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#yes adrien face says it all
kochengnoir · 11 months
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Hey Queen, you dropped this 👑
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asukiess · 6 months
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THAT ADRIEN & CLAW SCENE..... that steals my breath honestly. adrien has the courage to face himself--pretty much the most side of him that could have won him over: full of grief and misery and shutting himself up inside and putting up barriers. like that's his vulnerable beauty!! is that adrien claws and digs and tries his BEST to be optimistic, to move forward, to move past all that which could crumble him. we've seen him in kuro neko and jubilation (I think? depression nest adrien you know?) where he succumbs and lays in bed and curls into himself.
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and the fact he is looking at Claw through all of this, but looks away right when he says "I can't say I haven't thought about it" because it's shameful! ladybug is his partner and the love of his life and STILL he's thought about different scenarios. probably multiple times. that probably leaves him feeling so guilty for even entertaining the idea. he can admit many things to himself, but this one is hard.
and we know it will STILL plagues him after this, when he talks about the idea directly to ladybug in passion.
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and that gentle little nod he gives himself... like yes, our mother. yes, I know every horrible thing that's in your heart because it is mine, too. he's just so gentle with himself, it's so endearing to me. it's a kind of fragile care with yourself when you've had the same conversation over and over again and it's tired and it's a bruise that you keep going back to, checking on it, tending to it, and yet that's just how grief is.
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"I'm as well as I can be, anyway" HELLO? I mean we already thought of him as coping in multiple ways, but this means everything to me?? our adrien decides every day to try again, try to be happy as emilie wanted him to be.
(will he always settle? will he always feel there's a baseline? as well as I can be, anyway.....)
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this is art, to me. hang this up. core adrien moment for me.
and then I realize that he has ALL this hope for himself, all this acceptance of that hate and grief and sorrow could manifest through him like this...
and then how by the end of s5, he's TERRIFIED of becoming the chat noir in his nightmares.
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ladyofthenoodle · 6 months
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fic idea from 2020 that the paris special unearthed from the archives of my brain:
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So far, there wasn’t a single thing about this new reality that wasn’t terrible. She was grounded, for some reason, which she didn’t know about, and was therefore double grounded for breaking the rules of the grounding. Which she hadn’t known about!
To make matters worse, when she’d gone to text Alya to complain about the unfairness of it all, she realized she didn’t have Alya’s number. In fact, she didn’t have anyone’s number except her parents, Nadja Chamack, her grandmother, and someone called The Supreme.
She next turned to Tikki to vent, but when she checked her (admittedly cool) purse, she found her kwami wide-eyed, terrified, and most horrifiyingly, muzzled—which Marinette couldn’t figure out a way to undo. 
So she was stuck in the bakery on a Saturday morning with angry parents and no one to talk to and no ideas on how to get out of the worst version of Paris possible.
Which is when Adrien Agreste’s bodyguard walked in. Brief hope flared in her heart before extinguishing just as quickly when she saw he was alone.
Which she should’ve expected. With how awful this world was, she wouldn’t be surprised if Adrien didn’t even exist here. She couldn’t imagine a world this awful with him in it.
She bagged up the Gorilla’s order with a heavy heart and sent him on his way before looking out the bakery display window with a sigh.
Only to spot Adrien Agreste himself, with an asymmetrical haircut and thick kohl around his eyes, staring back at her. He was different than her Adrien—and she couldn’t say she was a fan of the hair—but he was just as handsome, and his eyes even more striking with the eyeliner.
When he noticed her looking, his eyes widened and his cheeks started to turn pink.
Was he blushing?
Marinette could feel her own cheeks heating up as he stared. She ventured a small, embarrassed wave, and he—he!—
He lifted his own hand, brought it to his lips, and blew her a kiss.
Crash!
Marinette, along with about 300 macarons, toppled to the floor.
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“Good morning, Marinette!” said Adrien Agreste, during a time that was decidedly morning but far too early to be described as ‘good.’ 
She scowled at him.
“Girl, you okay?” said Alya Césaire, who was—who was speaking to her.
Right.
Alya Césaire was speaking to her. Because Alya Césaire, Hesperia’s favorite lackey, was apparently Marinette’s best friend.
And Adrien Agreste was the boy Marinette was in love with.
She plastered a smile on her face. “I’m great, Alya! Super dee duper. Absolutely swell. What a beautiful morning with all the sunshine and the…. morning.”
Alya looked unconvinced.
“And the Adriens!” Marinette added hastily. “I mean, the Adrien. Because there’s only one Adrien and he sure is… here. Hello Adrien! Your face is looking very attractive this morning, because you are an attractive person. And that’s… something positive I can say about you.”
“Thanks, Marinette!” said Adrien with a dopey little smile. She wasn’t sure if he was mocking her or just deeply stupid. If her diary entries were to be believed, it was probably the latter. “Your face is looking attractive this morning as well. Did you do something new with your makeup?”
Marinette had done her makeup the same way she did every day, but she supposed his Marinette opted for a boring girl next door ‘no makeup makeup’ look.
Alya squealed next to her before giving her shoulder an excited squeeze.
Marinette took several deep breaths.
“Yes, I thought I’d try something new.”
Adrien smiled and nodded.
Alya shoved her forward.
Marinette barely managed to restrain herself from sending Alya a patented Toxinelle Death Glare. Instead, she smiled wider at Adrien.
Her cheeks hurt.
“Thank you soooooo much for noticing my makeup. That is a thing I am excited about. I love putting on makeup to impress cute boys, tee hee!”
Adrien’s face fell. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply—I know you always dress for you, Marinette! That’s something I really admire about you.”
His eyes were so earnest, so sincere, and for a second, she almost—
Marinette cleared her throat. “That’s so nice! You can leave now.”
Adrien blinked. 
“Bye!” She shooed him.
“Oh, um, bye Marinette,” he said with a sheepish wave, and then he left.
Nailed it.
“Girl, what the actual fuck?”
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mochinek0 · 10 months
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Reunion
No one from Françoise Dupont High School expected Marinette Dupain-Cheng to walk into the ten year reunion. As far as they knew, she hadn't been invited. Marinette strode in, with her head held high, and walked right up to Lila Rossi.
"I want to thank you for being such a bitch to me, Lila." Mari smiled, "You changed my life for the better."
"E-Excuse me?" Lila questioned.
'There' no way that forcing her out of school and isolating her gave her an amazing life!'
"That whole shit about telling people what they wanted to hear." Marinette began to explain, "I got really tired of defending myself and being told that I had to 'love you' to make you a better person by the staff. I got tired of being stacked with doing shit for free: all that babysitting I never said I would do, the banners, uniforms, clothes, fundraisers! It was exhausting for a fifteen year old."
Mari smiled, "Once you turned everyone against me, I realized how much free time I had! I signed up for homeschooling and worked extremely hard to graduate early. I even skipped a couple grades. It turned out that my husband's family were huge fans of my designs, so they offered to pay for my schooling if I moved."
"Husband?" Lila asked, concerned, "I didn't realize you had gotten married."
"Yeah." Marinette stated, "We met when I was seventeen and got married when I was nineteen; we have two kids."
Lila looked up and down at her arch-rival. Aside from a growth spurt and a larger chest, Marinette didn't look like she had changed at all. She looked like she was in her early twenties!
"So, thank you for bullying me." Marinette continued with a smile, "It was the best thing that could have happened to me."
Lila stayed silent. She didn't know what to say to that. None of her other victims had ever thanked her. She could feel eyes on them. She knew people were listneing in on their conversation. If she started to make a scene, it wouldn't end well.
"We'll, I'm married too!" Announced Lila.
"Oh, congrats." Marinette smiled, "Where is the lucky person?"
Lila spotted a tall, dark, and handsome man walk into the venue.
"There he is." Lila smiled.
Lila watched as her prey came towards them.
'Just a few more feet and I'll be able grab him. I'm sure he wouldn't mind playing along for a few minutes.'
Lila reached out a hand to grab him, when he put his arm around Marinette's waist and kissed her.
"Hello, Habibiti." he spoke.
"Everything okay without us at the company?" Mari asked.
He sighed, "Yes. It was just Grayson being himself."
Marinette giggled, "I'm sorry, Lila. This is my husband, Damian Wayne. Where were you saying your spouse is?"
Lila plastered a smile on her face, "They just stepped out. They had their cellphone out. It must be an important client. We're both models."
'There's no way she is married to this guy! The sooner she leaves, the sooner I can tell everyone I recognize him as an actor.'
Lila couldn't believe her luck. Adrien had just walked though the doors.
'Marinette was obsessed with him for years! Her fake marriage will be exposed and I can get the guy to stay with me. It doesn’t matter how much she paid him. I'm sure I could pay him more.'
"Marinette!" Adrien shouted.
He was quick to run over and hug her, pulling her away from her husband.
"Agreste, put my wife down." Damian growled.
Adrien turned his attention to Damian and froze.
"Hey, Wayne." He smiled, before looking around, "Where are the kids? Where's my neice and nephew?"
'Kids? They're really married and have kids?'
"They're with my parents, Adrien." Mari answered, "I'm sure they're being fed sugar and will pass out soon."
"So, is that an invite?" the model asked.
"To my parent's place for sweets?" Mrs. Wayne questioned, "You live here! They call me like once a week saying you were at the bakery!"
Adrien chuckled, "No. What about my time with the kids?"
Marinette looked to Damian, who shrugged. She turned to Adrien and shot him a look.
"Tell you what, you can see them in two days." she replied, "A whole day with Uncle Adrien."
'Uncle Adrien?'
"Really?" Adrien cried out, happily.
"But, you got to plan it." she answered.
"Disneyland Paris?" the Agreste heir suggested.
"Fine." Marinette growled, "But if you lose one of my kids, again, I will hurt you."
Adrien glanced towards Damian.
"Adrien, if you think my husband is scarier, just because you have seen his sword collection, you're wrong." Marinette Wayne declared, "You lose one of my children, I will hurt you worse than my husband could ever imagine."
"Got it." Adrien smiled, "Plan awesome VIP experience for the kids!"
"Great!" Mari smiled back.
"Man, you moving really toughened you up." the model winced.
"I punched my brother-in-law the first day there because I thought he grabbed my ass." Mrs. Wayne spoke.
"That is still one of my best days ever. No one has underestimated you since." Damian stated, before kissing her head.
"So, what are you doing here?" Adrien questioned, "Didn't you graduate like two years before us?"
"Oh, I just wanted to thank Lila for bullying me and getting me homeschooled." Marinette smiled, "It sucked that she bullied me, at the time, but if she hadn't done that, I wouldn't be with Damian and we wouldn't have our kids."
Adrien quickly turned to Lila, "Thank you for being a bitch to my best friend. I love my niece and nephew. Marinette, do you think we should get her like a fruit basket or something?"
Mari laughed, "We have dinner plans so we're gonna head out. Enjoy the reunion, Adrien."
Adrien took a step back and eyed Marinette's dress. It was a short black bodycon dress with puffy transparent sleeves. He eyed the black heels, warily.
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"Dressed like that?" he questioned.
"Eyes on my wife's face, Agreste." Damian growled.
Adrien rolled his eyes, "She's all yours. I don't think I've ever seen you dressed like this, is all. You think you'll be able to take care of the kids dressed like that?"
Marinette answered, "They are staying with my parents tonight." before walking away.
Adrien watched as Damian placed his hand at Marinette's waist, likely making sure she didn't fall in those heels.
Adrien smiled, evilly, "Hey, Marinette!"
The designer turned to look back at her friend.
"I want another neice or nephew!" he shouted.
Marinette's face morphed from shock to embarassment, before she quickly glared at her best friend. She squeaked as she was quickly lifted into her husband's arms.
"Damian, you put me down!" she snapped at him.
"No." her husband responded.
"Why not?" she growled.
"Adrien won't get his wish if you're in jail for harming him." Damian smirked.
Marinette buried her face in her husband's chest and remained silent.
Adrien laughed as Marinette was carried out of the reunion. Nino walked up to him, confused.
"You….You kept in touch with Mari?" he questioned.
"Of course!" Adrien smiled, brightly, "I helped her with her math sometimes and she talks with Father about designing. She's my best friend."
"Designs?" Rose asked.
"Marinette is a fashion designer in the states." he answered, "Her husband's family runs an international company. She occasionally designs for their clothing line, but they do other stuff, too. Marinette has an office in their building, but she mostly does custom work. I think last year someone asked for a wedding dress. It was around $25,000."
"Seriously?" Alya asked, full of surprise.
"Oh yeah!" Adrien smiled, "She's an amazing deisgner. A lot of her dresses and suits have been coming out on runways and red carpet events."
"You're forgetting that she bullied Lila!" cried Sabrina, "She was mean to her! How can you be friends with her?"
"Actually, it was the other way around." Adrien stated, "Lila once claimed that Mari pushed her, after school, so hard that she injured her knee and was forced to walk home with a limp. I tried to tell you that Marinette couldn't have done it; Marinette had been with me the day before. You told me I was just confused. You never let me speak. You just decided Lila was right."
The class just stared at him.
'Had they really done that? Had they ignored Adrien when he tried to defend Marinette?'
"You never listened to me or Marinette when we told you about Lila being a lying bitch." he shrugged.
"But you're married!" Kim shouted, "How can you choose Marinette over a model?"
"I didn't. I'm bi and dating a male model from my father's company." Adrien announced, "Lila was fired when she was sixteen. Wasn't Lila held back a grade? Why is she even here? You didn't graduate with us or even from this school."
"It was a computer error!" Max spoke up, "Lila said that-
Adrien rolled his eyes, "Her mother called Natalie and declared she was owed a meeting with my father. She said we ruined Lila's future by forcing her to model. She threatened to sue the Gabriel brand until we showed her the 'signatures' on the forms. Turns out, Lila forged those so her mother's hands were tied. Her mother started shouting how she should send her to boot camp, back in Italy, as the left the house."
One by one they turned to look at Lila.
"i-I wanted to see everyone." she whispered, weakly, "I missed my friends."
"Thank for stopping by." Adrien stated, "You can leave now."
"Adrikins!" Chloe shouted.
"Chloe!" Adrien called back, "I missed you. We loved that spa treatment. You're the best!"
Chloe smiled and pulled Adrien away from the rest of the group to socialize with the other students.
"You still talk to that trash?" they heard Chloe ask.
"Rossi?" Adrien questioned, "Nah. You missed Marinette by a couple minutes. She came here and thanked Lila for being a raging bitch. The rest of them were still trying to kiss ass."
"The queen, herself, and I missed it." the Bourgeois heiress teased.
"Date night." Adrien quipped, "She brought Damian and the demon brigade."
"I missed the little ones?" she screeched.
Adrien laughed, "They're with her parents. Better book your time with them before they leave again. Oh, and Mari is already threatening bodily harm if anything happens to them."
"You lost one last time!" Chloe cried.
"I said I was sorry!" Adrien rebutted.
Chloe scoffed, "You're lucky you didn't die that day."
"I know." Adrien sighed, "Would it be weird if I put them on one of those kid leashes? I feel like they would fuck with me and purposely try to get lost to see me sweat, again. Honestly, I don't know if it's a mini Damian or mini Marinette. Don't get me wrong, Damian is frightening and he could probably work in the CIA torture room, but seeing Marinette pissed off, scares the living crap out of me. She's creative and could probably make something specifically to hurt me."
Chloe looked up from her phone, "I bought you the leashes. They'll be here tomorrow. You're welcome."
"Chloe." Adrien replied, "You didn't answer me."
"I was frenemies with her for years, Adrikins." Chloe answered, "Mari will find some way to hurt you and she wouldn't need her godly husband to do it. You have every right to fear for your life for pissing her off. Look at what happened to the idiot brigade: they believed a liar and bullied her. None of their dreams came true. The Waynes own half the companies those idiots wanted to work for. I wouldn't put it past Damian to rat those losers out to his family and have them blacklisted. You have seen how overprotective he is of their kids; he's the same way with her."
"True." Adrine sighed, "He still yells at me when I hug her."
"Idiot." Chloe declared, rolling her eyes.
The class looked at each other before pulling out their phones. They looked up Marinette and the Wayne family. The class shifted nervously as they realized what Chloe had said was true. The Waynes and Marinette owned their jobs. They were all comfortable with their jobs, but they weren't anything to brag about. They had all wanted bigger and better things at thirteen.
None of them were the doctors, rock stars, DJs, journalists, environmentalists, or the Olympians they thought they would be. They worked desk jobs or became something close to what they wanted. Lila knew she would never model again when Gabriel told her that he was going to blacklist her. The Waynes owned everything from food to biolabs to steel to shipbuilding and aerospace. Lila silently left the reunion as everyone came to terms that their dreams ended long ago.
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lilian-writes-sins · 6 months
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       𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑩𝒖𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒏 Ch. 2
“𝐵𝑎𝑏𝑦’𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑓(𝑙)𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.”
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★ pairing: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir x Reader
★ p.o.v: 3ʳᵈ person
★ ch. 2 summary: The news that they were next in line to hold the Miraculous of the Ladybug and defeat Hawkmoth alongside Chat Noir would affect everyone differently. For [Y/N], it came in the form of ignoring the issue all together, if they didn’t think about it, it doesn’t exist, right? But after weeks of lying low and ignoring Tikki’s pleas to take on the mantle of the Ladybug, the teenager finally, after what feels like an eternity, weakens their resolve (and, maybe, definitely, fights their first Akuma).
★ tags: swearing; weird magic headcanons; sorta making fun of Master Fu’s methods of picking heroes; reader is in denial; terribly written fight scenes (i’m sorry); tried writing a panic attack, dont know if its good or not
★ word count: 5,188
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MASTERLIST | previous chapter
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⟡ ⁺ ₊ ⊹ ࣪ ━━ ⊱⋆ flashback ⋆⊰ ━━ ࣪ ⊹ ₊ ⁺ ⟡
       “… Are you sure that is possible?”
       “Yes, if I can harness the souls and memories of the past Ladybug Miraculous wielders, I can conjure up an image of the next holder. That means, no more trusting strangers blindly!”
       “Hmm... well, alright, if you believe this will work, let's at least try.”
With that, Tikki took a deep breath, closed her eyes and began to hum. It was unlike anything Master Fu has ever heard — something ancient and not of this world. Wayzz, Fu’s kwami, himself has only heard his friend utter it once before — back when they were young and their powers weren’t contained — and to say it was catastrophic would be undermining it. But that was then, now they're a lot wiser, and their unlimited powers are under control — for the most part — so what could go wrong?
Tikki’s little hands glowed brighter and brighter until the energy was released with a flash. The sphere of light rose into the air, growing in size. Master Fu, Wayzz and Tikki all gazed in wonder at the face of the next Ladybug Miraculous wielder.
       “Is- is that really them?” Fu asked, amazement evident in his voice.
       “Yes,” the red kwami answered, eyes gleaming with conviction, “I’m certain it is.”
⟡ ⁺ ₊ ⊹ ࣪ ━━ ⊱⋆ flashback ⋆⊰ ━━ ࣪ ⊹ ₊ ⁺ ⟡
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       “What. The. Fuck.”
[Y/N]’s eyebrows in bewilderment as they gazed upon the red, bug-like creature in front of them. Tikki, as it called itself, stated that the teen was chosen to be whatever a ‘wielder of the Ladybug Miraculous’ is.
Their face scrunched up as they tried to process the information.
       “… Okay… what?”
       “Are you alright? You’re reacting much more calmly about this whole situation — especially compared to my previous holder,” Tikki asked, her high-pitched voice tinged with concern.
The teen snorted, blinking owlishly as they surveyed their surroundings. “Oh, yeah, I’m perfectly fine! It’s not like a flying, comically large insect just told me I was the fucking chosen one. Nothing weird about that, no,” they shot back with a sarcastic edge to their voice.
A brief moment of silence stretched through [Y/N]’s room. They let out a deep sigh, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over them.
       “… I’m dreaming, right? This is all in my head, and- and you’re just a figment of my imagination, right?” they asked, their voice tinged with desperation.
       “I’m afraid not, [Y/N]. This is all real,” said the thing, Tikki, who looked almost… apologetic.
       “… Okay, well then, can you at least clear some things up for me?” they prompted, slightly curious but still skeptical.
       “Of course! What would you like to know?” Tikki flew a bit closer to the teen’s face.
       “Well, for starters, the fuck is a ‘Miraculous’?” they asked, brows furrowed.
Tikki released a deep sigh, bracing herself from this point onward: ‘Oh boy… this is going to be a long evening…’
       
