many ideas and opinions and we gotta work through all of that together.
A little heavy voice at the back of TK’s head whispers, if you get to have a wedding…
TK silences it.
“I’m pretty sure your mom’s binder for the wedding is now twice the size it was last time,” TK lets out a wet chuckle, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I need you, babe, I need you so much and just…please, please, hang on.”
TK’s hand is still shaking when he reaches out and threads his fingers through Carlos’s soft and loose curls, TK loves them when they run wild. He then brushes a stray curl back from Carlos’s forehead, the same one that falls over the officer’s forehead when he sleeps. He brushes it back in the same manner he does on the rare occasion when he wakes up before Carlos, smiling when Carlos gravitates towards him even in his sleep upon his soft touch.
But Carlos isn’t asleep right now and TK is painfully aware of that fact by how cool Carlos’s skin feels and how still his body is. Carlos isn’t a fidgety sleeper, he doesn’t twist and turn often, he’s quite calm but there are small movements that TK had noticed over the years they've been together, small movements that are Carlos; a soft sigh, a light turn, nuzzling his face against the pillow, an arm tightening around TK’s middle, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the way Carlos’s eyes move a bit under his closed lids when he’s dreaming. And all of those little things are absent right now, their absence breaking TK at his core.
He wishes this were a dream, that he’d wake up and they’d be in their bed, safe and sound, wrapped in each other’s arms and he’d get to experience and witness all those little things again. He already misses Carlos’s touch.
But he knows this is reality, because if this were a dream, he would have woken up already.
It’s not a dream, but it is a nightmare.
*****
TK’s legs move on their own accord while his brain works on catching up with what he just heard. The logical side of his head tells him to wait, that maybe running in the direction of danger isn’t the best idea but he pushes it to the side, not giving it another moment of thought. He can’t. He needs to do one thing and that is getting to Carlos, to see him and to make sure he’s okay.
Something in his gut tells him that Carlos isn’t okay and that instinct has him breaking into a full sprint.
It’s easy to spot the group of people gathered around on the sidewalk and TK’s heart plumes into his stomach when he notices the havoc is right in front of the flower shop. He scans the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of his fiancé, any sign to tell him that he’s okay, but as the seconds tick by and he gets closer with no sign of Carlos, the hot pit in TK’s stomach gets bigger and bigger.
He knows Carlos would have jumped into action at hearing the gunshot, but he’s worried that that took a turn for the officer. That’s when TK’s eyes catch the blue of Carlos’s shirt through gaps between the crowd, the blue of the shirt TK loves, the blue that’s too close to the ground for it to be anything other than what TK had feared, what he felt in his gut since hearing the shot echo off the buildings and ring in his head.
He can’t control the mix of a gasp and sob that escapes him as he yells Carlos’s name.
“Carlos!” TK’s voice pierces even his own ears. “Let me through! He’s my fiancé!” He pushes through the crowd, fighting to get to Carlos as his heart rages in his chest. “Let me through! I’m a paramedic!”
TK finally breaks through the crowd, spotting the bouquet that’s now on the ground, the flowers scattered and broken. He wastes no time in dropping to his knees next to Carlos and pushing two fingers against his neck. He holds his breath, waiting for that thud…one, two, three. TK’s shoulder slightly sag forward when he finally feels Carlos’s heart beat against his fingers.
He can hear someone on the phone with 911 but it’s in the background, all his attention is on Carlos. The momentary relief at finding a pulse is quickly replaced with fear as TK registers the pool of blood already formed underneath the older man, staining the asphalt crimson.
The blood seeping out of a bullet wound in Carlos’s stomach.
Carlos’s head has lolled to the side, his eyes closed and no, no, no, this isn’t how the day was supposed to go, TK thinks as he clamps down both hands tightly over the wound, ignoring how his stomach twists at the sensation of Carlos’s blood seeping through his fingers.
“Carlos? Carlos, can you hear me?” TK speaks, hoping his voice is steadier than it sounds to him.
He presses down harder and the action has Carlos gasping, his eyes flying open and drawing in a deep breath which is immediately let out through a series of groans.
“Hey, babe, hey, look at me, look at me,” TK guides Carlos, who’s eyes roam around for a few moments before finding TK’s worried ones.
“TK,” Carlos breathes around another groan.
“I’m here, I’m right here, just focus on me,” TK continues, his eyes never leaving Carlos’s.
“Hurts…tired,” Carlos whispers, his eyes beginning to close again.
“No, no, you have to stay awake, babe,” TK doesn’t hold back the panic anymore as it coats his words. “I know it hurts and that you’re tired, but you have to stay awake for me, can you do that?”
And when has Carlos ever been able to refuse TK anything? So he slowly nods, fighting against the pull back into the darkness and focuses on TK.
“‘m sorry…”
TK’s eyebrows knit together. “For what?”
Instead of replying, Carlos uses all the energy he has to lift his hand and places it over TK’s.
TK doesn’t need words to know what Carlos means, to know what Carlos is saying. They don’t need words to understand each other, their connection much deeper than that. TK’s heart breaks some more at the realization that Carlos is saying goodbye.
“Hey, no, no,” TK shakes his head. “Don’t say goodbye, we’re not done yet, you hear me? There’s still so much for us to do together, to experience together and this isn’t the end. It can’t be, I won’t let it be. We can’t lose all that we are and all that we will be. Just stay with me, baby.”
Tears are now streaming freely down TK’s face and he doesn’t move to wipe them and where is the ambulance?
Carlos lets out a shaky sigh and he barely responds when TK’s hands press down even more on his stomach in hopes of controlling the bleeding.
The lack of response from Carlos has TK’s blood running cold.
“I’m scared,” Carlos’s voice breaks, the tears swimming in his eyes bringing out the brown of his irises.
“I’m right here, I’ll be right by your side, I’m not going anywhere,” TK is quick to reassure him. “I won’t let go.”
Carlos blinks and sends a tear rolling down the side of his face, disappearing into his hair.
“Can you…” Carlos starts but pauses to breathe. “My parents…they…our day…”
“Don’t worry about that, I’ll take care of it, I promise. And we’ll have plenty more days with them. Just save your strength, okay?”
And then the air around them is filled with the sound of incoming sirens, far away but getting closer by the second.
“You hear that, babe? Help is almost here,” TK says and moves to plant a kiss to Carlos’s forehead. “Hold on, babe, hold on,” he whispers against Carlos’s skin. “I love you so much.”
“Love…you,” Carlos replies with a hitch in his voice.
And when TK pulls back and looks down, Carlos’s eyes had drifted shut.
“No, no,” TK’s tone is laced with desperation and fear. “Open your eyes, Carlos, open your eyes…baby…”
He doesn’t hold back the wail that tears through his throat when Carlos’s eyes eyes remain closed.
TK still fights against the thought that Carlos had said goodbye.
*****
It’s a fury of action when the ambulance comes to a halt at the Emergency Room entrance. The doors are ripped open and a doctor and two nurses are standing by the rig. The information starts rolling off the paramedic’s tongue as he gives them a rundown of Carlos’s condition and injury.
TK is frozen in place, hearing the words but they’re not quite sinking in as the other paramedic jumps out of the front and rounds the ambulance. The two paramedics get Carlos out and TK watches as they push the gurney into the ER, moving quickly through the sliding door and through the hallways. TK knows he should follow but he still can’t get himself to step out of the ambulance.
Instead, he repeats the words he heard over and over in his head.
Vitals low but stabilized, bleeding controlled…
He feels his knees go weak and scared he’s going to topple over, he falls back onto the small cushioned seat.
He thinks about the promise he made Carlos and suddenly his phone feels very heavy in his pocket. He knows he has to make that call, he knows it’s going to break his heart all over again and he doesn’t know if he can get through that call without breaking down. But he will pull his phone out of his pocket. He will dial the number but right now, he can’t tear his gaze away from his closed fist. After what feels like an eternity, he slowly opens his palm and a choked sob echoes inside the ambulance.
TK stares at the ring sitting in his hand, Carlos’s ring.
He tilts his hand and the sun catches the engraved words written inside, Yours forever
He closes his hand again and brings his fist to rest over his heart, feeling it thump against his own skin.
