#and there is that mysterious picture of the girl that looks like kagami

[wield-the-mighty-pen]

I've been wondering about this a lot recently and was curious about what the general consensus was...

#if you think about it #kagami has the most mysterious past about of everyone #like we for the most part know about adrien and felix #but we were told almost nothing about kagami #she and her mother never mention a father #and there is that mysterious picture of the girl that looks like kagami #back in 'sole crusher' #but idk #kagami tsurugi #tomoe tsurugi #sentimonster theory #ml season 5 spoilers #ml season 5 #ml spoilers #miraculous ladybug #mlb #miraculous #ml #ml leak free #miraculeakless

[miraculouswolf99]

Grand Festival Showdown

The Miraculous gang as Pokemon trainers. All of them are the same, but their dreams have all been modified to include pokemon. Kagami, Kim, Alix, and Ivan are all battlers. Marinette, Adrien, Luka, Nino, Chloe, Nathaniel, and Lila all do contests. Juleka, Rose, and Mylene all do showcases. This all takes place in the Sinnoh Region.

Includes my favorite Lila Salt as well as Alya Salt.

My original characters are included in this story as well. Lyon being a champion grand coordinator, Vallia being a pokemon nurse in training, Apollo is a contest contestant, Mason being a gym leader, and Lena is a friend to the twins.

This is a long one, about 6000 words, so buckle up people.

*****

If there was one thing that Adrien loved, it was competing in pokemon contests. Since his father usually forced him to model for his fashion company, he appreciated the beauty that he saw in the pokemon that his father made matching outfits of for the photoshoots. And from watching the Pokemon League on television, he definitely also knew that they had power. So contests were the perfect blend of how he saw pokemon as the beautiful and powerful creatures that they were.

Not that his father even knew that he participated in them. Gabriel Agreste wanted his son to be a proper heir to Gabriel Pokemon Fashion. And that did not include anything involving contests, battles, or even showcases. He forced him to do all kinds of photoshoots, had him model with humans and pokemon alike, not to mention the fact that he would not have gotten his starter pokemon had he not sneaked out of the house. But he did it anyway, and his adorable Turtwig had managed to evolve into a Torterra.

But if there was one mistake that Gabriel made, it was letting him have lots of privacy. There may be cameras outside his bedroom door, but none inside of his room. That certainly helped when he had to sneak out to meet his friends, capture more pokemon, train his pokemon, or compete in a contest that was nearby. Plus, he also was able to sneak away to contests that were in the same town as a photoshoot that he was doing. He just had to lie and say that he was staying in his hotel room for a few hours. His life may have been mostly controlled, but that did not mean he was not sneaky when he was getting what he wanted.

Since contests were televised, he did have to keep his father from finding out. So he donned a disguise. He became Cat Noir, a mysterious pokemon contest prodigy that no one knew the real name of.

Only three people knew about his second life as Cat Noir. His best friend Kagami, who shared the same type of sheltered life as he did but she preferred battles to contests, and his other two friends Lyon and Marinette. Lyon is one half of a set of twins, his sister currently working under a Nurse Joy in order to become a pokemon doctor, and he was already a top coordinator back in his home region of Kalos. Marinette is a coordinator like him and also came from the Kalos region like Lyon, but she is usually shy and also has desires to become a pokemon fashion designer.

He had met Kagami during one of the social events they were both forced to attend by their parents. They got along great and both had the same desire to be free. If they were in the same town, which happened more often than one would think, they would often use each other as an excuse to sneak away for a gym battle, contest, or training with their pokemon. He met Lyon by chance when he had been training and his Turtwig almost hit the Top Coordinator with a razor leaf gone wild. Lucky for him that Lyon was a lot more down-to-earth than one would expect from a person with as much success as him while he was so young. Marinette, being a fellow coordinator, had been at a contest which she had lost to him. She had seen him take off his Cat Noir mask and recognized him from his father's magazines. She had been a great friend to him and understood why he used the mask.

There were few things that could actually make him smile so carefree other than contests. His constant photoshoots, dealing with stuck-up models, and his seemingly careless father did not make him smile that way. He hated modeling and even though he loved being all the pokemon that he modeled with, he wanted to see pokemon just as free as he wanted to be. He wanted to be famous for working hard like legendary trainers Ash Ketchum, Gary Oak, and Steven Stone. Or coordinators like Fantina, Wallace, and Zoey.

But he was now was at the top pokemon contest of the Sinnoh region. The Grand Festival. He had earned his ribbons and now Cat Noir was at his first Grand Festival. What he looked forward to most of all was that he knew that Kagami was going to be in the audience, Lyon was a special guest, and that Marinette was also competing.

He did not like the idea that he might have to battle his friend at some point, but these things do tend to happen. Especially since he was also aware that other friends of his had also made it to the Grand Festival. They had all attended the same pokemon school before it was time for their journeys to begin. He knew his friends Luka, Nathaniel, and his childhood friend Chloe were also all competing.

So, he was just getting ready backstage before all of them would have their qualifying performances before the battle rounds started. He was in his Grand Festival outfit of a black suit with green details, a black and green coat with a cape-like back, shiny green dress shoes, "cat claw" gloves, his signature cat-eye mask, and fake black cat ears on his head.

"My, my, don't you look fancy," Adrien heard near him.

The model almost jumped out of his skin but calmed down when he saw that it was just Lyon. And from looking at him, he definitely saw why people called him the White Wolf.

Lyon was in an icy outfit that almost gave him the illusion of having his own ice powers. He had on a fancy white vest over a blue short-sleeve silk shirt. It matched the white pants that he wore with his shin-high blue boots. He also wore a white hooded cloak with snowflake designs all over it. On his lower arms were silver arm-band bracelets with snowflake and wolf designs on them. His midnight-black hair also had fake wolf ears in it.

"Oh, Lyon," Adrien let himself breathe again. "For a second, I thought my identity had been discovered."

"Well, you may need to get a little better at hiding when you change," Lyon chuckled. "If you win and become Top Coordinator, the press will be even more ruthless with trying to find out your identity."

"I deal with the press on a regular basis already, Lyon," Adrien reminded him.

"Yeah, but I can tell you from experience that when it comes to being a Top Coordinator, people pay more attention to us," Lyon said.

"Well, I can see why that would happen with you," Adrien not-so-subtly flirted with him.

"Careful, kitty," Lyon teased him. "Wouldn't want the wolf to eat the cat before his big performance."

Adrien chuckled, always having liked how they could always joke around with their chosen performer names of cat and wolf. There were so few people that he could act like himself around and he certainly enjoyed Lyon's company.

"So, you here as just a special guest or also as a surprise judge," Adrien asked him.

"My dear Cat Noir, now that would be telling," Lyon smirked as he teased the teen coordinator.

"Oh, thank Arceus that I found you," they both heard a female voice.

They both turned and saw Marinette running toward them. Lyon recognized her from pictures that Adrien had sent him and of course, Adrien would recognize his best friend even if she was decked out in her Grand Festival dress. Probably a dress of her own design as well.

She was in a beautiful dress that was in a ladybug design with a little pink mixed in. It was a knee-length dress that was mostly red with black spots all over it. Under it was a crinoline that was colored pink that helped her dress by more poofy. The sleeves of her dress were elegant bell sleeves that ended at her elbows and lower arms instead of her wrists. Her hair was also extended and placed into a long ponytail coming from the top of the back of her head with roses tied where the ponytail started. On her feet were red wedge-heel boots that went up to her knees.

"How you can run in those heels is beyond me," Lyon said.

"Especially given that one of the first things that you told me about yourself was that you are extremely clumsy," Adrien added.

"Well, I was running with a purpose," Marinette said.

"That purpose being to find one of us if what you had said means anything," Lyon says.

"It's about Adrien, or rather Cat Noir really," Marinette said.

"Oh, great," Adrien sighed, having expected the fame of his mysterious identity to cause some type of drama at the Grand Festival.

"Do you remember when I was telling you about that liar, Adrien," Marinette asked him.

"Yeah," Adrien nodded. "Lila is what you told me her name was. The girl that lies with every breath she takes and has an ego bigger than a Wailord."

"Well, she somehow got her five ribbons and is going around telling people that she knows who you are," Marinette tells her friend.

"What," Adrien's eyes widen.

"Not just that," Marinette continued. "She is also saying that she is dating you and you're apparently head over heels for her."

Adrien could not help but facepalm when he heard that.

"Here comes the headache that I did not know was going to happen," he groaned.

"Here's some aspirin," Marinette gave Adrien the medicine. "I thought that if the liar managed to get here, I would need some myself. I've already had three headaches because of her. And that is just today."

"Am I missing something," Lyon asked.

"Yes," Adrien said before popping the medicine into his mouth.

Marinette rolled her eyes as she took the liberty of explaining.

"Lila Rossi is a pathological liar that I ran into after I won my first two contests," she says. "At first, I had believed her tall tales until she said that she knew the designer for Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale."

"MDC," Lyon raised an eyebrow. "As such a private designer, I highly doubt that a random girl would know her. Especially if she is bragging about it to anyone that will listen to her."

Marinette nodded. "Exactly. So I then immediately knew that Lila was nothing but a liar. Especially since she said that MDC is a boy when anyone with common sense, and access to the internet, know that MDC's only given clue to who she is that she is a she."

"Yet, people actually believe her," Lyon put a hand on his hip.

"As I said, she is a pathological liar," Marinette says. "One that uses people's knowledge to make her lies sound realistic. Like how my friend Rose is friends with Prince Ali, and my boyfriend Luka is Jagged Stone's son, and even how Adrien is Cat Noir. Lila uses people's own experiences to give her lies credibility. Like a situation of 'if I can know celebrities then so can she."

"Weirdly enough, I can see how that makes sense," Adrien said.

"What can we do about her," Lyon asked. "Can we just have Adrien call her out as Cat Noir?"

"Since Adrien has to keep his identity a secret, she could just pull out another lie about him protecting her or that they got into a fight," Marinette said. "It's how she explained when MDC posted on social media that she had never met Lila before."

"This is gonna be a disaster, isn't it," Adrien guessed. "There is no way someone like how you describe Lila would go down without a fight."

"She may be lying, but won't she lie herself into a corner," Lyon asked. "Especially if 'Cat Noir' actually does enter a relationship."

"The problem is the damage that she can cause along the way," Marinette said.

"Trust me, I was on your train of thought as well until Marinette explained things more to me," Adrien said. "Lila is not just lying about herself, she is also lying about what she can do for others. Saying that she can put a good word in for people to get certain jobs, internships, or futures in careers that they want. When it actually comes time for them to her to fulfill those promises, a lot of people will be met with disappointment. Plus, with her promising these things, they will not apply to other jobs, colleges, or internships on their own. It would take a long time for them to recover from her lies."

"I see," Lyon understood what they meant. "Guess this just gives me more reasons to not come out in public more if I have to deal with people like her."

"She hasn't happened to make any lies about Lyon, has she," Adrien asked Marinette.

"Well, she apparently was trained in the art of contests by Lyon and was supposedly the muse that inspired him to chose his 'White Wolf' look," Marinette said.

"And... now I have a headache," Lyon pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Here you go," Marinette handed the top coordinator some aspirin.

"Thank you," he took it immediately.

Adrien had known Lyon for quite a while now. Lyon had come from a rich family just like he did. But while he had been almost forced to model, Lyon's parents let him choose his own path. He was known for being the youngest ever grand coordinator out there. But since he had met him, Adrien also knew that Lyon generally was very humble and kind, but was basically an ice prince to anyone that tries to use him for their own gain.

So if Lila was not in trouble before, she sure was going to be now that Lyon knew about her lying about him. And that was troubling enough without Lyon's twin sister, Vallia, hearing about this. She might have the nickname of the Flower Princess and might be trying to become a Pokemon doctor, but that did not mean she was not dangerous on the battlefield.

"If she is still telling lies, I am guessing that she still has her regular audience," Adrien looks at Marinette again.

She nodded sadly. "Alya is still her most loyal sheep and there are also a lot of other friends of ours that are under her spell as well."

Lyon looked at the two with a raised eyebrow, silently asking for more details.

"There are times where I can escape photoshoots even if I do not have a contest to sneak off to," Adrien explained. "I would meet up with Marinette as much as I could and she introduced me to a lot of her friends. I have especially gotten along well with Nino, Kim, Juleka, and Marinette's boyfriend Luka."

"And before Lila came along, my friend Alya was my best friend," Marinette said. "I went to our town pokémon school with them before we all started our journeys. But when Lila showed up with all of her tall tales and false promises, they follow her like sheep following their shepherd. Most of my old class is under her spell. Only Adrien, myself, Luka, Kim, Juleka, and our other friends Nathaniel, Marc, and Kagami know that she is nothing but a liar."

"Alya used to be a reporter hopeful," Adrien tells Lyon. "She ran a very popular blog about up-and-coming battlers and coordinators. But then Lila came along with her tales and now most of Alya's blog is about her. She basically takes Lila's words as gospel and attacks anyone that so much as even hints that they think that Lila is anything less than a perfect angel."

"Wow," Lyon gasped. "This girl sounds worse than an angry Darkrai, and you never want to run into one of those."

"Yeah, Lila is a piece of work," Adrien sighed. "She really needs to be silenced before her tales get someone into trouble."

"Yeah," Marinette said. "She has been saying how Jagged Stone wrote a song about her and that Clara Nightingale stole dance moves from her. Those types of lies can ruin their careers."

"Well, I have no secret identity," Lyon says. "She won't be able to lie her way out of me saying that I have no idea who she is."

"Just be careful how you explain how you heard about her lies," Adrien warned him. "Lila has been trying to turn people against Marinette because she knows about her lies. At a few past contests that I had won, I heard a few other coordinators insulting her all because of lies that Lila told about her."

Lyon looked disgusted by the behavior. Coordinators and battlers were both very large families. Yes, there were some bad seeds in each family, but this girl was something way beyond a bad seed. How can one person just be such a selfish liar that she is willing to ruin another person's life just because they did not believe their lies?

But before they could continue their conversation, an announcement was made over the backstage speakers. It was for the coordinators that were competing to get ready since the first round was going to be starting soon.

"Just do your best, you two," Lyon tells them. "And if that liar gives you any trouble, she won't be much of an issue for much longer."

With a "Whoosh" of his cloak, Lyon left to go down the hallway. He had his own business at the Grand Festival that he needed to take care of before he would be able to help his friends.

"He always did like to make dramatic exits," Adrien chuckled.

"I just hope we actually won't have to deal with Lila for much longer," Marinette says.

The two of them went the opposite way down the hall, to the locker room where the contestants have to stay when they are not on stage. Adrien went to the side and leaned against the wall to keep up his appearance of the mysterious and quiet Cat Noir. Looking around the room, he noticed some familiar faces. Like Marinette had gone to stand next to her boyfriend, and fellow coordinator, Luka. There was also her friend Nathaniel and his boyfriend Marc along with her former friend Nino, Alya's boyfriend. Adrien also noticed his childhood friend Chloe as well and, unfortunately, Lila.

Soon, on the screens, appeared Marian, the usual contest announcer for Sinnoh. And from the audience that was seen in the background, Adrien could make out Kagami in the crowd as well as Alya. He was surprised to see Kagami there, but it was a very welcome surprise.

"Welcome, everyone to the beautiful waterside town of Lake Valor for this year's Grand Festival," she announced into her mic, making the crowd cheer. "Sixty talented coordinators from all over the Sinnoh region have joined us here to perform and battle their way into becoming the newest Top Coordinator!"

"And that will be me," was muttered all around the locker room, from confident and cocky contestants.

"Over the next few days, these talents coordinators will perform and battle their way into being named the next Top Coordinator," Marian continued. "The first stage is the Performance Stage, where our contestants will show off the beauty of their pokémon and their moves in double performances. After this stage, we will boil down our contestants to the lucky thirty-two for the Battle Stage where they will fight in double battles to win the chance to be named Top Coordinator."

"We got this, Torterra," Adrien whispered to the Pokeball in his hand.

"And to help us, let me introduce our judges," Marian continued again. "First is the Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee, our head judge, Mr.Contesta."

"I look forward to watching all these coordinators doing their very best," the judge said as the spotlight shined down on him.

"Next is the President of the Pokémon Fan Club, Mr.Sukiza," Marian introduced.

"Remarkable," the next judge used his catchphrase.

"And, of course, Nurse Joy," Marian announced. "She is a very special guest all the way from the Kanto region."

The spotlight shined down on the pokemon nurse.

"It's an honor to be here and to help judge these amazing contestants, I called my sisters from Pewter City and Cerulean City."

Two more Nurse Joy seemed to materialize from behind her.

"We're very happy to be here," they all said at once.

"And last, but definitely not the least, our guest judge," Marian announces, making the crowd and contestants curious as to who it might be. "He is the youngest ever Top Coordinator of three regions and has graced us with his presence from all the way in Kalos. He's known as the White Wolf, it's Lyon Garden!"

A fourth spotlight shined down and Lyon was presented, making the crowd erupt into cheers.

Adrien was both shocked and not shocked at the same time. He figured that Lyon was here for a reason, but he suspected that it was for a guest performance, not as a judge. But he did smirk as he saw Lila pale a little at the sight of one of the people that she lied about.

"Ladies and gentlemen, coordinators of all ages," Lyon says. "I hope to see plenty of creativity, skill, passion, and most of all, I want to see good sportsmanship. I wish you all the luck in the world, but I will still tell you the cold hard truth about everything you and your pokemon do."

Adrien chuckled under his breath. Lyon would always be Lyon, and that meant that the Ice Prince, which all of their friends called him, would come out every now and again.

"The performance stage will be divided into three separate stages," Marian announced as all three male judges went to a separate stage with one of the Nurse Joy's. "Blue, green, and red. And the performances will be happening simultaneously. Let's get this first round started!"

The crowd cheered. In the locker room, the three first contestants were called out for each of the stages.

Adrien certainly got the meaning of the three stages. It was an extra challenge to be able to do a proper performance when there were two others happening at the same time. It was all about being able to focus on what you were doing and not get overwhelmed.

As the performances started and coordinators showed off their skills, Adrien definitely saw a few that would be his main competition. Such as when Luka took his turn on the blue stage, he did a very enchanting performance with his Sunflora and ghost-type Oricoro. As Marinette has told him, Luka loves music and almost always includes sound in his performances. And as he heard the sound and saw the glowing musical notes of Luka's performance, he knew that boy was going to be a challenging opponent.

There was also Nathaniel and Marc. They worked on a pokemon comic book together, so both of their creative and artistic skills showed in their performances. And it was also an amazing sight to see how Nathaniel had a rare Phione that he paired with his Piplup for his performance was stunning aquatic moves. And Marc was definitely no slouch as he gave an incredible display of nature with his Meganium and Cherubi.

But that was to say that there were not some fails as well.

Sadly, this list of fails included Nino. Adrien might have once called him a friend, but that certainly stopped when the guy started believing Lila's lies about Marinette. And by how badly he failed his performance, Adrien had to guess that Nino had probably taken some of Lila's "advice" about what he should do. It certainly was not a good look to the green stage judges when his Buizel went flying back from a Will-O-Wisp from his Drifblim was too powerful for the combo he was trying to do.

When Marinette got her turn on the red stage, Adrien was proven right when he had guessed that she would do a flawless performance. It was an amazing combination of her icy Amaura with her beautiful Vivillon. Especially when she had beautiful glowing snowflakes falling all over the stage with a combination of icy wind and silver wind followed by a morning sun.

Plus, it was certainly nice to see Lila so angry over Marinette having done nothing wrong in her performance one bit.

But even Adrien had to admit that even though he hated Lila as a person, she did pretty well during her own performance. Sure, her combo moves were a little predictable with the pokemon that she chose, but they still worked out in the end for her. But Adrien had a feeling that like the liar that she was, she was probably just using combo moves that she has seen in the past and using them herself but with different pokemon so that it is not obvious that she is just a copycat.