       
       
       
       
[Y/N] shook their head in disbelief, trying to process what Tikki was saying. She seemed really eager to explain things, but the longer she babbled, the more the teen felt their thoughts disconnecting from their body. They didn’t hear what the flying bug was saying until she was quite literally in front of them, a worried expression on her face, “... [Y/N]?” she whispered, not wanting to scare them.
That seemed to bring them back, with the teen bringing a hand up, trying to put some distance between the two. [Y/N] wasn’t sure what to even think. They were just a teen, not some hero with superpowers.
       “Look, this is nice, flattering even, but I really don’t think I’m the one for this job, sorry,” they finally uttered, turning away from Tikki. They’ve just escaped to Paris, and they didn’t want to get into any messes so soon.
Frustration couldn’t even begin to describe what the kwami was feeling, she tried getting more words in, but all of it fell on deaf ears as the teen got ready for the night. “Please, just listen to me, [Y/N] — you are meant for this, you are meant to be Ladybug — my vision showed you, not anyone else, please,” nothing she said would cause any reaction from them.
Though the conversation went nowhere, the kwami was even more determined to make the teen see reason, no matter how long it took. Hopefully, she wouldn’t cause an Akuma in the process.
       
       
       
       
       
Every day since then has been a massive headache, at least for [Y/N]. An entire week of being hounded by Tikki’s constant whining and begging was driving the teen up the wall. If she were completely honest, the kwami was surprised that they lasted so long, she could be quite persuasive when she wanted to be.
One day in particular, though ordinary in every other regard, all of that pleading made [Y/N] reach their breaking point. ‘Kwami of Creation, huh, yeah, right,’ has been a primary thought of theirs. Though, truth be told, the teen found themselves enjoying Tikki’s company, if only a little. Unless she was nagging them, like right now…
       “Please. Please. Please. Please. Please,” the bug floated around their head, relentless in her attempts to coerce them into transforming. She came out every day when Astrid would leave for work, like clockwork.
And just like clockwork, [Y/N] refused again. Suddenly, Tikki was floating in front of their face, the quiet buzzing sound her wings emit growing louder. She then proceeded to use her secret weapon, the puppy-dog eyes, in a sort of desperate attempt to persuade the teen.
To their credit, the teen really tried resisting the blue, alien-like eyes being thrown at them, but some things are inevitable. A few seconds pass before they relent, throwing their head back against the couch and saying, “Ugh! Fine! Okay, okay, I’ll fucking do it.”
       “Yay! I knew I could change your mind! Come on! Come on! Let’s go right now!” Before she could get carried away, the teen put their foot down because they couldn’t just transform right then and there, for the sake of staying covert.
Thankfully, Tikki regains some sense, “Hehe, sorry,” she smiles sheepishly.
Shivers ran down [Y/N]’s back, mind and heart racing at the thought of them running along the ornate roofs of Paris.
The day ran its course, and the human-kwami duo were the only ones home for the day, spending their time scrolling through YouTube and eating snacks. As the sun was setting, Astrid came home from a long day at work. She spared the teen a glance and a smile, before making her way to her bedroom down the hall.
When the pair heard snores coming from her room, they decided it was finally time. Tikki’s excitement was clearly visible on her face as she flew straight through the door to [Y/N]’s own bedroom. The teen followed her, closing the door silently behind them.
Taking a deep breath, the teen closed their eyes, not wanting to waste any more time than needed. “Okay, Tikki, spots on,” they whispered. A bright light surrounded them, it faded as soon as it came, leaving the teen covered in a skin-tight, almost uncomfortable, material. ‘Fuck,’ [Y/N] stealthily made their way to the bathroom, ‘I don’t have a mirror... Their heart felt like it was going to jump out of their throat any time soon. And then, they caught their reflection.
The teen almost didn’t recognize themselves in the reflection. Staring back at them was a person covered head-to-toe in a red and black armor-like suit. As they looked themselves over, [Y/N] felt a grin form on their covered face. The most striking detail that the teen noticed was on their face. It was their eyes. They resembled Tikki’s eyes — striking blue hues with dark blue sclerae.
Right beneath their eyes, the teen noticed a dark gray mask covering the bottom half of their face. A pair of goggles were hanging around their neck, the blue lenses connected by a thick black strap. The suit looks like it came from a sci-fi novel: a dark gray bodice, resembling a ladybug’s underbelly, was tight-fitting, with a red chest piece, shoulder pads, forearm braces and knee-length boots. All the red pieces have black spots on them.
They turned around to inspect their back, and saw a big, red, black-spotted lump that rested between their shoulder blades. ‘What is that supposed to be?’ confusion riddled their face. Suddenly, the lump opened up, and a set of large, bug-like, transparent wings unfurled from its confines. [Y/N] brought their gaze back up after they felt something twitch on top of their head. And there they noticed it — a pair of antennae sprouting out from their forehead. The teen reached up to touch one of the ends, feeling it twitch.
The teen smiled, striking a few poses and quietly admiring their reflection from different angles. Taking a closer look at all the details of their attire, [Y/N] notices something red attached to their waist. They took the object into their hands, quickly realizing it was a yo-yo, it also had five little spots on it. ‘Of course this is my weapon,’ the teen sighed, a bit disappointed.
[Y/N] turned to exit the bathroom, turning off the lights before opening the door very slowly. Before the hinges started squeaking, the masked teen slipped through the gap, quickly making their way across the hallway back to their bedroom. They went over to the window connected to the side of the balcony, opening it and stepping through, trying not to bump or knock over the plant in the corner.
The teen stood crouched on the ledge, looking down at the street below. They grabbed the goggles around their neck, putting them around their eyes. [Y/N] stood up, grabbing their yo-yo from their hip and swinging it back and forth, feeling the weight and movement of the seemingly indestructible string in their hand.
Time seemed to slow down as they took a deep breath. [Y/N] swung their red tool out, linking it to a chimney on the other side of the street, and tugged on it a few times to test it. ‘Well, no time like the present.’ With that thought, they jumped, soaring through the air.
After what felt like forever but, in reality, was only a few seconds, the masked teen crash-landed across the street from Astrid’s apartment with a loud thud and a shout.
       “OW, FUCK!”
Immediately covering their mouth to quiet any cries, [Y/N] looked around to see if anyone had noticed them. Feeling safe, they swung their yo-yo again with a bit more confidence than before. Unfurling the suit’s transparent wings once more, the masked teen glided through the night sky, enjoying the wind hitting their face.
Not wanting to be spotted, [Y/N] made their way directly to the Eiffel Tower, climbing up its structure quickly with their newfound strength and agility. When they finally reached the top of the monument, they felt their breath get caught in their throat, stolen away by an incredible view of the vast city bathing under the full moon.
       “Whoa...” the teen muttered, removing their goggles and resting them on their forehead — right below the long antennae — so they could see a clear view of the skyline with ease.
The moment of awe was cut short when [Y/N] heard a figure land across them. The teen quickly hid behind the tower, holding their breath and not looking back. They were ready to jump off and head back home when they heard another thud, followed by a sigh.
Out of curiosity, they peeked around the corner and spotted a black figure sitting on the edge. Fortunately, the figure seemed unaware of the alien-like blue eyes peering at it from the shadows. Recognizing the potential dangers of being caught, [Y/N] decided to turn around and go back home.
The sound of something soaring through the air caught the ears of the dark figure. It turned its head back, not finding a source for the noise. It let out a defeated sigh after not seeing anything, its shoulders dropping in sadness.
       “I’m even starting to hear things in your absence, m’lady. Sigh, this tomcat misses you…”
[Y/N] couldn’t hear the desperate pleas of the figure, they were too preoccupied trying to find their way back home. When they stopped on a roof to gather their bearings, a group of people caught sight of them, taking out their phones and shouting in unison.
       “OH. MY. GOD! LADYBUG?” the group shouted, taking multiple pictures.
‘Shit!’ The teen panicked and swung away as fast as they could, eventually making it back to the apartment — almost tripping over the balcony railing. Climbing through the open window, they de-transformed and collapsed on their bed, exhausted.
       “So? Did you like it?” Tikki asked, eager to hear what [Y/N] was thinking.
The teen just smiled and said, “That was so cool! Though, I’m not too sure about the yo-yo. Anyway, come on, let’s get some rest.” Tikki buzzes with excitement, snuggling next to [Y/N]’s cheek on the pillow. The pair drift off into a peaceful slumber.
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
Another week passed before anything notable happened. [Y/N] spent their days bonding with their loving aunt, Astrid, who helped furnish and decorate the teen’s room to their liking. The relationship between them grew stronger, and the teen felt more comfortable and safe in her home, though some habits were difficult to break.
However, when the sun set and everyone was fast asleep, [Y/N] and Tikki would sit on the teen’s bed, having fun and growing closer. The kwami would explain various Miraculous-related topics, like the history of the Miraculous, her own powers, and the rules the teen had to follow.
Together, they enjoyed a sense of peace and security that was lacking in their daytime routine. [Y/N] even let Tikki have a strand of their hair, which the kwami claimed was for ‘secret purposes’ with a sneaky giggle.
       
       
       
       
       
Now it’s Thursday, a regular day in the middle of a regular week. And it was, at least until a deafening roar shook the ground the Parisians were walking on. [Y/N] was out running errands — they really enjoyed helping Astrid out whenever they could — when it happened.
The deafening roar made everyone begin to panic and fall to the ground. Only seconds after the bellowing stopped, the grounds trembled once more as heavy stomps took over. The city was in utter chaos. [Y/N] could hear children crying, scared out of their minds.
As the teen’s heart raced and adrenaline soared through their blood, they desperately tried to make sense of the situation. Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over them on top of the buildings.
Some civilians, including [Y/N], looked up to see what the source of all this commotion was, while others panicked and ran for cover. Some hid in stores, some fled to their homes, and some huddled together in groups, too overtaken by fear to act.
Before they even noticed, the monster came into full view, revealing a stark white reptilian beast towering over everyone.
The teen looked around, looking for a hiding spot to get to, before they heard something. A few feet in front of them, a mother and daughter were hugging as they were about to be crushed under the massive foot of the reptile. [Y/N]’s body moved without a second thought — almost instinctively — running towards the pair as fast as they could. When they were close enough, the teen jumped for them, pushing the woman and her child out of the way.
The older woman looked back at the teen, holding her wailing child close to her. She mouthed a silent thank-you to them before running away. [Y/N] almost forgot where they were before they turned back to look at the clawed, scaly foot coming down on them this time.
They covered their head, preparing for the worst, but it never came. Instead, the giant monster yelled and moved its foot away from them. Peeking their eyes out from behind their forearms, the crouching teen noticed a black, leather-clad figure right in front of them. ‘This must be Chat Noir...’  [Y/N] thought as they brought their hands down.
Chat Noir looked back, looking at you with a concerned expression. His silver staff retracts back into its original size and is placed behind the cat-themed hero’s back. [Y/N] stared at him, even as he extended his hand out to them, before they took it and got up. The two gazed into each other’s eyes, both under a strange haze; the two teens felt a tightness in their chests. It went away quickly, and the leather-clad hero straightened his back and spoke.
       “Are you alright?” Chat asked, voice brimming with concern, green slitted eyes fleeting over them, looking for any injuries.
       “I- I’m fine. Just shaken up,” the teen’s trembly hands were proof of that.
       “Well, do you think you can get back home on your own? I’m kind of preoccupied with a lizard infestation,” he said, pointing behind him, where more destruction could be seen.
Instead of answering verbally, [Y/N] nodded. That was all the hero needed, apparently, as he gave them a smile — it made the weird tightness in their chest come back — before he turned, grabbing his staff and extending it again, jumping away.
[Y/N] stood in place for a second before they felt something jabbing into their side. Glancing down, the teen noticed Tikki already looking up at them.
       “C’mon! Let’s go hide!”
They scrambled to get somewhere hidden, finding an alleyway and crouching behind one of the dumpsters. Tikki flew out of [Y/N]’s bag.
       “I- What the fuck was that thing?” The teen held their chest — their heart beating faster than normal — trying to control their breathing.
       “[Y/N]? Are you sure you're okay?” The kwami flew closer to the teen’s face, touching their cheek with her small limb.
They slid down the brick wall, hand still clutching their chest, as their breath became shaky and ragged, as if they’d run a marathon. Their eyes were looking straight past Tikki, not really focused on anything.
Loud ringing could be heard, though it only seemed to bother [Y/N]; they suddenly brought both their hands to cover their ears harshly, tears welling in the corners of the distraught teen’s shut eyes. Quiet, strained whimpers kept escaping their lips.
Tikki thought they looked like a wounded baby deer — scared and vulnerable. She flew down, perched on the teen’s shoulder, and rested a hand on their neck — that was really all she could do.
The kwami continued to reassure [Y/N], and a little while later, they finally stopped shaking. The teen looked at their little red companion with a determined look as they stood up, rolling their shoulders back.
       “Okay, let's do this.”
       
       
       
       
       
All Chat Noir could think of right now was not letting his lunch come back out the wrong side. He was being swung around by ginormous, scaly reptile paws and thrown through the air. You’d think that after half a year of working alone, he’d be more efficient at this whole thing. And you’d be right; today was just... not his day, to say the least.
The terrified screams and reassuring words from the Parisians below all mixed into a disorienting white noise that Chat couldn’t do anything about. As he was being lifted to the Draken’s face, rows upon rows of sharp, yellowy teeth could be seen. The feline hero shut his bright green eyes tight, silently preparing for his doom. ‘This really is it... I’m so sorry, m’Lady.’
       