TK prays he’ll get to slip the ring back onto Carlos’s finger and Carlos will reply with the smile that’s reserved for only him.
And eight days later, he does and the smile Carlos gives him brings the light back into TK’s world.
#911 lone star#911 lone star fic#tarlos#tarlos fic#911lsfic#actuallysara#userkimmy#tuserjamie#userjillian#userthai#tuserpaige#tuserems#kirassunshine#morganaspendragonss#reyeslonestartag#bellakitse#reyesstrand#tuserjenny#bad things happen bingo#*gif#hello! 500 years later i'm back!#writer's block really had a hold on me#but its good to be back#and thank you sara for the prompt!#i hope you enjoy this babe!#i hope you all enjoy!
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Float Like A Butterfly... Chapter 5: So Last Season
Summary: Now that Adrien is no longer Chat Noir he doesn't have to get hit all the time. Unfortunately, his luck doesn't seem to have gotten the memo... Or has it?
------------------------------
"So, how're you holding up?"
"Please, Adrien, it's my mother! I'm positively ecstatic!"
"Exactly. It's your mother."
Chloe looked down for a second before her eyes snapped back up, any doubts she had hidden in an instant. "She's finally coming back! I'll finally be able to show her what she's been missing." Chloe tossed her ponytail back to emphasize the unspoken Me. "Now, I've gotta go. Sabrina insisted we do an 'emotional support routine' or whatever beforehand. Ciao!"
Sighing, Adrien stared at his phone for a moment before putting it down. He knew Chloe was grateful for Sabrina's help but it was still a struggle getting her to admit it.
Or getting her to admit how much Audrey had hurt her.
It was one thing to travel halfway around the world for your career and leave your daughter behind. It was something else entirely to completely ignore her. In all the years since Audrey left Chloe hadn't received a single birthday gift, phone call or text message. Adrien would know. Chloe would've bragged about it endlessly if her mother had taken so much as two seconds to acknowledged her existence-
Adrien's foot jerked, striking the vanity table and making the connected mirror tremble. Heart suddenly pounding against his chest as tension built up in his forehead. Distressed expression reflecting back at him.
Breathe, Adrien. Breathe.
Slowly, he inhaled.
Then exhaled.
Again.
Good.
He was okay.
Adrien was okay.
Guilt pricked like a thorn for thinking of his own problems when Chloe needed him. Adrien crushed it with his anger and annoyance but it was still there. Like a splinter that wouldn't come out.
I hate you.
Swiping out of the video chat Adrien tapped on Nino's number. It rang... and rang... and rang...
He's annoyed with me. I did something wrong again and Nino doesn't want to-
Adrien smacked both sides of his face. No, dummy! Nino's just busy or something. Stop that!
It wasn't every day a teenage DJ provided the music for Paris Fashion Week, after all. Nino had to make sure all his equipment was working properly.
The door to his dressing room burst open.
"Adrien, your friend Mlle. Dupain-Cheng will be bringing the last article of the new Gabriel line," Nathalie announced. "Your father expects everything to be perfect for Audrey Bourgeois."
"Doesn't he always?" Adrien deadpanned.
Nathalie stared at his watery eyes before typing something into her tablet. "Your performance on catwalks only has a 99% success rate. He expects you'll do better."
Father thinks you're a failure just like everyone else. He-
Shut up! Adrien felt something heavy settle in his chest.
One of the makeup artists came rushing in and Nathalie gestured her towards Adrien. "Touch up his eyes," she instructed and then left.
Jaw clenching, Adrien sat perfectly still as the makeup artist did her job. He was never entirely sure what the staff thought about him. 'Professional' was a word that was tossed around a lot. That used to fill him with a little pride... Before all of this.
The last person to suggest that a thirteen year old mourning his mother wasn't 'professional' so much as he was 'depressed' had never come back to work... Oh. Adrien had forgotten about that.
Finishing quickly, the makeup artist left too. Leaving Adrien with his thoughts. He didn't want to be with his thoughts at the moment. They were distracting and Nathalie had not been subtle.
I hate-
His phone vibrated as it received someone's text.
Ni-Non: hey dude!
Ni-Non: it's crazy over here man
Ni-Non: break a leg! ;)
Adrien smiled as his unpleasant mood faded to the back of his mind... And if he saw similarities between his family and Chloe's, well, that's why he could empathize with her.
Adrien: That's theater but I guess there's not much difference.
Adrien: Thanks. ^_^
---------------
There was a knock at his door. Adrien stopped fidgeting in the awkward suit to go answer it.
"Hello, Marinette." Adrien smiled in greeting.
"Oh, uh, hello!" Marinette gave a small wave as she stepped up the short stairs and-
Adrien braced himself with one foot while his hands went to her shoulders. Steadying Marinette as she quickly removed her weight from him.
"Oh! Uh, sorry." Marinette looked away in embarrassment at having tripped into him.
"... No worries!" Adrien smiled as he shook his head. Marinette seemed... subdued. Reaching down to pick up the hat that had fallen. "Oh, no." The artificial feather Marinette made for his allergies had come loose. "I hope it's not too hard to fix it."
Marinette looked down. "Uh, y'know, it doesn't really matter. This hat is a complete failure anyway."
"What? No, it's not!" Adrien rose to his feet quickly in shock. "Why would you say that?"
"Because... the queen of fashion, Audrey Bourgeois, saw it and hated it!" Marinette's hands covered her face, voice breaking. "I'm sorry, Adrien. I really messed up. I'm a total no talent!" Her arms wrapped around herself in a hug. "Please, don't put it on," she pleaded.
Adrien's heart went out to Marinette as she laid her insecurities bare. "Marinette, everything's going to be fine." He searched for the proper spot to reattach the feather, fiddling with it as Adrien reassured her. "Your hat looks great. I think it's awesome and so does... my father." Adrien cleared his throat as he managed to fix her hat. "Otherwise he wouldn't have picked it for me. Look!"
Putting Marinette's hat on Adrien walked across the dressing room like he was already performing. Striking a few poses to ease Marinette's anxiety. "See?"
It seemed to work as Marinette gave a small smile. "You got that catwalk down," she complimented.
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. "Really? Thank you."
"Ah-hem," Nathalie cleared her throat. "We have to go." Without waiting for Marinette she turned on her heel and started walking towards the viewing area.
Adrien rolled his eyes but smiled at Marinette's back as she hurried to catch up. Turning back to look at himself in the mirror Adrien scanned his outfit. The suit may have been generic and a few seams too close to last year's entry but Marinette's hat was fire.
"Okay!" Adrien was gonna go out there and make sure they recognized Marinette's talent!
---------------
Holding Marinette's hat to his chest Adrien stuck his head out in a decidedly 'unprofessional' manner. Spotting Marinette's family and a bunch of his friends in the first row. Adrien's blond head caught Nino's eye from across the catwalk and he gave him a thumbs up.
Adrien waved as he ducked back behind the corner before the photographers could take any pictures of the Agreste heir acting like a kid.
You got this, Adrien. Nino's DJ-ing, your classmates came -even though most of them don't care about fashion- with any luck Alix and Kim will tease you about it for the next month.
That would give Adrien the opportunity to dish out a bunch of jokes he never got the chance to use!
The music started; that was his cue.
You got this!
Adrien posed on the runway. Camera flashes already starting. Strutting down the catwalk Adrien smirked at Marinette. See? Stopping at the platform's end he posed in various angles for the photographers. Nino seemed to be enjoying himself too and that made Adrien's smile come much more naturally.
A small eruption boomed behind him and Adrien turned to see Hawkmoth's latest fashion disaster. Gasping, as his heart started hammering in his chest.
"A fashion show without the Queen of Style!? Glitter-ally unacceptable!" The akuma villain announced. "Where's that ungrateful Gabriel Agreste. I demand that he kneels before me!"
Ugh, what has he done now?
"My father isn't here," Adrien snapped in annoyance. Hearing people running for the exits.
"Well, then. If fashion disaster daddy isn't here I'll just have to settle for Agreste Junior! You're fired!"