Then, Cat Noir was called for the blue stage. Adrien took a deep breath as he went out toward the stage. He passed Marinette on his way and she gave him an encouraging hug. He knew that Lyon was the judge for the blue stage along with the main Nurse Joy guest judge from Kanto. But he knew that Lyon would not judge him any easier just because they were friends. If anything, he'd be judged harder since Lyon knows how hard he had trained for this.

"And next on the blue stage is the talk of the Grand Festival," he heard Marian announce. "A masked coordinator that has been taking the contest world by storm. The pokemon contest prodigy himself, Cat Noir."

There was loud cheering as he ran out there and pulled out his pokeballs.

"Torterra, Togekiss, claws out," he threw their pokeballs into the air with his signature catchphrase.

With the star sticker on both the pokeballs, both of the pokemon came out in a swirl of stars. Most would doubt using a pokemon as big and tough-looking as Torterra for the Performance Stage, but Adrien was not most people.

Togekiss lands gracefully on the tree of Torterra's shell. There was a reason why Togekiss were known as some of the most graceful pokemon in the world.

"Togekiss, sky attack. Torterra, leaf storm," Adrien commanded.

Togekiss shined with a white aura as it slowly floated into the air. But at the same time, Torterra's tree let out its storm of leaves and green wind. Since Togekiss was right on the tree, as it flew into the air, the storm swirled around it and followed it. The leaves and window giving off an incredible light that was a result of the combo of the light of the sky attack with the flow of the leaf storm. Togekiss then flew higher into the air.

"Safeguard," Adrien commanded.

Togekiss then unleashed the blue and sea green force field that the protection move grants. It caused the sky attack and the leaf storm to disperse in a gorgeous flash of light.

Lyon and Nurse Joy both looked impressed by how he so effortlessly made a beautiful start to his performance.

"Torterra, sunny day. Togekiss, aerial ace," Adrien commanded.

Torterra's tree glowed with sunlight as it then threw a ball of light into the air. It headed right toward Togekiss as it was surrounded by streams of white energy as it flew around to use its move. The sunny day move was hit by Togekiss, resulting in a bright flash of light.

And the crowd and judges and fellow contestants gasped as Togekiss emerged from the light. The aerial ace and sunny day had merged together and had created a stunning rainbow trail that followed it as it flew around the stage. It was one of the most stunning things ever seen in a contest in ages.

Togekiss then did an aerial twirl before landing right back on Torterra's tree and causing the rainbow trail to burst into rainbow-colored sparkles that fell all over the stage.

Adrien took a bow as his performance ended. The crowd and judges were all on their feet as they gave him a giant round of applause. Lyon caught his eye and gave him a look filled with pride and congratulations.

"I don't think I have ever seen a performance like that," Lyon says, doing his judging. "A true mastery of both the power of a Torterra and the elegance of a Togekiss. Truly the best performance I have seen in a long time."

"It was indeed incredible," Nurse Joy added her judging. "To combine two pokemon so different from each other and making them work in such harmony really is a breathtaking piece of art."

Adrien could not be prouder of himself as he returned Torterra and Togekiss to their pokeballs and then started to walk back to the locker room. He was about halfway there when Marinette basically tackled him with a hug.

"I have never seen anything like that," she practically yelled in excitement. "You're Torterra was so well-trained and Togekiss was beautiful. I will never know where you get your time to train performances like that, but that was so awesome."

Adrien chuckled at the enthusiasm of his friend.

"Thanks, Marinette," he said. "I loved your performance as well. Those snowflakes were such works of art and they were almost like fairies floating around the stage."

Marinette blushed at the compliment.

"Thanks," she smiled. "I knew that ice moves and flying-type moves are usually a good mix, so when you add in the light from the silver wind, it creates the snowflakes."

"I just know that I will see you in the finals," Adrien grinned at her. "I may not want to beat you, but I'm going to."

"In your dreams, kitty," Marinette giggled as she knew that it would be one hell of a showdown.

"Get your hands off of Lila's man, Mari-brat," a female voice was heard.

"And, here we go again," Marinette groaned.

Marinette turned around as Adrien looked at who was yelling. It seems that Alya was as much of Lila's attack Growlith now as she always seems to be since the liar showed up in their lives. And it looked like Lila was fake crying behind her while Nino was trying to comfort her.

"Uh... who are you," Adrien asked.

Now, Adrien had done some voice acting for a few movies that his dad wanted him to do. So, he was a pretty good actor. Adrien might know who Alya is, but Cat Noir has never met her before.

Alya looked at Adrien, smiling at him. But he could still see the rage in her eyes over something that Lila probably lied about. This was probably about the lies about him dating Lila with the liar probably also throwing in some other lies to make Marinette look even worse.

"Oh, I guess Lila never mentioned me," Alya said. "I'm Alya, your girlfriend's best friend."

"Uh... And who is..." Adrien tried to reveal Lila as a liar.

"Oh, don't worry about lying to protect her," Alya interrupted him, proving that they were right about how Lila would lie her way out of Cat Noir saying that he did not know her. "But I should warn you that this girl that you're talking to is nothing but a giant bully."

"Excuse me," Adrien had to stop himself from snapping at Marinette's former best friend.

"She is nothing but a bully, liar, and cheat," Alya glared at Marinette. "She is always bullying Lila and trying to steal her pokemon. She always calls Lila a liar when she is no such thing. Plus, she drugs all her pokemon to make sure her performances are good. Plus, she steals Lila's contest ideas. So, get your hands off of Lila's boyfriend, Mari-brat."

"You know, Luka used to tell me that you're heart song screamed that you were a bad friend," Marinette crossed her arms. "I did not believe him, but I will never doubt him ever again since you have ditched me for a liar."

"SEE," Alya yelled as she looked at Adrien and pointed at Marinette as if she had just been proven right. "She just called Lila a liar. She is a total bully."

"Well, she obviously is..." Adrien was interrupted again but by a different person this time.

"Hello, kitty," Lyon says as he approached the group.

"Wolfie," Adrien was immediately back in a good mood as he saw his friend.

"I have a reward for you for such an incredible performance," Lyon said.

Before Adrien could ask, he was suddenly kissed by Lyon. But the shock soon wore off as he melted into the kiss.

Marinette looked ready to burst in excitement as her ship has finally sailed. But she did now owe Luka a batch of his favorite caramel and chocolate scones since he had bet her that the two would get together at the Grand Festival while she thought it would happen after it. But she did not care.

Alya looked ready to burst in anger. Lila looked like she wanted to either cry more fake tears or just throw a monster tantrum. Nino just stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ARCEUS ARE YOU DOING," Alya screamed.

That made them break apart from the kiss. But Lyon just put his arm around Adrien's waist.

"I believe that I was kissing my boyfriend," Lyon said. "We've had to keep it secret because of the media, but we've been together a few months."

Adrien and Marinette both knew that he was lying, but they did not care. Besides, this was to both expose Lila and have an excuse to start dating.

"You've been cheating on your girlfriend for that long," Alya continued to scream.

Lila then chose to speak up, also choosing to fake cry.

"How could you do this to be, Noir," she cried to fake tears.

"Oh, so this is the girl that you were warning me about, Marinette," Adrien decided to join Lyon in his act. "The one that was going around and saying that I was dating her?"

"Yep, that's her," Marinette played along as well.

"Well, then," Adrien started, facing Alya. "As I was about to tell you, I do not have a girlfriend. I never have and I never will. As you can plainly see, I am gay and I have a wonderful boyfriend."

"Lila is not a liar," Alya continued to scream. "You're just a cheater that is trying to make her look bad."

"Wow, this girl is a piece of work," Lyon rolled his eyes.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," Alya yelled at Lyon. "She was the one that gave you the inspiration to be the White Wolf and you trained her to be a coordinator. How could you betray her like this?!?"

"Her? Inspire me? As if," Lyon gave Alya an icy glare. "This is the first day that I have ever met this girl. I became the White Wolf because my sister used to call me a wolf because of how loyal I am to my friends and family. They also all call me the Ice Prince, so White Wolf was born out of my two childhood nicknames."

"You need better friends since Marinette is most definitely is right," Adrien said. "This Lila girl is, most definitely, nothing but a liar."

"Let's go before our IQ gets any lower from being around a liar and her loyal sheep," Lyon held Adrien's hand as the three of them left. "And if someone is accusing you of drugging your pokemon, Marinette, I will lend you my family lawyers to sue that liar for slander."

Marinette wanted to laugh so hard as she saw the look of horror on Lila's face as they passed. She did start laughing once they were out of earshot.

"This is turning into the best day of my life," Marinette looked so happy.

"You're welcome," Lyon smirked.

"Won't you now get accused of favoritism when Lila will probably spread that you two are 'together' as revenge," Marinette asked Lyon.

"Everyone saw Adrien's performance, so I doubt that will happen," Lyon was confident.

"Okay," Marinette accepted that. "Also, it is about time you two got together. Adrien's had a crush on you forever."

"MARINETTE," Adrien yelled as he blushed.

All Marinette did in response was smirk and giggle.

#lila salt #Lila exposed #i hate lila rossi #alya salt #CrossOver #crossovers are the best #pokemon #pokemon contest #grand festival #miraculous #miraculous fandom #original character #nino salt #marinette x luka #adrien x oc #ADRIEN DESERVES BETTER

[dakotacrisis]

Cherry Blossoms

Coping with my mental health dip by writing something gay for my comfort pairing.

Marigami Hanahaki Disease AU because it is June and I just need some slightly angsty hurt/comfort goodness rn.

Read on AO3

---

Spring was such a beautiful time of year. Probably Kagami’s favorite. All the snow melted and the cold went away and the world slowly started to come back to life. She loved spring in Japan. The whole town would be covered in beautiful pink cherry blossoms. Such a soft and comforting color. There was a reason it was used so much in shows when a character fell in love or started catching feelings for someone.

Kagami had gone most of her life without meeting anyway who made her world pink like in the shows. She was focused on her fencing and her school work. Love just wasn’t in the cards for her it seemed. Maybe when she attended university that would change but so far she was sixteen years old and still had yet to feel even a twinge of that warmth and flutter that seeing the cherry petals back home did.

That was until she moved to France with her mother. She met a boy who was nice and sweet and for the first time she thought that maybe love wasn’t pink and fluttery. Maybe love was golden and flowing, like a beam of sunlight touching the earth. That’s what being around this boy felt like. Adrien Agreste was his name. A nice boy with a nice face and a nice personality. He had friends that she got to meet that came with their own vivid colors. Soothing blue, fiery orange, mysterious indigo, calculating green, and bold red. They were all swell and Kagami liked spending time with them.

Kagami tried to make herself like Adrien more than she did. She wanted to like him so badly. She wanted to feel something more when she was with him. She really did. But that all went out the door one afternoon.

She was sitting with her new friends at a spot on a bridge, eating ice cream and people watching when someone’s phone beeped.

“That’s me,” Alya handed her ice cream to Kagami, “Can you hold that for a second? Thanks.” Kagami took the ice cream without question and watched as Alya’s face split into the biggest grin Kagami had ever seen. “No way! No way! No way!”

“What’s going on?” Nino, Alya’s boyfriend, asked.

“Guess who got home early from her visit to Shanghai?” Alya announced to the group.

The group immediately perked up and began talking excitedly. Now this was new. Who could they possibly be talking about? Kagami had heard nothing about anyone being in Shanghai.

“Is she coming out?” Adrien asked, “It feels like she’s been gone forever.”

“I just texted her our location, she’ll be here in a few minutes!” Alya bounced happily in her seat. “I cannot wait to see her again! It has been way too long!”

“Who are we talking about?” Kagami asked.

“Our friend, Marinette,” Adrien explained, “She spent the last couple months interning at her cousin’s fashion company in Shanghai.”

“We were expecting her home some time next month but apparently she was really missing home and all of us so she decided to come back early. This is so great that you finally get to meet her!” Alya said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention a Marinette before. How come?” Kagami was a very good listener and she would have remembered someone bringing up a long-distance friend.

“Cause once we start talking about her we start missing her and then next thing you know we’re all over at her parent’s bakery eating our sorrows away.” Rose sighed, “She is probably the sweetest person ever so her absence these past couple of months have just been torture. Like a huge part of our lives has been missing.”

Wow. This Marinette was certainly getting built up to be larger than life. Kagami could only imagine what she was like in person. She stewed in her thoughts, listening to everyone’s chatter as she tried to picture what this Marinette girl would look like.

“There she is!” Alya bolted from her seat and ran down street to tackle a girl in a hug. Soon the others had followed suit and clamped onto the girl, effectively blocking her from Kagami’s view. They moved in a massive huddle back towards the benches they were occupying with all the excited squeeing and a bombardment of questions.

“We missed you so much!” she heard Mylene say, “And we have someone new to introduce you to. This is Kagami, a friend we made while you were in Shanghai.”

The crowd parted and Kagami’s world exploded into pink. Every shade of the rosy hue danced before her eyes as she gazed upon a petite Asian looking girl with shoulder length black hair, bright blue eyes, and wearing a simple pink sundress printed with butterflies. Her stomach started to flutter as if the butterflies on the girl’s dress had flown down her throat directly.

“Hello,” Marinette’s voice was like a sweet song that enraptured Kagami’s remaining senses, “It’s nice to meet you, Kagami. My name is Marinette.”

“You too,” Kagami muttered, unable to clear the tickle in her throat, “Nice to meet you too.”

Marinette nodded and was swept back into the conversation with her friends as they asked her what her stay in Shanghai was like. Kagami sat frozen on the bench as the swaths of pink cleared from her gaze. What had that been? In one instant she had been rendered completely dumbstruck by a girl she had just met. Was it because she was cute? Because she was. Marinette was a very pretty girl. Kagami understood what the others meant about a void in their lives with her absence. The girl positively radiated warmth and kindness out of her every pore. The days must seem dreary indeed without her around if this was Kagami’s initial reaction to meeting her.

The evening continued on as everyone caught up with Marinette. Kagami sat off to the sidelines not wanting to intrude on their time. It had been several months since they had seen her after all. Kagami wished that she had something to say to Marinette. But what was there? She didn’t know this girl from Eve. All she knew was that she simultaneously wanted to never be parted from her yet far away from her at the same time. She craved her attention but almost felt unworthy to be near her at the same time. It was a feeling Kagami was not used to.

Soon it was time for everyone to head home. Adrien offered Kagami a ride back to her house and they got into the car together. “So, what did you think of Marinette? You didn’t really talk to her much I noticed.”

“She’s…” Wonderful. Beautiful. Effervescent. An brilliant white swan among honking muddy geese. “She’s nice. I didn’t want to intrude while you all were catching up with her though.”

“I think you two would get along great. Next time we go out you should talk to her. We can even stop by her parent’s bakery tomorrow. I don’t think we’ve ever taken you before.”

“Bakery?”

“Yeah, the Dupain-Cheng Bakery near my school. It’s a great place to get pastries but it is too tempting to be good for your waist line if you know what I mean. Also, with Marinette gone it just bummed everyone out going in and knowing she wasn’t there. That’ll probably change now that she’s home though.”

They pulled up to Kagami’s house. She got out and wandered inside in a daze. She mindlessly kicked off her shoes at the door and went to her room to think over the evening. When she laid down for bed flashes of pink returned, surrounding a brilliant white smile and soft bluebell eyes.

The next day proved no better for her sudden predicament when Adrien dragged Kagami to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery for the first time. The entire bakery felt like an extension of Marinette. Sweetness and cheer filling every corner and when Marinette popped up behind the register in a cute apron and a handkerchief holding her hair back out of her face Kagami saw that same flurry of pink she had the day before.

“They got you working already?” Adrien joked with her. “You would think they’d give you a day off since you just got home.”

“You really think that? This is one of our busiest times of the year.” Marinette rolled her eyes, “I’d be more concerned if they didn’t drag me down here to help. Speaking of which, what can I get for you two today?”

“What do you recommend?”

“Well, with it being spring time we do have these new cherry love letters.” she pulled a tray of pastries out from the case. It was dough that had been folded to look like a letter with cherry filling stuffed inside and sealed with a little icing heart. “They’ve been going fast so if you want some you’d better grab one now.”

“Sounds delicious, we’ll take two.” Adrien said, clapping his hands together, “Kagami loves cherry desserts, isn’t that right?”

“Yeah…” Kagami mumbled. That tickle in her throat was back.

“A girl after my own heart, personally I like strawberries better but cherries are a very close second.” Marinette packed two of the love letters into a small pink box and handed it to Adrien. “You two have fun and come back again soon.”

“When does your shift end? Maybe we could hang out after.” Adrien suggested.

“I can’t really, I still have a ton of unpacking to do once I’m done helping out down here.”

“We can help you unpack.” the words flew out of Kagami’s mouth. “I mean...it would go faster with some help, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s very sweet of you, Kagami. If you two don’t mind it would be a big help and still give us the chance to hang out. I’m really interested in getting to know you a little more.” Marinette flashed her a smile that made Kagami’s knees weak.

This was ridiculous! How could one girl she barely knew have such a strong hold over her already? It was mind boggling. She practically had her own gravitational pull.

Adrien and Kagami left the bakery to walk around and eat their pastries while they waited for Marinette’s shift to end. Adrien commented on how it was so nice of Kagami to volunteer to help Marinette despite not really knowing her. Yep...just good old Kagami saying stuff before she thinks because she doesn’t know how to handle herself in front of the pretty girl that bathes her world in endless waves of sugar and pink. The cherry love letter in her hand almost seemed to mock her. Why couldn’t they have been regular turnovers? Why did they have to be called love letters of all things?

After a few hours Adrien got a text from Marinette that she was done and the two turned around to head back towards the bakery. Kagami seriously considered pretending to have a sudden appointment or practice to get out of going back which was not like her. She was Kagami Tsurugi for goodness sake! She didn’t run from a challenge! She faced all her problems head on and she did not hesitate for anything. Yet this freaking girl made her want to run and hide like a coward.

They made it back and Adrien lead them through a back door up a flight of stairs to the apartment above the bakery. Marinette greeted them just as cheerfully as she did when they walked into the bakery earlier. Kagami took a deep breath and braced herself as she entered her home. It was a fairly normal little house. Nothing too out of the ordinary. They walked up another set of stairs and through a trapdoor into what was Marinette’s room.

Kagami almost fainted. It wasn’t just that Marinette herself made everything around her look pink and sweet but that was what her entire room looked like. Everything was pink from the walls to the furniture to the wastepaper basket. At least when she was around Marinette the pink faded away into background noise after a while. Here it felt like Kagami was trapped with these weird feeling she had been experiencing since she first met the girl.

“I really appreciate you guys coming over to help, everything is a bit of a mess right now.” She sighed at the clothes tossed over the chaise and spilling out of her luggage. “Oh! Before I forget! Adrien, I got you a little souvenir while I was in Shanghai.” Marinette rifled through her luggage and pulled out a little black kitty plush with a green collar and bell. “Isn’t this just the cutest thing ever? There was a little corner shop near my cousin’s office building that sold hand made plushies and I just had to pick some up.”

“He’s adorable!” Adrien took the kitten with glee, “Thank you!”

“I figured you’d appreciate it since your dad won’t let you have an actual cat. I debated getting you a hamster one but there was only one and I’m sorry to say but I was selfish and wanted to keep her for my self.” She pulled out another plush of a tan and white hamster wearing a little red raincoat and hat. “Isn’t she just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen in your life?”

“I swear I’m gonna cry,” Adrien was not joking, he looked like he was close to real tears, “She’s so cute! Look at her little raincoat!”

“I know!” Marinette turned to Kagami, “I wish I had know that you were around, Kagami, or else I would have brought you a souvenir too.”

“Oh no, that’s fine,” Kagami waved it off, “You couldn’t have known so it really doesn’t matter.”

“Wait, I have just the thing,” Marinette started throwing her clothes around as she dug through more of her luggage and making more of a mess. “Here we are! You can have this!”

“Really, you don’t need to--”

“I insist,” Marinette held up a pink butterfly barrette and clipped it into Kagami’s hair, “I got a lot of free stuff just like it while interning for my cousin. And now we match!” she clipped a similar butterfly barrette into her own hair.