       
       
       
       
       “HEY, UGLY!” A voice cut through the air, loud enough to get the attention of everyone, “Let the cat-boy go!”
There, on the roof of a tall building — eye-level with the scaly, white beast — stood a figure, shadowed by the warm afternoon sun hitting its back.
Murmurs ran through the crowd like wildfire. The figure grabs something from its hip and spins it fast, a familiar pink glow appears from the whizzing of the object.
       “Whoa, who is that?”
       “Is that Ladybug?”
       “HA! I told you she would come back!”
The figure paid no mind to the crowd, keeping their gaze on the giant in front of them — more specifically, the bright purple butterfly outside that suddenly appeared over its face. It seemed to make the large beast stop in its tracks, like it was under a spell. But there was no time to think about that; there were civilians and a stray cat in danger.
       “Oj, scale-face! I’m talking to you!” The red figure took a running start and jumped off the roof, spreading large, transparent wings out from their back.
That seemed to bring the creature out of its trance-like state — the glowing outline had disappeared by now — letting out a deafening roar, black smoke pouring out of its unhinged mouth.
Now that the sun wasn't blocking their view, everyone could see someone akin to the iconic red and black-spotted heroine Paris has come to love and mourn the loss of. Though, the voice and mannerisms should’ve given them away sooner, this was definitely not Ladybug, at least not the Ladybug people know.
The spotted figure zipped straight for the overgrown lizard, effectively — if only a bit clumsily, as if this were their first time — dodging its flailing limbs. They flew straight towards its open mouth, quickly grabbing the black-leather-clad hero before he could become lizard food.
The two escaped narrowly, [Y/N] setting Chat Noir down on one of the flat roofed buildings, behind the roof access room, hiding them from the beast’s line of sight.
       “Are you alright?” the teen asked, unknowingly repeating his first words to their civilian self.
Wherever his mind went, it came back to his body right at that moment. He glanced at the face of his savior, covered with a black face mask and goggles, hiding every part of their face apart from their eyebrows. The short hairs were furrowed, and no doubt a concerned expression decorated the face beneath the disguise.
       “I- Yes… Who are you?” His gaze held so many emotions, like confusion but mostly distrust.
       “Y’know, I never gave it much thought before, ask me again when we take Godzilla over there down, ‘kay?” Apparently, that wasn’t the answer he was expecting, [Y/N] could almost imagine a giant question mark floating on top of his head.
       “So... you have a plan?” He was still staring, the fight clearly not on the forefront of his mind. His lack of answer perpetuated the awkward silence: “... Right, so, ahem, do you know where the Akumatized object is?”
He finally got over it, if only for the time being, “Yeah, there’s a gem lodged into the back of his neck, I tried getting it, but I got caught.”
       “Well then, how about we try that again? C'mon, I’ll go and distract it while you destroy the thing!”
[Y/N] raised their goggles slightly over their eyes, winking at Chat Noir, allowing him to catch a glimpse of the alien-esque blue eyes that were hiding underneath the lenses. They prepared to take another running start, spreading their wings, before remembering something.
       “OH! Before I forget, sorry, this is my first time doing this,” they took their yo-yo from its resting place on their hip and throwing it in the air, “Lucky Charm!”
The red polka-dotted sides spun around as it glowed before it came back down, leaving a small object where it was. The item dropped into the gloved hands; it was a red ice pick with a black dot pattern all over it, quite on brand with the ladybug theme. [Y/N] turned it around, looking it over closely, then grasped it tightly and returned to their previous position.
       “Okay, are you ready? ‘Cause I’m not,” the teen chuckled, pulling their goggles back over their eyes, running and jumping off the roof, heading straight for the scaly monster.
The cat-eyed hero stood in place for a second, his mind still lagging behind. He shook his head, getting out of his stupor, and hardened his gaze, focusing on completing the mission. He would ask questions later.
He stood still for a while, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike the Draken. He kept his gaze mostly on the spotted hero, distracting the beast by zipping around with their large wings, evading its grasp. Maybe he was watching them because he was worried they would get caught and hurt, or maybe he was judging them because ‘Ladybug wouldn't have come up with such a primitive plan’.
By now, the Draken's back is turned away from Chat, letting him get a clear view of the icy blue gem, the same color as its eyes, embedded into the back of the beast's neck, surrounded by glistening white scales.
Taking the opportunity to strike, Chat Noir extended his staff, letting it carry him to land on the lizard’s back. He landed a bit below where the gem was, so he gripped onto whatever space he could and began to climb. However, the beast’s thrashing and flailing around made it quite hard to do. The green-eyed hero inched his way towards the glittering jewel, hanging on to a few looser scales to not fall off.
He raised his hand, preparing to strike, “Cataclysm!” A black, void-like mass bubbled around his right hand. Chat pressed his hand onto the gem, watching as it began to crack and turn a deathly gray.
Soon it stopped, and a glowing purple butterfly squeezed its way out of the cracks, trying to fly away. But before it could, Chat caught it in a strange, dark metal canister, not giving the insect a chance to escape.
As the butterfly no longer powered it, the large lizard became covered in a dark, almost black, purple, tar-like liquid. And then it disappeared, leaving a man, who looked to be about mid 20’s, to fall to his death.
Of course, seeing this, both heroes couldn’t let that happen, jumping into action to catch the young adult, before he could become one with the cracked concrete.
[Y/N] made it first, their wings gave them a stark advantage in situations like this, grabbing the man midair and gently landing him on the ground. The teen removed their goggles, letting them rest around their neck, and looked over the hunched person for any injuries. Thankfully, they found none, so they awkwardly patted his shoulder, making him look up.
He looked frazzled, as if his mind was a couple of minutes behind, trying to catch up to the rest of his body. He looked at the gloved hand on his shoulder and moved his gaze up to his savior’s face. The man was met with dark blues, glazed with concern.
He paid no mind to it, rushing into the hero’s arms and burying his head in the crook of their neck. It was a bit uncomfortable, both because their armor is very rigid and not soft at all and because they weren’t expecting it, obviously. Nevertheless, the teen hugged back, if only a bit stiffly.
       “Thank you! Thank you so much!” The man cried out, tightening his hold around them. He hiccuped, “I’m so sorry, for all of this. I- I just- my emotions got- got the best of me.”
He pulled away after a while, the teen now looking behind him to see Chat Noir staring them both down. Freezing under his gaze, the teen felt the third tightness in their chest return, all because of his eyes. But his gaze didn’t hold that same feeling — it was cold for some reason.
Not wanting to dwell on it, [Y/N] turned their unusual eyes back down at the man. Finally, they took a closer look at him; he was quite short — though that didn’t mean much, as the teen noticed they towered over most of the crowd, apart from Chat Noir, in this form — and gaunt, with heavy bags under his brown eyes. He was clearly dressed for work — unless business casual was his regular style — with a white collared shirt underneath a blue plaid sweater vest, paired with light brown slacks and matching loafers. His wavy brown hair was styled professionally — now a bit mussed from falling in the air.
       “Hey, you’re okay. What’s your name?” The teen asked awkwardly, smiling more with their eyes, as their mask covered the bottom of their face.
       “A- Arthur Gallo,” he spoke, still clearly in shock from his situation. [Y/N] patted his back lightly and reassured him, “Well, Arthur, whatever happened that caused this, it isn’t your fault, you were just pushed to your limit, and that's okay.”
The teen turned to fly away before stopping suddenly, “OH! Before I forget,” they grabbed the ice pick from its resting place on their hip — it was quite useless in their plan, but Tikki did say to have it on hand, just in case — throwing it up in the air, shouting, “Miraculous Ladybug!”
The spotted pick disappeared in a bright, pink flash of light, and thousands of ladybugs flew around the area, fixing and rebuilding all the destruction caused under the butterflies influence. The little insects surrounded the two heroes and Arthur before shooting up into the sky and dispersing out of sight.
Civilians around the area cheered loudly, and reporters popped up in front of the trio, asking questions upon questions and shoving cameras in their faces. [Y/N] ignored them, turning to face Chat Noir, whose gaze never left them. Suddenly, he spoke.
       “Ladybug would’ve come up with a much better plan.”
The teen’s expression quickly fell in confusion; you didn’t even need to see the bottom half of their face to see it. Their brows furrowed, and they spoke cautiously, “Yeah, well, I’m not good with plans in general, and I’m not Ladybug.”
       “Yeah, I can tell,” he huffed, turning around and extending his staff, jumping away, probably to detransform.
‘What the fuck is his problem,’ [Y/N] thought to themselves bitterly, their mood dampened by their ‘partner’s’ cold behavior. They turned back to Arthur, who was still standing next to them, looking awkwardly to the side.
       “You can make it back home on your own, right? I kind of have to go,” [Y/N] said, pointing to their beeping earrings, only 3 of the 5 spots were left. He nodded, and the teen went to walk away before the man suddenly grabbed their hand, “WAIT!”
       “Yes?”
       “Please, what’s your name?”
       “I- hmm,” [Y/N] thought for a second.
They knew they weren’t Ladybug, and they didn’t want to take on her name out of respect — and something in their head told them that if they did, a certain feline would dislike them even more. All they knew was that they were up for the task; to help Paris and the rest of the world from Hawkmoth, they knew that they had to have a strong, powerful name that would make people feel safe. [Y/N] took a breath, pushing their shoulders back with a more confident expression in their eyes.
       
       
       
       
       