Adrien's eyes widened as he stepped back. Golden glitter exploding everywhere as his body became numb and his senses dark-
-Glowing ladybugs swirled around him as Adrien had the disorienting feeling of laying down when he could've sworn he'd been standing. Glancing around, Adrien realized he was now at the Eiffel Tower.
"Adrik- Adrien!" Chloe tackled him as he stood, throwing her arms around him. "I was so scared!"
Adrien blinked in surprise as Chloe set her head on his shoulder. Not letting him go... Adrien smiled as he hugged her back. Enjoying this genuine display of affection.
"Pound it!"
Head snapping towards the sound Adrien saw another Black Cat, this one a girl with long, reddish hair, fist bump Ladybug. They grinned at each other in post battle relief.
I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!
A chill to rival Frozer's ice covered Adrien from head to toe. It was one thing to see Ladybug working with a different Black Cat on the news. Quite another to have his replacement. Three. Frickin. Meters. In front of him!
Chloe didn't notice... Or rather Adrien didn't notice when she'd let go to help her mother. Who tried to fire her own daughter as thanks.
Adrien jerked his eyes away from the superhero duo-
I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!
-Away from the Miraculous holders and forced himself to listen to whatever the Bourgeois were saying. Ears ringing as Ladybug and the Black Cat talked about something behind him...
"Oh, mom. If only you knew what a great team we made!" Chloe trailed after her mother as they walked down the tower's stairs; attempting to capture her attention. "We fired a bunch of incompetents. It was awesome. We should really spend more time together! What if I went back to New York with you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Casserole- Eh, Chloe!" Audrey dismissed. "First I have to get back to Gabriel Agreste's fashion show. And they better..."
Adrien's eyes narrowed as he looked down from the railing, his grip on it tightening. Heat from a growing indignation melting the ice he felt. What did she just call Chloe?
"Adrien Agreste, right? I can give you a lift back if you want."
His tensed body jerked in surprise as Adrien realized Ladybug was standing right behind him. Throat and chest constricting as his thoughts whirled. Spots darkened his vision as he felt lightheaded. Adrien's knuckles becoming white, the metal railing digging into his skin. A single thought rose above the ringing in his ears.
I don't wanna talk to her.
Giving his best model smile, Adrien schooled his features. "Ah, thanks but-" he pointed down, "-I should really check on them."
"O-oh! Of course!"
Ladybug's face was out of focus but Adrien could still feel the melancholy in her voice.
Powering past his queasy stomach Adrien made his way to the stairs. The sound of Ladybug's yo-yo whirring reached his ears; signaling her departure. Adrien took a shuddering gasp as he leaned against a metal pillar for support. Body suddenly limp.
Breath accelerating Adrien tried to calm himself. Why was he up here? Had- Had Audrey's blast mind controlled him? Again!? He couldn't breathe.
Adrien sank to his knees as he felt his skin crawl at the idea of that- that- asshole reaching into his mind and taking away his free will. He hated it! He HATED it!
Gasping as his rage broke him out of the panic, Adrien steadied his breathing... He wanted- no, needed to know what happened... Which meant getting up and moving forward... Forcing himself to his feet Adrien wiped the sweat from his brow and followed the others down.
---------------
"Remind me to tell your father to fire the person in charge of the Eiffel Tower elevators..." Audrie panted. "This is... unacceptable... utterly unacceptable!"
"Of course, mom. Oh!" Chloe glanced down to see what she'd stumbled on.
Adrien looked up as he fanned himself with Marinette's hat.
And dropped it.
He stared open mouthed at the small, black, octagonal box in Chloe's hands. Heartbeat leaping into his throat.
What the hell is THAT doing here!?
"Ooh! What's this?" Chloe turned the box around in her hands but didn't open it.
Adrien suddenly forgot his exhaustion and rushed to her side. The lie coming easily to his lips. "Oh, I recognize that! They sell them at antique shops."
"Ew, it's old! Get it away from me!" Chloe practically hurled it at Adrien.
Catching it easily. A thrill ran up Adrien's arms and down his spine as the box made contact with his skin. The hairs at the back of his neck standing on end.
Chloe dusted her hands and kept walking. Glancing nervously at her mother. Hoping Audrey hadn't seen her with something so outdated.
I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! The voice in his head said.
Shut up, Adrien told it as he stared at the unknown Miraculous in his hand. Heartbeat hammering in his chest. But it wasn't from fear. No, it was... anticipation.
The corners of Adrien's lips curled upwards.
------------------------------
Notes: Oh, would you look at that. I'm back! It only took... eight months!
#style queen#ml au#adrien angst#adrien agreste#chloe bourgeois#audrey bourgeois#ml fanfic#ml angst#canon divergent au#canon divergence
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Hope on Board
Chapter 12 – Pretending to Be Functional Adults
Chapter 1 Chapter 11
“Oh my God”
“What?” Dick came running out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping from the water in the shower and a towel around his shoulders and waist.
“Did you buy every pregnancy book in the bookstore?” She gave him a teasing smile.
He rubbed the back of his neck before pulling his soaking wet hand away and drying it and his hair with his towel. “Yeah, I um… wanted to be prepared. I’ve only gone through a few.”
“I can’t believe you’ve gone through two already. I haven’t even made it through one.” She made her way over to him and took the towel from him, using it to gently dry his hair for him.
He looked at her adoringly and wrapped his arms around her. “I just want to know what to expect and make sure I’m giving you the support you need.”
“90% of parenting is being there and supporting them. You are going to be a great father,” she assured him gently. “I can see it in the way you interact with your family and talk about the kids you teach, how you interact with Rachel when you visit.”
“I really hope you’re right. And I can’t wait to see you as a mom. I know you’ll be amazing but I still can’t wait to see you rocking our baby and cuddling our baby, putting our baby down for the night before coming to bed…” he pulled her closer and leaned down suggestively as he said it.
Marinette squeaked and covered his face with the towel before he could see the deep blush that settled on her cheeks. She wasn’t fast enough though, judging by the way Dick’s chest rocked with laughter and the way his arms tightened around her. He gave her a peck on the lips before going back to get dressed.
Marinette turned back to his bookshelf with a quiet, “Should have grabbed the other towel too.” To distract herself from her mind going down that road, she continued looking over the books, movies, and cd’s on his shelf.
When he returned a few minutes later, she glanced up at him quickly before looking back at the CDs. “I didn’t realize you had such an extensive Jagged Stone collection. Oh, I still have your shirt too, don’t I? I’ll return it next time I see you.”
“Keep it,” he grinned at her and waggled his eyebrows. “I’d really like to see you in it… and nothing else.”
She blushed and looked down to collect her thoughts. Instead her focus got caught on something else. She started giggling and looked back up to Dick. “Are those your slippers?” She eyed the fuzzy bunny slippers on his feet.
He grinned back. “They are. I love these slippers. They are extremely comfortable. Maybe if you’re really lucky, I’ll get you a pair too.”
She rolled her eyes at him, “Be still my heart. So romantic.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Did you want to go with me to his concert in a few weeks?”
“You have tickets?” He exclaimed louder than he meant to. “I mean, sorry. How did you get tickets? I tried to get tickets but they sold out before I could get to a computer.”
“Yeah, well kind of. I have backstage passes,” she answered shyly. “My friends are coming to visit that week so it would be going with all of us. You’d be meeting my friends at the same time.”
Dick gaped at her. “I’d love to meet your friends, but Marinette, how did you get backstage passes? And you just happen to have an extra one?”
She cocked her head to the side, confusion clear. “I… Tim didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Do you know the name of the artist you liked who does all his album covers and some of his costumes?”
Dick looked at her suspiciously. “Yeah, kind of. I know they go by MDC.”
“Marinette Dupain-Cheng…” Dick stared at her dumbfounded. “That’s what caught Tim’s attention for the partnership in the first place. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you.”
“No. I asked him not to. He did a background check on you before the partnership and…” he cringed as the words left his mouth, “a more thorough one after the pregnancy. Sorry. But I asked them not to tell me anything. I figured we should learn that stuff together.”
She beamed up at him and pulled him down for a quick kiss. She stayed cuddled in his arms and looked up at him with a mischievous smile, “So is this a bad time to mention I was given a full briefing on you and your history after my friend discovered who you were?” Dick looked at her for a few moments unsure how to react.