Kagami mumbled her thanks and spent the rest of the afternoon in silence whilst Adrien and Marinette did most of the talking. The three of them went about unpacking and putting stuff away where Marinette told them to. Every now and again they would try to pull Kagami into their conversation but she was finding it increasingly harder to find her tongue in this scenario. At one point Adrien excused himself to use the bathroom leaving the two girls alone.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” Marinette said after Adrien had left. Kagami looked across at her in surprise. Marinette spoke so calmly with a serene and understanding smile, “I get it. My friend Nathaneal was never much of a talker either. I still got to know a lot about him though through other means. Kinda like I’m doing with you. It’s sorta like a fun little game, deciphering someone’s personality from what they do rather than what they say.”

Kagami wasn’t sure what to say so she simply nodded and let Marinette keep talking.

“Like I can tell from the way you fold stuff that you are very neat and organized. You are dressed sharply like you want to impress people but the clothes are well loved so you find them comfortable and wear them more for yourself than you do anyone else. Your hair is short and neatly trimmed meaning you probably get it cut often so it stays salon fresh but also because you can’t stand it when it touches your shoulders. You don’t like distractions or having to worry about maintaining it during long days.” Marinette listed everything off as if it was common knowledge. Kagami could only stare both impressed and a little intimidated by her spot on assessment. She got all of that just from watching her for a couple hours?

“You also hum while you work and you smiled at the silly little souvenirs I brought back.” Marinette continued, “There’s not a whole lot I can gather from that I just thought it was cute.”

“You are a very perceptive person, aren’t you?” Kagami found something to say at long last.

“I like to think so. People express who they are through every little thing that they do and I find that kind of fascinating. When you take the time to watch someone you see all these little things that build up into the person as a whole. Eventually when you look at them you don’t see their face you just see them. Like their entire personality is written into the laugh lines and freckles on their face.”

“I get what you mean.” Kagami said, easing into the conversation the more she spoke, “It’s like how I felt when I met Adrien. When we met he was just the cute blonde boy with big green eyes but as time went on he transformed into this smart yet incredibly naive, pun-spewing dork.”

“That is an accurate summation of his character. Never have I met a boy that gets such immaculate grades but will walk face first into a pole he saw coming.” the girls laughed. When Adrien came back up he asked what was so funny which just made them chuckle more. They waved him off saying it was just a little girl talk and to not worry about it. Kagami loosened up a bit more, she still didn’t talk much but she didn’t feel like fleeing in a rush of nerves either.

When everything was done Adrien and Kagami left. Marinette had given Kagami her number before they had gone and told her to text her soon. Even her little sticky notes were cute. They were shaped like cherry blossoms.

“What did I tell you?” Adrien nudged her as they left, “You and Marinette got along just fine. Then again, it’s hard not to want to be her friend, isn’t it?”

Kagami glanced back at the house. Little fairy lights twinkling in the evening along Marinette’s balcony. She cleared her throat of the tickling feeling that had lodged there. “It surely is,”

---

(Next)

#miraculous ladybug #marigami #kagaminette #marinette dupain cheng #kagami tsurugi #hanahaki disease au

[kasienda]

Right Behind You - Chapter 1: Scandal

An Adrino Story - Friends to lovers Maybe the person you need is not the one you’ve had your eye on, but the one who’s been right behind you supporting you the whole time.  Chapter 1: Scandal Nino was awake.

Which was a crime.

His gig the previous evening hadn’t ended until well past four in the morning, and glancing at the glowing clock next to his bed it wasn’t even eight yet. He had managed maybe two hours of sleep.

And he could feel it everywhere in his body. The light peeking through the edges of his blackout curtains felt like an assault on his dry and irritated eyes. His left knee ached from a week-old injury caused by a bad landing during one of Carapace’s patrols. Even his thoughts felt like they were smothered in a thick cold fog.

He hated when the all night events hit on back to back days, but he needed the double pay at least a few times a month to afford his downtown Parisian apartment and without fail the requests for such events tended to land on the same weekend. No doubt, it would be worth it in a few hours. Once he had a cup or three of coffee. 

Or another five hours of sleep.

But his phone clearly had other plans as the blasted digital brick wouldn’t stop buzzing every few minutes. 

Nino left it in the other room every night to avoid this exact scenario, but he must have left it on some plastic container because the vibration was loud. And whoever this was, they were very insistent.

He sat up with a groan, very aware of the dull ache that stretched from one temple to the other. He let his head hang lifelessly to his chest.

The phone went off again. He glared through the open doorway. 

“I’ll make coffee.”

Nino tried to smile at the tiny green floating kwami, but it came out more like a grimace. “Thanks, Wayzz. You’re the best.”

He gave himself five minutes of just sitting with his blankets still wrapped luxuriously around him protecting against the chill of the morning. The phone had mockingly gone silent after almost ten minutes of near constant buzzing. He contemplated letting his head fall back to the pillows. But it was probably too late. Despite his fatigue, Nino was rarely able to go back to sleep.

He reached blindly to the small table beside his bed for his glasses, and then stumbled through his small apartment to the kitchen. Wayzz was already pouring black coffee into a cup.

Nino smiled at the ridiculous sight of the floating green creature handling an object twice its own size. It didn’t even look strange to him anymore. Really, Nino was unsure how he had ever gotten by without the constant support of the ancient kwami. 

He stepped forward to accept custody of the steaming beverage. He added a spoon of sugar and creamer. Before he could take his first sip, the blasted phone went off again.

Alya’s gleaming smile lit up his screen. He frowned at the device and immediately answered, even as he continued mixing his coffee. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“How do you do that?” her synthetic voice demanded from the other end of the line.

“Al, except for my birthday, you haven’t called me in two years,” he stated flatly. Why was she even asking? They texted quite often, and whenever she was back in Paris they usually would have lunch or hang out with their mutual friends. But ever since their break up, she had not called. 

Well, except for his birthday.

“And today is not my birthday. And it’s barely morning! You know that I’m never up before ten at the earliest and twelve is really a better bet. And you’ve been blowing up my phone clearly trying to get my ass out of bed. So I ask again, what is wrong?” he said slowly, emphasizing each word before he licked the spoon he was using to mix his coffee.

“Have you talked to Adrien lately?” 

His stomach dropped. This must be really bad news. Alya didn’t usually beat around the bush. She was more like a bulldozer that went straight through things. And if this was about Adrien… “Like three days ago. Why?”

His phone buzzed against his cheek immediately. He pulled it away to see the headline she sent him. 

Supermodel, Adrien Agreste, batting for the other team?

Keep Reading on Ao3

He already hated it, but that didn’t stop him from tapping on the link. Nino sucked in air at the sight of the picture. Nino has seen a lot of professional shots of Adrien over the years. This picture was gorgeous. Or, it would have been in absolutely any other context. 

The picture captured three quarters of Adrien’s face, but only a bit of his partner. His hair caught the light and gleamed gold, not quite as perfectly in place as it would have been in the morning. Like he had run his hands through it just a few times. His normally peach cheeks were dusted with pink and his eyes were closed. He was pulling away from a kiss with a fair-skinned man wearing glasses. But Nino’s eyes focused on his friend’s mouth. Adrien’s lips were upturned in the slightest little smile - the dopey one he had whenever he was talking about the mystery girl he loved.

And that was the only difference between all the professional shots Nino had seen over the years and the front page tabloid. In this picture, Adrien looked… happy. Genuinely so.

And now, that beautiful private moment was now plastered all over every gossip rag from one side of France to the other. 

Likely without Adrien’s permission. 

How unfair that one little moment of indiscretion outed him to all of Paris. 

Nino’s gut twisted painfully. 

All of Paris included Gabriel. Adrien had never told his father about being bi, and it was no wonder as the uptight bastard was an ice statue of propriety with absolutely no feelings. 

“It wasn’t at an event, Nino,” Alya explained. “It’s around the corner from that pub we used to frequent after lycee, almost in an alley outside a club. But the photo’s too good for some random person to have just seen him walking by at this time of day. The lighting should have been terrible and the photo grainy.”

“So?”

“The photographer knew Adrien was going to be there and that there'd be something worth taking a picture of.”

“Shit,” he cursed, his free hand gripping his own shoulder. “I gotta go.” 

“Yeah, I figured.”

“Thanks, Al, for calling. He never would.”

“I know. I might be terrible at keeping in touch, but maybe we could schedule a catch up?”

In spite of the circumstances, he found himself smiling. “I would like that. When are you back in Paris?”

“I’m here now actually. When else do I read trashy gossip rags?”

He laughed. “Fair. How long are you in town for?” 

“Just the long weekend, but I wasn’t going to tell anyone because I didn’t have a whole lot of time and I’m going to be back for like six months in just a few weeks. Then, I read this, and well…”

“Yeah, thanks for the head’s up.”

“Sorry for waking you up so early.”

“You already know this was worth it to me. Thank you.”

“Of course, Nino. Anytime. Now, go track down a certain unfairly attractive supermodel, and make sure he’s okay. I’ll start researching who this bastard is and see if I can ruin his day.”

Nino laughed. Alya was protective of her friends, and positively vindictive. It was a scary combination. But Nino had always loved that about her.

“Nino?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Tell him I love him, too. He’s not alone.”

He smiled again. “I’ll tell him. Thanks again, Al,” and then he ended the call.

He drained his coffee though it was still too hot. Because he definitely didn’t have time to nurse it, and he definitely was going to need the caffeine rush today. He then immediately called Adrien. 

His friend didn’t answer, so Nino called again because there was no way in hell Adrien wasn’t doom scrolling through feeds obsessing over this story.

And again.

On the fifth try Adrien finally answered.

“Did it ever occur to you that when someone doesn’t answer it might mean they don’t want to talk?”

Nino shook his head, put the call on speaker, and thudded back to his bedroom to find clothes he could wear in public. “Never in your case, dude! Where are you? I’m coming over.”

“You don’t have to,” Adrien objected. “What are you even doing up? Didn’t you have an event last night? I was counting on you sleeping until noon!” 

“It went late. I never went to sleep,” Nino lied. He didn’t want to mention Alya’s call or plan for revenge yet, or admit to a monster headache. If he did, Adrien wouldn’t let him come over. 

“You don’t have to come listen to my sob story,” Adrien insisted. “Get some sleep. This isn’t important. It was my own fault. I was stupid.”

Nino rolled his eyes. “Shut up. Where are you?” He pulled a white t-shirt over his head, and placed the phone back to his ear. 

Adrien remained silent on the other end. 

“Dude, if you don’t tell me where you are, I’ll call Chloé and Kagami for back up in tracking you down.”

There was a sigh over the phone. “I’m at the hotel.”

“Room number?”

“427.”

“Be there in fifteen,” Nino promised. He jumped into a pair of khakis, kissed the brim of his red hat before slipping it over his head, and went straight out the door.

“Fifteen minutes is cutting it a little close, young master,” Wayzz chided from his left shoulder.

Nino had long stopped trying to get Wayzz to drop the title. The creature was as stubborn as he was old.

“Not if we take the superhero express.”

Wayzz’s disapproving frown did nothing to dissuade Nino from his plans.

Adrien needed him.

…

The door whipped open barely a second after Nino’s knuckles had knocked. For a second, neither of them spoke. Nino studied Adrien’s face carefully for signs of upset. His friend’s eyes were bloodshot as if he’d been up all night, but they weren’t puffy, so he probably at least hadn’t been crying. And his lips were curled into a relieved smile.

Nino returned the expression before pulling Adrien into a hug.

“How did you get here so fast?” Adrien mumbled into Nino’s shoulder.

Nino pulled away, and followed Adrien into the small hotel room. “Trade secret,” he deflected, hoping the humor had Adrien rolling his eyes instead of insisting on an explanation.

Maybe Wayzz’s paranoia was somewhat justified. Not that Nino had any regrets. Adrien didn’t push, and instead immediately fell backwards on the pristinely made bed. His friend clearly hadn’t even attempted to get any sleep last night. His green eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Nino flopped on the bed next to him, lying perpendicular with their heads side by side. 

“So why the hotel?”

Adrien snorted. “The studio has paparazzi.”

“You could’ve crashed my place.”

“But you weren’t there.”

Nino’s head rolled towards his best friend. “So? You have a key.”

Adrien’s gaze remained glued to the ceiling. ”Maybe I’m just embarrassed and didn’t want to explain anything.”

“You don’t have to explain anything,” Nino said. “If you don’t want to talk, fine. But I’m here. And if you do want to talk, I’m here for that, too.”

And then Nino just waited, listening to Adrien’s uneven breathing. He suspected Adrien did want to talk. But it remained silent longer than Nino would have expected under the circumstances. And Nino was blissfully comfortable next to Adrien’s warmth and familiar presence and Nino’s caffeine boost was fading fast. He quickly found himself nodding off. 

“Promise you won’t judge?”

Nino started awake. 

“Nino?” Adrien rolled onto his side toward Nino.

“Yeah?” Nino responded, trying to disguise the crack in his voice. 

“You fell asleep, didn’t you?” Adrien observed dryly.

“No!” Nino denied for all he was worth.

Adrien sighed, returning to his back. “I told you that you didn’t have to come.” 

Nino shook his head. “Come on! Admit it. You wanted me to be here.” 

Adrien sat up on the bed. Nino met his green-eyed gaze easily. “Yeah…” Adrien admitted. “I did.”

Nino gave a slight nod. “So, I’m here.” 

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “I just… I hate being high maintenance.” 

“You’re not high maintenance,” Nino said gently for what had to be the millionth time over the last ten years. “Your asshole father just has you brainwashed into believing you have to handle it all yourself. But you don’t. And today, you’re having a bad day, so I’m here.”

“A horrible day!” Adrien agreed. “And it’s only just started.” 

Nino sat up, spun his legs to be at Adrien’s side, and then shoulder bumped his friend. “So, let me make the rest of it better.”

Adrien grinned. “Thank you. Thank you for being here.” 

“You don’t have to thank me for that, mec.”

“I know, but I want to.”

Nino scooted closer. “So, do you want to talk about what happened? Or do you want to be distracted?” 

“How about I tell you what happened, and then you can distract me?” 

“Sounds good, mec.”

“I met him at the university library,” Adrien began, his gaze on the far wall, and not on Nino. But Nino gave him his full attention anyway. “I was doing research for my thesis. And when he saw me fumbling with a stack of textbooks he just offered to help me put my reference books away. And he started talking about physics and when we were done, we just kept talking. We ended up downstairs in the student union just having coffee. It didn’t seem like he recognized me.” Adrien tugged at his blond locks. “I’m such an idiot! Of course, he recognized me. How can anyone not recognize me? My face is on every other billboard!” 

“It makes me feel like you’re always with me,” Nino joked.

Adrien responded with a flick from his middle finger to the brim of Nino’s hat, sending the red keepsake snapping off his head. 

“Hey!” Nino objected. “Anything but the hat.”

“Right. Sorry.” 

“It’s fine, mec,” Nino soothed. If there was one person Nino actually trusted with his older brother’s hat, it was Adrien. “So, what happened over coffee?” 

“Nothing really. Like I said, we just talked. It was nice. Or… I thought it was. We almost split there, but then he whirled back around and asked me out. He seemed genuinely interested, and I had really enjoyed talking to him, I thought maybe it was worth a shot! Especially after…” he trailed off. And yeah, Nino knew Adrien was still pining after this mystery girl he worked with after years of her saying no. “It just felt nice to be wanted.” 

And god, if it wasn’t always the same story.

“We went to dinner at this little cafe. You know, even if he was acting the whole time, he really was a fantastic conversationalist. It was just so easy! And I thought… we had a connection? It was just one kiss. But apparently, the whole thing was a set up. I knew as soon as the flash went off. They had a screen for lighting and everything.”

He must have been good, Nino surmised. Adrien hadn’t been tricked by one of these looking for a moment of fame since they were seventeen.

“But I should have known better. Nathalie always says to never go out the same day they ask.”

“What?! You didn’t give Nathalie time to write a twenty page report on your potential suitor?” Nino asked mockingly.

Adrien barked a laugh. “Twenty? Try forty!” Then his mirth faded. “But I hate it, Nino. I hate being so suspicious and cynical.” 

Nino clamped his hand onto Adrien’s shoulder and squeezed in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. 

“And I hate it more when she’s right,” Adrien added in a whisper. 

At those words, Nino pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry, dude. Wish the world was filled with more genuine people and less opportunists.”

“Yeah…”

It was silent again, and Nino was at a loss for how to fill it. But he definitely didn’t want Adrien spiraling in his thoughts for too long. 

“How’d your father take it?” It wasn’t the question Nino wanted to ask, but it was always best to get the Gabriel rant out of the way.

Adrien’s whole body went rigid in Nino’s arms. “I haven’t actually talked to him yet.”

Nino just hugged him harder. “How many times has Nathalie called?”

Adrien pulled away, and tossed him his phone. Nino unlocked it with practiced ease. Missed calls - three. Spaced exactly thirty minutes apart. Nino shook his head.

“That’s not that bad.”

“Bet she texts or calls you before she makes it to call number five,” Adrien countered.

Nino laughed. “You’re on. She’ll try you at least three more times. Anything in particular you want me to negotiate for?”

“I don’t want to talk to him today. Tomorrow is fine.” 

Nino waved his hand dismissively. “That one’s obvious, dude. I was thinking more like your working conditions in general?” 

“I would love it if we could move my fittings to early morning. Like super early. Five am? I’ve requested it before, but it costs extra to have a team there that early.”

Nino made a distasteful face. “I don’t know why you’d want to get up so blasted early.”

“I just want to get it over with so I have more time to study or hang out with my friends during the rest of the day. Is my company not worth a dawn wake up in your world?”

“This is my dawn! And here I am!”

Adrien’s grin faded. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“None of that!” Nino waved his arms dramatically. “We already established that when you need me, I am here!”

Adrien’s lips curled up into a soft smile. “Thank you.”

“So, are you okay?” Nino finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask since he arrived. Adrien had just been outed publicly.

Adrien shrugged. “Just embarrassed… mostly. You know I am comfortable with my sexuality. I was really only keeping it under wraps for father and the company.”

“Are you really okay?”

Adrien chuckled darkly. “How do you do that?”

Nino shrugged, his body going limp. “It’s my superpower, clearly. So you’re not okay, I take it?”

Adrien sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I was ready to be out with my friends, and the important people already know, but being outed publicly is terrifying. I feel so exposed. Like more than normal.

“And apparently, I do care what people think. But I hate that I care!” Adrien bit out, the bitterness and self-reproach clear in his tone. “I thought I didn’t, but I definitely do,” he added, his voice softer. “I wish I was brave enough not to.”

“Dude!” Nino objected. “You’re being too hard on yourself. It’s normal to not want to be judged. I know I wouldn’t want to be. Not when it wasn’t by choice.” Nino was out only with his closest friends. He had never talked to his parents. They weren’t exactly traditional, but they grew up in a country where homosexuality was met with prison time. Nino didn’t think they would disown him or anything, but he didn’t expect them to be thrilled. And he didn’t want to risk it. Not unless it was necessary.

Noël didn’t know either. Nino didn’t think his little brother would care, but Nino wasn’t confident Noël would remain discreet either. 

“Know that I’m with you every step of the way,” Nino promised. 

“Thanks, dude.” Adrien didn’t say anything more, but his blond eyebrows scrunched together so he was clearly thinking about something. “I definitely fantasized about my public coming out at some charity or something. Some event that could help the LGBTQ cause and community. And now it just feels so… tawdry. Like it’s just another sex scandal. And I feel like that possibility was stolen from me.”

Nino was quiet. “I’m sorry, mec. This wasn’t cool.”

Adrien shrugged. “And I’m maybe a little heartbroken. But I’m used to that.”

Nino’s chest tightened. It wasn’t fair. If anyone on this earth deserved love, it was Adrien.

“Anything I can do?”

“You’re doing it!” Adrien looked up and genuinely smiled, his green eyes impossibly bright. “You always do.” 

Nino smiled. “That’s because I love you, dude. You know that right?” 

“Yeah, man. Of course I do. And I love you, too.”