       “Red Beetle, my name is Red Beetle.”
Arthur let go of their hand — a grateful expression on his face — and thanked them. The newly named hero turned away from him, grabbed their yo-yo and swung away.
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MASTERLIST | next chapter
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★ author's note: I’ve written and rewritten this so many times, I feel like I’m losing my mind, anyways hope you enjoy! Also so sorry for the long wait, I really wanted to post this back in September, but school started and killed my motivation. I have chapter 3 as bulletpoints, but I’m not making any promises to post it any time soon :(
★ taglist: @leafanonsforest; @ok-boke; @they2luv1naia; @mytaiyakeylover;
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sizzleissues · 8 months
Text
Speak my language (1250 words.)
inspired by this post by @nervousbelieverstarfish
There was a girl behind M Damocles, her hands stuck awkwardly at her sides as she made herself appear small next to him. Adrien tilted his head to the side to get a proper look but the girl shuffled away. Adrien straightened and looked up at M Damocles. Why had he led this clearly frightened girl all the way to his shady spot in the school yard? M Damocles stepped aside, gesturing to the girl with a worried smile. 
“This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, she's a new student here.”
Marinette whispered something quiet that went ignored by M Damocles.  There was a piece of pasta on her shoulder that she didn't seem to notice and a reddish stain on her black jacket that she definitely knew was there. Her entire face was pink as she watched him from behind her bangs.
He extended his hand — that was what you’re supposed to do when greeting new people? — and tried to make his smile warm. “Hi, I’m Adrien. You have pasta on your shoulder.”
Marinette blinked and M Damocles stepped in, clearing his throat.
“She’s just moved here from China. Very little French.”
Adrien retracted his hand. (He was glad she hadn’t understood him, why had he opened with ‘there’s pasta on your shoulder’? She looked mortified already, no need to kill her.)
“I know you’re only recently returning to regular schooling after your m-,” M Damocles clammed up, his voice trailing off. 
“My maman died,” Adrien supplied, forcing M Damocles to look him in his eyes as he said it. He was sick of people treating him like he couldn’t bear to hear the words. Maybe it was more that they didn’t want to say it, that they didn't want to deal with the consequences if he did break with every mention of her. It was a good thing then that he’d put all that childish grief away — along with everything else that would only hurt him in the long run. 
“Err- yes. That. Anyways, you’re here longer than Marinette and I read on your file you’re fluent in Chinese. You’re also in all advanced classes so you’d be the perfect fit to help Marinette get around and teach her French on the side. If you are willing to, of course.”
Adrien had half a mind to refuse M Damocles and go back to his quiet existence on the edges of the school. That was the way he liked it and nothing ever before had made him want to change that. Then he looked at Marinette and he couldn’t find it in him to refuse.
“Do you know what dialect she speaks?” Adrien asked. 
“Pardon?”
“What dialect? I speak Mandarin but she could only speak Cantonese or another regional dialect I wouldn’t understand.”
M Damocles paused, his thick eyebrows weighed with confusion. It seemed the thought had never occurred to him. 
“Marinette. Do - you - speak - Mandarin?” M Damocles asked her in broken French. Adrien saw something flick across her face that was different from her timid expression before. A flash of fire in her otherwise soft blue eyes. She silently nodded in response. Adrien saw it again as M Damocles turned back to Adrien to relay the answer though he’d already heard. He had to bite his lip to contain a snicker as he caught the sarcastic flick of her eyes. 
“Well then, that’s all sorted. I’ll leave you to it,” M Damocles said with a note of relief in his voice, glad the translation problem was no longer his. He strode off, leaving Marinette behind. She watched him leave with a surprisingly reluctant expression, even though he’d proved utterly incompetent.
“So, you’re new here?” He asked in Mandarin. Marinette swung her head around, blue eyes wide and frightened again. 
“Y-yes.”
“I’m A-.”
“Adrien Agreste. I know,” She interrupted.
“You do?”
Marinette seemed to realise what she’d done and turned bright red.
“I mean, you already said so. Earlier. I’m not the best at French but I know when someone’s introducing themselves.”
“Right…” It didn’t explain knowing his last name, he’d never given it, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the Agreste name had made it as far as China. He moved on to the side on his bench and held his hand out to offer the seat beside him. “Do you want to sit down?”
“Okay.” 
She sat, bouncing her leg as she looked everywhere but at him. Had she understood him earlier with the pasta thing? He searched his head for something to say before the silence lingered too long and it became impossible to breach. 
“You have pasta on your shoulder.”
Not that!
Marinette squeaked, shaking it off and then removing her jacket altogether. She groaned into her hands. Adrien scrambled desperately for something not related to pasta to ask.
“I- I noticed you have a French word in your name?”
“Oh, yeah. My Papa is French but we’ve lived in China my whole life. Never really tried to learn the language. Regretting that now.” She laughed dryly at her own expense. Adrien smiled at her when she looked up and she immediately went back to staring at the ground, furiously tapping her foot. 
“Why did you move, if you don’t mind answering?”
“To go here. To learn art at this school and become a fashion designer. I applied ages ago, I didn’t think I got in. Didn’t think I would get in.” She leaned back from hunching over, her voice getting a little louder as she settled. “That's probably why I didn’t really try to learn French but now I’m here and I don’t know a word and it's going to screw everything up. I couldn’t find any of my classes and then this- this, bitch, threw her pasta all over me when I couldn’t understand her. She had a claim over the table I’d chosen, apparently. People had been warning me and I couldn’t understand them fully to realise. How am I supposed to become a famous fashion designer if I can’t even say it in French!”
Marinette clamped her mouth shut and turned to Adrien with an alarmed expression. His Mandarin wasn’t good enough to have kept up with everything but he got the gist. She was completely lost and alone.
“I’m so sorry. You don’t want to hear about that. You’re the one saddled with teaching me and now I’m dumping this all on you. You really don’t have to.”
Adrien looked across the school yard to where all the other students had gathered, talking amongst themselves. Groans about homework, whispers of gossip and cheers as one student presented a graded project. He’d never once bothered to join in. Now he was sitting with this girl who was on the outskirts like him and she couldn’t join in even if she wanted to. The voice that told him to shut everyone out could be ignored for now. She would be his exception.
His only exception.
(He didn’t know now but soon he’d make another. For a girl with fire in her soft blue eyes. He’d look into those eyes as her hand reached to save him and know he’d have to make another exception. But that would be the last one) (Until the next.)
“It’s alright. I’ll teach you French until it's better than your Mandarin. And you can help me improve my Mandarin in return. Does that sound like a deal?”
Marinette looked down at the hand he’d extended then up at him, her eyes flooding with relief. She shook his hand, grinning from ear to ear. 
“Deal.”
-
OK OK OK OK. I hope you liked it, i hope it was good. Let me know or whatever. Please reblog blah blah blah and have a good day
I would write more but I have so many WIPS and I’m trying to overcome doubt in my writing so I can just write again. This is an AU to the movie’s canon but also can be applied to the show if you want. I’ve also added my own slight headcanon that Adrien was only homeschooled during the period of his mother’s sickness and ‘death’ as my interpretation of the canon given to us in the movie. Take it or leave it. So he was friends with Nino prior to everything but he’s since shut him out.
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katherines-imagines · 7 months
Text
Still Into You
pairings: hazel callahan x reader
warnings: obliviousness, literally so oblivious that its frustrating, bad writing
key: *** - time skip, faux - fake
summary: The Fight Club has been trying to get Hazel and Y/N forever, so when Y/N has a concert with her band, the Fight Club tries to bring the two together..
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For as long as the fight club could remember, Hazel and Y/N had been hopelessly in love with each other, but the two were clearly, completely oblivious. Really, it stressed everyone out. No matter what they tried, the two idiots could not get together. They had tried everything. They planted fake love letters, they set up real love letters, they arranged blind dates with each other, they even tried locking them in a room (subtly of course), but nothing seemed to work.
“Nothing is working,” PJ complained to the group. They were having a secret meeting without Hazel and Y/N. “This has gone on for far too long,” PJ said, the group nodding in agreement. “I mean, at least Y/N tries. Hazel’s the problem.”
“No, remember when Hazel got Y/N coffee,” Brittany pointed out.
“She got all of us coffee.”
“Oh,” Brittany said dejectedly.
“Yeah, she was only going to get it for Y/N, but she chickened out last minute,” Josie recalled. The group collectively face palmed. “Ok guys, we have to come up with something.” As the group sat in silence trying to come up with a new plan, a loud gasp came from Stella-Rebecca.
“Oh my gosh I totally forgot, Y/N has a band concert and she invited all of us!” The girls started chattering excited as Stella-Rebecca started passing out the tickets before Annie clapped her hands.
“That’s it,” she exclaimed. The group turned to her in confusion. “This is how we get them together! We get Y/N to sing a song to confess her feelings, and we help Hazel know that she’s singing it for her. It’s perfect!” Unconsciously, the group mentally simultaneously agreed that Annie was the smartest of the group.
“Great idea,” Isabel gushed. “So how are we gonna do this?” The girls huddled around Annie, ready to here the game plan.
“Ok, so here’s what we’re gonna do..”
***
“Hey are you good over there,” the lead singer asked. Y/N nodded, nervously tapping her guitar. The fight club had told her to sing a love song, and look directly at Hazel to confess. In all honesty, Y/N would do anything just for Hazel to finally realize her feelings. This was the last resort, so she would give it her all.
“Ready guys? We’re on in five,” the drummer notified the group. Nodding, they got in position. Taking a deep breath, Y/N reassured herself that she could do it.
While Y/N was getting ready, the fight club found their seats, putting Hazel directly where Y/N would be able to view her easily and vice versa.
“So Hazel, you ready to see your girlfriend,” Sylvie teased. Blushing, Hazel shook her head in denial.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Hazel said with a faux scowl. I wish, Hazel thought to herself.
“With how she talks about you, I’m honestly surprised,” Annie enticed. Annie was sure that if Hazel had puppy ears, they would be perked right now. Hook, line, and sinker.
“How does she talk about me,” Hazel asked curiously, trying to play it off smoothly. The group subtly gave each other knowing glances before Annie answered the oblivious girl.
“She always says, ‘Hazel’s so pretty’, ‘Hazel’s so organized’, ‘she’s so cool when she fights’. Seems like she really likes you.” Blushing, Hazel looked off into the distance. Maybe Y/N did like her as more than a friend? No, of course not, she think’s of Hazel as ‘just a friend’. a/n: fucking adrien agreste vibes
“I think Y/N told me that she would be singing the last song specifically for you, Hazel,” Isabel said slyly. Head snapping towards Isabel, she bombarded the poor girl with questions.
“Really? For me? You’re not joking?” Isabel blinked before answering.
“Yes, yes, and no,” Isabel smiled. A huge smile settled on Hazel’s face before the light’s dimmed. The group focused their attention to the stage, where their friend stood on stage. As the audience applauded loudly at the band’s entrance, Hazel clapped the loudest.
The band made their way through the songs, until finally they were at the last one.
“Before we finish up with our last song,” Y/N said with a bright smile. “I wanna dedicate this last one to someone I’ve been trying to tell them, but they’re just a little bit oblivious.” With a nervous smile, Y/N stared directly at Hazel, and motioned for the band to start. The main singer took a step back for Y/N to sing. They started playing and Hazel could recognize the song, ‘Still Into You’, by Paramore. Oh my god, Hazel thought. This was their song. The song playing when they met. The song playing when both girls fell for each other. Theirs. As Y/N sang, her gaze never left Hazel’s.
“Even after all this time,” Y/N sang, looking at Hazel. “I’m into you. Baby, not a day goes by, that I’m not into you!” As they finished the song, a huge applause came out, Hazel’s mouth dropped. ‘I love you Haze’, Y/N mouthed. Hazel could feel her heart beating hard in her chest and she finally mouthed the words back.
‘I love you too’.
A/N: @deadgirlwalkingtaylorsversion wrote a post asking about the reader confessing unconsciously during a concert, but I tried putting my own little twist to it (hope that’s ok). I’m taking requests if y’all have any! Hope you all liked it!
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mc-lukanette · 5 months
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It was the day after the class seats had been swapped around, Marinette having since resigned herself to being moved to the back. She wasn't happy about being alone, but everyone else was with their own seats and the last thing she wanted to do was stir up a fuss again just to have it turned against her.
Making a case would've been less of an issue had she told everyone that she was actually no longer into Adrien and had an entire boyfriend to show for it, but Alya was too unpredictable in how she might react to that and the others hadn't seen her and Luka together long enough to understand. She loathed the fact that an infatuation of less than a year was what people were basing her character on - nowadays, she looked back on it like an artist who grimaced at their week-old work - but her private life was no one's business but her own. If she had to reveal it to convince people that she wasn't an evil person going after a "perfectly innocent" girl over a crush, then—
Well, normally she would say that it was her fault, but Luka had been firm about her not blaming herself for everything under the sun and she was really trying to stick to that.
Maybe being in the back won't be so bad, she thought, attempting to calm her mind. I feel, um... taller? That's something.
It wasn't helping.
"Alright, class," Miss Bustier called out, clapping her hands to earn everyone's attention, "before we start today, we have a new student who just transferred to our school and I'd like you all to give them a warm welcome."
A new student? Marinette shut her eyes and held back a groan, thinking that the current "new student" was already more than enough. If it was another Lila or Chloe, she might have to seriously consider bribing Master Fu for the fox miraculous so she could Mirage herself into class to avoid them altogether.
Also, as she was quickly realizing, the only available seat was next to her. This was a disaster, an absolute disas—
"Luka?" Juleka blurted out, uncharacteristically loud in her shock.
At the name of her boyfriend, Marinette's head jerked towards the classroom door, seeing him standing next to Miss Bustier like he belonged there. She blinked, glancing out at the hall as if the real new student would come in, but nothing happened. Even when she looked back at Luka, he met her gaze as if to wordlessly tell her that yes, he was there.
Just to make absolutely sure, she dropped her arms to her lap and pinched her forearm until it hurt.
After giving a general introduction that Marinette processed none of, Miss Bustier turned to Luka to ask, "Would you be alright sitting in the back next to Marinette?"
He nodded, not waiting to start heading up the stairs. Eyes, either curious or puzzled, followed him as he went, but he had his own eyes on his decided-upon seat.
Marinette could only continue gaping at him, even as he sat down and made himself comfortable. He eyed her, smiling softly, then reached out and slowly closed her mouth. The cheek caress that followed was so subtle and quick that no one could've caught it even if they were looking, but it finally brought her back to life.
Leaning towards him, she whispered in a panic, "Luka! What are you doing here?! How are you here?!"
He took a single glance at Miss Bustier, who was turned towards the chalkboard, then leaned in and whispered back, "I didn't want you to have to do this alone."
"But—!" Her face scrunched, mind racing in an attempt to understand. She'd told Luka about what happened with Lila, but that was only yesterday. For him to have found a way to transfer between then and now was—was— "That's crazy!"
He shrugged, unphased.
She gripped the table, as if it would give her the mental support needed to juggle the thoughts in her head. "You didn't have to go through all this for me! It's too much!"
That finally got a reaction out of him, but not in the way she suspected. He frowned disapprovingly, leaning in further and raising a hand between them to further muffle his words to others' ears. She felt his breath against her ear as he explained, "You're my girlfriend, Marinette; my girlfriend and my best friend. It's not 'too much' if it's what I wanted to do."
He left it at that, straightening up again and putting his focus towards the front of the class. She could only pout at him, hoping no one saw the blush on her cheeks.
It felt wrong, somehow. It was Ladybug who was supposed to swoop in to save people, not the other way around. She was the one who had to make choices on the fly to help others.
She could already hear Luka's voice in her head, shooting that idea down: "Ladybug can't be the savior all the time. Someone has to look out for Marinette too."
It was almost frustrating, losing a battle of words in her own head, but she'd be lying if she said that it didn't make her feel relieved to have someone who would back her up no matter what. Whether she chose to go after Lila or not, he'd be behind her the entire way.
She couldn't help herself. Checking to confirm that there still weren't eyes on them, she leaned up towards Luka and imitated his gesture, raising her hand between their faces. He'd seen the gesture out of the corner of his eye and tipped his head to listen better, but she kissed his cheek instead.
Pulling back quickly to look normal just in case the pecking sound had been caught, she dared only a single peek at Luka to catch his reaction. He was trying and failing not to grin, probably looking as if he was just very interested in the lesson to any outside eyes. It occurred to her then that, had they been in the front or middle rows, it would've been impossible to not be seen by anyone behind them.
Letting an imaginary Marinette in her mind cheer and jump around for her due to being unable to do anything even close to that in class, her thoughts screamed, Being in the back is the best!
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lovesquarebrainrot · 1 year
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Adrien: "It's simple, Plagg. To make her fall for me, I just need to become Marinette's everyday Cat Noir." ----- Ms Bustier: "Alright, does anyone have any questions about how to find the area of a circle?" Adrien: *Raises hand.* Ms Bustier: "Yes, Adrien." Adrien: "I need to ask, where's the point in all of this?" ----- Chloe: "I'm serious! Ladybug totally told me she was going to give me my miraculous back any day now!" Adrien: "Don't worry, Chloe, I definitely Bee-lieve you!" ----- Adrien: *Falls trips and falls, rolling down the stairs and landing face first on the lower floor of the gym* Marinette: "Oh my god, Adrien, are you okay?" Adrien: "Hey, Marinette, check it out, I'm a Roll-Model." Marinette: "You're bleeding!" Adrien: "Must just be all my love for you gushing out." ----- Alya: "Hey, Marinette, don't you think that lately Adrien has been kind of - " Marinette, gnawing on a pencil: "Unbearably attractive?" Alya: "I was gonna say cringe, but sure."
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aidanchaser · 10 days
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Regardless of Perfection: An Adrinette Fic, featuring Félix 4.5K Words; Rated G for General Audiences
Adrien is dumbfounded. His knee is glued to the floor and his hands poised in front of him, as still and unmoving as his heart, stopped in his chest and aching as it fails to function. He can feel the eyes of every patron in the restaurant, staring with the same shock and confusion he feels.
“No?” he manages to squeak out, not even believing the word as it leaves his lips.
But Marinette has aggressively slammed the velvet box closed. Her face is already pink, hastily turning red, and Adrien can see tears in her eyes as she shoves his hands away with so much aggression that she near topples him over.
“Don’t—” she manages to say, and, “You can’t—” but she can’t seem to find words anymore easily than he can. She stands up and runs from the restaurant, linen napkin falling to the floor.
Adrien is only vaguely aware of the waiter helping him stand, a murmured apology as he’s settled back into his seat. A bottle of wine is placed in front of him, “Condolences from the guests over there,” but Adrien doesn’t even see the gesture, doesn’t know who to thank for the wine he’s meant to drown his heartbreak in. The waiter clears Marinette’s plate and glass without a word.
Adrien had planned tonight perfectly—at least, he thought he had. Everything about today had gone so right, like Ladybug’s own Lucky Charm had made it happen. He and Marinette had seen a movie together that afternoon, had a lovely walk along the Seine, and then she’d gone home to put on a brand new dress for their dinner on the Eiffel Tower. Adrien Agreste, even famous as he was, had waited months for this reservation to come up. Even though he’d carried the ring on him for the last several weeks—just in case the moment felt right—he’d known that this was the plan. That tonight was going to be the night. It was truly perfect.