Marinette giggled. “I’m kidding.” Her face suddenly turned serious. “It was actually two friends, coming from two very different perspectives.” Dick opened his mouth to say something and shut it again, uncertain if she was serious or not. Marinette smiled shyly. “Or at least they wanted to. I had the same reaction you did. I thought it was unfair and we should get to know each other on our own. Although if there was anything I needed to know, they could tell me that.”
Dick nodded. “That makes sense. I’m pretty sure that was the deal with my family too. Even if I didn’t want to know, if there was anything extremely concerning, they would have told me.”
Marinette cocked her head to the side and studied him for a moment. “And my best friend and current roommate’s father being a supervillain terrorist wasn’t considered concerning or you were just waiting for me to mention it?”
Dick furrowed his eyebrows and rested on the arm of the couch, examining her in an attempt to figure out if she was telling the truth this time or teasing him again. But the earnestness and nervousness in her eyes told him it was the truth. “It wouldn’t have been considered concerning unless Adrien showed signs of having helped him. Since nobody mentioned it, I have to assume he didn’t.”
Marinette shook her head frantically, her eyes now pleading. “He didn’t. He… it was a really big blow to him to know his father had done that to not only all of his friends but him… that he cared that little for him.” She looked away as if trying to steel herself for something. Dick tensed in anticipation for what she was going to say.
“That’s one of the reasons I think he is so excited for the baby. He is so excited to be an uncle, to shower our baby with so much love and acceptance. Even before we knew he was Hawkmoth, Gabriel was a crap father. Always judging, always cold, always putting Adrien down. His only value to him was what he could bring to the brand. It was a completely loveless life. He wants to make sure our baby has that. It would kill him if he couldn’t see the baby or if we didn’t trust him around the baby.”
Dick reeled back in realization. That was why she was so nervous. She was afraid when he found out about Adrien’s father, he would ban him from hanging around his child. He smiled gently and pulled Marinette closer until she was standing between his legs and wrapped in his arms. “I would never blame the child for the sins of the parent,” he assured her. “Remind me to tell you about Damian’s mother sometime, when he’s comfortable with me talking about it. And Stephanie. Her father is Cluemaster. He’s one of our rogues. He’s done a lot of damage, responsible for a lot of deaths. I have never thought less of Steph and I won’t of Adrien.” His voice was gentle and comforting.
Marinette looked up at him tears falling out of her eyes, so filled with appreciation, it pushed the tears out. She lunged at him in a desperate hug, causing both of them to fall onto the couch. Dick chuckled affectionately, but kept his arms tight around her. After a few seconds his face became serious again. “Is that… is that why Adrien doesn’t like me?”
Marinette pulled away from him just far enough to cock her head to the side as though confused, but the sudden tension in her frame confirmed his suspicions. “What makes you say that?”
“He just seems slightly hostile toward me. Not really welcoming.” Dick shrugged as though it was a small thing. She could dismiss it if she wanted to, or they could talk. He was letting her decide.
Marinette sighed and leaned her head back on his chest, staring out the window as she started to speak. “He… he takes his role of protector very seriously. During those attacks, we were usually right by each other. We had a main group of four through most of it. Nino took care of Alya, they were dating back then, I mean, they still are, but… yeah, anyway. So that left me and Adrien to watch each other… and for some reason a ridiculous number of akumas targeted either him or me.” She fumbled for the words. She did not want to lie, but she couldn’t exactly tell the truth either so she settled on a half-truth.
“So we watched out for each other. We protected each other. We’ve saved each other’s lives so many times. We died for each other. Him… him more than me… a lot more. And now, he still has that mentality. I’m his family. He needs to protect me like his father never did for him. And you just kind of snuck in. He thought he’d get the chance to have an opinion on my romantic interests and now you’re in my life, our lives for the rest of our lives because of the baby. So it doesn’t matter what he thinks of you, it doesn’t even matter what I think of you, one way or another, you are in our lives forever.
“And he’s just worried about you walking away or being like his father.” She worked her arms under her chest so she could angle her face to look at him. She looked at him, sincerity clear in her eyes. “He doesn’t know you. When he does, he’ll relax. I’m sorry he didn’t make you feel welcome.”
Dick reached up and tucked some hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear. “That explains why you understood Damian so well and were so comfortable with his attitude.”
She chuckled and leaned into his hand. “Yeah, a bit of similarities there.”
Dick nodded. “I can accept that. I have to earn his trust. We’ll have to hang out more and maybe you with Damian.”
Marinette smiled and nodded. “I like that idea. Maybe we can make a plan for it while we eat? I’m starving.”
Dick grimaced and looked toward his kitchen. “Yeah… maybe we should go out for breakfast… unless you’re a fan of cereal… but I’m not sure if my milk is still good.”
Marinette blinked a few times. “You have no food in your apartment? How do you… eat… like not even snacks? Last time I was here you had food.”
He shrugged sheepishly. “I asked Steph to bring food over while you were sleeping last time. Probably going to need to change that before the baby comes, huh?”
She pushed off of him to stand up and offered him a hand. “How are you considered a functional adult?” She shook her head affectionately.
“I never made any such claims. That’s on you for assuming.” He grinned at her.
She laughed and pulled him toward the door. “Come on, we’re going to get breakfast then get you some groceries and I’m going to teach you to make at least one dish.”
He grimaced. “I should warn you, I’ve been banned from the kitchen by Alfred more than once. It might not be as easy as you think.”
She gave him a cheeky grin. “I’m a very good teacher. I’ve already taught one hopeless, rich boy to cook, I can teach another. Just make sure to pay attention. There’s a test at the end.”
Dick stopped and pulled her back into his arms. He lowered his head so he was barely a few centimeters from her ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear. “And what do I get if I pass,” he asked huskily.
Marinette took a deep breath and slowly let it out, hoping to calm her thundering heart. It was unfair he could affect her like that with just a few words. She looked up at him from under her lashes. “You get to not starve.” He pouted but quickly morphed into a smile when she pulled him down so her lips were now just centimeters from his lips. “But, if you’re a very good student, I might give you a reward.” She smirked and started walking away.
Dick stared after her in a daze. He waited a few seconds for his heart to calm down. “Okay, but it isn’t the same reward you gave your other student, right?” he called after her. “Right, Mari? Mari?” She giggled and kept walking.
After a few hours of getting to know what Dick liked and might like to try, and buying the essentials for a functioning kitchen, they finally returned back to his place. They had just gotten everything put away when Dick’s phone started ringing with a very distinctive ring. “Damn it,” he cursed under his breath. “Give me just a second.” He gave her an apologetic look and walked back to his bedroom to talk.
He came back out a few minutes later with a deeply guilty look. “I’m so sorry. Something came up at work, an emergency they need my help with.”
Marinette gave him a concerned look. “On a Saturday? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. No. It’ll be fine. I just need to take care of a few things. I should… I should be done by dinner if you wanted to stay here. I don’t think we have time for a lesson today, but maybe you could do it tomorrow? And tonight we could go out and get something.”
Marinette smiled. “That sounds like fun. Are you sure you’re okay with me staying here while you’re gone?”
“Absolutely,” he assured her.
She nodded and beamed at him. “Okay. I might run home to change though. I wasn’t exactly expecting to spend last night here and might want new clothes.”
He looked down at her clothes, making no secret of him checking her out as he did it. “Or, you could just walk around naked.”
She giggled and pushed his face away. “Not while you’re not here. Where’s the fun in that?”
He nodded in agreement. “Good point. Here,” he rummaged through a drawer in his kitchen and pulled out a key. “Take this. You can run home and come back and hang out here while I’m out.”
She looked between him and the key a few times. “Are you sure.”
He shook his head and pulled her into his arms again. “About you? Absolutely. Now I have to go or I’m going to be late.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran out the door.
<><><><><>
He hated the Court of Owls. He hated them. They never made things easy or straightforward. Whatever they were planning was going to be big and it seemed like he and the other Titans couldn’t get any insight into it. Every time they got a hint, something happened. He couldn’t figure out if the Court figured out they knew and backed off that plan or if his information was wrong or if he was just misinterpreting it. They couldn’t get a foothold into it and it was driving him crazy.