“What do you want to do for the rest of the day? Do you just want to hang out just the two of us? Or shall I invite the girls over?”

The girls meant Marinette, Kagami, and Chloé. But maybe Nino would include Alya as well since she was in town. 

“They will tear this guy to pieces.”

Nino nodded. “Exactly. He deserves it.”

“Do you think Marinette will actually come?” 

“I mean, I think if anything will bring her out of her cave of isolation to make you feel better, it would be that headline.” 

Adrien hesitated, another hand on his neck. “I don’t know… I don’t know if I want to face them. I’m so embarrassed. Chloé is going to give me hell for not seeing through this guy.”

Nino didn’t agree on that assessment. Chloé would definitely give him a hard time. But she’d do it at some point weeks or months in the future. She wouldn't tease him today. “If she does, remind her of the Antonia disaster!” 

Adrien laughed. Thank all the kwamis that that relationship had only lasted six months. Six long excruciating months. They had all hated Antonia, and not only because the feeling was mutual, but because she had torn Chloé’s sense of self worth into shreds. 

“Seriously mec, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve all had colossal misjudgements in relationships. Like all of us.” 

“When has Marinette screwed up?” 

Nino’s laugh exploded from his chest. “Mec, you have no idea. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to say.”

“What?! No fair! Why do you get to know, and not me?” 

Nino just shrugged. He probably would have had no trouble gossiping about Marinette to Adrien if so many of her secrets didn’t involve the blond in question. “I don’t make the rules. I just follow them.”

“What about you?” Adrien asked. “When have you screwed up in a relationship?” 

“Does a drunk hook-up count?” Nino asked.

“Depends! Were they cute?” 

“Not as cute as you,” Nino snarked back. 

Adrien actually blushed, and then just threw his arms around Nino again. 

“Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“For?”

“For being here despite my protests, for making me feel better.” 

Nino squeezes Adrien tighter. “Always, mec.”

“You can invite the girls, but can we do it at my place?”

“I thought your place had paparazzi.” 

“Just a van.”

Nino winced. That was almost worse than a crowd. A team on stakeout would be more invasive and they’d stick around for longer. 

They rolled to their feet. Neither had anything in the way of belongings and exited into the hallway.

“Which room is the gorilla staying in?” 

Adrien jerked his thumb towards the adjacent room. 

Nino knocked with a complicated staccato rhythm. The door swung open a few seconds later. 

“Morning, Big G!” Nino greeted enthusiastically offering a fist, which Adrien’s protector reciprocated, though his expression remained devoid of feeling. 

“We’re heading out,” Nino explained. “Back to his place. I’m ordering breakfast on the way. What do you want from Tom and Sabine’s?” 

The stoic man nodded and signed animatedly. 

Nino nodded. “Sounds good! We’ll meet you out front in fifteen.” 

Adrien shook his head as the door closed. “How is it that you know how to talk to him better than I do?”

“Sign language isn’t that hard, man. And I had motivation to learn!” 

It was hard to bribe a man if you didn’t speak his language.

…

Chapter 2

#Adrino #Adrinino #Miraculous Ladybug Fan fiction #friends to lovers #hurt/comfort #adrien agreste #nino lahiffe #Right Behind You #My Own Content

[noisydreamlandkoala]

(this is a daminette December day 1)

Day 1: Inspiration

Marinette's POV

"Okay class remember your project is on Inspiration, what truly inspires you" Miss Bustier said ending the lesson.

'insperation? What the heck kind of topic is that'

I look over to Chloe who is just as confused as me.

"Ha the bully's don't have any Inspiration in their life" Ayla my ex best friend says.

I look over too miss Bustier who says nothing about what Ayla said. I shake my head completely ignoring them.

"Remember you are to present this to me tommorow" the so called teacher says leaving the room.

'the lesson hasn't even ended'

I once again shake my head before gathering my things and heading to park and sitting myself down on the stairs staring at everything.

'Inspiration. What inspires me. Kagami. How graceful she is with everything she does. Luka who can read you like a book no matter how closed of you are. Chloe who has done everything in her might to change and become a better person. The birds that sing their beautiful song while soaring freely in the sky. His toxic free eyes. Which I find myself lost in almost all the time. What really inspires me'

"Ugh" I groan having too much to think about.

"It's okay Marinette the topic is trash anyway I mean how are you inspired by just one thing" Tikki says popping out of my purse.

"That's it Tikki" I say jolting down ideas in my note pad.

"What is it Marinette" the little kwami says.

"Miss Bustier said to talk about what inspires us. She didn't say it should basically be one thing" I say.

"What are you thinking of doing Marinette" Tikki asks.

"All I'm going to say for now is I'm going to need a bit of backup" I say practically jumping up and down.

Time skip

"-and that's what inspires me" Lila says finishing her presentation. Everybody claps pretty loudly.

'I don't get why the congratulating her, all she did was talk about herself for 15 minutes'

"Very good Lila A+" Miss Bustier says.

I look over at my best friend who is just as shocked as me. We both shake our head simultaneously trying not to lose any braincells.

"Marinette" Miss Bustier says calling me up. I smile making my way towards the front. I ignore all the comments coming from my classmates and only forcus my attention at Chloe. She gives me an encouraging smile.

"Inspiration, what is Inspiration was one of the things I had to ask myself during this topic" I say begining my speech "I had to really think what inspires me. Truth be told you can not be inspired by only one thing or person. They are a lot of things that inspire a person and choosing just one is close to impossible. If you were able to choose just one you need to go to a doctor to check how many braincells you actually have up there" she says subtly insulting them.

"Inspiration can come from both the bad and the good. An example would be the fact that a lier broke down what I used to call a life. That inspired me to build it back up. Make my foundation stronger than before and my wall practically unbreakable"

"A bully changed and became a friend then sister. That inspired me to change. To better myself and no longer become a push over. I'm stronger and better than anyone could imagine"

"My point is people can be inspired by anything. Let's take blood for example. Blood can inspire an artist to make a master piece. Or designer such as myself to make a new line of clothes. Part of my Inspiration believe it or not is all of you"

"Ayla the best friend who turned into an enemy. Nino the brother who never really had my back. Adrien the crush I turned to despise. Miss Bustier the idol teacher turned into a person holding me back from continuing forward"

"Lot's of things inspire me is I'm being honest practically everything. Chloe being a badass and dealing with a case like it's nothing" I say causing the blonde to smile while the rest of the class was either angry or guilty. Miss Bustier looked like she hadn't made up her mind on what she wants to feel.

"Kagami and how graceful she is. Weather she's skating, fencing or dancing. Luka and his ability to read ones sole even if they don't want to be read"

"Life, death, happiness, pain, colours, dullness, white, black, yin , yang, light, dark, water, blood, ice, lava, cold, heat, practically everything. But my main Inspiration, I'm sorry for saying this Chloe, would have to be my boyfriend Damian" I say smiling probably looking like a love sick puppy.

"Toxic green eyes that I often find myself lost in. Eyes filled with pain, misery, happiness and mystery. Eye that brought light to my pitch dark life. Hair as black as the night. My yin to my yang. Everything about him inspires me"

I say I can hear a few of the girls 'nco' at the cuteness. Chloe smiles holding up her camera before pointing behind me. I look at her in confusion before I hear....

"I can say the same for you angel" a deep voice says from behind me causing me to squeak knowing very well who was behind me.

"Blue eyes that I just can't help but get lost in. So blue they make the sky itself jealous. Eyes I can't help but think of painting them over and over again. Trying to see what lies behind them. Eyes that are the window to your soul. As pure as the sunlight itself. Midnight blue hair I just can't help picture all the time. Your my Inspiration Marinette. You inspire me more than you will ever know. You inspire me through everything you do and every word you say" the used to be dubbed ice prince says.

Chloe is fan girling like crazy. Lila is green with envy along with Ayla. Adrien looks pissed off.

"Your early" I say smiling.

"Wanted to know what you had to say about me" he says making me smile.

"In conclusion he is my main Inspiration closely by our two crazy families" I say before turning back and hugging my boyfriend "thank you" I whisper into his ear.

"Marinette F"

"What" me, Chloe and Damian say at the same time.

"You were supposed to talk about something that inspires you not about a list of items and you weren't supposed to insult the whole class and bring your boyfriend in" she says. Half of the class smirks at this.

"Correction you were suppose to speak about inspiration and what inspires you" I say holding back Damian from killing anyone. "And that's exactly what I did nobody else in this class who has gone up fulfilled the full requirement meaning they all failed"

This makes everyone minus Chloe who hasn't gone up yet pale up.

"I'm tired of you trying to hold me back miss Bustier" I scream "like it or not I'm graduating along with Chloe today and there's nothing you or anybody else can do about it"

"You have no right to tell me how to grade my students" Miss Bustier.

"But I do" Bruce says walking in making almost everyone gasp "Marinette makes a compelling argument"

"Uhh..."

"She passed yey" Damian says emotionlessly pulling me out of class leaving Bruce and Chloe to deal with them.

"You meant it" I ask.

"Of course your my Inspiration" he says.

"Your my Inspiration" I repeat before our lips meet.

@daminette-december2019-2020

#daminette #marinette dupain cheng x damian wayne #damian x marinette #damimari #daminette December #i love maribat

[scribble-blog]

Soulmate AU part 10!!!!!

First • Previous • Here • Next

Guys. It’s been a week now since this started. I just wanted to say again, thank you to all the lovely folk who have liked, reblogged, followed, messaged, and replied. You keep me motivated and loving every word that I write, knowing that I’ll get to share it with you.

“We- ah, defeated! The three,” Marinette was saying to the police, and Damian stopped and listened, bewildered, as she played up her French accent, searching for words he was absolutely certain she knew. “And then we hid in the dark room, and I kept Mme. Isley quiet, as they looked for us. And then Red Hood came, and told us it was safe, and took Mme. Isley, and we came out to you.”

Gordon looked tired, but that did seem to be a Police Commissioner’s natural state. “Thank you, Miss Dupain-Cheng. Damian Wayne. Let’s get your statement, real quick, and then you can go.”

Damian cocked one brow. “We were in a back room, speaking, when Pamela stumbled in, injured. Marinette bound her wound while I called for help. We were found by some of Scarecrow’s lackeys, but we managed to subdue them before hiding, until we were given an all clear by Red Hood. He took Pam, and we came here.”

Gordon grinned lightly. “Succinct as always. I’ll let your dad know if we need anything else.”

“It is appreciated, Commissioner.” Damian inclined his head, and offered an arm back to Marinette. “We’ll be on our way.”

The walk to the hotel was silent. Damian guided her, and she seemed lost in her own head.

Until they reached the hotel. As they stepped through the doors, Marinette was torn from his arms by two blondes. He tensed, preparing to fight, until he realized that Marinette was reaching back for them.

“How dare you, Dupain-Cheng! Have you even checked your phone? Do you know how worried we’ve been?” The blonde girl cried out. Damian, grateful he knew French, sat back to observe. “The whole city’s been talking about Scarecrow attacking the gardens, and you were there-“

“You really scared us, Mari,” the boy echoed, holding her tight. It took Damian all off half a moment to recognize him from the pictures Jon had shown him as his friend’s soulmate. How interesting.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Marinette consoled them. “Look, see, I’m okay-“

“You’re covered in BLOOD,” the girl screeched.

“Not mine,” Marinette insisted, “I’m perfectly unharmed-“

“Who’s this?”

Jon’s soulmate was looking at him. He’d spoken the last words in English. Marinette turned back to look at him apologetically as the girl also cast her eyes his way.

“I’m Damian,” He intoned. “Though I’m certain you both already know that.”

“This is Chloé, and I’m Adrien,” Adrien grinned at him, looking as smug as the cat that caught the canary.

Chloé sniffed. “We’re important people, Adrien. Last names. We’re Chloé Bourgeois and Adrien Agreste, Damian.”

Marinette, for her part, looked exasperated and was turning pink. “Guys, please-“

“It’s important that he knows who he’s up against if he does anything,” Chloé steamrolled on over Marinette’s protestations. “Rich boy or not, Marinette’s got us in her corner. And I’m not above using my superpowers to get revenge.”

“Alright, Queen Bee,” Adrien rolled his eyes, and very suddenly Damian realized that the bossy, screechy girl hanging off of his soulmate was one of the elusive heroes that Tim had spoken about last night.

“Enough.” Marinette’s voice cut across them, and Damian turned back to her. She looked at Damian in return, assessing, almost waiting.

“I’d like to spend more time with you, if you aren’t too worn out by all the excitement,” he found himself offering.

And he was rewarded by her bright smile. “I’d like that, too. Adrien, Chloé, I’m going to change, and you aren’t allowed to be your usual brat selves until I get back. Play nice.”

She walked away, and Damian was left staring after her. He’d found himself in turns very wary, very interested, and very awestruck by Marinette, and it was honestly something like how he thought a spinning top might feel, constantly unsure of how he would land.

Very disconcerting.

“She’s always like this,” Adrien advised, still grinning smugly as he clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll just have to learn to live with it.”

“Hmph,” Chloé moved so that she was leaning on Damian. He fought the urge to shove both her and Adrien away, possibly with some actual force. At this point not only was it in his best interest to play nice with Marinette’s friends, but he was also entirely sure they were doing this to mess with him. “One would hope that a soulmate wouldn’t just learn to live with something, but rather enjoy these things about their soulmate.”

“You can’t stand that Kagami will drink her coffee after it cools,” Adrien shot back. “There are things that you can dislike about your soulmate.”

“Not for Marinette.”

The tone of their conversation had become dangerously serious, and both blondes were still practically hanging off either side of him, conversing around him as if he were a particularly in the way wall. They were still in the lobby of the hotel, though he appreciated that their voices stayed low despite their- enthusiasm.

Damian stayed silent.

“No,” Adrien agreed slowly. “Not for Marinette. What say you, Damian?”

“I am not entirely certain what I would be agreeing to, honestly.” Damian wasn’t sure which of them he was supposed to be looking at, but they were both doing their best to stare straight into him. “I am also mostly certain that Marinette would consider this as you being your usual brat selves, as she put it.”

“Hmm,” Chloé squinted at him. “Rich boy’s got some bark. What about bite?”

“Rich boy kept Mari safe during a villain attack,” Adrien pointed out. “So he’s not useless. Also, rich boy? I’m rich. You’re rich. Was it supposed to be an insult?”

“Oh, Adrikins,” Chloé pouted. “Don’t play dumb. We’re rich, but neither of us is anywhere near Wayne Rich.”

“This is utterly ridiculous.” Damian finally pulled himself out of their grasps, though he notices neither of them so much as wobbles as they deal with the sudden imbalance. “If you two will not reign in whatever inane urges you have to bother me, I will simply wait for Marinette somewhere else.”

Adrien stood up again, shaking imaginary dust off of himself. “Alright, alright. Cool it, Chloé, he wasn’t a pushover or too rude towards us.”

Chloé was still glaring towards him. “Well. He’s passed the first test, at least. The jury is still out, especially since he hasn’t met Kagami or Luka, yet.”

“If you could stop threatening him, for two seconds!” Marinette dashed back over, and Damian had to keep his jaw from dropping. She’d been stunningly pretty in an innocent way, in the floral dress before, but now she was-

Well. She was gorgeous.

Her hair was down, damp but loosely wavy. She’d put on dark jeans and a pink top that shimmered with each movement, a scooped neckline that only just concealed where he now knew his name sat curled over her shoulder. She had a dark lump over one arm, and he assumed it would be a light jacket until she shook it out and revealed a triangular black shawl. In a second she had draped it artfully over her shoulders, completing the look.

“Disgustingly pretty as always,” Chloé sneered, but Damian caught the way the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.

“So, Damian, what do you suggest we do?” Marinette ignored her friends, securing his arm again, and he let her. It felt normal now, the way the low buzz settled into his bones with the contact.

He gave Chloé and Adrien one last look before following her lead and ignoring them, turning her towards the door. “I intended to take you to lunch, if you would allow me. After your first official villain attack, I would like to show you some of the better aspects of Gotham.”

She gave him the same bright smile, and he felt like he was finally starting to understand why all it took was looking at Kori for Dick to start grinning sappily. He smiled back. His entire reputation as being haughty, angry and stoic was going to fall to shambles the moment anyone ever saw her with him. He resolved himself to being made fun of by his entire family for weeks, if not months.

TAGLIST:

@the-fusionist @rebecarojas07 @lowandco @kotaleartzu @resignedcatservant @alenee13 @mystery-5-5 @ladybug-182 @actual-disaster-human @loysydark @rumbelle18 @magic-miraculous @vixen-uchiha @athena452 @mochegato @ash-amg @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @thestressmademedoit @sassakitty @doriebell @toodaloo-kangaroo @myazael @theatreandcomicfreak @mer-mel @dahjokester @northernbluetongue @abrx2002 @area51qt @jessigurl-design @renscorpio @cici-schnee @multplelifes @redscarlet95 @razzledazzle247 @rosep16 @emotionalsupportginger @kceedraws @tired-butterfly @kuroko26 @catthhay @moonystars14 @shamefullove @shreky-boi @imanerddealwith @chaosace @captainmac6 @purple-people-eaters-productions @crazylittlemunchkin @weird-pale-blonde-person @bigpicklebananatree

#maribat #daminette #daminette soulmates #soulmate au #fanfic #funfact: this scene originally had Lila in it and was titled ‘liars in the lobby’ like a magic tree house book #question- would people be interested in seeing scrapped scenes and cut things? is this to your tastes? #because otherwise i keep them for no reason

[rosesgonerogue]

How to be a Dad 101

Chapter Four - Villain AU

Jasonette July Day Five

Masterlist

“Marinette, Alya is here!” Sabine called up the stairs.

“Thanks Maman, I’ll see you later!” Marinette called back, launching herself down. Sure enough, her best friend was waiting for her at the bakery’s front door. “Nino isn’t with you?”

“He’s helping Chris get all of the kids settled, the sucker,” Alya said, though Marinette couldn’t tell which Lahiffe boy was being called the sucker.

“Are we sure that Chris can handle all the kids at once?” Marinette asked, admittedly nervous.

“No,” Alya said matter-of-factly. “But Nora is going to drop in on then to make sure everything is okay.”

“But are you sure? I just feel bad, you know Jules has been biting. Maybe I should—”

“If you were going to finish that sentence with ‘stay with the kids,’ I will strangle you, Marinette. I love you girl, but it has been three months since I’ve gone somewhere and not taken a diaper bag with me, and I know it’s been way longer than that for you. Give me tonight.”

“Okay, okay, I get it, Alya,” Marinette said, holding up her hands. “I will leave things in Chris’s questionable hands.”

Alya softened a bit. “Look, I get it. Next time we’ll try to plan for a day when Manon is available, she’s really good with the kids.

“Deal. So have we heard if everyone is going to make it tonight?”

“Almost everyone. Adrien and Kagami might be a little late? Rose has a fundraiser she has to be at tonight, but other than that I think we’re a go.”

“Wow, it’s been a long time since we’ve all been together like this,” Marinette said. “It’ll almost feel like old times.”

“It sounds like Max is finally letting us meet his wife. I think Kim has a running bet on whether or not she’s a robot.”

“Kim is still on that? He’s probably just jealous that Max beat him to getting married even though he hasn’t known Camille very long.”

“Hold up girl, you know Max’s wife’s name?” Alya demanded. “Spill.”

“It was nothing much, I only know her because I made her wedding dress,” Marinette said, pausing at the sidewalk corner. “Do we go left or right?”

“Right. But how did you not tell me this?” Alya demanded.

“Even though we’re school friends, I still have to maintain a certain level of professionality. I can’t go tell Paris’s most promising reporter about one of the world’s most promising computer programmers personal life. Besides, Max really wanted to surprise everyone,” Marinette said, smirking. “The dress was one of my finest creations yet.”

“Fine, I suppose I can’t compromise one of the world’s most promising young designers,” Alya huffed. “But she has good taste? This gets more mysterious by the moment.”

“So who picked the place this time? I know we’re trusting Chris with the kids, but you know how Kim gets when we go to his bar, and I don’t know if I trust Chris to watch them all night because we got a little tipsy or something.”