He’d carefully steered the conversation over dinner to their future together, to the plans they’d talked about over the years amidst dreamy sighs and giggles. She’d seemed excited—had he misread her entirely? He didn’t think so. He’d known Marinette for nearly a decade. Surely he knew the difference between excitement and panic and he was sure that she had been excited—nervous, maybe, because of course she must have guessed how special today was—but he hadn’t seen any panic in her, not until the moment he had opened the ring box.
Her face had dropped. True horror had filled her eyes. And she had said, “No.”
Actually, she had practically shrieked it as she shoved the ring box away.
Adrien still didn’t understand it. Marinette certainly wasn’t the sort of person to be upset about a diamond being too small or a ring being inexpensive. So the rejection had to be about him, and Adrien couldn’t fathom why, couldn’t identify what clue he had missed along the way.
He’d been nervous to propose, naturally, but he had never thought that Marinette would reject him, certainly not so dramatically. He didn’t think anyone had expected it. Even her parents and their friends were all waiting back at the bakery, ready to celebrate, convinced she would have said yes.
A new panic climbed Adrien’s throat as he imagined Marinette arriving back at her parents’ place, greeted with a congratulatory cake and champagne. He needs to call them, tell them the devastating news before Marinette reaches them.
But as his fingers alight on his phone, it begins to buzz. Adrien swallows and draws it out, unable to tamp down the desperate hope that it’s Marinette telling him she’s changed her mind—but instead it’s Nino.
Adrien answers and says nothing.
“Adrien, where are you?” Nino asks, voice thick with concern.
Adrien tips his head back against the chair and stares up at the ceiling. The warm yellow rings of lights glare down at him and he swallows down the mixture of shame and despair that begin to coil in his chest, familiar friends that have known him far longer than Nino has.
“Adrien?” Nino asks.
“I’m still here,” Adrien says, but with no more strength than he had managed to repeat Marinette’s rejection with.
“Where are you?” Nino asks again.
“I’m still at the restaurant,” Adrien clarifies. He doesn’t know where he’s going to go after this. Certainly not home. He considers the possibility of transforming into Astro Chat and disappearing into space.
“Listen, Marinette just called Alya, and Alya called me, and I really think you should—”
“It’s fine, Nino,” Adrien says.
“I know that’s not true. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”
Adrien considers the prospect of company. He knows even if he does go home alone, Plagg will still be with him. He can’t truly be alone, unless he does decide to transform. Maybe he does need to spend some time on top of the Eiffel Tower, cloaked in Chat Noir’s magic and the silence of being so far above the world. Maybe he needs to spend a few days on top of the Eiffel Tower.
“I just want to be alone,” he says, fidgeting with the miraculous around his finger.
“If you need anything—”
But his phone buzzes against his ear, and Adrien loses the rest of Nino’s offer as he checks to see his cousin is calling him.
Adrien wonders how many phone calls he’s going to receive tonight. He wonders how many of them he’ll take and how many he’ll ignore.
He doesn’t think he should ignore this one.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he says to Nino, unsure exactly when later will be, and switches to the incoming call.
“Félix,” Adrien manages dismally. He wonders how fast word is spreading amongst their friends. He wonders if the news has already gone viral through a restaurant patron’s video footage.
“Kagami says I can’t kill her,” is all Félix says for a greeting, “but I will if you give me the okay.”
Adrien isn’t in the mood for Félix’s sense of humor. “Félix, I don’t—”
“I’m not joking,” Félix says.
Adrien rubs his eyes and runs his hand through his hair. “I’m going to hang up,” he says, wholly uninterested in Félix’s brand of comfort.
But Félix ignores this threat, and Adrien makes no move to follow through it it.
“Is there a possibility that she didn’t mean it?” Félix asks, voice turning from cold to cautious.
But Adrien doesn’t know how he could have misunderstood a loud, desperate shriek of, “No!” that seems to grow more violent as he turns the memory over and over again.
“She shoved me away and stormed out. I don’t think she could have communicated her feelings any clearer than that.”
Félix is quiet for a moment, and Adrien can picture him evaluating the evidence and trying to draw a picture of the event.
“Where are you?” Félix asks.
Adrien doesn’t answer.
He doesn’t consider himself a liar or even duplicitous in any way. He’s always genuine with his feelings—except when he isn’t.
Anger and heartbreak are too much for him, and he buries them deep, terrified that he’ll use them as weapons against others. He’s glimpsed, as much as the rest of Paris has, how hurt can be weaponized. He knows, too, the way that grief and heartbreak can make someone undesirable. He grew up in a home that treated sadness like a sickness, like rot that needed to be carved out. The last thing Adrien wants is for his friends and loved ones to see him at a low like this.
“I’ll be home soon,” Adrien finally says, avoiding Félix’s question.
“I’ll meet you there,” Félix says.
“Please don’t,” he says.
“You don’t enjoy being alone.”
And how could Adrien not cry at that? He’s been in shock—the rejection hurts, but he hasn’t truly felt it yet—until Félix trods on the roots of Adrien’s aching heart. He doesn’t enjoy being alone, and he wasn’t supposed to ever be alone again. He was supposed to have Marinette with him forever, but now…
He tries desperately to bite down the tears, but they swell up regardless. “I don’t understand,” Adrien chokes out, and his tears drip down his cheeks, like water through a crack in a levy. “I don’t understand what went wrong or why—” But his words fail him as his throat is suddenly consumed with a gasping sob.
He doubles over, one hand still clinging to Félix on the other end of the line and the other tightening in his hair like he can tear it out and his heartache with it. He leans against the table, unable to hold up his own weight as the burden of Marinette’s rejection bears down on him and an empty, lonely future spirals out before him.
“Tell me where you are,” Félix says, voice strangely tender.
Adrien screws his eyes shut, like he might be able to seal up his mess of tears or keep out Félix’s uncharacteristic kindness.
He knows the other restaurant patrons have to be watching, and all Adrien can think is how nice it would be to disappear. He thinks of how Marinette managed to flee the restaurant in her panic, and he wishes his legs would work and carry him out, too. He thinks if he hangs up the phone, he’ll be able to gather himself together just long enough to get out of here and find a place to become Chat Noir.
“Ah,” Félix says, “Nino just texted back. I’ll be right there.”
And Adrien can’t even protest, can’t warn him not to. Adrien certainly doesn’t want Félix to see him like this, doesn’t want anyone he loves to glimpse how utterly broken and devastated he is, but the words stick in his throat, drowned by the sobs he can’t fight down.
Adrien drops his phone onto the table, aware the call has gone dead and presses the heels of his hands against his eyes in an effort to stem his tears. He wonders how long he has until Félix arrives. Perhaps he can leave before his cousin gets here—
But there’s a gasp from the guests of the restaurant, a sudden rise of tension and fear that swells around him. Adrien’s skin prickles, familiar with the way a crowd’s mood changes before an akuma attack, but when he opens his eyes he sees no monster nor black butterfly searching for a victim. Instead, it is his cousin, dressed in the purple and blue hooded uniform of Argos.
Adrien should have guessed that Félix would manage to make a bigger scene than Marinette had.
As he reaches the table, his hand goes for Adrien’s shoulder, but Adrien shrugs him off.
“Please don’t,” he begs, unsure how he can bear Félix’s offer of comfort—unsure how Félix can bear his misery. Already, he can feel another swell of tears burgeoning. He curls into himself, burying his head in his hands, hiding what he can of his heartbreak.
Argos drops into the chair that Marinette had sat in not thirty minutes ago, and as he does, drops his transformation.
“I’ll stay until you’re ready to leave,” Félix says, voice still tinged with tenderness, and it only makes Adrien’s chest ache more.
Adrien is not used to people standing with him when he makes a mistake. He’s used to sharp critique and deathly silent meals. Marinette and Nino alike have been so gentle in their attempts to draw him out, to allow him to misstep without flinching, but this particular misstep feels so monumental. He doesn’t know how he could have read Marinette so wrong; he doesn’t know how anyone would want to sit with him through this.
Félix, at least, knows what it’s like to bury heartbreak and mistakes well out of sight and well out of reach. Félix knows the way perfection is not an achievement but an expectation, and he understands that something as ugly as grief is not fit for public consumption nor private indulgence.
Adrien draws in two shaky breaths, but they’re whole and uninterrupted by wild sobs. He thinks he has enough composure to speak again and asks, “Do you know where I went wrong?” He doesn’t care for how raw and ragged his voice sounds, and he reaches for his glass of water.
Félix picks up the wine that Adrien has left untouched and sniffs the uncorked bottle curious. He pours a little, swirls and sips it, then wrinkles his nose, and checks the bottle. His upper lip curls in disgust and finally, he turns his eyes back to Adrien. “Have you considered that you may have made no mistakes at all?”
Adrien shakes his head. “No—I must have done something—or said something—” he feels the tears threaten to crawl out of his chest again, and he presses his thumb and forefinger against his eyes to hold them back. “Alya might know. I can text her.” But when he reaches for his phone, he finds that Félix has already snatched it out of reach.
“Adrien,” Félix murmurs, “you cannot charm the world to your will by following a dance step diagram. There is no pattern to unlock, no measure of perfection that will make everything turn out right.”
Adrien grits his teeth, certain that what Félix says is true, but unable to accept it. If he could just be better, then things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
“I’m sure you did everything right,” Félix continues. “The date, the dinner, the tie, the ring…” Félix’s hand closes over the blue velvet box. “But sometimes, Adrien, things simply—” He stops as he flicks the box open.
Adrien’s heart sinks. The ring was the problem after all, wasn’t it? He should have bought something expensive, something that glittered. He had just thought that Marinette would have preferred something sentimental, so he had chosen to propose with his mother’s wedding band. Apparently it had ben the wrong choice.
Félix snaps the box closed and slides it back to Adrien. “I’m going to find Ladybug,” he says, and Adrien’s heart pounds with new concern.
“Ladybug?” he asks weakly.
Félix gets to his feet, but he hesitates as he eyes Adrien and his disheveled hair and tear-stained cheeks. Something in his tight shoulders sags ever so slightly.
“No, not Ladybug,” he says. “Adrien, I’m going to take you to Marinette.”
“Félix, I can’t—”
“I don’t think she meant to turn you down.”
Though Adrien is reluctant to believe Félix, his heart pounds with hope. “What’s wrong with proposing with my mother’s ring? I thought she’d think it was romantic.”
Félix scrubs a hand over his face. “Well, she didn’t.” His voice is once again flat and cold, void of the care he’d been displaying moments ago. His words, at least, show an awareness of feeling. “I’m going to take you to Marinette, and the three of us are going to have a very difficult conversation, and it is going to hurt, but it will be all right. Can you trust me on that?”
Adrien isn’t sure how he can, but Félix doesn’t make it sound like he has any choice in the matter. “How do you know it will be okay?”
Félix draws his mouth into a tight line. When he does speak again, it’s painstaking and slow, like poison being drawn from a wound. “Because you have people who will love you regardless.”
There is not much more room for discussion. Félix pauses only to call Alya—on Adrien’s phone, certain it’s the only way she’ll answer—and merely says, “Where’s Marinette?” before engaging in tense negotiations with Alya for Marinette’s whereabouts. He wins the interrogation, or at least Adrien thinks he must have, because as soon as he ends the call, he transforms back into Argos and scoops Adrien up in his arms.
Adrien decides that he prefers when Ladybug carries him, but he doesn’t have much choice in the matter, unless he were to suddenly tell his cousin the truth about the ring he wears on his middle finger. But Félix is clearly in a hurry to reach Marinette, and is uninterested in mortal means of travel. Leaping across rooftops with the power of the Peacock Miraculous is the best the two of them can manage.
He lands on Marinette’s rooftop, and Adrien stumbles out of his cousin’s arms, unsure he has ever dropped onto this rooftop as himself.
He does his best to scrub his cheeks free of any tearstains. His hair, he’s sure, is unsalvageable after their flight across the rooftops, and he does not even want to know the state of his suit.
Argos lifts the trap door without knocking and drops down inside. Adrien, suddenly aware that he has this brief moment alone, considers the risk of simply leaving.
But before he can quite manage a whispered, “Plagg, claws out,” Alya’s head appears from below. She gives him a sad smile and climbs out to meet him.
Adrien backs into the balcony railing, but Alya approaches anyway. She puts a tender hand on his shoulder and ignores the way he flinches. Even as he tries to shrug her off, she squeezes tighter.
“I’m really sorry,” she says.
Adrien refuses to meet her eyes. He can’t let her see the tears that are springing up all of a sudden. He doesn’t know why his cousin has insisted on this.
“For what it’s worth,” Alya says, “I don’t think she meant to turn you down. She’s… she’s really embarrassed, but she won’t say anything more to me than just that she panicked.”
Adrien doesn’t think that quite matches with his memory of the event, but his heart is racing again, brought back to life by the hope Alya is offering him.
“You should go talk to her. Félix won’t let me in there for whatever it is he wants to say, and I don’t know that I trust the two of them alone together for very long.”
Adrien isn’t entirely sure if that Alya’s fears are about mistrusting Félix—distantly, he remembers Félix’s offer of murder—or if they’re about mistrusting Marinette and her own scheming.
“I’ll go down there,” Adrien concedes, “but I’m not sure I’ll have much more to say.”
“Then just listen. And, hey, you know that no matter what happens, you and I are still friends, right?”
His chest swells and Adrien thinks this alone might break him. He isn’t sure how to accept this offer of kindness, of unconditional trust.
“Okay,” he manages, voice strangled with a whirl of emotions he can’t begin to name.
Adrien climbs down the ladder into Marinette’s bedroom and finds that Félix is once again without his magical costume. He has settled into Marinette’s desk chair as easily as if it was his own, while Marinette sits on the edge of her bed, head between her knees and hands locked behind her neck as if she is preparing for an earthquake or a tornado. Adrien considers mirroring her posture, but chooses not to, only because he is unsure where he would sit. So he stands, leaning against her windowsill, unsure how to begin this conversation.
“If you don’t tell him, Marinette,” Félix says, “then I will.”
Marinette’s whine is muffled by her knees and whatever she murmurs into her leg is fully unintelligible.
Félix sighs in exasperation. He takes his own ring—his father’s ring—between his thumb and finger and yanks it off. He turns it over between his fingers. “Adrien, have you ever wondered how you and I are so terribly alike in appearance even though we are only cousins?”
“Our mothers are twins,” Adrien says, almost automatically. He distantly remembers asking his mother about it once, and she’d said the same. She had said to never bring it up again, so he had done as she asked and never questioned her answer. Even now, it seems impossible to think otherwise.
“My mother can’t have children,” Félix says, and there is nothing in his tone nor expression that indicates how absurd the statement is.
Adrien glances to Marinette for some sort of clue or help, but she is still in a panic. His heart aches to see her like this, and all he wants is to sit down next to her and hold her. But he remembers how she pushed him away just an hour ago, and he remains by the window.
“Félix, that doesn’t make sense.”
“My mother can’t have children and neither could her twin sister.”
Adrien does not have the patience for this conversation. He rubs his eyes, aching and tired from the tears they have spilled. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“My father created me, and your mother created you, using the Peacock Miraculous.”
Marinette moans like a seasick sailor whose ship has made a sudden lurch beneath her feet. Adrien can only stare at Félix, stunned.
“Why would you say something like that?”
“Because it’s the truth,” Félix says, “and because I told Marinette.”
Adrien’s gut twists. He isn’t sure which part is harder to swallow: the idea that he’s a Sentimonster or the idea that Marinette rejected him because of it. His entire reality shifts before him, and he clings to the window’s ledge to make sure he stays on his feet.
“But you… you can’t be serious.” But even as Adrien says it, he can’t imagine Félix would be anything less than serious. His next concern, then, is that Félix has simply been horribly misinformed.
He looks to Marinette again, and he knows by the white in her knuckles and the half-formed sob that bursts out of her chest that she believes it.
“My father used this ring as the object to bind me to life,” Félix says. “Your mother chose hers and your fathers’ wedding rings.”
Adrien shakes his head, still unable to see truth in Félix’s words, but finally—finally—Marinette says something intelligible.
“I’m sorry,” she says, and hiccups on another sob. She lifts her head and looks at Adrien. Her face is flushed, cheeks tear-streaked and eyes puffy, red, and streaked with mascara. Though she’s still wearing the dress she had put on for their formal dinner date, the satin is wrinkled like she’s the one who took a journey across Paris’ rooftops in a superhero’s arms. “I didn’t mean it, Adrien, I swear.”
Adrien pulls the velvet box out from his jacket and looks at the ring inside. He still can’t wrap his head around the idea that this ring and his father’s ring, still attached to the necklace fastened beneath his shirt, are tethers that hold him to this world. He still can’t believe that he isn’t human. He feels human. He imagines that this night wouldn’t hurt so much if he were otherwise.
But more urgent than this absurdity that Félix has laid at his feet is Marinette’s apology. He stumbles over to Marinette and collapses onto the bed beside her. “Which part didn’t you mean?” he whispers.
Marinette hiccups again and tries to rub her eyes dry, but she only succeeds in smearing her mascara. The black streak bleeds into her hairline and her tears continue to fall regardless.
“The part where I pushed you,” she says, and chokes on another sob. “The part where I said no.”
Adrien plucks the ring out from the velvet box. “Marinette—”
“No!” she yelps again, and closes her hands over his. She falls off the bed, knees hitting the hardwood floor with a thud and she winces, but does not lose her grip on Adrien’s hand. He’s afraid she’s going to break his fingers
“Adrien, don’t,” she says. “I can’t take this.”
“But Marinette—”
“Please,” she sobs. She buries her face into his knees, tears and makeup soaking into his suit. Without looking up at him, she pries the ring out of his hand and slides it onto his own finger. “Adrien, I love you,” she chokes on another gasping sob, “and I cannot love you and wear this ring.”
Something new inside Adrien breaks, something he can’t name. He stares down at the top of Marinette’s head, and her hands holding onto his like he’s the only tether she has to this world. New tears fall from his cheeks, unattached to sobs. They aren’t sad tears, not at all.
Human or not, Marinette loves him. He’s not sure anything else matters.
He sinks to the floor beside Marinette, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her.
She doesn’t push him away. She doesn’t shriek and reject him. It’s the kiss he had expected, long and deep and perhaps a bit more wet than he had been prepared for. Even her hiccups, he thinks, ought to have been expected.
The chair beneath Félix creaks as he stands, and he coughs.
Marinette and Adrien politely pause their kiss, but they keep their hands intertwined and their foreheads pressed together.
“I’ll let Alya know we’re finished, then.”
Marinette tries again to wipe her eyes dry. “I’ll go—” She pauses for a sniff and a hiccup. “I’ll go tell my parents the good news.”
Adrien squeezes her hand. “Wait, one more thing.” He turns to his cousin, already halfway up the ladder steps. He supposes that Félix has given a lot of emotion today, and he shouldn’t be surprised his cousin is trying to slip away. “Why did you tell Marinette about the rings before you told me.”
Marinette sucks in a sharp, sudden breath of air and her hiccups vanish. Félix freezes on the ladder, but it’s brief. He shrugs and says, “I’ll let Marinette tell you that one.” And he leaves.
Adrien looks at Marinette, watches her worry her bottom lip and flick her eyes between her sewing machine, the box that he knows her diary is hidden in, and the dollhouse perched on her desk.
“Marinette?” he asks.
“Well—I—I mean—I can’t—I mean you can’t—” Marinette fumbles for the right words, but Adrien is used to this. He waits patiently.
“I’m Buglady,” she finally spits out, “I mean Luggybady. I mean—”
Adrien’s eyebrows lift. “You’re Ladybug?”
She swallows and nods.
He glances at the plain black earrings fastened in her ears. He thinks about the last several years of interrupted dates and how he hadn’t even noticed her terrible excuses for lateness because he was too busy thinking about his own.
Adrien works his ring off of his finger. He never removes it, and it requires a bit of doing, but once its off, he slides it onto Marinette’s finger.
“Adrien, I said I can’t—”
He leans in close, whispers, “It’s just my miraculous,” and kisses her cheek.
She swallows and looks down at the band, clearly thicker than the wedding band and with an unadorned place for a stone setting—a space perfectly sized for a glowing pawprint—and begins to hyperventilate all over again.
“But you can’t—I can’t—but Adrien—Chat—”