He unlocked his door and threw his keys on the counter, freezing at the sight at the table. There was an amazing looking plate of food, probably ice cold by now, waiting for him. “Fuck,” he cursed quietly and ran his hand back and forth through his hair, mentally berating himself for being such an inconsiderate, thoughtless asshole. He had completely forgotten Marinette was going to wait here for him. It looked like she had even made dinner for him before giving up and going home. He was going to have to do something huge to make this up to her. And God, Adrien was going to think he was right about him.
He moved over to the couch to collapse and call Marinette, but found her there instead, fast asleep on his couch, her empty plate of food on the coffee table. At least she hadn’t waited for him, he bitterly mused to himself. That would have made him feel even worse than he already did. He watched her as she laid there in the shirt she had borrowed after their first night together, hand protectively placed over her tiny baby bump. She looked so peaceful and sweet and perfect. He looked down and huffed out a quiet laugh seeing his slippers on her feet.
He lightly traced her cheek and jaw, feeling his heart swell. He still could not believe he was somehow lucky enough for her to come into his life in the first place, but the fact she wanted to be there with him was overwhelming. He furrowed his brow as a thought occurred to him. Whatever the Court was planning, it was going to be big. What if it was something in Gotham? What if Marinette got caught up in it? He didn’t think he could survive losing her and the baby. He had given her his key for a reason. He hadn’t planned on asking for it back. He already couldn’t imagine his life without her there in some capacity. He didn’t know if it was love yet, but he knew she made his days brighter.
He needed to protect them. He needed to work harder. He had to figure out the Court’s plan and end it before they could get started so they would never have the chance to hurt her or the baby. He needed to double his efforts and stop messing around. He needed to… “Dick?” the sleepy mumble brought him from his thoughts.
He gave her a soft, apologetic smile. “Hey, beautiful. I’m so sorry. Things took so much longer than I expected. I should have called. I’m sorry.”
Marinette yawned as she shook her head. “No, it’s… you were working. I’m out later than I expect for work all the time. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. That’s kind of creepy.” She sat up and looked groggily around. Her eyes found his food on the table. “I’m sorry. I meant to put your food somewhere so you could reheat it when you had the chance to eat.”
“Marinette,” he let out a frustrated sigh. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t creepy. I asked you to stay here. It’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for. I do. I let you wait for me without giving you any updates. I’m so sorry.” He looked around quickly, trying to formulate a plan. “Hey, do you want to sleep here again tonight? I can drive you home if you want, but if you want to stay here, we can just cuddle tonight? I need to take a shower and eat something really quickly, but you can go to bed now and I can join you when I’m done?”
Marinette looked at him unsure, her eyes still not completely open. “Are you sure?”
Dick smiled at her and gently ran his thumb over her cheek again. “I would love it. I like having you in my apartment. It makes it feel more like a home. And I love waking up to you. Here,” he picked her up in a bridal hold, “let me carry you so you can go back to sleep quicker.”
Marinette smiled sleepily and snuggled into his chest, resting her head in the crook of his neck. “This is a good way to travel. We should do this more often.”
Dick’s smile widened at the idea. “That’s a promise.”
Chapter 13
Tags:
@dickinette-february @demonicbusiness @ichigorose @iloontjeboontje @ladybug-182 @toodaloo-kangaroo @dast218 @golden-promises @trippingovermyfeet @emimar7 @laurcad123
#maribat#Dickinette February#dickinette#platonic jasonette#platonic adrienette#Hope on Board#Knocked Up AU#prompt - slippers
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I'm standing guard, I'm falling apart
5.1k || ao3
When Carlos and his partner encounter the bank robber with the bomb, Carlos knows in his gut that the man is telling the truth. But it's not that simple because nothing ever is so when the man offers a compromise Carlos jumps at it and he tries to help him by removing the bomb. It does not end well, and it's left to TK and his crew to pick up the pieces.
TK wants nothing more than for Carlos to be okay, than for this nightmare to be over, but when Gabriel Reyes arrives it's clear that the universe is not done throwing curveballs at them yet.
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Day 3 of Angst Week: Coda/Fix-it for 2x08
-----------------
“Trust your instincts, Carlitos,” his dad had told him, “they are the only thing in life that won’t steer you wrong.”
He had been 15 at the time and he and his dad had spent hours together, working side by side on the ranch, Gabriel dropping words of wisdom as they came to him and interspacing it all with anecdotes and thrilling stories from his job. It was normal, such a typical part of his life that he didn’t think about it until it had happened less and less shortly after he had turned 17, shortly after he had a certain conversation with his parents.
Logically he knew there were a number of reasons for this: he had graduated high school shortly after and was around the ranch less and less. His dad had gotten a promotion and was working longer hours. There were any number of reasons that all made perfect sense, but Carlos could never shake the feeling that maybe that one conversation had been one of them. It didn’t change the fact that those hours and those stories and chats had been so formative to Carlos. They were a large part of the reason he had become a cop, and they were a large part of what shaped his conscious and his decision-making process.
And now, standing in an alley with his gun leveled at a man with a bomb strapped to his neck and a bag of stolen money in his hands, it came back to him again: trust your instincts.
His instincts told him this man was telling the truth, that he was being forced and that his life was in danger. He believed him when he told him that he wanted nothing more than to get home to his son, to little Enrique. But he couldn’t just let him walk away with a bag full of several thousand dollars — not if he wanted to keep his job.
Mitchell and the suspect were both watching him, both waiting for him to come to a decision, to break the tie. He knew what his partner wanted to do. He knew that she wanted to follow the book, but his instincts were screaming at him that it wasn’t right, that they would be condemning an innocent man to death and a child to a life without his father.
Perhaps the man sensed his hesitation; maybe he somehow knew that Carlos was on the fence because when he spoke next it was directed to him, and it was a compromise: “If you can get this thing off of me,” he began, voice steady but eyes still pleading, “I will give you the money and go with you. I’ll tell you everything I know about the people who did this. Please, I—” he broke off and when he continued his voice had lost its steadiness. It was full of desperation, “I don’t want to die.”
Carlos looked at Mitchell, but he was already lowering his gun. They communicated silently for a moment before his partner relented, lowering her own weapon, “Fine, but we are not touching it. We are calling for the bomb squad.”
“There’s not enough time for that,” the man protested. “If I’m in one place for too long they’ll know something is wrong. And if they think something is wrong…” he trailed off, but Carlos could fill in the blanks pretty well.
“Go ahead and radio for the bomb squad,” Carlos told Mitchell as he holstered his weapon, “but I’m going to take a look. I think he’s right and that means we don’t have that kind of time on our side.”
“Reyes—”
“We don’t have a lot of options here, Mitchell,” he reminded her tersely. “Either we run the risk of driving what is possibly an active explosive device into a police station or we let him go. I think this is the best shot we have, for everyone involved.”
She bit her lip, but nodded, “Do what you can, but please try not to get yourself blown up Reyes. That’s an awful lot of paperwork.”
“I’ll do my best,” he agreed as he stepped forward, gesturing for the man to turn so he could see the mechanism clasped around his neck. It looked fairly simple, at first glance, but there were some wires that were concerning, to say the least.
“Anything you could tell me that might help?” he asked the man wryly, but he shook his head frantically.
“No, they just held me down and put it on. I couldn’t stop them. I…” he broke off with a sob and Carlos could feel his heart clench.
“Hey,” he told him evenly, “we’re going to do everything we can to get you out of this and home safe to Enrique, I promise. I just need you to stay calm and still. Can you do that?”
He waited until the man started to nod before thinking better of it and instead giving him a small, quiet, “Yes.”
“That’s good,” Carlos told him bracingly, “now just hang tight and I’m sure we’ll have this off in no time.”
He felt around the band holding it to his neck. While the device itself looked complex, closer inspection showed him that it was secured to the terrified man by simple straps. He made quick work of them with his utility knife, and even though some were too close to wires for his comfort he is still able to cut enough of them that between him and his partner, they are able to ease it off the man.