“Well, it is at Kim’s bar, but don’t worry, he’ll be too distracted by Max, so we won’t even be tempted by all of the free alcohol. Besides, you always seem like such a pro at resisting temptation.”

Getting to Kim’s bar didn’t take long, even on foot. Once there, a good portion of their high school class yelled greetings from the back of the bar.

“Alya, Marinette! Good to see you, but where’s Nino?” Kim asked, opening the door for them.

“He’s helping Chris get the kids situated, he’ll be here soon,” Alya said, hugging the muscular man. “Is Max here yet? I hear we get to meet the wife.”

“Yeah, she’s way out of his league,” Kim said, jabbing a thumb towards the corner of the bar.

As much as Marinette had complained, she couldn’t help but smile upon coming into the bar. Kim had fallen into the role of bartender easily, amusing his patrons with tales of akumas and the Miraculous team – although tales of King Monkey were definitely the most popular. It was a clean, warm space, decorated with murals and framed newspaper clippings about any akuma incidents involving their class.

“You must’ve been desperate if Chris is babysitting,” Adrien said, sidling up next to her. “Manon was busy?”

“She had a study group,” Marinette said, bumping his shoulder with hers. While she considered Alya her best friend, Adrien still was, and always would be her partner, the black cat to her ladybug. He knew her mind in ways that no one else ever could. “You caught me. So what do you think of Max’s wife? I think she’s absolutely adorable.”

“Marinette, you knew about Max’s wedding?” someone yelled, positively betrayed.

“I think it’s time for s to join the others, but for the record I completely agree with you.” Adrien offered her an arm to escort her to the rest of the group. “By the way, Kagami says hello.”

“How is pregnancy treating your lovely wife?”

“Oh, the normal. The cravings, the irrational anger, average pregnancy-type things. The last time I mentioned you she nearly skewered me with a fire poker and told me that if I spoke about any other woman that way she would kill me where I stood. After that she cried for a few minutes because she missed you.”

“It sounds like I need to pay her a visit,” Marinette said brightly.

“So we’re just ignoring the part where my life was in danger, typical. I should have known that you would side with her,” Adrien pouted.

“You can complain to me when you’ve been pregnant,” Marinette said, patting his cheek.

“I’d like to think I’m a fairly decent husband, so I would say I’m allowed to be a little offended by threats of homicide.”

“No, that’s just pregnancy,” Nino said, his version of a grand entrance. “The more violent they are means you’re taking good care of them.”

By this point they’d gotten to the larger group, and Max’s wife, Camille, a sweet, auburn-haired woman, brightened. “Marinette, it’s lovely to see you again!”

“Wait, you really did know about this too, Marinette?!” Kim demanded.

“Client confidentiality, Kim,” Marinette said with a wicked smile. “Rose can’t make it, so everyone is officially here, Camille.”

“Oh, perfect,” she said, clapping her hands. “Max and I have an announcement to make!”

“Don’t tell me you’re already having a kid!” Alix groaned. “All of you are making it even more sucky to be single right now.”

“We came to invite you to our wedding,” Max said, pushing up his glasses.

“Excuse me, what?” Chloe asked.

“What we did before was just a little ceremony in England for Camille’s parents. Did you guys really think I could get married without all of you?”

There were a few beats of silence before chaos erupted. Kim had Max in a headlock while at least three of the girls were asking Camille about wedding plans. Nearby Alix was still sulking about being single.

When everyone settled down, Mylene said, “We’re getting old, aren’t we?”

“I’m going to die alone,” Alix lamented.

“We’re still in our twenties,” Marinette reminded her. “We’ve got time.”

“But if you’re still single how do any of the rest of us stand a chance?” she demanded.

“Oh yeah. Sometimes I forget that Marinette is still single because of the whole…” he waved his hand, indicating things he couldn’t put words to, “… situation.”

“Exactly!” Alix spat. “She’s perfect, she makes a perfect mother, and she’s handling everything better alone than any of us can with a significant other! I’m doomed!”

“But Marinette is still looking, just like you, Alix,” Mylene pointed out. “She just did things a little out of order.”

“And I’m not perfect, I promise you,” Marinette said with the weariness that could only be a product of parenthood.

“Is Jules still in a biting phase?” Sabrina asked.

“Unfortunately yes,” Alya said with that same weariness.

“Since we’re on the topic, what was the baby daddy even like?” Kim asked. “We haven’t heard much about him, and from what little I’ve heard, I can’t help but picture him as one of those old cartoon villains twirling his mustache and preying on young girls.”

“Villain works. Although I would have called him a lying, scheming—” Adrien cut off, glancing at the young parents he was situated between, Marinette in particular was known for body-checking people if they used any sort of questionable language regardless of if there was a child present, “-scheming meanie pants,” he finished lamely.

“It’s okay, Adrien, this is a safe zone,” Alya said, patting his shoulder. “You can tell them that Jason is a bastard.”

Nathaniel inhaled sharply, choking on his drink. “Wow… I just… What would you say about him, Marinette?”

“I wouldn’t call him that,” Marinette said, ignoring Alya and Adrien’s protests. “Really, I had no misconceptions about the way things were. We never gave each other our numbers, or even our last names. Something bigger than both of us brought us together, and I don’t regret it. If I’m lucky, maybe it will bring us together once more.”

The class fell silent until Alix groaned once more, burying her head in her arms. “I’M GOING TO DIE ALONE!”

Taglist: 

@jasonette-july-2k20 @ira-sairain @myazael @pawsitivelymiraculous @nik-nak-3 @dast218 @queen-of-the-trash-planet-tm  @vixen-uchiha @momothefemur @toodaloo-kangaroo

Note: 

I thought this chapter would barely meet the word limit I’ve set for myself, but that was not a problem. If you want to be tagged, or if I forgot to tag you, just leave a comment below. Also just leave a comment below regardless, I’ve been helping my family move all week and I need something to keep me sane. In all reality, though, I write like this mainly to improve my skills as well as get feedback on them, so I appreciate any comment you send my way. 

This story is also really different from what I normally write. Despite the premise, it’s WAY more slice of life than I’ve ever done long-term like this, so I especially want to hear your reactions on this! 

#jasonette july 2k20 #jasonette #maribat #jason x marinette #mominette

[zambie-trashart]

Land of the Free and Home of the Wayne pt 10

masterlist 

ao3 whole story

Summary: Alya figures out that Lila is a liar and Lila sets out a personal attack at Jon to weaken her opponents.

Marinette sat on her bed looking up at the ceiling wondering how she had gotten herself into this mess and what she did to deserve everything that was happening to her. Lila was becoming more powerful, Damian was becoming more intriguing, and this trip was becoming a disaster. There was no way that she would make it to the end of the trip, she had to find a way to get home, there was no other option. She heard a knock on her door and opened it to see Alya standing there nervously wringing her wrists. Marinette tried to close the door but Alya put a hand out trying to stop it.

"I know the truth, you were right," Alya said, making Marinette freeze and Alya slipped inside the room.

"You'd have to be more specific, I'm right about 99.9% of the time," Marinette said sitting back down on her bed.

"About everything with Lila, she doesn't know the prince, she never saved Jagged's cat cause he doesn't have one and never did, she isn't dating Damian Wayne cause I just saw them threaten her down the hallway, everything she said sounded ridiculous but it sounded cool. I shouldn't have wanted to be friends with a liar like that and I'm sorry. I just hope that you can try to forgive me," Alya said sitting at the foot of her bed and Marinette sighed.

"Could I just have some time? I need to think," Marinette said and Alya got up and left the room. If Alya knew about the lies then what's to say that the rest of the class wouldn't turn on her too? Alya would be an outcast but a well-resourced outcast. Marinette's thoughts were interrupted by another knock on the door. She got up and flung the door open. "What?" she asked before really looking at who was there and seeing Jon's shocked face and wide eyes made her immediately apologize.

"No, no it's fine Marinette, how are things?" Jon asked, walking in awkwardly.

"Fine," Marinette said just as awkward.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush, I know that you're the pen pal that won the contest raffle thing to get here and I'm so happy that it's you and not one of the other girls who think that they would go on some romantic double date with Lila and Damian who aren't really a couple, in fact, Damian kind of hates Lila... a lot," Jon rambled and Marinette just smiled at him.

"Makes sense that it would be you, you are a friend of the Waynes," Marinette said, smiling slightly at him.

"Glad we got that out there, but that also means that I know how long Lila's been bullying you and as much as I hate to end the fun that Damian, Mar'i, and I have been having, I think we should at least tell Bruce or Dick cause they could put an end to it," Jon said and Marinette sighed before straightening up.

"What do you mean by fun?" Marinette asked, wondering what he was up to.

"Just some pranking and threatening, it's not that abnormal in this house," Jon said and Marinette got up and opened her door going to walk out of her room but Lila was standing there and Jon was rushing over to Marinette's side in an instant.

"Wow, I should have known that you were faking being gay, what was it, just a phase or something? I can't believe it was a brat like her who finally made you realize that you were faking your pathetic excuse of homosexuality. At least now you won't have to burn in hell," Lila said flipping her hair and walking away.

Jon stared after her eyes wide, not breathing. It was a hard hit but not an unfamiliar hit either. Girls had tried to ask him out all the time wondering when he might get over his "homosexual phase" and started showing more and more skin. His friend Kathy was the only one who understood what he was going through since she was a closet lesbian in a relationship with another closeted girl in the school. The words just a phase stung.

Marinette started shaking her friend as he blinked fast trying to will tears away. "Jon?" Marinette asked, cupping his face to look into his eyes.

"I have to go," Jon said, running out of the room and to the living room with the entrance to the batcave. Surprisingly everyone was in there but Bruce. Jon started crying and Dick and Kory rushed over to him as he collapsed in their arms and they led him over to the couch.

"You're not really gay, just give me one night and I can prove it," a girl that Jon had never seen before came up to him.

"Yeah, not really interested plus I'm like thirteen," Jon said trying to push her away without hurting her.

"Really, you look so much older," the girl said getting even closer into his personal space. "Are you sure that one night couldn't hurt you?" Jon now knew who this girl was, she was the senior that hooked up with everyone in the school. Jon pushed her back and watched as she drunkenly fell to the floor.

Jon looked up into Jason’s eyes as he yelled trying to get his attention. “What the fuck did this bitch do to you?” Jason asked and Damian sighed.

“There’s no way that she can stay here anymore,” Dick said pulling out his phone to call Bruce down to the room but Jon ran over taking it.

“What the hell kid?” Jason said pulling out his phone.

“Sh-she can’t go a-anywhere until we p-prove Marinette i-innocent,” Jon said, wiping away fresh tears.

“We could always introduce her to Clark,” Mar’i said from the corner. The bats started talking about a plan to get Clark to take Lila down a level and Jon snuck out of the room and down the hall to his favorite window sitting on the large ledge curling a leg close to his body. The stars looked especially clear and he became focused on the solar systems and planets that he had visited until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, what are you up to?” Adrien asked standing next to him.

“Just thinking, people think that I’m just going to grow out of being gay like an old pair of shoes and start liking girls. It’s like they don’t trust my judgment,” Jon said looking back out the window chin finding its way back to his knee.

“Here, stand up,” Adrien said, offering a hand. “You will never be just some phase to me,” Adrien said lifting Jon’s chin to look in his eyes.

“Good, 'cause you aren’t either.” Adrien’s eyes widened slightly for a second before smiling down at Jon.

“Is it ok if I…” Jon pulled Adrien’s head down pressing their lips together. They stayed like that for a few seconds just feeling the other’s presence before hands shifted to hips and shoulders breathing each other in. Jon lowered his heels back down to the ground, breaking the kiss laughing slightly as Adrien tried to chase his lips downward.

“I’d say it’s pretty ok with me,” Jon said resting his head on Adrien’s shoulder holding him tight.

Mar’i peered from around the corner holding her phone to take pictures for Kagami.

Kagami: I’m surprised it took this long.

Mar’i: Only two more idiots left.

Kagami: I can not wait for our chat Sunfire.

Mar’i: Me too Kagami.

..................................

JPS:  @wannajointhecrabcult @loveswifi @ive-tumbled-down-a-rabbit-hole @liquid-luck-00 @mochegato@thatonecroc@mochinek0 @toodaloo-kangaroo @moonspiritwolf1 @ranger-gothamite @crystalangelluna @professionalfangirl1738

Tag list:  @abrx2002@finallyaniguana@danielslilangel@chocolateherringtacofan@animegirlweeb @fleur-de-jasmin-fdj@pawsitivelymiraculous@justcourttee@ayamestudios@greenteacz@thornalchemist23@vixen-uchiha@readeracctagmepls @tomanyfandomsinmymind @t1dwarrior-of-earth @michaelshadow7779 @i-is-mysterious

#lila salt #lila rossi #jon x adrien #adrien agreste #protective Damian #protective batfam #Poor Jon #JON PROTECTION SQUAD #Jon Kent #Damian Wayne #damian x marinette #marinette dupain cheng #maribat #miraculous ladybug #marinette and jon

[spooky-z]

NETi

NeTi au is from @rhub4rb Maribat (Daminette) from @ozmav

The songs NETi sings are Shameless & Easy by Camila Cabello.

Warning: This is 4K and has brief mentions of suicide in the "EXTRA".

The red carpet was full of journalists, fans, curious and bloggers. It was the night of the Paris Music Awards, where musicians like Jagged Stone and Clara Nigthingale competed for the biggest prize of the night.

But beyond expecting to see Jagged, there was also another buzz. One that could be bigger even than the prizes themselves and competitors.

NETi. The musical revelation of 2028, the sweetie of almost every artist (even non-artist), the girl who broke records and records in less than a year.

Someone who, despite all the explosive success, still kept her personal life private and secret identity. No one had found out who NETi was, and she had made it clear that she would only reveal herself at PMA. Then the mood was high.

At any moment the exclusive of the year would happen.

The red carpet had already passed some other important personalities, both from the music industry and the entertainment industry.

Even people from the fashion world was here.

People like Mayor Bourgeois and his family; Kagami and Tomoe Tsurugi; Luka Couffaine and his girlfriend Aurore Beauréal, TVi's new climate host; American tycoon Bruce Wayne with his wife Selina Kyle; the four Wayne heirs had also passed the red carpet. They were accompanied by their loved ones.

Among the four couples, Damian Wayne and his wife, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, stood out. Also known as MDC, a designer who had entered the fashion industry shaking the structures of everything.

The couple had dressed to impress. There was no doubt that these were original MDC.

Damian Wayne alone would not have attracted much attention had it not been for the red kufiyyah on his head. He was wearing a completely black suit, as was his tie. So, the highlight was all in his head.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng was her own show. With a front slit in her black dress, the highlight went to the upper torso. The gold and red details, the raised feathers, the tight belt at the waist. She made it clear where the inspiration for her outfit came from.

Their passage across the red carpet had been a blast. Everyone wanting a piece, an interview, a photo of the couple, as Wayne's family was famous for leaving their personal lives in private. Apart from what they purposely let others know, the rest was a complete mystery. So everyone was euphoric to get some of their attention.

A pleasant surprise on the red carpet had been the famous couple of reporters, Clark Kent and Lois Lane. They were accompanied by son Jonathan (another reporter in the family), who was holding hands with another sweetie from Paris, Adrien Agreste. All four with huge smiles on their faces.

When a more fearless reporter got an opportunity to interview them, she jumped at the question everyone was asking.

“Adrien, could you please tell us why you are holding hands with Jonathan Kent?” She waves the microphone at the model's face. All cameras facing them.

The blond looks at the brunette, who smiles and blinks mischievously, before returning to the reporter. He looks straight into the camera, a shitty smile on his lips.

"He's my boyfriend." And leaves. Waving to everyone, signing some posters and fan notebooks. The boyfriend firmly by his side, never failing to smile.

When all the guests had arrived and there was no one else to walk the red carpet, the rumors that it was possible that NETi would not actually appear began and that made everyone upset.

Until, well, notification of an official tweet from NETi.

NETi @NETiOfficial

Are you ready? Because I am!

#NETiatPMAs

And they all went crazy again.

She had passed without anyone noticing. Probably using the entrance to the paying audience to keep everyone expectant.

-

Nadja Chamack and her team were the ones covering the event inside. She was standing at the camera, waiting for the signal from Jean (the cameraman) so she could finally start talking live with viewers.

Some interviews had already been done, ready to air as the event unfolded and when Jean “ok” with his fingers, pointing at her, Nadja smiles.

“Good night, Paris!” She begins. “I am Nadja Chamack at a special event. The Paris Music Awards, or rather PMAs. Where our greatest talents come together in wonderful performances and awards are given to those who stand out!”

-

“I'm so happy for Lila!” Sabrina squeaks.

"My girl will be the highlight of the night." Alya brags and Nino laughs at his girlfriend.

"Too bad she won't walk the red carpet." Mylene sighs sadly. "It would have been a triumphant entrance."

"She already explained why, My." Ivan comforts the girl.

Nathaniel says nothing, but laughs at his friends.

Although they were busy with their careers, they had found time to gather to attend the PMAs. Watch when NETi-or rather, Lila, revealed herself to all of Paris.

Yes. They were proud to be friends with such a talented person as Lila. She could have time to be such a good friend! Even when her schedule was so tight being a humanitarian and now a successful artist. Besides being a model.

“And is Adrien Agreste there? Oh my gosh! Is Adrien Agreste holding hands with the famous American journalist Jonathan Samuel Kent?!” They were startled by the reporter's scream and went back to watching the live TV shoot.

They sigh in surprise.

"I didn't know Adrien knew Jonathan Kent!" Alya shouts.

"And who is Jonathan Kent?" Nathaniel asks.

She turns to him, a familiar fire in her eyes.

“He's just the youngest voted best journalist in the world!” She replies, hysteria in her tone. “Adrien Agreste will pay for hiding it from me!”

“Could you tell us why you are holding hands with Jonathan Kent?” The reporter asks, placing the microphone toward his face, waiting for an answer.

Adrien exchanges glances with Jonathan before turning to the camera, a mischievous smile on his face.

"He's my boyfriend." And keeps walking the red carpet.

The reporter is speechless, looking shocked. She shakes with the screams of the fans and goes back to interview other famous as they passed. Pretending the embarrassment had not happened.

In the living room of Nino's, everyone's mouth was open. Without understanding.

"Wait- Is Adrien gay?" Sabrina asks, looking at Nino.

He looks as lost as the rest of the room.

"He never said anything to me." He says. "I'm his best friend and he never told me!" The anger in his tone.

Alya feels sorry for her boyfriend, not knowing how to comfort him.

“Maybe he wanted to make a big revelation?” He says. "Do you know how he is-"

“It's MDC with Damian Wayne! Hey, MDC!”

Once again, their attention was diverted back to the TV and there was the camera focusing on a couple posing for the photos on the red carpet. Of the two people, one was recognizable.

"Marinette...?" Alya sighs, not believing what she saw.

The couple finish taking the pictures together and start posing alone, turning only to get a better angle for all photographers.

"These are Damian Al-Ghul Wayne and Marinette Dupain-Cheng." The reporter says, looking at the camera. “Damian, son and one of Bruce Wayne's heirs, came with his wife MDC, the newest successful designer in the fashion world. They are known for not being very open about their relationship, but it is obvious that the two love each other and make a powerful couple.” She blinks, wiggling her eyebrow.

“What-” Nino chokes.

“Look! They are coming. I'll try to get an exclusive for you!"She squeezes among other journalists, almost falling on the red carpet after tripping over someone's feet, but is saved by none other than Marinette.

Damian right behind her like a shadow, his face serious. The camera takes everything.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" The girl moans as she stands up. "I hurt you? Pardon. I'm very clumsy.” She doesn't even fake an act for the camera, nor does she notice Marinette's affectionate smile.

“It happens to the best of us, Manon. It's okay.” Marinette says, the flashes doing nothing to diminish her beauty and kindness. "Good to see you. You look beautiful."

The reporter-Manon straightens, her face red. She seemed to have forgotten she was live.