Adrien kisses her, and she sinks into it, panicked words and breath forgotten. There’s nothing more to be said between them.
Nothing about today went perfectly; nothing about this kiss is picturesque or even truly romantic. But Adrien wouldn’t trade today and all of its mess for anything in the world. He loves his lady, panic and stuttering and all, and he’s willing to admit that maybe it’s okay if she loves his mistakes and his secrets too.
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333-luvsturns · 23 days
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the hating game — two
other chapters: 1
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summary: matt and y/n have hated each other since they were kids. now, it’s their senior year and they can’t help but feel a specific tension between them — will they swallow their pride and come to terms with the new-found tension, or forever hold their peace?
warnings: underage drinking/partying, smoking, making out/suggestive, (brief +joking)mentions of throwing up arguing/banter.
pairing: matt sturniolo x reader, enemies to lovers.
a/n grab your popcorn. we’re getting right into the drama!
matt’s pov
The sound of blaring music is all I hear, the house is crowded with people; sweaty, drunk teenagers. There’s a haze of smoke in the air that is especially visible through the colorful party-lights set up in the living room.
Fortunately, the kitchen is slightly more breathable, which is why I’m here — leaning against the counter which is littered with half-empty liquor bottles and red plastic cups.
While taking a sip of my soda, I notice another body slightly stumble through the doorway of the kitchen.
“Matthew.”
I look up, and see just who I am never thrilled to see, “Y/n.” For a brief moment, I glance up and down — what the hell is she wearing? “One too many drinks, no?” She’s got a black dress on, only it’s short — very short.
I can tell she’s a few drinks in, I also know she’s a lightweight; after being aquaitances for years, I’ve seen her drink for the first time, or drink too much for that matter. I guess she could say the same about me, unfortunately.
She walks over to me, slightly brushing past me as she reaches across the counter. “Another shot, actually.” She states, rummaging through the various drinks.
Now, she’s almost entirely leaning over the counter to reach for a (somewhat full) bottle of Vodka — the people around us in the kitchen blocking her from moving any closer.
Clearly, given I am taller and have longer arms I could get the bottle for her with ease. But watching her get annoyed over this is quite amusing for me.
She sighs before giving up and turning to look up at me, “Yes?” I ask, looking down to her slightly. Y/n just rolls her eyes at me.
I glance over at the counter next to us, “Oh — You want the Vodka?” I ask, sounding clueless.
I can really tell she’s annoyed with me from the huff she lets out. I reach over the counter (much easier than she does) and grab the bottle, before handing it to her.
“Wow, no ‘thank you’?” I ask, watching her pour a shot glass.
She turns to face me again, “Why, thank you dear Matthew!” Y/n beams, placing a hand to her heart like I said something especially touching.
With that, she takes the shot, wincing a bit at the bitterness before putting the glass back on the counter. “You want one?” She asks.
“I drove you here, remember?”
“Oh, right.”
“Y/n-!” A voice shouts from the other aide of the kitchen, near the doorway. I look through the small crowd in the kitchen to see Amaya.
Y/n notices her too, “Gotta go dance now!” She days excitedly, bee-lining over to Amaya.
I shake my head and try not laugh at the way the two of them dance in the middle of Josh’s living room — which, I think they are the only two actually dancing, everyone else is kind of just crowded together and swaying to the music if anything. But Y/n, she looks like she’s having the time of her life; one hand holding Amaya’s, while her other is swinging around to follow the sway of her body.
After a few minutes, I make my way through the living room, pushing through the crowd to get to the sliding glass back door. While walking through the living room, something — or someone for that matter, catches my eyes
I notice Amaya and Y/n have stopped dancing, and that’s due to a guy shaking Y/n’s hand.
Who the hell is that?
I stop for a moment, focusing on the situation, watching as Y/n smiles and talks to the guy in front of her. When he laughs at something she says, I can tell exactly who it is.
Adrien Cole.
Adrien Cole, talking to Y/n. What does she want to do with him? The guy’s an asshole, and it’s well known. But once again, I’m sure Y/n’s mentality of ‘seeing the best in people’ has gotten in the way.
I watch as he steps closer to her, leaning down to say something in her ear, which she smiles at. As he continues to talk to her, Y/n glances through the crowd.
And her eyes land on me.
I’m standing near a wall, watching her interaction with Adrien Cole — I mean really, doesn’t she know the stories about this guy?
She looks at me for a brief moment, her eyes narrowing a bit at me before she turns back to Adrien.
Shaking my head, I walk away from this, and head to the back door of the house. Maneuvering through the people, finally reaching the sliding glass door, the porch is empty with only a few people sitting around in the yard.
I breathe through my nose and sigh, leaning against the railing of the porch, not before digging through my pocket for my pack of Marlboro Red’s and my lighter.
I put the cigarette to my lips and light it — it’s a bad habit and I’m well aware, I only do it when I’m stressed or need to calm myself, which is a bad excuse.
I breathe in through the cigarette, letting the smoke fill my mouth, while a million thoughts fill my head.
What the fuck is she doing with him?
And, am I crazy, or did Y/n actually look good tonight?
I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t beautiful, she always has been — of course, I’d never admit that. But tonight, she looked — good. I can’t think she looks good, I hate her — remember?
I shake off that awful, awful thought and take a few more drags of the cigarette.
“Matt Sturniolo.”
At the sound of my name being said from behind me, I glance over my shoulder, cigarette hanging loose on my lips.
Layla. “I thought I saw you inside.” She says, taking a few steps closer to me.
“Layla.” I say, almost emotionless. “Haven’t seen you in awhile.”
“Yeah,” She breathes out, “It’s been awhile.”
I must have really bad luck, or I’m stuck in a really weird dream. Layla and I hooked up a few times last year. It meant nothing to either of us, had no strings attached, hell, we were barley even friends. She called things off before she started dating a guy a year older than us.
Layla has stepped closer, leaning against the railing next to me, I turn to her, barley looking in her eyes. “Where’s your boyfriend?” I ask.
She laughs dryly at that, “I don’t know, he’s not my boyfriend anymore.”
What do I say to that? “Sorry to hear.” Is what I settle on, bringing the cigarette back to my lips.
Layla shrugs. “You’re not drinking tonight?” She asks me, noticing the soda in my hand.
“I’m the DD.” I say simply, noticing she doesn’t have a drink either, I ask, “And you?”
She nods. “Same as you.” Layla sighs, leaning towards me a bit. “Kind of boring being the sober one at a party, right?” She asks, humorously.
I breathe the smoke out, “Nothing about this is fun, anyway.” I mumble.
Her brows raise, “I see your still the grumpy, miserable, Matt you were last time I saw you.”
I just look at her, unsure of what to respond with or if I should at all. That’s when she speaks again, a specific glint in her eyes.
I know where this is going, and personally, I’m bored, don’t care, and down.
“You wanna go upstairs?” She asks, motioning towards the house.
I put the cigarette out and toss it to the ground, “Lead the way.” I say, before following her into the house and into an empty bedroom without a second thought.
y/n’s pov
Adrien and I are still talking, now sitting on the couch in the crowded living room.
We’re sitting rather close, but I don’t mind. Talking with him is actually quite nice, and honestly I’m shocked someone as popular as him is even sitting here with me.
“So, a sports scholarship to Princeton.” I say, following up what he had just told me. “That’s like really impressive, congrats.” I smile.
I’m really hoping I don’t look like an idiot in my poor attempt at flirting, but the couple shots I’ve had and the fruity (yet, strong) punch I’ve been drinking is boosting my confidence a bit.
As Amaya said, I’m trying to ‘live a little.’
We were getting ready together, and I slipped on a short, black dress of hers. “Maya, are you sure this doesn’t look bad on me?” I ask hesitantly, “I feel like my ass is like — out.”
“Y/n, you look hot!” She reassures me, zipping the back of the dress. “Besides, your ass looks great.”
I can’t help but laugh a little at that, “Are you sure it’s not too much for me — I mean, I never wear anything this short-”
“Live a little, Y/n!”
“Thank you.” Adrien chuckles, flashing his smile while fixing his hair a bit. “You know,” he says, leaning in more, so I can hear him. “I’ve always thought you were like really pretty, when I see you in class.”
Is this happening? Is this a dream or something? How do I even respond to that?
I try not to sound breathless, “Thank you,” I say softly, smiling at him. Oh my god, I am bad at this.
“I uh- was wondering if I could get your number? He asks, scratching the back of his head a bit.
“Of course,” I nod, and he hands me his phone to put my number in.
“We should hang out, outside of English class.” He suggests, I laugh, “We should!” I say enthusiastically. “I’ll text you, yeah?” He says, looking at me, shifting to get up off the couch.
“Yeah.” I happily agree.
“Cool.” He grins back, both of us standing up from the couch. “I’m sorry to cut our chat short but my friend, his curfew is in 10, so I have ro drive him home.” Adrien explains.
“No problem, I’ll see you on Monday.”
“See you Monday, Y/n.”
With that, walks through the crowd to search for his friend, glancing over his shoulder to wave back at me. I can’t name any other time I have semi-successfully flirted with a guy, aside from now, so I must look absolutely giddy with excitement.
I take another sip of my punch before glancing around the room for Amaya, who said she was looking for the boys.
When I notice she’s not in here, I walk back towards the kitchen, mumbling ‘excuse me, sorry’ a few times as I weave through the crowd.
When I walk into the kitchen, I immediately spot Nate, who looks like he is fighting the Keg — Chris, Nick, and a couple of their hockey teammates gathered around, drinks in their hands.
“Hey guys,” I greet loudly, so they can hear over the music that is still blaring.
All their heads turn to greet me, aside from Nate who’s preoccupied with the Keg. “Where have you been-!?” Nick asks, dramatically. “I’ve been so bored without you.”
“Wow! That actually hurt my feelings.” Chris exclaims, sounding fake-emotional. Or real, who knows, I could tell he’s had one-too many drinks.
Nick completely ignores his brother and steps over to me, “No seriously, where have you been?” He asks again.
I look up to Nick, I’m sure I have a blush creeping up on my cheeks. “Talking to Adrien Cole.”
“What-!?” Nick practically yells, and I widen my eyes at him. “I mean — what?” He whisper-shouts.
“He asked for my number too,” I smile, Nicks jaw drops. “You’re fucking kidding! Y/n he’s like, beautiful.”
“Who’s beautiful?” Chris chimes in, drunkingly slurring his words a bit and now stepping over to Nick and I, draping his arms over each of our shoulders.
“You, Chris.” I say quickly, smiling at him. Chris looks down at me, smiling. “Nick, did you hear that, Y/n thinks I’m beautiful.” Chris says, turning to Nick, who’s eyes widen a bit ay Chris’ state.
“I think it’s time we cut you off.” Nick states, taking the almost-empty plastic cup of beer from Chris.
“Hey-! Nate is fixing the Keg, I was gonna get a refill.” Chris protests. “Right, Nate?” He calls over to Nate, whose hitting his fist against the side of the Keg in — what I’m guessing, is a poor attempt to fix it.
“That’s right!” Nate holler back, throwing us a thumbs up, before focusing on the Keg again, mumbling profanities.
“Guys, have you seen Amaya, I haven’t seen her in a few,” I speak up, glancing around the kitchen.
Chris just shrugs, “Last time I saw her was with you.” Nick says. I turn to Josh — whose house this is (and now absolutely trashed) “She was on the line for the bathroom,” Josh tells me.
“Great, thanks.” I nod, “I’ll go look for her.”
“Hey, while you’re at it, could you find Matt, we haven’t seen him all night.” Nick adds.
I roll my eyes, and Nick gives me a warning look. “Fine.” I huff.
With that, I head for the stairs, which are still crowded with people, all on line for the bathroom. I step up the stairs, maneuvering around the people, not seeing Amaya or Matt.
I reach the top of the stairs, looking in both directions, a few doors on either side of me. “Amaya?” I call out, walking towards the first door.
“Hey-! You’re cutting the line!” A girl yells, waiting outside the door. Right, that mist be the bathroom.
“Oh- I’m sorry.” I mumble before continuing to the next door, the girl scoffing at me.
I approach the next closed door, knocking on it a few times. “Maya, you in here?” I get no response after a few moments, so I knock against before opening the door, being met with a pitch-black, empty room.
I move past this door, and across the hall to the next door. “Amaya?” I call out again, stepping in front of the door and knocking — hopefully loud enough so it can be heard over the music.
After a moment, no one answers from the other side, so I knock again, still getting nothing.
I make the absolute colossal decision of opening the door slowly, my eyes widening — so much so I think I my eyes nearly fell out.
What I was not expecting to see was Matt, shirtless and laying on the bed, a girl straddling his his lap. His hands are on her hips, while hers are tangled in his hair. The blonde on top of him is fiddling with his belt as they make out.
I swear, I think I am frozen in shock and pure disgust.
At the sound of the door creaking, the girl pulls away and snaps her head to look at me and the sudden sound. Well, shit, this is really fucking awkward.
It’s impossibly more awkward when I recognize the girl, it’s Layla; Matt’s ex, more or less. I don’t think they were ever officially together — besides Matt claims he ‘doesn’t do realtionships’
At the girl pulling away, Matt looks up towards the door; I notice the dark-reddish marks on his neck and the way his lips look. “I’m sorry- I- I didn’t know this room was occupied.” I scramble over my words quickly.
For a second, I think I forget I actually just walked in on Matt hooking up with a girl, and I am yet to close the door, frozen in shock. “Fuck- I’m sorry, I’m going.” I say quickly.
“Yeah, go!” She shouts, still on top of Matt — who is just staring at me.
I begin to close the door, before shaking my head, and almost feeling the alcohol course through my veins. “Lock the door next time, Matt!” I shout, and with that I close the door with a slam.
When it shuts I stop in my tracks, taking a deep breath in. What the fuck just happened? I walk quickly towards the stairs and I practically run down them, beginning to enter the living room, not without bumping into someone. “Finally, Y/n, it’s you.”
Amaya. “Y/n? My god, why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She laughs, noticing what I’m assuming is my mixed expression of disgust and shock.
I look at her, “Not a ghost.” I say, and she furrows her brows. “I walked in on Matt.” I state, straightforward.
Amaya’s jaw drops, “Like- with a girl?” She asks.
I nod, the reality of this very unfortunate experience setting in. “Oh my god!” She exclaims, a thought crossing her mind. “Did you see his-”
“Ew-! Amaya, no!” I practically screech, “I think I’d actually vomit.”
Amaya laughs, “So, what the hell happened? You walked in on him?”
I nod eagerly, “It was so awkward— I was like, in shock.” I say.
“Why, was he shirtless?” Amaya asks, dead serious and very straightforward.
“What? What does that matter?” I scoff, “I was in shock because I had just walked in on him hooking up with a girl.”
Saying that out-loud, feels like reliving the very awkward moment. “Why’d you even walk in there?” Amaya asks.
“I didn’t intend on interrupting them —” I clarify, “I was actually looking for you, and accidentally walked in.”
Amaya snorts a laugh, “Well, he should have locked the door!”
“That’s what I said!”
Eventually, after saying our goodbyes to our friends, Amaya and I decide on leaving the party early (more like, me begging to leave out of embarrassment), my house was just two blocks away so we walked it.
Matt had driven all of us there but there was no way, I was looking at Matt for at least another 24 hours.
Amaya is sleeping over my house, we’ve both changed and taken off our make-up, we’re under the covers of me bed, Amaya is sound asleep while I toss and turn.
That moment keeps replaying in my head — of course, I don’t want it to, but it does. That look Matt gave me was different, it was fueled with his hatred for me, but something else was there, and I don’t know what.
Maybe it was the annoyance of me interrupting his hook-up, but it just felt different— different than the normal cold gazes he has on me.
And crazily enough, though I didn’t admit this to Amaya, he was shirtless, and he did look good.
I’d be lying if I said Matt wasn’t attractive, he always has been, but something tonight, was different. I’d have to be paid to say that out-loud, which makes me wonder why I’m even thinking that in the first place.
It’s Matt, I hate him, remember?
I think I just need sleep — I think I’m too tired and the alcohol in my system is influencing this.
Unfortunately, Saturday morning was rough, to say the least. On top of my hangover, I had to work.
I work at a coffee shop downtown, a small, local Boston establishment everyone loves.
I’m fighting to stay awake while taking orders and hurriedly making coffees — working during an early morning crowd is never fun, especially not with a pounding headache.
“Good Morning, what can I get you today?” I ask, not yet looking up at the costumer, busy looking at the register screen.
“A hot latte, please.” The second I hear that voice I know exactly who it is.
I slowly look up to be met with exactly who I knew it’d be, Matt. He’s looking at me, holding his wallet open, ready to buy something. “Do you not sell coffee.. or?” He asks, narrowing his eyes at me with question.
This absolute dickhead.
I sigh, “Matt, what are you doing here?” I say through gritted teeth.
“Ordering my morning coffee?”
“You don’t drink coffee, Matt.”
Matt nods, “Well, I’m thinking of starting, do you recommend the latte?” He asks, sounding totally casual as if his motive isn’t to annoy me at 8am.
If there is a God, and they are listening, please bless me with patience.
“Matt, I do not have time for this.” I say, glancing at the long line of people behind him.
“Good thing I am a paying costumer who would like a latte.” He says, ignoring the most definitely pissed-off look on my face.
When I take a deep breath in, I do actually pray for patience. I look at Matt, who has his classic, smug, shit-eating grin on his face, and glare at him before putting a ‘hot latte’ into the register.
“$5.65.” I say blankly, Matt flips through the cash in his wallet, handing me six dollars.
He takes this time to turn behind to the next costumer in line — an old man, and says, “Coffee these days, always so damn expensive, am I right, sir?”
I think, Matt may just be the most insufferable person on this planet.
The old man behind him just nods and mumbles in agreement, Matt turns back to me. “Take your change.” I say firmly.
Matt quirks a brow, “That’s no way to speak to a costumer,” He says before moving his head closer, squinting his eyes to look at my name-tag. “Y/n.”
“Matt,” I say his name slowly, “go wait at the other counter for your drink or I will kick you out of here.”
“Only if you tell me when your break is.”
I sigh deeply — which I must’ve done a million times already. I look at the clock on the wall, “Ten minutes.”
Matt nods, shoving his wallet in his pocket. “I’ll wait.” Is all he says before walking to the next counter to wait for his drink.
What the fuck?
Really, there is no one more insufferable than Matt. At least, he likes to act this way with me. If he’s not grumpy and unapproachable, he’s annoying me.
And after last night, and quite literally walking in on him with a girl, I can only imagine what this conversation is about to entail.
For the next ten minutes, I take orders at the register. Occasionally, I glance over to the small 2-seater table, Matt is at.
Ten minutes comes and goes, and before I know it, I’m walking towards Matt’s table. He notices me as I pull the chair across from him out and sit down hesitantly.
“Is this about last night? Look — I didn’t know you guys-” I begin.
Matt cuts me off, “No, well, yes.” He stammers, “Why were you talking to Cole?” He asks, straightforwardly.
I narrow my eyes at him. “This is about Adrien Cole?” I ask in disbelief, and already getting frustrated. “Is that literally what you came here for?”
“He’s an asshole, Y/n.” Matt says, firmly, seriously.
“He’s nice to me, Matt. Besides, what do you care if I talk to him?”
Matt scoffs, “I don’t care. I’m just telling you, he’s an asshole.”
“If you don’t care, then why’d you come out of your way, early in the morning, to tell me this?” I retort, raising my brows. “What does matter to you?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Seems like it does.” I shrug. “And how do you know how he is, you’re not friends with him.” I state.
“Yeah,” Matt, breathes out. “Because he’s a dick.”
“And you’re not?”
Matt narrows his eyes at me, and I can see him shift his jaw a bit. “We were on the same hockey team Sophomore year — even then, the guy was a dick.”
I breathe out, shaking my head. “Well, it’s none of your business who I talk to.”
Matt bites the inside of his cheek, “I was just forewarning you, the guy has a reputation.” He adds.
I scoff, “Again — and you don’t?” I say slowly, getting frustrated.
Matt blinks at me, looking slightly defeated. I watch as he takes a sip of the coffee, and I can tell he fighting the urge to make a face of disgust.
I beat of silence passes. “I didn’t know you were back with Layla?” I ask bluntly, not that I even care, but I just want to annoy him.
“We were never together.” Matt states, “And we’re not back.”
I tilt my head a little, “Seemed like it last night-” I say under my breath.
“Yeah,” Matt scoffs, “Thanks to you, nothing actually happened last night.”
Ew. I think I might actually vomit. “That’s disgusting.”
“You’re just jealous.”
I’m positive my jaw just dropped at that statement, wanting to say something along the lines of ‘As if!’ but instead, I decide to get on his nerves just a little more. “You wish I was, Matt.”
Expecting for him to quickly deny, I’m met with nothing but a shrug from Matt. A shrug.
“Keep dreaming, Y/n.” He grins, “Well, Y/n, it was nice chatting with you.” Matt says abruptly, standing up from his seat.