When it is finally off he nearly sags in relief, almost collapsing on the ground before them and only held aloof by Mitchell’s bracing hold.
“Thank you,” he told him appreciatively, “thank you! I thought...thank you.”
“Of course,” Carlos said evenly, studied the device now in his hands, “I’m just glad we were able to get it off without incident.”
“Maybe they were lying to me,” the man admitted, “I was too scared to ask too many questions. Maybe it’s just a fake after all.”
Carlos wanted to believe him, but while he was no expert in explosives the contraption in his hands did not look fake. His opinion was reinforced when the lights started blinking more rapidly, and the man paled.
“The tracker,” he whispered. “They must have realized that I’m not coming, they must have triggered it. I’m so…”
But Carlos didn’t wait to hear the rest of his apology. “Get down!” he instructed Mitchell, who pulled the man down with her even as his desperate eyes followed the device and his mouth still moved in soundless apologies. Carlos pulled his arm back and launched the device as far away from them as he could, further into the alley before them. Maybe he could throw it far enough, maybe it wouldn’t be a large explosion. Maybe whoever had made it wasn’t good with explosives, maybe it wouldn’t even…
But all of his conjecture was cut short by a resounding boom as the device exploded in the air. The force of the blast pushed him off his feet and the searing heat caught him on the way down. It was disorienting; loud and fast and hot. He could feel his body being pelted by debris, he could feel the sharp pain as it sliced through him on its way by. He hit the ground with a resounding crash that echoed in his head as it bounced off the ground as pain bloomed from everywhere all at once. His last view was of bits of destruction raining down like snow, gently drifting as it obeyed gravity. It could have been beautiful if it hadn’t been for the pain.
He blinked again, feeling his eyes grow heavy. He wanted to look around, to check on his partner and the man who had formerly had a bomb stuck to his chest. He couldn’t summon the energy to move an inch. He supposed he could take the small comfort of having been right, he supposed as his eyes drifted closed. His instincts had been right, on all of this.
His last fleeting thought before everything went black was that sometimes he wouldn’t mind if his instincts were wrong.
-----------
The 126 paramedic crew pulled up to the scene in tense silence. The intel had been spotty but what they knew was enough to have TK gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles were white: there had been reports of an explosion, there had been police on the scene before the explosion, and those police could not be reached now.
That was all they knew because it was all dispatch had been able to piece together. There was no saying what kind of explosion or what kind of destruction it had left behind. There was no knowing what had gone down or who the officers ever were. All TK knew was that his gut was filled with a dread that grew incrementally as he sped towards the scene. He knew that his team had picked up on his tension, that they understood how his fear was different from theirs. He couldn’t put into words how much he appreciated them letting him be.
There was an eerie silence over the scene as they stepped out of the ambulance when they arrived. They weren’t far from the main street; it was as if a hush had fallen over the alley in reverence to the fallen. Because there were fallen — they could see that now as they drew closer. Three figures sprawled on the ground; unmoving and surrounded by destruction. They gathered their gear and rushed forward, Tommy alerting dispatch that they would require additional RA units to respond.
It was another step and another heartbeat before TK realized just how well he knew one of the fallen figures and in that instant, he couldn’t breathe. His feet moved forward of their own accord and his mind frantically tried to process every detail of the horrible sight before him as he crashed to his knees besides Carlos’s still form. There was blood, but he couldn’t tell from where. Burns were likely too, given the singe marks and lingering heat. But TK’s chief concern was that Carlos wasn’t moving, that there had been no acknowledgment of his arrival. Even in sleep, Carlos seemed to know when TK was nearby but now, there was nothing.
He reached out a shaking hand to his neck, holding his breath as he waited, as he prayed to feel the familiar thrum of a pulse under his hand. For a long moment, there was nothing and TK was sure he would shatter. But he shifted his hand because Carlos couldn’t die today and tried again. He waited, every ounce of his being focused on the hand on Carlos’s pulse point until a slow but steady rhythm began to beat under his fingers and TK finally allowed himself to breathe.
“Pulse is weak but present,” he announced to Tommy who had kneeled beside him, his voice sounding strange even to his own ears. His captain nodded and reached into her bag, pulling out her gear as she appraised TK.
“Are you good Strand?” she asked. “Usually I would tell you to stand down, but given the situation, we don’t really have a choice. I need all hands on deck.”
TK took a deep breath and nodded, reaching into the case beside him to pull out what they would need. No, he was not good but he knew Tommy was right: there was no other option. Either he did this or risked losing Carlos for good, and he would always do anything in his power to stop that from happening. That was not an option he could live with. “I’ve got this Cap, what do you need me to do?”
“Start the exam while I finish up his vitals. We need to know what we’re dealing with here.”
“What about the other two?” he asked even as he started following her instructions. “Don’t you need to…”
But Tommy shook her head, “They’re both relatively fine, Nancy can handle them until more help arrives. Reyes here seems to have taken the brunt of the blast.”
TK nodded without hesitation. It sounded like Carlos, after all: always trying to be everyone’s shield.
He began his exam, starting with his head. It seemed like every moment revealed a new injury: blood on the back of his head, likely from a fall. Cuts and abrasions of various sizes littered across his body, fragments of what looked like a car taking up residence where they didn’t belong. Each new discovery struck TK like a physical blow, but he pushed on.
The head injury was the most concerning, for a while. But as TK moved forward, as he examined more he learned that was not the case. There was a large piece of sharp metal sticking out of the left side of his abdomen and though TK had no way of knowing how long it was, it looked as if the majority of it was buried inside Carlos’s body, far far too close to vital organs for TK to breathe easily. He sucked in a breath and alerted Tommy, who grimaced when she saw it.
“Pack it tightly,” she instructed him, handing him the gauze and tape necessary for the job, “make sure there is no room for it to move during transport. We want it held still until they are able to remove it at the hospital.”
TK nodded and took the gauze, tightly winding it around the intrusive object so that it held firm. He watched with dread as the gauze steadily turned red as blood sluggishly leaked out from around it. There were so many ways an injury like this could go wrong, too many ways that it could turn fatal. The thought alone was almost enough to send TK reeling but he pushed it down. This wasn’t the time; Carlos needed him here. He needed him focused. He couldn’t risk falling apart when the very existence of the one person who just might mean more to him than anyone else in this world depended on it.
TK and Tommy had finished examining Carlos and packing what wounds they could to prep him for transport when the requested additional units arrived. Tommy gave them a run down as TK and Nancy loaded Carlos onto the gurney and transferred him to the back of the ambulance. Not a word was said when TK climbed into the back instead of the driver’s seat, Nancy stepping around to take that spot instead without a word.
As they drove he and Tommy continued working; monitoring and treating Carlos the best they could. In all that time and all the movement, Carlos had not stirred once and TK tried hard not to think about that, to dwell on what it might mean. He managed to hold it together, to stay professional and focused until they arrived at the hospital and unloaded the gurney, Tommy relaying the necessary info to the medical team that met them at the doors.
He held it together until the moment Carlos’s still and bloody form disappeared through the doors of the trauma bay. Then, with nothing left to focus on, he finally let the tears come.
He felt arms around him and felt himself being guided to a chair that he sank into gratefully, aware now that his entire body was trembling. Now that they were here and now that Carlos was in the care of the doctors, the situation was out of his control. Whatever happened now, he had no say in. He had done all he could and he had to hope that it was enough. Carlos’s injuries returned to him in flashes and TK knew with a sinking dread this was not going to be a short wait. It would be a while before any news came; good or bad.
So he sat here in the waiting room, tears running down his face and his team at his side, waiting for the answer he knew would come eventually, hoping and praying that it would be one he could live with. That somehow, despite all the odds, Carlos would be okay.
TK couldn’t lose him, it was as simple as that.
---------
After a while, there are no more tears left.
It was a surprisingly short time before he cried himself dry, until he pulled himself together and settled into quiet fear. Tommy and Nancy settled in to wait with him, offering their quiet reassurances and comforting presence until their radios sounded. He found words enough to assure then that it would be fine, that he understood. That he would be fine on his own. They didn’t look like they believed him, but what other choice did they have? So, with a promise that he would keep them updated and that they and the rest of the crew would be by as soon as they could, they were gone and TK was alone.