"Thanks. You look awesome too.” Coughing, straightening her clothes and hair, before turning to the camera again. “Would you mind giving a little interview? In the name of the old days when you took care of me.” Teases.

Marinette laughs, dyed red lips and flowing hair. Damian's expression softened at that.

"What I don't do for those puppy eyes, isn't it?!" Marinette plays with Manon, making the girl blush.

“So, could you tell us something about your relationship? I don't want to be invasive, but a lot of us are curious.” Manon says. “I know you've been together since you were fourteen, but a lot of people don't know that. There are plenty of rumors about you with Adrien Agreste and Luka Couffaine.” She extends the microphone to the designer, looking more professional than a few seconds ago.

Marinette rolls her eyes. This was clearly a subject she was fed up with.

“Like you said, we've been together since I was fourteen. Eight years of dating, one of marriage.” She responds, raising her left hand to display the gold ring with a huge blue diamond in the center. The sassy expression on her face. "About Adrien and Luka... Well, you got your answer when Adrien came in with Jon and Luka with Aurore."

Manon jumps when Marinette mentions Jonathan Kent. The eyes shining.

“Can you tell us something about Adrien and Jonathan? Like how long they've been together.” She asks. “Just for everyone to cry over from missing the start of such a good ship.”

The designer looks at Damian quickly, eyebrow raised, and he responds for her.

“We had to put up with them being gross for five years now.” Despite the laid-back affair and the funny speech, his voice was pure steel. "I don't understand why nobody noticed this before, it wasn't as if they were hiding."

Manon moans, upset. (She hadn't really seen it coming. Of course they had photos together on Instagram, funny tweets to each other, traveled together, but she was sure it was purely platonic.)

“FIVE YEARS?” Nino gets up from the couch, indignant. “FIVE YEARS AND I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING. MARINETTE DID KNOW! EVEN DAMIAN WAYNE KNEW AND I, THE BEST FRIEND DIDNT!” He shouts in frustration.

"Marinette has been dating for almost ten years and I didn't know." Alya whispers, still not believing. "I was her best friend and she never told me."

"Guys..." Mylene mumbles, heartbroken for her friends.

“Thank you for giving us this interview, Mari! Hope to see you at family dinner on Thursday! You too, Damian.” Manon nods, a bright smile pasted on her face.

Marinette smiles, returning the wave with her hands and Damian with his head. They walk until they enter the theater, disappearing from camera view.

Other famous people were passing and being interviewed, but no one else was paying attention to it. They were more focused on understanding what had happened. Alya, especially, was the one that was most shaken, because she was a journalist (intern, but journalist) and was proud of it.

But here were things she didn't even realize. Things that were no secret, but that everyone seemed to know but her.

The break came and went, no one daring to say anything. Each trying to assimilate what had happened, when suddenly the cell phone of the six began to beep, signaling messages. Chat messages from former students of Ms. Bustier.

Sabrina was the one who got the phone first.

[Alix 8:40]: Hey, did you guys see Mari on tv? [Max 8:42]: Yes! She said she would show up with Damian. [Alix 8:42]: Dude. They were beautiful. [Kim 8:42]: Adrien had texted that he was nervous. [Max 8:44]: Nervous?! [Juleka 8:44]: I think it was because of Jon. [Rose 8:45]: They are both so cute! [Kim 8:46]: Damian was very funny with the question about them. [Juleka 8:46]: Luka said he's still complaining about both of them. [Rose 8:47]: He sent pictures!

Mylene looked up from her cell phone, confused.

“Does that mean they knew? I don’t understand."

"There's only one way to know." Ivan replies.

[Ivan 8:49]: Did you know? [Alya 8:50]: HOW DID YOU KNOW AND I DON’T?! [Nino 8:51]: Why would Adrien tell you and not me? [Sabrina 8:51]: Can you explain that? [Mylene 8:52]: I'm very disappointed with you. [Nathaniel 8:52]: Guys.

They waited for answers, seeing the "writing" balloon disappearing and appearing several times before a single answer appeared.

[Alix 8:55]: Shit. Wrong chat. Sorry guys.

After that she went offline, as did the other four.

"They just...?" Nathaniel muttered incredulously.

"What the hell is going on?!" Alya screams in frustration.

“-and awards are given to those who stand out!” Nadja Chamack's voice comes from the tv. “Now what everyone was expecting: NETi. The presentation of the latest music discovery will start anytime!”

"Oh my God! It's now.” Alya shouts, forgetting what had happened.

The stage light goes out, everyone screaming for NETi.

The screen turns on, starting a quick sequence of indistinguishable images before stopping on an empty avenue.

The camera begins to slowly approach a person standing in the middle of the street. The sound of the bass playing rhythmically. The camera focuses on the person dressed in white in the middle of the street.

NETi.

MDC.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

“What the hell is going on??” Ivan snorts, already annoyed by everything he has seen.

She walks slowly, powerful and barefoot. The sharp eyes. Her lips move and she whispers "Shameless" before the screen goes out and red lights take over the stage.

The audience screaming at the top of their lungs. The cameras filming the reactions of guests and fans, each one more surprised than the other.

Don't speak, no, don't try It's been a secret for the longest time

NETi's voice echoes through the theater, the audience calms down.

Don't run (oh), no, don't hide Been running from it for the longest time

The camera focuses on NETi standing on the stage, her hair loose and wild. It was not possible to distinguish the color of the dress she wore, but it was noticeable in certain parts of the fabric and had sleeves. The cleavage dropped to above the navel, details with flowers on the side of the ribs and a dangerous slit in the thigh.

She was still barefoot.

So many mornings, I woke up confused In my dreams, I do anything I want to you My emotions are naked, they're taking me out of my mind

She squats on stage, the slit in the dress giving wide mobility in her movements and the microphone was firmly in her right hand. The left arm resting on the bare thigh.

Right now, I'm shameles Screamin' my lungs out for ya Not afraid to face it I need you more than I want to Need you more than I want to

She closes her eyes, running a hand through her hair and pulling tightly. Showing despair.

Show me you're shameless Write it on my neck, why don't ya?

The hand goes down to the neck, showing that there was something written there.

Damian Wayne

The camera focuses on him standing next to his family, the Kents, Adrien, Luka and Aurore.

Jonathan and Jason tease him with pats on the back and malicious smiles. He just remains mesmerized by the presentation.

And I won't erase it I need you more than I want to I need you more than I want to

She opens her fierce eyes and stands up. The dancers come in, circling her, dancing to the powerful beat of the music.

No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now

She swings the hips to the beat, the camera surrounding her with the dancers and she never looking away from the camera.

There's just inches in between us I want you to give in, I want you to give in, oh

The camera comes closer to her as to her face be the only thing in sight, before pulling away again.

There is tension in between us I just wanna give in And I don't care if I'm forgiven

She reaches the middle of the stage, where a microphone stand rested and the dancers leave. That's when the melody cuts off abruptly, before a softer one starts. More innocent.

NETi attaches the microphone to the stand and the lights brighten.

Her dress was lavender with purple accents.

(Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

The camera refocuses solely on her and she does not take her eyes off the lens.

You tell me that I'm complicated And that might be an understatement Anything else? (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

She blinks at the camera. A sly smile on her face.

You tell me that I'm indecisive Fickle, but I try to hide it Anything else? (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

NETi shrugs, demonstrating that she didn't care.

You tell me that I overthink 'Til I ruin a good thing Anything else? (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

She tilts her head, daring. Never failing to look at the camera.

You tell me that you'd rather fight Than spend a single peaceful night With somebody else (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

The camera zooms out a bit to catch a full-length scene. The whole dark stage, just her lit up.

You really, really know me The future and the old me All of the mazes and the madness in my mind

The voice rises a little and she closes her eyes, feeling the letters.

You really, really love me You know me and you love me And it's the kind of thing I always hoped I'd find, yeah

A satisfied smile appears on her face and she squeezes the microphone in the hands.

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy

She dances along with the beat of the drums, the melody rocking her body. It was hard to take the eyes off.

Touch me 'til I find myself, in a feeling Tell me with your hands that you're never leaving (no)

She pulls her hair, showing once again, despair.

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy I never liked my crooked teeth You tell me they're you're favorite thing (mm-mmm) Anything else? (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

The eyes back open and she smiles at the camera.

The stretch marks all around my thighs Kiss 'em 'til I change my mind About everything else (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)

Her hands navigate the bare skin until they close around her waist in a single hug.

The camera returns to film Damian, capturing a rare smile from the man.

You really, really know me The future and the old me All of the mazes and the madness in my mind

She stares at the camera.

You really, really love me You know me and you love me (uh, huh) And it's the kind of thing I always hoped I'd find

She winks and the audience screams again in delirium.

All I know is you Heal me when I'm broken, heal me when I'm broken, oh

Eyes closed, she intones the voice.

All I know is you Saved me and you know it, saved me and you know it

The raw emotion in her expression and voice.

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy

The song ends and there is hysteria. Screams, applause. It is a mess.

NETi moves away from the microphone to take a breath before returning.

“Thank you, PMAs. That was amazing.”

She waves her hand at the audience, greeting everyone gratefully before having to leave the stage.

The camera goes back to Nadja Chamack who was the example of the confusion.

“Well, great day to know that my daughter's old nanny is a designer and a pop star.” She jokes blandly. “Now we are going to take a break and we will be back with Luka Couffaine's performance.”

The group of friends were sitting motionless. A hard lump to swallow stuck in their throats.

Sabrina is the first to speak.

"There has to be some explanation for that."

Nathaniel smiles weakly.

"Yes. Of course, there is.” But there is no conviction in his voice.

Alya quickly pulls out her phone, typing something and waiting.

“Al, what-” Nino is interrupted by Alya's hand spread out in a “stop” sign.

Her cell phone beeps and she chokes, her eyes teary.

"Alya, what happened?" Mylene asks, already desperate.

She doesn't answer, just passes her cellphone to her friends before leaving the room.

"I'll go after her." Nino says and leaves.

Mylene, Sabrina, Ivan and Nathaniel come together to see what had left their friend in that deplorable state, but they regret not long after.

[Alya 9:26]: Did you lie to me? [Lila 9:28]: ...I didn't lie. [Lila 9:28]: Just said what people wanted to hear.

Sabrina sighs, her eyes wide.

"Does that mean she-"

"Yes." Ivan whispers shaken.

Marinette and the others were right. They were blind.

Alya returns to the room next to Nino, eyes red and unrivaled fury.

She reaches for the phone and Mylene gives it back.

“She lied to me for years. Fool me all these years. If she thinks this is going to be it...” She says. "Then she better gets ready, because I'm going to destroy her life."

"And how do you intend to do that?" Nathaniel questions.

Alya stares at her friends.

“I have everything recorded. Everything. And I'll still look for more.” Growls. "She'll regret everything she did and said."

She would do not only for her, but also for Marinette.

Alya owed it to her former best friend.

It was the least she could do.

EXTRA:

“Earlier today, the Italian model Lila Alois Rossi, was arrested by the Parisian police. It is still unclear whether she will remain in prison here in Paris or be deported back to Italy, but we have had access to the prosecution and I tell you: there is no way she can escape it by just bailing.” Nadja Chamack was sitting in the armchair her studio. The expression was hard as stone.

"Along with the prosecution, irrevocable evidence was attached, giving no breach for Ms. Rossi to mount a defense."

Nadja's image is placed in the corner, highlighting the video of Lila Rossi being handcuffed in the police car to the police station.

The Italian had lost the healthy tone of her skin. Her pale lips and the obvious discomfort with the flashes. They didn't realize they would ever be able to see this: Lila Rossi hating the attention on her.

“Among accusations of defamation, there are also many about sexual harassment, blackmail, bullying and… accomplice of murder. Apparently, she was the reason for some suicides in the schools she studied, told no one and even encouraged the victims.”

Damian raises his eyebrow at the television, turning to Marinette and Adrien, sitting beside him on Chloe's couch.

“How do you think this happened?” He asks. He was right that Lila Rossi would get over after all these years of trying to knock her down.

Adrien tilts his head, thinking.

"Alya." Marinette doesn't even have to think before answering.

Adrien nods frantically.

"Certainly, Alya."

"She must have finally discovered Lila's lies and that's her way to get revenge." Marinette says.

"And raise a white flag for us." Adrien continues.

Damian turns his attention back to the TV. He was impressed by Césarie's work. She could be a decent reporter when she researched and checked her sources first.

[tag list]

@northernbluetongue @crazylittlemunchkin @cynicalwonders @casual-darkness @auradonfairy @bitterheart12224  @mycupisbroken   @virgil-is-a-cutie  @luciferge @crazylittlemunchkin @2sunchild2 @unholykrow @poshplumcot @ayuchan07 @michellemagic @tazanna-blythe @slytherinsheashire @roseinbloom02 @xxmadamjinxx @momo456200 @mewwitch @kuroko26 @sassdowflame @neko249 @wookiestephen @wookiestephen @captainmac6 @yamadochie @emjrabbitwolf  @alvaery @yin-390 @dragonfruit2017​ @st0rmy-w1th1n @vixen-uchiha @iggy-of-fans @indecisive-mess-named-me @im-here-for-the-content @seraphichana @mochinek0 @g-arya @taleeuuhhh @ezio-demon @quipsquaps  @elspethshadow @normal-piece-of-shit @sweatyruinsstudentbored @interobanginyourmom @elliecake5 @resignedcatservant @theatreandcomicfreak @hetalia-lover-is-here @yazz-frost @astoryyettotell @blue-peach14  @ivymala07 @spider-person95 @kandi-pie @zebrabaker @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @skyel0ve @bigcheeseyboi @octoberscorn @certainvoidsludgeskeleton @superrrpc @romanoff-queen @saphiraazure2708 @ladybug-182​ @mjisntme

#daminette #maribat #damian x marinette #damian #marinette dupain cheng #ml Alya #ml Nino #ml mylene #ml nathaniel #ml ivan #ml sabrina #ml salt #NeTi au #oneshot #ml nadja #ml manon #ml lila #miraculous ladybug #one shots

[cornholio4]

A Date With Prince Ali

Author’s note: I admit I was using this story as an excuse to gush about Knives Out; an enjoyable movie even if you're like me and your biggest exposure to mystery stories are Scooby Doo episodes and movies.Over a year of Ladybug salt and LIla Salt; different types of stories and using pairings with Felix and Damian Wayne (not a fan of either of those pairings to be honest). Then I realised why not try one that is Marinette X Ali as surprisingly enough there are no stories of that yet.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng just sighed when class was just finishing and Lila began spinning off her latest tale about some celebrities that she had supposedly met, really it was quite frustrating how all suckered in they were. Nino told everyone about how his parents were taking his little brother Chris to an appointment so they could have their own party there with him as a DJ.

Lila of course said she would love to come over when she has time and has another story she has been waiting for the right moment to tell them. This made Marinette groaned and Marinette almost missed it when Nino asked if she can expect to find her there.

"Oh no sorry Nino, I already have plans..." Marinette told him and then saw disappointed glances from most of the classmates as this was another occasion she had missed out with Lila involved. "Look sorry but I already have plans; I'm going to go see Knives Out tonight." Marinette explained and everyone looked at her incredulously as everything they knew about the movie didn't seem like it would be one Marinette would see.

Then of course Lila was putting up a facade of how disappointed she was that Marinette would not be coming. "Really girl, if you don't want to come because Lila is coming then you can at least be honest and tell us... No need to make up a story on the spot..." Alya chided her and Marinette sighed at her words along with the disapproval that came from Adrien.

It wasn't an excuse and she really did plan to go see the movie that afternoon, she had been looking forward to it for some time.

What her classmates didn't know was that she was actually a big fan of mystery stories, from her childhood of watching mystery movies with her parents (she watched a lot of the TV show about Hercule Poirot), watching Scooby Doo as well as reading the Agatha Christie books. She actually loved watching the mysteries build up with all the clues and red herrings built up and put together in the ending.

In fact when she was accused of stealing by Chloe she was putting her deductive skills to rest and she also got to use them when she began to suspect that Adrien's father was Hawk Moth. She rarely got to use the skills she developed from all the mysteries stories she had seen and read.

True the deductive skills failed to convince her classmates that Lila was lying but that was neither here nor there.

Later she got home and noticed a parcel for her and she opened it to see a necklace looking like it came from the kingdom of Achu and guessed it must have come from her secret admirer again. She had been getting presents and letters in the mail for a small while from a secret admirer saying they had only just gotten the courage to send these tokens of their feelings towards her.

She began wondering who it could be with her first hope being that it was from Adrien but soon her feelings began dying out. It had to do with his words about Lila's lying not hurting anyone.

What instantly could get her out of a Lila related sour mood was wondering who could be her secret admirer; she had yet to tell Alya about it. Mostly because she was pretty much dreading whatever scheme Alya could cook up to find out who it could be.

Some of the presents were mostly jewellery and she figured it must be someone well off, one of her first candidates was Luka but looking at the expensive jewellery it may not be there. Unless the Couffaines were secretly wealthy and were being humble about it to the point of living in their small houseboat. Currently her best candidate would be Kagami.

Her parents were gushing about her latest gift from her admirer and were encouraging her to wear it for the movie today. She thought it would be a little much but she decided to do so. She had changed into a detective outfit she had designed and Tikki was asking about where it came from.

She had explained that during the last summer at a birthday party for one of her cousins; it was a murder mystery role play party that she was so excited for and designed everyone's outfit. Her role was as the lead detective's deputy.

She had gotten to the door but then saw someone enter through the door and it was someone in a hooded jacket along with some sort of chaperone bodyguard. The person took his hood down and saw it was Prince Ali of Achu.

"Prince Ali, what a surprise..." Marinette blurted out remembering when she had last saw him as Ladybug. Rose had told everyone about how excited she was to have ice cream with him and some time ago she had been disappointed to tell them that Prince Ali admitted to her in his last message that he liked someone else and was sending her letters before he can finally confess in person.

She felt sorry for Rose and tried to console her along with the other classmates, Lila made a half hearted story that she was asked by Prince Ali himself to keep it secret that she liked some other princess. Of course they had eaten it up.

Rose had said that Prince Ali really spoke fondly of her and said he hadn't had a chance to see her along but she was kind, clumsy and adorable with a passion for fashion.

Marinette knew that Prince Ali was in France related to a charity he was doing and how it would be a busy one, Lila made up a claim that she would try and see if they can get time to get them to see him again. Lucky Lila counted on the fact that it was reported that he would only be in France for 3 days and how unlikely it would be that he would be in Paris to see them.

A part of her thought about directly asking him about Lila but she decided she didn't want to use him like this to settle a grudge against a bully.

"Marinette, hasn't had time to see you directly..." Prince Ali admitted to her with a blush with Marinette feeling like she should be questioning why he was there. "I managed to make enough time in my schedule to come here and see the girl I liked." Prince Ali told her sheepishly and Marinette froze having put the clues together:

The presents having come at the same time when Rose talked to Prince Ali with his message about sending presents to his crush and the description of this crush.

Uh oh...

"I am... flattered your majesty but... Rose likes you and I am sure a girl code or a sis code exists..." Marinette trying to come up with the best excuse she could do. Her parents were no help as they were gushing about it and how Marinette was always a princess to them.

"Rose is a good friend but I can't help it when I saw a pretty girl and what Rose told me about you; how helpful and kind you are. I noticed your designs on your website and I was amazed by your talents. Plus the achievements you have made." Prince Ali told her and Marinette's cheeks began going red. "Are you doing anything tonight?" He asked hopefully and she shook her head.

"Sorry but I already made plans, I want to see this movie at the cinema called Knives Out..." Marinette told him and Prince Ali put out his hand offering to treat her to a movie. Her brain shut down and it only rebooted again when she noticed she was led to his limo.

She smiled awkwardly at Prince Ali as she sat next to him, she then began wondering if she even liked him like that. He was handsome alright but that was not enough for her to fall for someone; she knew Adrien was handsome but didn't care for him when she thought he was a bully friend of Chloe. She only started to fall for him at the umbrella incident.