Thank god, he’s finally leaving. “Yes, this was a wonderful way to spend my break.” I grit out, a straight face.
Matt grins at me, at I stand up fixing my apron. “See you later.” He says.
Right, Amaya and I promised Chris we’d go to their Lacrosse game. I’ve seen way too much of Matt these past 12 hours (figuratively, and literally), and personally the last place I want ro be as it their game. What if I come down with an illness — preferably one that’ll knock me out for a few days?
“See you.” I mumble, watching him walk out the door. “Asshole.” I say under my breath as he leaves.
Six years ago, third-person pov.
“Matt!” Y/n called out, running through the backyard, looking behind bushes. “Matt, come one, I can’t find you!”
Y/n stopped running, putting her hands above her knees to lean over and catch her breath. That’a when she heard rustling behind her, turning around slowly, noticing the one bush she didn’t check, moving.
Which is odd, because its nearly ninety degrees out, the sun is beaming down and there is not even a single small gust of wind.
A small smirk appears on the girls lips and she slowly, and as quietly as possible, walks across her backyard to that bush.
“Aha! I found you!” She shouts, just then, Matt climbs out from between the bush and the fence, brushing leaves off him as he stands up.
“I really thought you wouldn’t find me,” Matt laughs,“You win, Y/n” He smiles.
“You owe me an ice cream! You said if I -”
Matt cuts her off, “If you win, I’ll buy you ice cream when the ice cream truck comes around, I know.” He finishes her sentence, recalling what he had promised Y/n earlier.
She’s still practically jumping with excitement at her victory. “Any flavor I want?”
“Anything you want.” Matt nods.
A few hours later, the sun had began to set as they rode their bikes around their neighborhood — the two’s parents had told them ‘be home before the street lights come on.’
Now, they are sitting on the curb of Y/n’s street, just outside her house. Y/n is enjoying her extra large, chocolate ice cream — with every topping possible.
“You sure you don’t want any?” She asks Matt, “I feel bad. You didn’t get anything,”
He quickly shakes his head, “You won the game, you get the ice cream.” He reassures her.
Y/n nods, taking another spoonful of ice cream. The two twelve-year olds are sitting shoulder to shoulder, their bikes next to them while they enjoy the last few minutes of daylight before the ‘street lights come on.’
It’s just Matt and Y/n today, Chris was sick, and Nick was hanging out with another friend. Y/n enjoys hanging out with Matt — he gets her, and she gets him.
“You have a little —” Matt motions to her chin, she looks at him, trying to wipe off the ice cream from her face, but apparently missing.
Matt laughs at the girl, and she can’t help but feel heat rise to her cheeks. “Here, let me get it.” He says, bringing his thumb to her chin and wiping the chocolate ice cream away.
His hand feels like it’s shaking as it softly, and quickly grazes Y/n’s skin. He seems nervous.
“Got it.” Matt says, she smiles up at him, and he smiles back.
What Y/n didn’t know then, and still doesn’t now — is that her extra large, overly-topped ice cream cost Matt the last of his birthday money.
But that didn’t matter to Matt, if he could, he’d buy that girl anything and never complain.
If he could, he’d give her the moon and stars.
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a/n i wanted to keep it just written from y/ns pov and matts pov, but i felt like for a flash back it should be third person. lmk of u guys feel differently tho! and ik ik a looooong chapter, but personally i like to work on a chapter for a week and perfect it and just keeping adding to it yk. anyway, hope you all enjoyed, i am loving this so far and hope u are too! :)
taglist: @55sturn @st7rnioioss @alorsxsturn @raysmayhem-72 @sturnssmuts @sturnrc @junnniiieee07 @vickyzloserz
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uptoolateart · 10 months
Text
The Miraculous Child
So, in 'Representation', Felix talks refers to ‘the miraculous boy’ a couple times. He also calls Adrien’s conception ‘a miracle’, meaning Adrien too is ‘miraculous’.
The second I heard this, it hit me that the title of the show has had this extra meaning from day one. If we look right back to the start of the series, it has been a story about children and adults, especially parents, some a little overbearing (like Tom) and some neglectful or downright abusive.
The message I take away is - life, bringing a child into the world, is a miracle. Science tells us how it works, but the fact that it works is almost like magic. Yet, there are people out there who fail to see this and don't value the gift they've been granted.
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There will be people reading this and thinking, ‘Yeah? So what about Chloe?’
I hear you.
Audrey is a terrible person, and Andre is no better. When he hauls her off at the end of ‘Revolution’ and says he needs to correct his mistakes, he just sends her away with her mother. He’s washing his hands of ‘a problem’, just like he’s done with everything else, e.g. when he resigned as mayor. He walked away from responsibilities, after creating a mess for the people who voted him into office. Likewise, he walked away from his responsibilities as a father.
Does that excuse Chloe's behaviour towards others, especially Marinette? No. Does it explain it? Yes.
So, let's talk about choice, which has been mentioned several times in the series. Chloe has a choice to become just like one of her parents...or to become something better.
Because, if you think about it, at some point in time, Audrey and Andre and even Gabriel were all children. And children aren't just born nasty. They learn nastiness as they grow up. To become who they are today, they had to have started out in a similar position to Chloe, for example. They represent the potential future for their children.
If we saw them as kids, we'd probably see them being mistreated by the adults in their lives and we'd all sympathise with them and hope for their redemption. But we're seeing them as adults and our instinct is to say oh well, too late, they're just awful people. In fact, they could redeem themselves at any point, as demonstrated by Nathalie's turnaround in Season 5. It's just that, the more awful things you've done, the more you have to atone for. Gabriel would have to do a lot - maybe even have a brain change - to be redeemed. But you see my point.
So, at the end of 'Revolution', we see Chloe at a crossroads. She's on that plane, annihilated by her mother, and hiding by herself in a corner. She browses her contacts and hovers over Sabrina's entry...and her face crumples like her heart is breaking with regrets. Oh, it’s sad.
But she passes over Sabrina and moves onto Marinette. She makes one last attempt to bring her down. It’s an act of desperation – redirecting her own suffering onto another, trying to keep control over things when she’s completely out of control of her own life.
Marinette finally puts her in her place, and we see Chloe fall apart in a real way - for the first time ever. I don't know about you, but I found that very uncomfortable viewing. It was a relief to see Marinette stand up for herself, and it needed to happen...but Chloe's despair was also painful. I think all of those were emotions were intended.
Let’s set Thomas aside here. I don't want to get into debates about what was said on Twitter. He’s not the only writer for the show, anyway. I am just speaking about my personal perception of that scene. Chloe gained heaps of sympathy, after she’d been appalling all season, which was pretty powerful.
The fact is…Chloe needed to be put in her place. But that doesn’t mean she deserved everything she went through. Even so...sometimes these moments are necessary and revelatory. They can be the catalyst for great change.
What I mean is – if you're in denial about your position, redirecting your pain onto others, sometimes you need that wakeup call. You need to hit rock bottom in order to start climbing back up into the light. So, when Chloe fell apart, it was painful...but I also saw it as her potential turning point. As long as she maintained her delusions to escape into at school, it was impossible for her to transform - because she refused to see that there was any change needed. But when you have nothing left…that’s when you might begin rebuilding yourself.
Every episode in Season 5 has had multiple meanings. Looking at 'Revolution', when Chloe was akumatised, she trapped her victims in a maze, going round in endless circles (revolutions). Notably a lot of them were adults.
I think if this had happened early on in Season 4, Adrien would have been trapped morosely in that loop with the others. We saw this kind of thing in 'Guiltrip'. So, it spoke volumes about his growth as a character when he was the first one to seek a way out of Chloe's maze. He immediately used his cataclysm and broke a hole, escaping and letting everyone else out. Metaphorically, what he did was break the cycle. If we think about cycles of abuse, this is what the next generation always has the chance to do - to revolt against the past.
it's interesting, then, that when we got to 'Representation', we saw Cat Noir completely lose it with his father. He needed to let it all out...but he was in danger of going too far...and deep down, he knew it. His worst nightmare was of losing all control, to the point of letting his rage destroy everything he loved. Unconsciously, he's well aware that he runs the risk of becoming like his father. However, his complete breakdown, begging his father to take his miraculous to make it all stop, tells us he won't become like his father - because his conscience is too strong. He wants to break that cycle.
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Felix has also done some bad things - but he's begun the journey of redeeming himself and changing. He too is trying to break out of that cycle so he doesn't become like his father.
Kagami is embracing her passionate side, rejecting the coldness and isolation her mother has attempted to breed into her, no doubt due to her own upbringing once upon a time.
And I think there’s definite potential for Chloe to do the same. There’s no reason for anyone to remain caught in these patterns. The trick is to recognise the pattern is there in the first place - because you can’t break free of something if you don’t know you’re imprisoned. At the end of Revolution, I think Chloe finally saw her prison, saw that she was already trapped in her own maze, going round in circles. Now it’s up to her to pull an Adrien and cataclysm the bars that hold her in.
Because like Felix said, over and over – each child is miraculous simply for existing. And miracles should be cherished.
PLEASE NO POST-REPRESENTATION SPOILERS IN COMMENTS :)
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beatrice1979a · 17 days
Text
Sunburn
Reverse Marinette's first heartbreak
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credits: @adorkastock for this pose
@bgony for alt chloe design.
Yes that's reverse Adrien many months before his haircut.
@generalluxun for Chloe's sunny character concept. Marvelous just Marvelous! Chloe can kill with kindness. Check their reverse fics Note that Alt!Chloe is definitely NOT into Adrien or any man. But I needed a Chloe. Update: read this post here for more about this Chloe. Let's pretend for a moment the Supreme forced her to date Paris' beloved teen celebrity for the Greater Good. What's even scarier is that this brainwashed Chloe would probably comply gladly.
**
Sunburn
(English is not my first language. So grin and bear it)
They say never meet your heroes or, in this case, your beloved idol. Marinette learned this the hard way.
She was beside herself when she learned that, despite the rumors of having (yet again) a new Supreme-sanctioned girlfriend, the self-proclaimed teen heartthrob Sunshine Boy Adrien was having an informal meet and greet at Le Grand Paris. Just two blocks away from her own home. There was no point asking for permission. Her parents would never allow it. But this chance was too good to let it lapse. 
It was dark and everyone was asleep. She grabbed a few magazines and one of the many pictures scattered all over her punk themed bedroom and, silently escaped her room by climbing down the side wall of her three storey home. She ran into the night and camped, hours before dawn, by the expected location, right near the entrance of the fanciest hotel in Paris. It was chilly and slightly humid as the sun climbed the sky but Marinette didn't pay any mind even as the noisy swarm of fans started gathering all around the area forcing her to push and fight to keep her privileged spot in the queue.
There he was, Adrien Agreste in the flesh, even more handsome than portrayed in the heavily retouched press photos or the official telescreen channels. Her heart skipped a beat and she charged forward to beg for an autograph.
And then she saw her.
His arm around her with such unbearable familiarity. Her golden messy hair precariously arranged in two braided ponytails. Unmistakably her. Blinding her with that sunny personality and that oh-so-hideous saccharine smile plastered on that ridiculously pretty doll-like face: Chloe. Chloe Bourgeois. The snobbiest prissy miss perfect, top-of-the-class loved-by-all daughter of the mayor of Paris. Chloe Bourgeois. Her bully. Her tormentor. The only person who single-handedly made her life a total misery every single day since kindergarten. Even today on this otherwise auspicious day.
She felt something snap and, for a moment, she couldn't move. As she missed her chance, she got shoved and pushed by the hoards of screeching fans hopelessly drawn to the golden pair like moths to a flame. A flame Marinette could no longer see with tears clouding her sight and threatening to ruin her heavy makeup and the magazines she clutched for dear life onto her chest.
Then another spark blew from her heart, and fire swallowed her whole, uncontrolled, until it scorched her feelings and escaped her lips in a shaken broken whisper: I hate you.
I hate you. She repeated and ran as fast as she could until she crashed back in her bed. She ignored the angry protests of her parents and, possessed by an irrational anger, she dragged all the posters, the pictures, the Supreme endorsed propaganda and threw them into the open fire of the large oven at the back of the bakery. She just stood there hypnotized, staring and staring as that pretty boy face writhed in the flames.
When everything was reduced to ashes, she pulled her phone and called that guy who'd been pestering her for the last few months, begging her for a date. And she agreed. Because she also wanted to shine. She wanted to be loved and held tightly, and worshipped even if for just a moment, even if that moment was going to be with that obnoxious, arrogant, stuck-up class president, Le Chien Kim.
But maybe just then she would finally stop feeling like such a loser for having that ridiculous crush for someone who didn't even know she existed.
And with those thoughts she promised to never succumb to the whims of her heart ever again.
But Marinette was right at least for one thing: Adrien Agreste had never even seen her before in his life. Not until a few weeks later when he decided to finally surprise his mother with her favorite artisan macarons and his feet dragged him to the door of the most popular bakery of the 21th arrondissement.
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Come let the truth be shared No one ever dared To break these endless lies Secretly, she cries
And I'll hide from the world Behind a broken frame And I'll run forever I can't face the shame
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zoe-oneesama · 1 year
Note
So what are your thoughts (and salt) on your research re-watch on Queen Wasp?
This episode is annoying because it tries to play both sides - it is very much NOT a redemption arc episode but at the same time tries to make you feel sorry for Chloe after she fucks shit up, which has tricked some into believing this actually WAS part of Chloe's redemption arc.
As @hypexion laid out in a full essay, there never was a Chloe redemption arc because Chloe never thought she did anything wrong and never thought she had to change. In "Queen Wasp", she refuses to return the Miraculous on the grounds "finders keepers, losers weepers", deliberately causes a crisis in order to try and FAIL to save the day just to show off, and when confronted with her deeds only has this to say:
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See, I didn't pull Scarlet Lady's complete disregard for human life out of my ass, it was canon all along! 😈
"Who cares"?! "Who CARES"?! Putting aside that "WE" did not save them, Ladybug and Chat Noir saved them from YOU, I'm pretty sure the people's who's LIVES you endangered "cares"!
Thing is, if you just watch this episode and put the entire idea of "redemption" or "hero Chloe" out of your mind, this is 3/4ths of a good episode. Pretty fun, actually, with Chloe just...being Chloe. And getting to hit Chloe in the face with a trash can ❤️.
So what's with all the audience emotional manipulation at the end?
Why is Chat Noir making soft face and using soft voice at Chloe at the end, commiserating that she STOLE a Miraculous (because once she decided not to return it when asked, yes, that's theft at that point), crashed a train, and ran away from the consequences just to ImPrEsS hEr MoThEr? Guess that makes it alright then, right Adrien? 🙃
(If it was just meant to be an Adrien Character Moment, they would've had Ladybug counter him by point out that her motivation doesn't make what she did okay, but instead they have Ladybug ALSO commiserate with Chloe)
As a character beat, I get that Adrien is channeling his daddy issues through Chloe's mommy issues, but I mean for the audience: why are they having Ladybug admit to "making mistakes" and Chat Noir comfort Chloe when SHE MESSED UP THIS BADLY except to manipulate the viewer into feeling sorry for her?! Her mother didn't ASK her to do any of those things, she did them all on her own, so why are the heroes giving her a pass, ie. why are the writers wanting the audience to give Chloe a pass???
No pass! She sucked! And she deserved her classmates ripping on her in "Malediktator", but then the story had the balls to try and make the audience feel bad for Chloe for that too!
Speaking of that, it's really weird that they ended "Queen Wasp" with Ladybug being so soft on Chloe at the end, only for Marinette to turn around at the beginning of "Malediktator" and go back to being really annoyed with her. Especially after she went out of her way to reconcile things between Chloe and Audrey.
Even the way they did it - equating Ladybug accidentally dropping the Miraculous in the middle of the battle and then relying on the Miraculous Cure to return the Miraculous to Fu, (something she'd have no reason to believe shouldn't happen), to Chloe deliberately causing a disaster in order to fail to impress her mom and refusing to return the Miraculous that she Was Not Given? Those are not the same! An honest error that Ladybug fully intended to rectify vs. Chloe disregarding other's safety and the right and wrong of keeping something that never belonged to her are not on equal footing.
Oh and then there's this gem:
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Giving back an item that never belonged to you to the rightful owner isn't "exceptional", it's basic human decency. Good Lord Chloe is not "exceptional" for finally adhering to the code of conduct the rest of us learned in Kindergarden.
All this pushing the viewer to feel some type of way and it's all for nothing. Feeling sorry for Chloe just leads Ladybug to giving her another chance in "Malediktator", giving Chloe entitlement to the Bee Miraculous, facing the issues of the enemy knowing her identity in "Miraculer", having to flat out retract Chloe's access to the Bee Miraculous which Chloe responds to with a full on tantrum in "Miracle Queen", leading to Fu giving Guardianship over to Ladybug.
Woooow, real glad we were told over and over again by the narrative to go easy on Chloe, sHe JuSt NeEdS a GoOd InFluEnCe and a SeCoNd ChAnce. That sure ended well for everyone.
Also this is just me being a nitpicky asshole, but if Chloe didn't out herself right in front of everyone (ie. GABRIEL), the Hawkmoth era of the series would've been over. After Style Queen failed, Gabriel had completely given up since his "Masterpiece" failed. If Chloe hadn't revealed herself, Gabriel wouldn't have been inspired to akumatize a Miraculous Holder and might've gone into retirement long enough to return the Miraculous in secret or reveal Emilie to the public in search of other methods before he could've been "inspired" by something else.
The villain defeated by lack of motivation, lmao.
(Also also obviously this could've been doubly avoided by Ladybug not losing the Bee Miraculous or taking the Bee Miraculous out in the first place, but we could've had Anti-Hero Bee Chloe with an actual secret identity paired with a new antagonist to go into a new era of Miraculous, so I would've considered that a win)
MY main gripe with the three Chloe centric episodes "Style Queen", "Queen Wasp", and "Malediktator" is all the pointless, blatant audience manipulation. They went so far out their way to make the audience side with Chloe against Ladybug and feel bad for her only to turn around and call us stupid for doing so. I want my time back and I never even believed in the Redemption Arc. I can't imagine how much worse it was for someone who actually believed what they were selling.
And obviously it was terrible for the thing that brought Chloe and Audrey together is how they're horrible people who torment the working class, but maybe we should've taken that as a sign as to where this was going. Way to immediately resolve Chloe's mommy issues as soon as they were brought up.
Wait...is that why they made the problem in "Malediktator" Chloe's usefulness?
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mochinek0 · 4 months
Text
Daminette December 2023: 25-Plain Clothes
Marinette sat on the hotel bed, easing her nerves.
'This is a simple mission; a test. Best outcome: we find ShadowMoth. Worst: Zero progress.'
Robin knocked on the door, startling her.
"How are you?" He questioned "Are you ready to leave?"
"Nervous." She answered with a sigh.
"Why? It's a simple mission, is it not?" he replied.
"It's my first mission, as myself. No one but Batman and Wonder Woman knows who I am." She called out.
"We can use an alias." Robin declared.
"Can't." Mari groaned, "I know people at the event. I was going to be here, one way or another."
"I take it that you are well known, then." Robin spoke.
"Yes and you?" Mari asked.
"Correct." he answered.
"Okay." Marinette said, before taking a deep breath.
Tikki shook her head a flew through the door, startling Robin. He quickly put his emotions back in order and glared at her. Tikki giggled.
'He reminds me of Plagg.'