He sat in silence, alone in the waiting room, trying to keep his mind from spiraling. But no amount of bouncing his leg could keep him from picturing the scene, from thinking of what Carlos must have gone through, from imagining the worst. He twisted his hands in his lap, noticing a spot of blood that had slipped past the protection of his gloves on the inside of his wrist. He swallowed and turned his arm so he couldn’t see it. He didn’t need a physical reminder; the scene was still all too fresh in his head.
Every single detail of it was seared into his mind and TK knew with a sinking dread that this was one of those times where being a paramedic put him at a disadvantage. He had seen more than his fair share of injuries and over time, you got a sense from the ones that people walked away from. The injuries he had treated Carlos for — the ones that had littered the body he loved so well — were not those. He knew that losing Carlos was a real possibility.
He also knew that it wasn’t that simple. He knew that losing Carlos meant losing his world, and he couldn’t face that.
Nearly an hour of silent, solitary waiting passed before he heard footsteps approaching his seat in the waiting room. His mind was still too fractured to process their proximity so when they halted and someone sank into the chair beside him, he hardly gave it a thought (he hardly had a thought left to give). The tears may be gone but the bone-deep fear was ever-present and all-consuming; his constant companion as he sat and waited, rubbing his still shaking hands on his legs.
And so he doesn’t process anything until the figure beside him started speaking: “You know, Carlitos didn’t always want to be a cop. He wanted to be an astronaut first, for the longest time.”
The voice was shaky but startlingly familiar. It took TK a moment to place it but when he did the shock was visceral; running through his whole body as he looked up to see Gabriel Reyes sitting next to him, eyes staring off in the direction of the treatment rooms that currently held his son.
“Maybe if I had encouraged that desire a bit more, we wouldn’t be here,” the man said quietly, sadly. “Maybe he would be a world away, but safe.”
TK didn’t know what to say to that. Somewhere between the shock of his boyfriend’s father appearing and the fact that he was speaking to him as if he knew him TK had lost the ability to speak. He could simply stare.
“I suppose that’s neither here nor there though,” Gabriel continued, “I suppose we are past what-ifs.”
He turned then, taking his first look at TK. He looked him up and down, registering the blood staining his uniform and the anxiety and fear radiating from him with a grim expression. “You treated him,” he observed, voice growing quieter and softer. “First of all, thank you. No matter what happens, thank you.”
His gaze held TK’s, his eyes (so much like Carlos’s it almost broke TK to look at them) sad and heavy with worry. TK swallowed down the tears that threatened to return and nodded.
“I can’t imagine having to do that,” Gabriel continued in the same tone, “I can’t imagine having to keep your head about you when you see someone you care about hurt like that. That shows real strength, in my opinion. I’m not so sure I would be as strong.”
TK heard the words being said, but he simply stared in response. Someone you care about he had said. And the look in his eyes…
“You knew?” TK said, finally finding the words that had eluded him for so long, “About Carlos and I?”
Gabriel nodded, “Since we ran into y’all at the market,” he confirmed.
TK was left staring again, but for a different reason. Carlos’s parents had known. They had known for weeks now. They had known as Carlos tore himself apart, they had known as the secret almost ripped TK and Carlos apart. They had known and they hadn’t said anything.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” he finally managed.
“We wanted Carlitos to come to us on his own, in his own time,” Gabriel told him softly. “We didn’t want to push.”
TK watched the older man look sadly back towards the doors separating them from Carlos and for the first time since it happened, he found an emotion besides fear rising up in him.
“It has been eating him alive,” he told Gabriel, voice far stronger and far sharper than before. “It almost cost us our relationship. He is afraid of how you will react, he is so afraid that…” he trailed off, feeling that he was veering into territory he should never enter without Carlos’s consent or presence. He allowed himself a breath before he continued: “He was afraid to tell you and this whole time you’ve known?”
It’s not until his hot anger begins to fade from his mind that he can fully process the reaction from his boyfriend’s father. Gabriel’s eyes are wide in shock and horror, and TK came to his senses with a resounding crash.
“I’m sorry,” he says more softly, calmly. “That was out of line. It’s not my place to—”
“No, I think it is,” Gabriel disagreed, cutting off TK’s apology. “It’s your concern as much as his, after all.”
“Still,” TK tied again, “I shouldn’t have said it like that.”
“Perhaps not,” Gabriel agreed with a dry laugh that felt so foreign amongst the fear still so heavy in TK’s heart, “but it certainly got the point across.”
They studied each other for a moment before Gabriel spoke again, “I know I haven’t been a perfect father,” he admitted, “but I do love my son.”
“I don’t doubt that,” TK assured him. “Carlos loves you too, I know that for sure.”
“And you?” Gabriel asked, fixing him with a piercing gaze. “Do you love my son?”
“I do,” TK said firmly. “More than I have ever loved anyone.”
“Does he love you?”
“Yes,” TK said, without hesitation. “He has never let me doubt that, even when I’ve wanted to.”
There was silence again as the two men regarded each other and after a long moment, Gabriel nodded, expression sad.
“We’ve missed so much,” he said quietly. “We should have done better. We will do better,” he promised, voice stronger as he met TK’s eyes, “when he wakes up.”
His voice was strong and his eyes certain, and TK nodded, taking comfort in the older man’s certainty that there would be a future, that they would get to see Carlos again.
Gabriel smiled at him before continuing, “I’d like to get to know you, TK. You and my son and what you are together; if you’ll let me.”
The expression on the older man’s face was sincere and despite everything, TK managed to find the smallest of smiles.
“I’d like that,” he agreed. “I’d like that very much.”
-----------
If Carlos had to describe everything that came after the pain in a word it would be confusion.
There was pain and then darkness, that he knew for sure. But everything after was a haze. There were moments of awareness (he thinks) here the darkness lifted and he could hear voices. He couldn’t make out the words and the voices didn’t make sense. It sounded like TK and his father, but he didn’t know how that was possible. Awareness didn’t last for long though, so his final thought before he slipped back into the darkness was that his mind was playing tricks on him.
When he woke up again, his head felt clearer. He was more sure that he was actually awake and alive, this time. There were still voices and he could almost make out the words. He could even place them with absolute certainty: they were TK and his father. But that still didn’t make any sense, even to his less hazy mind.
He blinked his eyes open, having to repeat the process several times in order to adjust his eyes enough to see. There was a hand holding his own and he squeezed it, hearing a familiar intake of breath in response.
“Carlos?” TK asked voice choked with emotion, “Can you hear me, babe?”
“Ty,” he said in response, pulling his eyes open fully and tilting his head to drink in the sight of his beautiful boyfriend, grinning through tears. He tried to reach up a hand to wipe them away but his limbs felt heavy.
“Try not to move too much,” TK said softly, “you’re still pretty hurt.”
“What happened?” he asked, and TK looked across his bed before another familiar voice cut through the room.
“What do you remember, Carlitos?”
Carlos whipped his head around to the other side of the bed - or at least, whatever the slow and painful equivalent of whipping his head was - to see his dad sitting in the seat to his right.
“Dad? What’re you...” he trailed off turning to TK again with a baffled expression but his dad pressed on.
“Try to answer the question, mijo. What do you remember?” His dad’s voice was soft but the instruction was clear. Carlos looked into his dad’s eyes as he tried to pull the bits of memory together into a cohesive memory.
“There was a man,” he said slowly, “he robbed a bank, but he didn’t want to.” He paused and his dad nodded and smiled at him, urging him to continue. “There was a bomb around his neck, he said two guys forced it onto him. He said they had a tracker on him so he couldn’t go with us because they would set it off. He said that if we could get it off of him he would come with us though and tell us everything he knew, so I did. I guess it didn’t like that much though, because the last thing I remember is it exploding, I think.”
There was silence as he finished his account and Carlos pieced the rest together in his mind. Mitchell hadn’t wanted him to try, she wanted to wait for the bomb squad…
“Mitchell!” he exclaimed, looking frantically back to TK, “and the man. Are they…?”