Maybe she could give Prince Ali a try as he was a nice boy starting charities and being nothing but kind to Rose.

They reached the cinema and Prince Ali helped Marinette out as they entered with his chaperone and his hood disguise back up, they got in line and paid for their tickets. They got to the screening room and Marinette noticed Aurore and Mireille there who recognised Marinette but not her apparent date. They were going as Chris Evans fans and were wierded out when Marinette revealed she was a mystery fan.

They sat down and the ads and trailers played and followed by a message from the movie's director Rian Johnson asking the audience not to spoil the ending to their friends as it was a whodunit mystery. Marinette with a serious look on her face zipped her mouth shut at that which Prince Ali laughed at and she just looked sheepish.

They watched the movie and during the first act Marinette saw how intentionally horrible most of the characters were. while because she hated being scared was the main reason why she hated horror movies another one was because it was hard to like any of the characters in those movies and want to see them survive.

They laughed at scenes in it (especially at Daniel Craig's hilarious accent) while Marinette was analysing any potential clues and feeling tense as it went on. The movie ended and Marinette left with Prince Ali gushing with the others about how good it was but Marinette made a move of asking they be silent about spoilers when they got out of the cinema room.

Marinette took mystery stories very seriously.

They got out of the cinema and Marinette gave him a kiss on the cheek as they went began smiling awkwardly at each other. Then somebody shouted that it was Prince Ali and they just noticed his hood fell down. They quickly got back into the limo and it drove off.

The paparazzi followed them back to the bakery and Prince Ali helped Marinette out and got her into her home as they had taken pictures of them.

At Nino's party, Nino had told her big story and was going on about how twenty minutes ago Prince Ali phoned her about some paperwork he had just finished at the moment to open an orphanage in her name.

Then Rose screamed out looking at her phone saying Prince Ali was in Paris right now and was seen exiting their local cinema with a date! She was gushing about Prince Ali finding love with her crush but then the classmates began looking at Lila asking about what she had just said despite her attempts to change the subject.

Curse the horrid timing.

Rose's eyes were bulging and told everyone to come and see who it was and everyone was speechless when they saw the photos. Lila looked herself and let her frustration get the better of her and ranted about Marinette on the spot.

#Ml salt fic #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #lila salt #oneshot #drabble #fanfic #also on ao3 #also on fanfiction.net #also on ao3 and fanfiction #also on fanfiction and ao3 #prince ali #Marinette X Prince Ali #i promise no Knives Out spoilers #no Knives Out spoilers #Knives Out

[multifics-canary]

Random nanowrimo daminette fic

A/n: this is my random pitch to nanowrimo. And it also includes the adventures of ruby culpa so ye ye. Uhhhh enjoy!

Dupont decided to hold a fashion for all school in the area to participate. A certain class sat around an Italian girl with sausage looking hair, who was the center of attention.

"I would love to join the school event, but my arm hurts really bad from pulling a lot of boxes for charity with Prince Ali. The most I can do is take notes." Lila says sheepishly, looking at her classmates.

"No worries, girl! At least can you watch with us?" Alya says excitedly, leaning forward to her best friend. Lila smiled, her eyes narrowing a little.

"Of course! We can can meet up before the viewing starts."

With that the rest of the class talked, mostly hearing what Lila had to say about something. Adrian ignored his class, focusing on the person he was texting instead.

°•°•°•°•°

The night of the event, Dupont was crowded. Lila and her possy lingered around, commenting in each outfit shown.

There was one display that had a cover over it, with the initials on the sign of MDC. No one in Mme. Bustier's class knew why the name sounded familiar, and Lila took advantage of the mystery designer. All she knew MDC was a famous aspiring designer working for Jagged Stone.

"MDC is such a darling," she starts, grabbing their attention. "He's in love with me, but I'm with Damian Wayne. But I gave him the design for tonight's event!" She says, looking at everyone's excited face. Alya frowns a bit, unsure why the name sounded so familiar.

Lila looks to Adrian, only to see him waiting by the front doors. She scowls, even after 3 years, he doesn't fall into her web.

Just as she's about to spin another lie, people begin to crowd around the doors at the front.

The class was curious to the gathering. Lila heads first, managing to squeeze through and nearly shrieked at what she saw.

Adrian was smiling cheekily at a very familiar person, holding her hand after placing a kiss on it. Next to her, a very handsome young man, glaring playfully at Adrian. The infamous Kagami stood next to them, smiling at them as juleka's older brother held her.

The familiar blue eyes shined brightly, causing Lila to sneer.

"How's the lovely couple doing? Am I going to be the best man at your wedding?"

"You wish, Agreste. You'll have to beat my brothers." The black haired man said. Lila was vaguely aware that the class finally pushed their way to the front. Chloe was among them, holding an unknown blonde in her arms.

"Guys come on. As much as I want to talk about when the wedding is, we have to get our grade for this first." Marinette was different, confident, not the clumsy girl that Lila bullied. A group was gathered. Much larger than Lila's as people took pictures of them.

"Is that--?"

"Oh my God it is!"

"Chloe?!" Various reactions were given to the group. The main ones were aimed at Marinette. Alya stared as her former friend laughed lightly, going over to where the MDC display was.

"Marinette, what are you doing?" Lila says, and the group freezes upon hearing her voice. She tries to look innocent, but got a bit unnerved at everyone's gaze on her.

Alya watches as Marinette's face lost all emotion, as did everyone else, including Adrian. She noticed Adrian look actually a little angry at Lila.

"I'm competing. It is a fashion event. This is also a grade for me to graduate." Marinette replied, and Alya flinched . Her voice held nothing. There was no warmth in her eyes. She looked at her best friend, and saw anger, of what, she didn't know.

"I meant what are you doing near my friend's display. MDC worked so hard and you're going to claim his work?" Lila supplies, everyone's eyes on them. There's tension growing, students from other school's looking between the students of Dupont and the students of the private school of arts.

The unknown blonde in Chloe's arms cracks first, covering her mouth to laugh, only to fail when Chloe joined in as well. Marinette and the others looked at them in amusement, as Lila and her group stared offended.

"Oh man. Last time I heard something this ridiculous was when I told uncle Gabriel I was bisexual." The blonde said, and Chloe laughed harder, this time Adrian joining.

"Father's look when that happened was the best. Rubes you really went for it. " Adrian states happily and his classmates look at him like he grew a second head.

"Chloe??" Everyone turned to the the meek voice of Sabrina, who was staring at the two blonde's. Lila stared Marinette, angry that she wasn't getting the attention.

"Who is this?"

"Really, Sabrina? I've gossiped and ranted about this girl since we were younger and you're basically telling you pretended to listen to me?" Chloe states, glaring at the orange haired girl, who flinched severely.

"Love, relax. Remember we're here for marinette and that grade. But mostly Marinette." The blonde says calmly, and Chloe visibly relaxes under her voice.

"Of course, my rose."

"Ok, what is going on?!" Alya yells out. Everyone turns to her, and Lila is somewhat grateful for her 'best friend'. "Marinette, they said you were expelled after bullying Lila, with no chance of rejoining any school." At the words, students looked to see Marinette stare unimpressed at her former friend.

"Honestly Alya, this shows you aren't the reporter I thought you were." Everyone turned to Adrian who had said that, his eyes an unusual cold green. Marinette just sighed and pulled the cover back.

The crowd gasped at the hero themed dress. It wasn't a Ladybug OR Chat Noir theme, but a Robin themed dress. One of the heroes of Gotham.

"MDC did so well with my des--"

"Say one more word about my fiance like you know her, I will personally see to it that you lose everything. " Damian spoke dangerously low, glaring at Lila as she paled drastically.

"I-I don't know--"

"Who do you think you are?!" Alya spoke up, standing between Lila and the group. The look on the man's face grew colder.

"Be glad I am not sueing you for using my name. Not yet anyways."

"Name? What name? Lila isn't lying!" Alya insisted.

"Damian, love, just forget it. We're here for the grade, not drama." Lila pales considerably at the the name.

"Damian?? As in the Damian Wayne!?" Alix spoke up, looking at all of them. The short girl turned to Marinette, showing nothing but excitement and shock. "You're engaged to Damian freaking Wayne!!"

Everyone whispers amongst themselves, Lila's group slowly paling at the realization. "MDC... m-marinette was the one who made Jagged's glasses." Mylene said softly, holding herself.

Alya stares at the dress intensely, as if trying to find something. Which she was, because Lila had to be telling the truth. Her best friend wouldn't lie about Damian and knowing MDC. But what--

Around the collar of the dress, a gold pattern sewed on. Normally, it looks like a beautifully crafted design that contrasts well with the colors of the dress. Alya titled her head a little and gasped, dread and horror creeping in her stomach.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

"Marinette, I'm so glad you've joined us today." Principal Damocles stated, walking through the group of students. You could see how nervous he was to see the former student, and miserably tried to hide his shame. After all, Marinette was one of the brightest students in the school and they wrongly accused her.

"I'm here for my grade. Nothing else."

"O-of course. Mlle. Bourgeois, I believe that your mother is a judge, correct?" He turned his attention to the blonde, flinching a little at her stare.

Lila looked around and saw her possy pale considerably at something on the dress when Alya pointed out to them. It was bad enough damian Wayne was here, but now something bout the dress? How she prayed hawkmoth was still active.

The italian felt eyes on her and turned to see the unnamed blonde, staring at right her. "You know, when my brother told me some girl had tried to ruin marigold's life by lying, I thought she would at least be pretty."

"Mlle. Culpa!" Damocles yelled, Lila practically seeing red as Chloe laughed and the lied group stared in horror.

"Can it, Damocles. The girl can Express how she feels, especially if it involves this cheaply dressed model." Everyone turned and saw Chloe's mother-- fashion queen Audrey-- walk up as the sea of students parted like the red sea.

She looked at the dress and inspected it, writing down things on a paper she had. It only took a few more minutes before she turned to Marinette. "Well Mari dear, you surpass my expectations as always. Your grade will be given to your school. Chloe and chloe's rose, I want you both tomorrow with this childs information." And with she walked off, leaving the gaping class.

"Culpa? As in Felix Culpa? Adrian's cousin?" Rose stepped forward, staring excitedly at the couple. "You helped prince Ali with one of his many children's hospital!"

"C-children hosptial?" Lila didn't know that. Especially the fact that Felix Culpa's little sister was apart of it.

"Oh, Lila. I thought you had some little random boy toy to pretend was in love with you. Like my brother, my cousin, Damian-- oh wait, they never talked to you." Ruby glared at the Italian, smiling viciously at her.

Slowly, Alya turned to Lila, seeing her trying to struggle to come up with another lie. "Let's not forget how you've willingly worked with a powered terrorist, and use that to try and murder Jagged Stone's honorary niece."

Gasps were heard when Ruby said that out loud. Everyone could see Lila turn sickly green as she began to back away.

"You lied about everything!" Alya snapped first, followed by everyone else. Marinette just stared, shaking her head before turning and walking out with her friends in tow.

"Its over, angel. Its over." Damian whispers to her, holding her close when they were outside. After years of the torment of Lila, and the threat of Hawkmoth as well, it was all over.

Finally. Paris is safe.

General tags: @the-wlw-cafe @natu123 @mcgrathandwives @imagine-lcorp @baked-bean-bekah @miraculous-of-salt

#the adventures of ruby culpa #draw ruby in your style #ruby culpa #felix culpa #lukagami #luka couffaine #ml kagami #chloe bourgeois #lesbian chloe #chloe x oc #ml marinette #ml fic #ml ladybug #daminette #damin wayne #miraculous au #miraculers #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #ml lila #lila salt #anti lila #lila rossi

[mikauzoran]

Platonic Alyadrien/Adrienette/DJ Wifi: Drunk Ladybug on My Balcony? Yeah. This is Fine.: Chapter Three

Read it on AO3: Drunk Ladybug on My Balcony? Yeah. This is Fine.: Chapter Three: The Mission

Alya turned so that she was kneeling on the seat of the couch, draping herself over the back of it to smile beguilingly at her boyfriend as he moved about the Césaires’ kitchen. “Soooo…”

Nino paused, looking up from the vegetable and hummus plate he was preparing to arch an eyebrow at Alya. “‘So’?”

“You know who this mystery girl who Adrien is in love with is,” Alya asserted matter-of-factly.

Nino frowned in confusion. “Yeah?”

Alya nodded, looking at him expectantly.

The furrows in his brow deepened. “So…what?”

“So, who is she?” Alya sighed in exasperation at his inability to read between the lines and divine her aim.

Nino returned his attention to arranging cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and thin slices of zucchini onto the plate. “Al, I know you’re just trying to be a good friend to Marinette by helping to set her up with Adrien, but the identity of his crush is something he told me in confidence after years of secrecy, and I know it’s not something he’d be okay with me telling people, even you.”

“Oh, come on,” Alya whined, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. “Baaabe.”

Nino shook his head, beginning to clean up the knives he’d used to cut the vegetables and the blender he’d made the hummus in. “Nope. Don’t ‘Babe’ me, Al. My lips are sealed.”

“But it’s really important,” she groaned.

“I love you, Alya, but Adrien trusted me with this,” Nino explained patiently, aware that his girlfriend didn’t always see reason when she was on the scent of a scoop. “Bros don’t tell their bros’ secrets, even to the women they love. I’m sorry.”

“But Ladybug’s kwami gave me a quest to find out who Adrien’s crush is!” Alya protested.

Nino paused in the middle of rinsing the blender to turn and look back at his girlfriend with an odd expression. “Ladybug’s kwami did?”

Alya nodded earnestly. “I told you it was important.”

Nino hummed thoughtfully, weighing this new information. “That’s…very interesting.”

“So, you’ll tell me now?” Alya inquired hopefully.

Nino pursed his lips, considering. “…No,” he decided, turning off the faucet and placing the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “I don’t think I should. Adrien doesn’t want people knowing, and I respect that.”

“Oh, come on,” Alya groaned again, dropping her head to the back of the couch in defeat.

“Sorry, Al,” he chuckled, bringing the hummus and vegetable plate over to the living room area and setting it down on the coffee table so they could snack on it as they watched their superhero movie of the week.

“You suck,” she grumbled, turning around and slumping into the couch cushions.

Nino smirked, sliding in beside her and giving her temple an affectionate smooch. “Insert obligatory sexual innuendo here.”

Alya rolled her eyes, slipping an arm around his shoulders. “Hush. I’m mad at you. Stop being cute.”

“Sorry,” he chuckled, reaching for the remote. “It just happens sometimes.”

 “Sorry I’m late,” Adrien greeted a little breathlessly (as if he had run to get there) as he slid onto the bench seat across from Alya at the on-campus café. “Fencing practice ran a little late, and my father would kill me if I went out in public un-showered afterwards, so…”

“No worries,” Alya assured, pushing the remains of her pain aux raisins across the table to him. “Eat. You must be starving. I’ll go up and get your drink.”

“I love you so much,” Adrien declared with misty eyes as he eagerly scooped up the pastry and took a small, polite bite that did nothing to betray how hungry he actually was because God forbid anyone get a picture of Adrien Agreste scarfing down baked goods.

His father would ground him for bringing dishonor upon the company and for tarnishing the family name.

Alya really hated Gabriel Agreste. That was a large part of the reason why she wanted to get Adrien married off so he could live a happy, peaceful life with Marinette who would smoother him with the love he deserved and not exert control over every aspect of his life.

“I know,” Alya chuckled, getting to her feet and giving her friend a warm smile as she pushed her righteous anger to the back of her mind. “What are you drinking today? Cappuccino? Latte? Mocha?” she tempted.

“Just a cortado, please,” he replied, fishing out his wallet.

Alya rolled her eyes and waved away his money. “What? Watching your weight? I’m getting you a flat white. I’m sure you burned enough calories for a full-sized drink during fencing.”

She turned on her heel and headed for the counter before he could protest.

She returned shortly with the promised drink and a pain au chocolat, grinning as she saw Adrien’s smile expand in delight.

“You are the best person,” he breathed, looking like he was about to cry in gratitude.

“You’re too easy, Agreste,” she chuckled, setting down her purchases and retaking her seat. “So…you and Kagami…”

Adrien quirked an eyebrow, pausing with the coffee cup halfway to his lips. “I just saw her at fencing. What about Kagami and me?”

“Is anything romantic going on between you two? I’m asking for a friend,” she fibbed smoothly without actually lying.

Adrien laughed, setting his cup down as he shook his head. “Kagami and me? No. No way. I mean, I know we kind of had a bit of a will-we-won’t-we thing going on when we first met, but we decided we were better just as friends. She’s like a sister to me now. Besides, Kagami already has a gir—uh—someone she’s seeing,” he quickly corrected, holding his breath and hoping that Alya wouldn’t make out what he had been about to say.

One look at the surprised, open-mouthed expression on her face told him that there was no such luck.

“Kagami has a—”

“—Shhh!” Adrien cut her off, waving his hands as best as he could in the limited space to silence her. “It’s a secret,” he hissed, looking around to see if anyone had heard. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like anyone was paying attention. “Kagami’s mother would flip if she found out, and Chloé and Kagami would never speak to me again, so…please?” he begged frantically.

Alya’s eyes grew even wider. “Chloé?!” she spat incredulously, keeping her voice low. “Kagami and Chloé?”

Adrien buried his face in his hands, groaning in misery. “Somebody put duct tape over my mouth already. I shouldn’t be permitted to speak. Maybe my father is right, and I should just stay quiet and look pretty.”

“I wouldn’t go quite that far,” Alya snorted, reaching across the table to gently peel Adrien’s hands off of his face. She gave them a bolstering squeeze and smiled encouragingly. “Chin up, Sunshine. No one’s going to hear about this from me. Promise.”

“Thank you,” he whimpered meekly, shoulders slumping in exhausted relief for a moment before he collected himself and resumed his perfect posture.

“No worries,” she assured, releasing his hands. “Eat your pastry, you goof.”

“Thanks,” he sighed, happy to comply.

“So…” she led in, taking a sip of her own chai tea latte.

He looked at her and inclined his head slightly to show he was listening.

“Are you involved with anyone romantically right now?” she inquired conversationally.

His gaze dropped to the table between them, and a melancholy air washed over him. “No. I’m not,” he grumbled with a sigh, and Alya got the impression that this was a sore subject.

She should think so, seeing as he had supposedly been in love with the same girl for seven years with no hope in sight.

“You sound kind of wistful,” she noted carefully, wary of pressing the wrong button. “Got someone in mind?”

“Yeah,” he muttered into his flat white. “Fat lot of good it’s doing me.”

“Who is it?” she asked in unfeigned concern. “Anyone I know?”

He shrugged sullenly. “I don’t really want to talk about it, Alya.”

“Okay, but…if you tell me who she is, maybe I can help set you two up,” she offered, feeling a little bad now for calling him out to manipulate him into revealing the identity of his crush under false pretenses.

He shook his head and gave her a tired, forced smile. “Thanks, Alya, but I don’t think anyone can help me. I think maybe I just need to finally give up on her changing her mind about me.”

“Oh,” Alya replied quietly, pensively biting her lip as she contemplating her next move and what would be best for both Marinette and Adrien.

“It’s hard,” he confessed down at his pain au chocolat. “Over the past few years, it’s felt like we’ve grown a lot closer. I know I’m important to her, and she does love me in her own way. It’s just not the same way I love her, but…from time to time, just when I’m about to finally give up for good and try to move on, she’ll do or say something that makes me feel like maybe I do have a chance if I just hang on a little longer. Every time,” he reiterated with a bitter smile, “it’s just enough to keep me going for another six months, another year…but I think I need to call it quits for real this time. It’s been seven years, and nothing’s changed.”

Alya abruptly decided that she did not like this girl Adrien was pining after. She began to think that Tikki had intended for Alya to find out the identity of this girl, track her down, and eliminate her so that Adrien could get over her already and move on to see how wonderful Marinette was, and then they could both live happily ever after.

“Yeah, no,” Alya snorted decisively. “Adrien my cupcake, no offence, but this girl sounds like she’s using you.”