"I am Tikki. I am the Kwami or Goddess of Creation." she spoke, "I am what makes the girl behind the door, Ladybug."
He nodded in response and looked back at the door.
"We will have somoene looking out for us in the shadows." he called out.
"Batman is here?" Ladybug asked.
"No, Superboy. Apparently, he saw your tiny companion here through a door once. His X-Ray vision works on her. Superman couldn't see her, at all." Robin declared, "I know his identity and he won't say anything, unless they have proper clearance. So far, that consist of you, me, Superboy, and Batman. We will have earpieces on and he will be able to communicate with us, if he notices anything."
"Meaning if ShadowMoth is in the crowd-" she stated.
"He should sense it." Robin answered, "If he tried to leave, he is capable of following him and giving us directions to his location."
Marinette walked out of the room, full of confidence and hope. Robin couldn't believe his eyes. Ladybug was a leader. She was strict. She reminded him of his parents, at times; dedicated. This girl in front of him didn't look deadly or commanding. She looked small and shy; she looked like an angel.
"You look.....beautiful." he spoke.
Mari smiled and tried to fight off her blush, "Thank you. How did the suit fit?"
"Um, well. Thank you for the suit." Robin replied, "Where did you get it?"
"I made it." she spoke, "I'm a fashion designer."
Damian looked down at his clothes. He hadn't appreciated them until that moment. He thought it had just been another suit. He looked back up before bowing to her.
"Damian Wayne." He announced.
She smiled back and curtsied, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
Marinette walked in on Damian's arm.
"I can see you both. I am still able to see Ladybug. I can see your earrings glowing and your little friend in your bag."
Mari gripped Damian's arm after hearing the voice speak
"Thank you, Superboy." Damian whispered, squeezing Marinette slightly, "He's on our side."
She just nodded. Soon, everyone crowded around them.
"I can see two other people with glowing items in attendance, aside from her."
Damian felt Marinette tense up again.
"Where?" Mari asked, "Who?"
"An older gentleman."
"Must be ShadowMoth." Damian inquired.
"The other?" Mari pressed.
"Our age."
Marinette bit her lip confused.
'Could Felix be here? No; Hawkmoth got the peacock miraculous back from him two years ago. That's why I used Kalki to get into the Justice League's headquarters in space.'
"Heads up. Incoming fast!"
"Hey, Marinette!" Adrien cried out, "I didn't expect you to have a date."
"Watch him."
Damian felt the tiny Ladybug grip his arm like her life depended on it, but on her face was plastered a smile.
"F-Felix?" Mari whispered.
"Uh, no." the blonde answered, "It's Adrien, Adrien Agreste. Did you forget about me?" 
"Why wouldn't my girlfriend have a date?" Damian demanded, moving his arm from to her waist to stabilize her better.
Marinette turned to him and smiled.
"His ring is glowing and he has a creature in his right breast pocket."
Marinette glanced at the familiar ring he wore throughout middle school. An image of it painted black with a neon print came to her mind.
'Adrien is Chat Noir!'
"There's something else. There's a....it looks like a feather inside of him. It looks like it branching out, like veins."
Marinette buckled, feeling faint.
"Mari!" Adrien shouted.
"Angel!" Damian cried out, catching her.
Adrien held her hand as Damian checked her over quickly.
"Are you okay?" Adrien asked.
"Do you think we can get some air?" Marinette questioned, "Still not use to these heels."
"Of course." Damian chuckled, "Did you remember to pack the bandages that Selina recommended?"
Marinette nodded, struggling to get to her feet. As she got up, she slipped the ring off of Adrien's finger, using her Guardian powers. Unfortunately for Adrien, Plagg was asleep and unable to warn him.
Once outside, Marinette burst into tears.
"Marinette?" Damian prodded, confused.
"Adrien is...was my partner." Marinette sobbed, showing him the ring.
"Why did you take it?" he questioned.
"The feather he saw." Mari declared.
"What about-"Damian began.
"He's a sentimonster! That's not the real Adrien and if it is.....who is to say he hasn't been helping Hawkmoth since the beginning?" she stated.
Marinette looked at the ring and placed it on her finger.
"Hey, Kid. What-" Plagg demanded, but once he saw Mari he changed his mind, "Where is he?"
"Did you know?" Marinette questioned.
"Know what?" Plagg asked, confused.
Tikki flew out of Marinette's bag, "Adrien is one of Duusu's creations."
Plagg's jaw dropped, "No!"
He floated down onto the Guardian's hand and sat down.
"You couldn't sense it?" Tikki asked.
"No." he answered shaking his head, "How big were the branches?"
"Large." answered Damian, "According to the half-alien who has x-ray vision and can see through people."
"It is possible that Adrien was never real." Tikki spoke, "For small times, it wouldn't be that much."
Tears poured down her cheeks. Adrien not being real opened up so many possibilities. She wiped her tears away.
"Bug?" Plagg questioned.
Marinette took a deep breath and reached into her bag. She quickly fixed her makeup and grabbed Damian's hand. The ring change from its once silver color to a dark metal with a large emerald.
"You are my partner for this mission." Mari declared, "It is only fitting that you now wear Plagg."
"Will he not notice?" Damian questioned.
"No." the Guardian answered, "The magic of the miraculous will keep him for recognizing it."
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"I need a moment." she whispered.
He nodded and walked back into the venue.
"Marinette?" Tikki whispered.
"I may have to kill Adrien." she answered.
"I have eyes on another."
Marinette stood up and walked back into the gala.
"Male, 40's. Maybe 50's. White suit and glasses."
Marinette looked around and spotted Gabriel Agreste.
She took a deep breath and asked, "Where is it?"
"Under his tie. It's red and white."
'Yep. That describes Gabriel Agreste, perfectly.'
Before she could make her way towards him, Adrien jumped out of the crowd, in front of her. From his eyes, she could tell he was panicking.
"Mari, hey, did you see me drop my ring?" He pressed.
"Ring?" Marinette asked.
"The one I always wear. The silver one!" Adrien stated.
"No." she answered, "I'm sorry. I didn't notice it. We can go back to where we were and see if It fell off. Maybe, someone kicked it under a table or something?"
Adrien nodded and followed her towards where they had been. He looked through the crowd.
"Where's your boyfriend?" he asked.
"Talking with other people about his father's business." Mari shrugged.
"Oh." he answered, "So, uh, how long have you guys been a thing?"
"Oooh, maybe he likes you. Robin, you need to step you're game up. Someone is trying to steal Ladybug from you."
'Yeah, right.'
"Be silent. This isn't a commentary show."
'Thank you, Robin.'
"Two years." Marinette answered, quickly.
"Nice save. Using how long you have been coming to the League, I'm assuming."
"Oh, that's nice." Adrien replied.
"Incoming."
"Miss Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel spoke.
"Hello, Mr. Agreste." Marinette smiled back.
"I couldn't help but notice that you came in with young Damian Wayne." he declared.
Mari answered back, "Yes. He is my date for tonight's event. We figured since we were both coming, why not announce our relationship?"
"I see." he spoke, not noticing his son wilt at her answer, "I was hoping you would come work for Gabriel. I understand Audrey still has an invitation open for you, as well."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Agreste, but Damian has offered me my own studio." She announced, "Not an internship. He will be paying for the building and I will take care of the rest. My boyfriend has confidence in my work."
"Well, Miss Dupain-Cheng, good luck to you." Gabriel stated, "Will your studio be here in Paris?"
"No. I'll be leaving Paris at the end of the week to Gotham." Marinette declared.
Adrien quickly turned to her in shock.
"You're leaving?" the model exclaimed, to which she nodded, "Why haven't you said anything?"
"Adrien." Gabriel growled.
"I've been so busy and my apartment can't really contain my designs and equipment." Mari answered, "I've been working out of my place and have been so focused on my commissions."
Damian created a distraction by throwing five silver platters at the giant windows, as if they were shuriken. People began to scream when all the windows shattered at once. Many believed it was the work of an akuma and started to scream. Many began to push people out of the way to get towards a door, faster. Marinette took notice of Gabriel leaving during the middle of the chaos, leaving Adrien behind. Quickly, an akuma appeared out of one of the scared party-goers.
"I have him."
Adrien began to look around the room, after he lost sight of Marinette. He spotted her again, hoping to see her transform into his Lady.
'She had to of taken the ring!'
Adrien noticed bits of the ceiling beginning to crumble above her head. He watched through the chaos as the ceiling began to collapse overhead.
'Transform!'
Damian grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest, as he dodged the debris. Marinette sobbed into his chest. Damian picked her up and ran out of the building with her. Watching his friend cry in the arms of her lover, he realized it wasn't her. She wasn't Ladybug.
'Shit! Where the fuck is my ring?'
Marinette jumped out of Damian's arms, as he moved them to the side of the building.
"You're positive you have eyes on him?" Marinette questioned, getting into Ladybug mode.
"Yes."
"Spots on." Mari spoke.
"Claws out." Damian whispered.
"Can you creep up on him and knock him out?" Ladybug asked.
Damian smiled, evily, "I was trained in stealth."
"Do it." she replied, "I'll deal with the akuma."
He nodded and followed Signal's directions. There stood Gabriel Agreste in another room of the building, transformed as Shadowmoth. Damian quietly snuck up on him and used one of the techniques his mother had taught him to temporarily paralyze someone. Shadowmoth was caught off guard as he collapsed to the floor.
"My apologies, Shadowmoth," a new cat like figure spoke, taking the brooches off of him, "but the hunt is over. I have acquired them, Ladybug."
Ladybug quickly destroyed the akuma and announced, "Shadowmoth has been defeated. This plan has been in the making for along time."
Paris began to cheer in happiness.
With help from the Batfam, they were able to clear out certain evidence out of Agreste Manor. They placed Emilie and Natalie into a hospital. Gabriel was still paralyzed on his right side; the doctors believed he had a stroke. Adrien was temporarily staying at the Bourgeois hotel. Gabriel lay in the hospital bed upset. At the foot of his bed was Ladybug and Chat Noir's stealthy replacement.
"Your days are over." he growled, "I'll come back!"
"The miraculous will be out of Paris, tonight." Ladybug replied.
"You-" he hissed.
"Do you realize I have to kill your son, Adrien?" She asked, causing him to freeze, "I know he's a sentimonster. The question is was he always a sentimonster or is the real one hidden away like your wife?"
"My wife wanted a child!" Gabriel declared, "We couldn't have one and that was all she wanted. I jus wanted her to watch him grow up."
"Adrien is sucking the life out of her." The Guardian stated, "It's one or the other; not both."
Gabriel paled at the news.
"Will you kill her son, who she did everything for, just to bring her back? Or will you give him the life she wanted for him?" Ladybug questioned, "She will remember everything."
"We will find them again." Gabriel stated.
Ladybug sighed, "No, you won't. I've asked the Justice League to take them off planet and onto another. They could bury it on the center of Pluto or send it to another planet that Earth could never reach. No one will ever find them again."
Hawkmoth sagged in defeat.
"Adrien doesn't know." he spoke, "He had nothing to do with this."
"Then, let him live his own life, like your wife would have wanted." The Guardian whispered, "Spend time with him. The Justice League will be keeping an eye on you and your movements from now on."
Ladybug walked up to Adrien Agreste.
"Ladybug, I had no idea-" he began.
"Chat, I'm sorry." she whispered.
"Huh?" the model stammered, "Did you steal away from Plagg? You replaced me?"
"I had too." She answered.
"When did you find out?" Adrien asked, "Did you-"
"You know we've been getting help from the Justice League." Ladybug spoke, "At one point I had to recharge and someone was able to sense Tkiki. They came along hoping to sense ShadowMoth's kwamis. I had to take him from you; they sensed you were in danger."
"I don't understand!" he cried out.
She sighed, "Your father was Hawkmoth."
"No!" Adrien exclaimed, "We ruled him out!"
"He got smart. He threw us off his trail." Ladybug continued, "He won't go to jail, but he will be under Justice League surveillance. They will know every keystroke on his computer and be able to listen to every phone call. You can still have your father; be thankful you are not losing him too."
Adrien sagged in defeat, "What happened? Did he really have a stoke?"
"The temporary chat snuck up behind him and knocked him out. We think realizing he lost the miraculous caused the stroke." Ladybug declared.
"Why?" Adrien asked, "Why did he-"
"Your mother is very ill." She admitted, "He wanted to heal her."
"That's it?" he shouted, "All these years? All of Paris' pain and suffering, the nightmares.....it was for my mother?"
"I'm sorry." The Guardian apologized.
"Can I know who you are?" Adrien questioned, "You promised."
"I wish I could, but you're too close to him." Ladybug answered, causing him to pale, "Plagg is in good hands for now. I will be giving up my mantle today. I won't even remember you; I don't want to cause you anymore pain. Can you really handle seeing me everyday when I won't be able to remember my own name?"
Adrien's eyes began to water.
"I wish you a good life, Chat." She smiled, "Find love. Be happy. Your father can no longer design. Gabriel will likely fall so you won't have to model anymore."
He smiled through his tears.
"Do what makes you happy." Ladybug declared, before leaving.
"Are you sure that was a wise thing to do?" Damian questioned.
Marinette nodded, "He deserves to be happy. The Justice League will have him under heavy surveillance and if he starts to follow in his father's footsteps, I'll use the Peacock to undo him."
"I thought I was meant for the Kwami of Destruction." Damian smirked.
"Oh, shut up." Mari scoffed.
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mysticraven20 · 8 days
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Chapter 24: First Kiss
@adrinetteapril
Artwork by the amazing @verabraun-art
Marinette watched as Adrien rounded the corner, leaving her life once again. She had wanted to take it slow, but everything about this evening had proven he most certainly did not — he was doing this for her. The kind, caring boy she’d grown up loving had once again pushed his own feelings aside and allowed her to take the lead.
But it was about time she took the lead herself, and going for what she wanted!
Her heart started a rhythmic command to get moving, to go find him and stop this stupid game once and for all.
She hastily seized the nearest pair of shoes, her father’s cherished boots, slipping her feet into them despite their vast size. Ignoring the discomfort, her heart pounded with urgency as she rushed out into the street, desperate to find Adrien. She couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving again. After New York and then London (twice), she was determined to make him stay this time. He belonged with his family, his friends, and most of all, with her—the love of his life.
Yet, doubts gnawed at her insides. What if their love wasn’t enough to anchor him here?
But she pushed those thoughts aside, clinging to hope as she sprinted down the familiar streets, her heart racing with both anticipation and fear. Catching up with him, she saw him turn to face her, a questioning smile on his perfect, kissable lips.
“Marinette?” he questioned. His eyes glistened and glowed underneath the moonlight. Or was it the lamppost? This was the exact spot he’d proposed to her a couple of weeks ago. A proposal that, regardless of its validity, she’d accepted.
She stared up at him, summoning the courage to speak. “I know they say if you love someone, you should let them go. Well, I did that once and, believe me, there’s no way I’m strong enough to do it again.”
His eyes flickered across her face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I don’t want to take this slow. Not anymore.”
His mouth opened, before closing again, his eyes burning into hers.
They stood bathed in the soft glow of the light, accentuating every imperfection and detail as they locked eyes. His velvety, green gaze delved into her deep oceans of blue. Silence enveloped them, each absorbed in the weight of what this moment could signify for their relationship.
Amidst the quiet tension, she felt a surge of readiness and determination. She wanted this, despite the uncertainty. Her heart swelled with love for him, and in that intense gaze, she found the courage to embrace whatever changes lay ahead. She bit down on her bottom lip and his gaze moved to focus on her mouth.
“Do you love me?” she asked with all the confidence she didn’t know she possessed.
Her pulse quickened as she locked eyes with him again, feeling the searing heat radiating from his intense, emerald gaze.
They stood motionless, the weight of the unspoken answer heavy in the air. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest, each beat echoing in her ears. Goosebumps raced across her skin, every nerve alive with tingling anticipation, as their eyes remained fixed on each other, conveying a torrent of unspoken emotions.
“Do you love me?” Her voice trembled, as the raw emotion broke through. Why wasn’t he answering?
Her heart raced in anticipation of his answer, breath caught in her chest. With deliberate steps, he moved closer, closing the distance between them, his hand rising to tenderly cup her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed instinctively, savouring the intimacy of his touch and surrendering to the tender caress.
She watched him wet his lips with a nervous flick, before leaning in to whisper the words she had been yearning for. “Yes…I love you!” The breath of his voice against her ear sent a shiver down her spine, his warm breath mingling with her own, creating an intimate moment filled with longing and desire.
Her throat tightened as she watched him retreat, his eyes searching hers with a silent invitation to reconsider. He had an uncanny ability to read her thoughts.
As her eyes met his, she was mesmerised by the intensity of his gaze. It had turned to molten heat, a fire that burned only for her. And in that moment, she felt like the most cherished person in the world – not some distant ideal of beauty, but Marinette Dupain-Cheng, baker’s daughter and retired superhero.
His eyes bore into hers with an insatiable hunger, as though she were the sole craving of his existence. It was a look that conveyed a depth of longing and desire that superseded any other want or need.
She no longer allowed her doubts to resurface. She didn’t stop to question it, to question him or to question herself.
Marinette allowed her instincts to guide her, her hands reaching out and grabbing him by the shirt, twisting the fabric in her grip as she closed the distance between them. Lifting her head, she watched him bite his lower lip, his eyes continuing to blaze in the same way her core was. He kept his eyes trained on her, darkened, his pupils dilating into the green of his irises in a way that made her gulp for breath.
The tension between them was like a tightly wound band on the brink of snapping, the impending release promising a cataclysmic explosion of emotion, reminiscent of a supernova.
“Hey,” he greeted, his voice deep and gravelly.
As if on cue, the tension that had been holding them apart released its grip, and Marinette felt herself drawn irresistibly closer to him. Their lips met in a long-awaited kiss that spoke volumes of unspoken desire and heartfelt connection. She could feel the weight of anticipation lift, replaced by the warmth of his touch and sweetness of their lips.
At that moment, he was everything.
The kiss started slow and controlled, slightly tentative, and Marinette could sense the underlying tension and desire building between them. She felt his possessive growl reverberate in the back of his throat, a primal sound that stirred something deep within her.
As the kiss intensified, she sensed his urgency, the fiery passion igniting between them, a mutual need for more, for deeper connection and exploration. In that moment, amidst the heat of their embrace, her thoughts raced with longing and anticipation, her heart pounding with the realisation that this was just the beginning of something electric and profound.
His hands slid up her arms, fingertips skating across her collarbones and along her throat before cupping around her face almost desperately.
She felt something ignite in her body, and her hands moved up to grab his hair. A match lit inside her, and she was teetering on the edge of an inferno.
She suddenly remembered a quote from a book, where the character asked another what drowning felt like. The response was…not everything feels like something else.
Like falling in love.
Like having your heart broken.
Like kissing Adrien Agreste.
She could never have felt anything as jubilant as this. It wasn’t a tentative first kiss like when they were 14, breaking spells and defeating Akumas. This was a full kiss where she finally knew what Adrien tasted like — a flavour she’d desired for over a decade.
Her thoughts flew further, imagining what he would sound like as his hands moved over her body, adding in her own whimpers for more as he touched her. Her fantasies could never fully capture the unadulterated bliss of this moment, the sounds of his pulse quickening, or his breath catching as he finally relaxed and relinquished control to her.
They couldn’t go back to their normal dynamic now. This kiss was more than she ever could have imagined and everywhere he touched it felt like an electrical storm cracking.
He was more than just looks and a name to her. He was her Kitty, her Adrien. And as she remained in Adrien’s arms, breathless and not nearly satisfied, she understood how a simple kiss could bring two grown people to their knees, her own legs barely keeping her standing.
“Nice boots,” he said before stroking his thumbs over her cheek bones and moving forward again, this kiss just as heated and intense as the last one.
She wanted to experience everything with him because she loved him and she was sure now that he loved her. She never had to do anything to make him see her, because this kiss told her he’d been watching for a long, long time.
If this was what drowning felt like, she would be happy to drown forever.
Read the whole story here
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