“Easy Carlos,” TK said calmly, squeezing his hand again and leaning closer, “don’t worry, they’re fine. A little banged up, but you got the worst of it. It looked like you were closest to the blast,” he added quietly, voice turning more serious. “You were certainly the worst off of the three of you.”
Something in the way TK said it filled him with dread. “Did you…” he began, and TK nodded. “Ty,” he said softly, squeezing his hand this time as best he could, “I...I am so sorry. I wish you never had to see that, I can’t even imagine.”
“Don’t you even start with me, Carlos Reyes,” TK told him firmly. “This was not your fault. You have absolutely nothing to apologize for.”
“Besides,” his dad added from the other side, “I think we should all count our blessings that it was your boy and his team. I have no doubt they are the best and that they would have moved heaven and earth to save you.”
Carlos couldn’t agree more, as much as he would rather TK never have to experience that level of pain on his behalf ever. He was about to say as much when something else his dad said struck him. Your boy. He knew. He knew that TK was his boyfriend. He looked to his dad again, searching his face for any clue before finally asking the question.
“You know?” His dad’s expression didn’t change and Carlos shifted his gaze to TK, who looked down.
“I’m sorry Carlos, I know you wanted to tell them in your own time but…”
“But your boy did nothing wrong, Carlitos,” his dad interrupted, shooting TK a firm look. “We already knew. I approached him. All he did was make me see how we had been hurting you by not acknowledging it and for that, I am so sorry son.”
Carlos blinked at his dad, processing his words before turning to TK with a raised eyebrow, “Do I want to know what happened while I was unconscious?”
TK grimaced and his dad laughed, “I will say you’ve found yourself a tough one. He has spine for sure, mijo.”
“Yeah,” Carlos agreed, studying TK as he winced at his dad’s statement, “he’s pretty special.”
TK relaxed at his words and gave him a warm smile, squeezing his hand gently. Distantly he could see his father watching them fondly and Carlos was struck by the surrealness of this moment. He had pictured this so many times: his boyfriend and his dad co-existing, him casually showing his affection for someone he loved in the presence of his family. He had ached for it for so long and a part of him had always been convinced that it would never be any more than a dream.
Yet here they were. The proof was right before him in the hand holding his own, in the soft kisses pressed to his forehead by the man he loved, in the soft smile of his father as he watched from his chair on the other side of his bed. Never had he expected to find such happiness in the wake of such pain and fear, but he knew he would be eternally grateful for this ending to this disaster because it had brought about a wonderful beginning.
#911 lone star#911 lone star fic#tarlos#carlos reyes#tarlos fic#tk strand#my writing#userkimmy#userjilly#userac#usermaximus#userbones#tuserpaige#tuserjamie#reyesstrand#jazzyjess#hierophvnts#maizsnex#buckybarnesalways#reyeslonestartag#immortalstrand
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Can you see colors? (Marichat.))
Gabriel is an asshole
Marinette is sad and confused
And Adrien was born without a soulmate (or that's what he thinks)
You can't see colors until you meet your soulmate and feel their emotions after the first kiss (not necessarily on the lips)
_________
"I should go" he said when he noticed the sun. When did it get there?
"No..." Marinette murmured burying her face more on his chest, eyes closed.
"I need to go" he insisted
"Would you... stay if I ask you to?" The pause she made to take a heavy breath melted Chat's heart
"I would do anything for you... But please don't" he pleaded. Adrien knew for a fact that if she did, he wouldn't bring himself to leave her for the next 24 hours and the would both get in trouble "I need to be home before they notice I'm not there, plus, you need to be at school in an hour"
"Ahg, fine"
Mentally, he thank her.
"C'mon Let's get this princess back to his tower so she can have her beauty sleep " carefully, Chat noir stood up from the chair they were lying on and settled Marinette in his arms so she wouldn't fall.
"If I'm... princess– makes you... my prince?"
"Nah, you already have your prince charming. I'm your night in shiny leather "
Marinette made weird sleepy noises.
Chat clucked
With a little struggle due to the lack of free hands, he put his already sleep soulmate –he still couldn't believe it – on her bed.
Oh how much he loved to see her sleep. And the peace he felt through their bond only made his chest burn.
"I'll see you in an hour, your majesty " he joked fully knowing she couldn't hear him anymore. He leaned forward to give her a sweet kiss on her head, staying more than the necessary to take in one last time her scent before going back to the mansion.
Quietly, Chat noir came out to her balcony and jumped, more happy that he ever been his whole life.
When he landed on his room, he released his transformation with a lovesick grin
"You're an idiot " was the first thing Plagg said. "And you were still insisting that 'you were just friends' " he rolled his eyes just to annoy his holder, anything to erase the lovesick look he had. Kwamis, he looked ridiculous.
Adrien couldn't care less, he had a soulmate, and it was Marinette!
Everything felt so surreal.
Still, he managed to answer"You know why I kept saying that"
Adrien had been very, very aware of his crush on Marinette, and Plagg was, too of course, but the blonde always felt guilty for it.
She wasn't his, he wasn't hers, he used to repeat to himself, Marinette sure had already found her someone special who would bring her the moon, the stars, and the sun to her feet as she deserved. Whoever they were, they were lucky, and he often found himself jealous. But no, he didn't have the right, he wasn't so lucky to have her, to have a soulmate. And so, he pushed his feelings down, swallowed them, and convinced himself that they were just friends and nothing more (With ladybug was different because at least with her, chat didn't see her as often and there was a possibility for her to be like him, born without a partner. He allowed himself daydream about possible future together, even knowing he was going to get hurt at the end, he knew it wouldn't be as bad as if it was with Marinette)
Adrien lay down on his bed, his thoughts full of her. Her smile, her laughter, the way her nose wrinkled when she was angry or focused...
He then closed his eyes and just– felt her. The quiet at the back of his head, her emotions. It was almost like they were beside each other and not more than 4 miles away
Peace.
The blonde took a deep breath, enjoying the moment.
"We're going to Master Fu's place tomorrow "
"What?"
"I want to talk to him about Marinette and my secret identity"
"It's nice of you to ask him to reveal yourself her" Plagg answered distracted with no interest in his voice.
Adrien could imagine him not even looking at him, but instead his "personal heaven" where the kwami had all his cheese
"I'm not going to ask him anything. I don't need his permission" Adrien said firm, catching Plagg's attention "I'm just going to let him know beforehand" the boy frowned, eyes still closed. Adrien was hurt by the old man, he claimed that Ladybug and chat noir were partners, equals. Yet, the only thing Master fu had done is keep secrets from him, and forcing ladybug to stay quiet. Like the first times when they needed backup heroes or special powers.
For a moment, Adrien forgot he was now linked to Marinette and she was sleeping, frustration and sadness grew while he remember how Fu seemed to have a notable preference in his partner.
Discomfort.
She was waking up, he noticed. He forced himself to calm down and give her all the peace and comfort so she could keep sleeping. Surprisingly, it worked.
"Well, I'm glad" Plagg said... proud?
"Wait, really? Aren't you worried I'm breaking the rules or something?"
"No, not really" the kwami responded simply "The rules are made for the bugs. We, black cats, have always followed our instinct. It's in our nature"
"But what If we're wrong?"
"That's why the bugs are our partners, we balance each other. We help them not to plan everything detailed and when sometimes it's necessary, brake some rules. They help us to not be rekless and follow the procedures" he paused "I'm happy you're not going to ask for permission, it's what makes you a black cat and a perfect balance for you lady. Really, sometimes it's annoying how much she's willing to go by the rules"
Adrien didn't hear the last part, he was far too gone in thought.
He made a perfect balance with ladybug, but what about Marinette? She was his soulmate after all, he didn't want her to feel left out because all the magic of the miraculous.
How would she feel knowing all of this?
Would she still be want to be with him?
Deciding he would talk to her about it after revealing his secret identity, he left himself enjoy her presence, and passing out not much after.
It had been a long night.
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@tbehartoo @jjmjjktth ;)
#miraculous ladybug#ml#ml ladybug#miraculous marinette#marichat may#marichat fanfic#marichat#marinette x chat noir#chat noir x marinette#marinette dupain cheng#ml chat noir#chat noir#can you see colors?
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