He blinked at her, utterly taken aback. “What? N-No. She’s not. She’s just… She told me from the very start that she was in love with someone else. I’m the one being stupid waiting around for her to get over that guy. I’m the one misinterpreting the things she says and does and letting myself have hope. She’s never once led me on, Alya.”

She shook her head, giving him a pitying look. “Adrien, I know you love her, so you think the world of her, but it sounds to me like she’s playing with you like a yoyo to make herself feel better about the other guy who doesn’t return her feelings.”

He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying and failing to come up with a better argument than, “No. You’re wrong”.

“Hey,” Alya called gently, reaching out and taking his hand in hers. “Maybe I’m completely off base. Maybe I’m dead wrong, and she really is wonderful, and this is all an honest misunderstanding, but you’re my friend, Adrien, and I’m worried about you, okay?”

He swallowed and nodded, not quite trusting his voice yet.

“You’re one of the best people I know, and you deserve to be happy and loved right now, and, from what I’m hearing, it doesn’t sound like this girl is good for you. Maybe it’s totally not her fault, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s hurting you. You with me?” she verified softly, as if she were patiently explaining something to the twins.

He nodded again, resignedly this time. “Yeah. I get what you’re saying…and I think maybe you’re right. Even if La—er…” He froze, searching Alya’s face in a panic to see if he’d given himself away.

She leaned forward eagerly. “Go on. ‘Even if Lay’…what?”

Adrien breathed a sigh of relief, sitting back and pulling his hand gently out of Alya’s. “Even if she doesn’t mean to, she’s hurting me, and it’s not good to keep myself in this never-ending loop. It’s not healthy.”

Alya stuck her lip out in a pout when she realized that she wasn’t going to get more than the first syllable of a name.

“Thanks, Alya,” he continued with the beginnings of an authentic smile. “I really appreciate you looking out for me. It means a lot.”

“Sure thing, Cupcake. Any time,” she promised, letting go of her frustration as she comforted herself with the fact that Adrien was bound to slip up sooner or later. “And I really mean that. Any time you need someone in your corner or someone to talk to, I’m there. You’re more to me than just my future-husband’s best friend, you know? I really do care about you, even if I’m crap at showing it sometimes.”

“Thanks,” he repeated, looking genuinely touched as his eyes turned dewy and a light blush rose on his cheeks. “Seriously. Thank you. I care about you too, Alya. I’d still hang out with you, even if you weren’t my best friend’s soulmate.”

“Bros?” Alya held up her fist, offering it to him.

“Bros,” he affirmed, lightly bumping his fist to hers.

At the contact, they both pulled back, making cartoonish explosion sounds as their hands opened, fingers spread wide.

They then promptly broke out in giggles.

“So,” Adrien remarked timidly once they’d both settled down. “Concerning moving on and getting over my unrequited love…”

Alya arched an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“How exactly does one accomplish that?” he inquired sheepishly, hand going up to rub at the back of his neck. “Any advice you could give would be seriously appreciated.”

Alya grinned like a fox at this unexpected perfect segue. “I am glad you asked. Typically, the best way to get over someone who’s not healthy for you is to date around and find someone who is.”

Adrien pursed his lips, not so sure about this advice. “I don’t know, Alya. I kind of tried that with Kagami, and it was sort of disastrous.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, “but you and Kagami didn’t work out, and you never really tried again after that, did you? I mean, I’ve never seen you in a relationship…unless you’ve been really discreet, and I just missed it?” She tipped her head to the side in question.

He looked back down at his plate, picking up the pain au chocolat and muttering, “No, my love life just really is nonexistent,” into it.

Alya hummed, not impressed. “Okay. So, you tried moving on once, and it didn’t work out, so you gave up. Well, you’re older and wiser now, so maybe twenty-year-old Adrien will have better luck with this than fourteen-year-old Adrien.”

“I doubt it,” Adrien grumbled ruefully around a mouthful of pastry.

“How about we suspend our misgivings for a sec and just try it?” she suggested. “You want to be in a loving, healthy, uplifting relationship, don’t you?”

“Yes,” he sulked, unable to get past his doubts.

“Have you ever considered dating Marinette?” Alya smoothly put it out there.

Adrien nearly choked. “Marinette?” he repeated incredulously, eyes going comically wide. “As in Marinette Dupain-Cheng?”

Alya frowned, irked by this response. “Yeah.”

“Marinette and me?” he laughed at the very idea, and Alya started to think that maybe Adrien Agreste was unworthy of her best friend until he continued, “Alya, Marinette is, like, lightyears out of my league. If I asked her on a date, she’d laugh at me because she’d think it was a joke, and then she’d feel really bad when she realized I was in earnest because Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a serious contender for best human being ever.”

Internally, Alya smiled because that was exactly the right answer, and she was going to see these two married and happy if it killed her.

“Like, what would she even see in me, Alya?” Adrien sighed, taking a disheartened sip of his gradually cooling flat white. “Marinette’s so cool and funny and clever and compassionate and creative and…I mean, not to even mention how gorgeous she is…”

He sighed again, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t stand a chance with her.”

“Why not?” Alya prompted, very satisfied with the information she had collected. “You’re rich. You’re smart. You’re literally a model.”

“Marinette doesn’t care about superficial stuff like that,” he snorted, waving away her counterarguments. “I mean, me being smart is a plus, but it’s just book smarts. I have very little practical knowledge like how to pay bills or cook or clean a house. I’m a huge dork, I’m clingy and needy and emotional and—”

“—Who the hell told you that rot?” Alya growled, cutting him off.

Adrien blinked at her, surprised. “I mean…I don’t think anyone ever told me that exactly, but…I guess those are the things Father complains about most, so…” He shrugged helplessly. “…I don’t think Marinette would really go for someone like me, Alya.”

Alya clicked her tongue, giving her head an indignant shake. “Adrien, you are seriously one of the sweetest, best people I’ve ever met. Like, seriously. You’re always so optimistic and happy and kind, even when the world gives you crap. You’re a genuinely good person, and there’s a lot about you that anyone with half a braincell could love. You need to ditch this negative self-image you’ve got because, I’m telling you, it’s bull.”

“…You really think so?” he asked hopefully, wanting to believe it.

She gave an indignant snort. “Boy, I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think so. When have you ever known me not to speak my mind?”

“Never,” he chuckled, mood brightening.

“Exactly,” she harrumphed. “So, when I tell you that you’re amazing, you know I mean it, and you know I’m right because I’m always right, right? Don’t you dare disagree with me, Agreste.”

He broke out in a full-on laugh at that, nodding as a wide, shining smile stretched across his lips. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Good.” She couldn’t keep a straight face any longer, and a broad grin twisted up the corners of her mouth as well. “In all seriousness, Adrien, you should think about asking Marinette out. She adores you, and you obviously have quite the hefty crush on her as well, judging by how you were so easily able to wax poetic about how awesome she is earlier. You should give it a chance. She’d be good for you.”

He dropped his gaze back down to the table, his smile dimming as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I don’t know, Alya. I mean…I do like her. I could see myself maybe able to fall for her, but my feelings for the other girl have been so strong for so long, they’ve kind of gotten in the way. I don’t want to mess things up with Marinette. I admire her so much, and she’s one of the best friends I have. I seriously screwed up with Kagami and almost lost her friendship forever, and I don’t want to take that risk with Marinette. She’s too important to me.”

Alya bit the inside of her cheek, simultaneously fighting the urge to crack her skull open on the table because this was too dumb and, at the same time, swooning because the boy was painfully sweet and romantic. She could see what her best friend found so attractive.

“Besides,” he went on as an afterthought, “she doesn’t think of me that way. She’s told me several times. She was just a really big fan of my father’s work when we were younger, and she just thinks of me as a friend, so…”

Alya almost stormed out of the café to go find and shake Marinette. “She told you that?”

Adrien nodded. “Yeah. I mean, there were a couple times when I started to get the wrong idea, and, when I asked her about it, she told me, so I know she doesn’t have feelings for me like that.”

Alya pursed her lips. “Well. Maybe if you turn up the charm and flirt with her a little to let her know you’re interested, she’ll change her mind.”

Adrien blinked. “But…I already flirt with her. You know. For fun. Like what I do with Nino. Well,” he backtracked, “not as explicitly as Nino and I flirt, but…”

“Flirt harder,” Alya demanded, almost losing her cool as she realized the futility of her seven years of work trying to get those two idiots to kiss already.

Adrien didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know, Alya. Like I said, I’m not sure I want to risk my friendship with Marinette over this.”

“Think about it, okay?” she stressed, reluctantly accepting that it was mostly out of her hands.

All she could do was keep encouraging Adrien to make a move because trying to get Marinette to confess her feelings hadn’t worked so far, and Alya doubted that it would even make a difference if she told Marinette what Adrien said about how much he admired her and thought he might be able to fall for her. Marinette probably wouldn’t believe her, and Alya knew that, brave as her friend was, she didn’t have the courage to be honest about her feelings with Adrien. If Adrienette was going to happen, Adrien would need to make the first move.

“Marinette’s response might surprise you,” she encouraged. “You don’t have to confess undying love or ask her to marry you or even commit to being her boyfriend. Just think about asking her on a date. Super chill. No pressure. Just. One. Date. Okay?”

“…Okay,” he hesitantly agreed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good.” She blew out a long breath, exhaling the stress. “Now. Moving on to things of vital importance. Are you coming over for movie night on Friday, or has your father plotted against us yet again?”

Adrien burst out laughing at her deathly serious facial expression and tone of voice. “Oh, I will absolutely be there, even if I have to sneak out.”

“Good. I love him dearly, but Nino has crap taste in foreign films,” Alya snickered. “You bring the movie; I’ll supply the snacks.”

“Epic,” Adrien chuckled, shooting Alya a conspiratorial wink. “Have you ever seen Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak?”

#Alyadrien #Platonic Alyadrien #Adrinette #Adrienette #Ladrien #Miraculous Ladybug #Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction #Alya Césaire #Adrien Agreste #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Nino Lahiffe #Friendship #Fluff #Pep Talk #Alya Schemes #Mikau's Writings #Drunk Ladybug on My Balcony? Yeah. This is Fine.

[krispydefendorpolice]

Miraculous Future (2)

After the Picnic/Saturday afternoon

KDP> I’ve updated story tags, so please check those before you read.

Previous Next Masterpost

***********************************************

Marinette and Adrian managed to work together to get all the kids, Chloe, Kagami, Nino, Nathaniel and Alix into the two large cars Alfred and Jason had driven.

“Alfred, do you know if there will be baby necessities where we’re going,” Marinette asked as she made sure the kids were settled into seats. There was no car seats for a toddler in either of the cars.

“We do not have anything for older babies,” Alfred sighed.

“Hold him,” Marinette said passing the toddler to Jon, “keep getting everyone organized.”

After giving directions she ran through the park and across the street to her parents bakery. She ran right past her mother who was helping a customer and up to the apartment above the bakery. In her room she found the diaper bag she was making for Bruce and Selina’s new baby and packed it with a few of the diapers, wipes and other items she kept at her place from when she babysat the kids of her parents friends.

“Marinette what is going on? Mr. Wayne called and said something about an incident and children?” Sabine asked as Marinette made it downstairs.

“Somehow children from the future are coming into the present.” Marinette made a face, “including six that are calling me mom.”

“Six!?” Sabine exclaimed.

Marinette shrugged, “We’re working out what happened and hopefully we can send the kids back to their times. Since classes are over after today, can I stay with Mr. Wayne and the others until this is resolved.”

“I think they’ll need the help,” she said holding up the diaper bag she carried as proof.

“Mr. Wayne has already suggested having you and your friends come help with the children if you’re willing.”

“I’m willing,” Marinette immediately said.

Sabine smiled, “he offered to pay for your father and me to go with you but with the orders we have to finish this weekend...” she trailed off.

“It’s okay Maman. It’s the end of spring and the wedding business is booming.” Marinette shrugged as if it didn’t bother her.

“Thank you Maman,” she said kissing her mothers cheek before running back to the waiting cars.

“Thank you for waiting Alfred,” she said as she slid into the car. She accepted the baby and did her best to hold the boy in her arms as safely as possible for the short drive to the hotel.

“I hope we can get you guys back home soon,” she said a little worried about what they would have to do to keep them safe if that wasn’t the case.

“It’ll work out somehow Bug,” Adrian said and smiled at the twins snuggled into either side of him.

———————————————

When they arrived at the building that held the French branch of Wayne Industries, Marinette was less than surprised. Even the men waiting for them at the curb didn’t surprise her.

Damian opened the door closest to Marinette and the children upon seeing him and Luka started calling out greetings for their ‘Papa Luka’ and ‘Baba’. Like when he saw Marinette the toddler practically leaped into Damian’s arms. Marinette, not expecting it, nearly dropped him but Damian caught him and shifted the baby into his arms. The baby, once settled, just babbled at Damian and patted his hands on Damian’s cheeks.

Marinette had to stifle a laugh at Damian’s deer in the headlights look and quietly snuck a picture using her phone camera. Dick and Tim helped Nino, Nathaniel, Alix, their future kids and the future teens out of the second car before both groups were being shepherded into the building. Bruce Wayne himself met them inside and escorted them further into the building.

“Thank you for coming,” He was saying to the group. “For whatever reason this phenomenon is occurring across the globe the heroes affiliated with the Justice League are escorting the children to local access points where we can transfer the children to a safe place they can be protected while they get to the bottom of this. We were told the Batman would be escorting your children himself from this point.”

The door Bruce led them to opened to a conference room where he ushered them inside. “You can wait in here until he arrives.”

“Thank you dude, I mean, sir,” Nino said before walking into the room with his three kids from the future.

“Thank you,” Alix echoed before entering with her boys and Nathaniel and his girl saying thanks in passing.

Once everyone was seated around the table he said, “Considering that these children are from the future, members of the League will be asking you for information to help identify possible causes that led to the children being displaced. Since they are technically underage, we would need parental consent to speak with them. But given the unique circumstances we need to know if you would qualify as an adult that could give us that consent?” He asked looking at the teens in the room.

Nino, Nathaniel and Alix nodded. They had all had their 18th birthdays during the school year. Marinette’s birthday was last month as well, however having skipped a grade when she was younger she was only 17 years old.

“I’m not,” she said.

Bruce nodded. “I did speak with your mother and she said they would support any decisions you made. Additionally your future children will have a second parent involved and we’ll need to identify who that is, if we’re to have all the information available to us to help solve the mystery they present to us.”

“We could probably tell you all that,” the male teen, McGinnis the girl had called him, offered to them. “Marinette, future Marinette that is, had all the kids tested to identify the bio dad because they would have unique family medical histories depending on who they are.”

“Very well,” Bruce acknowledged, “but the testing will still need to be done to verify and to be put in the records.”

“Okay,” Marinette agreed.

“Let’s begin from oldest to youngest. Can you give us your names and ages. Then the names of parents,” Bruce said and looked at the two teens.

“Oldest would be me,” the boy said, “I’m Terry McGinnis, 17 years old. My mom and dad are Warren and Mary McGinnis. There’s more to process with my genetic information but that’s something I’d prefer to go over later B-Man.” He finished with a significant look at Bruce.

Bruce nodded before turning to the girl.

“Helena Wayne, 15 years old, daughter of Bruce Wayne and his wife Selina Kyle. Hiya dad,” she finished with an impish grin at the shocked man.

“Let’s get the rest of you done in batches,” Dick tried to pick up where Bruce had stopped in his shock. He looked at the kids with Nino.

“Dahlia Lahiffe, 13 years old, my mom and dad are Alya Cesaire and Nino Lahiffe. My sisters are Lacy and Julie Lahiffe, 7 years old, their parents are Stacey and Nino Lahiffe.”

“I break up with Alya?” Nino asked.

“Mr. Lahiffe, it’s difficult to say what the future holds. Even with these children here in front of us, it’s possible that their very presence has changed our futures and what happened to result in their world may not happen in ours,” Bruce finally pulled himself out of his shock and addressed Nino’s question. “The best thing we can do is to live our lives the best we can.”

Nino nodded before attention turned to Nathanial who in turn looked at his little girl.

“Mary Kurzberg. I’m 4,” she said holding up five fingers. “This is my daddy,” She added hugging Nathaniel. “I don’t know where my papa is.”

“Is this him,” Nathaniel asked showing her a picture on his phone.

“Papa!!” The little girl exclaimed holding his phone and hugging it.

“It’s a picture of my boyfriend, Marc Anciel,” He told them. “He hadn’t shown up to the picnic yet when the kids appeared. I can text him to meet us here.”

“Please.” Bruce said.

“I guess that leaves you munchkins,” Alix said looking at the boys with her.

“I’m Rolland Kubdel. I’m eight years old,” one said.

“I’m Theo Kubdel and I’m six years old,” the younger one interrupted.

“I’m talking poop head,��� the older boy said hitting his younger brother on the arm.

“Ow,” the younger yelled, “mama Rolland hit me.”

“Stop it. Didn’t we go over this in the car downstairs,” Alix asked, “no hitting each other.”

“And your parents,” Bruce asked getting the kids back on track.

“William and Alix Gavroche,” the older finished.

“Okay, that leaves you and your group, Marinette.” Bruce turned attention to their group.

Marinette blushed because she had some suspicions based on how the kids interacted with their future adults what their responses would be but listened as the oldest girl interrupted.

“You should do Sakura first. It’s only her and her mom’s. We have a lot more in our family.”

The adults agreed and turned to the little girl.

“My names Sakura Bourgeois-Tsurugi. I’m six years old and my mothers are Chloe Bourgeois-Tsurugi and Kagami Tsurugi-Bourgeois.” She frowned thoughtfully at her mom, “I don’t know who my dad is.”

“You’ll want to test me just in case,” Adrian said, “but I don’t think it would have been kept from her if I was the donor.”

Chloe nodded in acknowledgement of his words but didn’t add anything.

“We haven’t ever heard anything about her dad,” Terry said, “just that Kagami and Chloe are her moms and that Chloe was the one that was pregnant.”

“And we’ve spent three weeks every year during the summer holidays at their madhouse since I was seven,” Helena added. “That was a fun year too, since both Marinette and Chloe were pregnant.”

“We’ll test just in case but we’ll rely on the two of you to make decisions based on the information we have,” Bruce made a note in the file he created for the girl.

“I’m Emilie Kent. Ten years old, and the eldest of Marinette Dupain-Cheng-Couffaine-Wayne and Adrian Kent.”

Adrian was pleasantly surprised at the information that this was his daughter by blood and that he and Jon would be married in the future. Jon looked confused by her introduction though he was a bit happy about Adrian marrying him too.

“I’m Thomas Couffaine-Wayne. I’m the 8 year old son of Damian, Luka and Marinette.” The boy said with a stubborn cross of his arms.

“Damian’s his bio dad but he’s always been pretty stubborn about the fact that he has two dad’s,” Terry said.

“Shut it, McGinnis,” Thomas turned on the older boy.

“Make me, kitten,” Terry said tauntingly to the smaller boy.

Marinette pushed the small boy back into his chair when he growled and stood up. She didn’t feel like separating them if they did actually get into a fight like she’d seen Damian and Jason do on occasion.

“I’m Emma Couffaine-Wayne,” one of the twin girls said next.

“And I’m Jane Couffaine-Wayne,” the other girls said.

“And we’re 6 years old,” they finished together.

When they didn’t say anything else the adults looked at Terry and Helena.

“Luka and Marinette,” Helena answered.

“I’m Guy, and I’m five years old. Mama is my mama and Baba, Dad, Papa Adrian and Papa Luka are my dads.”

“Guillaume Kent. Jon and Marinette,” Terry inserted before the adults could ask.

“And last is little Louis Couffaine-Wayne, he turned two a month ago and he’s biologically Luka and Marinette’s,” Helena answered for the baby who was really too young to say much of anything understandable.

Bruce finished the last of the notes before putting the paperwork aside.

“The next steps are going to depend on what you agree to,” he started. “The League are going to need to see the kids to do their tests and to ask additional questions but that will be in the smaller familial groupings and will take a day to get through all the children that have arrived here in the present.

“They are setting up quarters for the future children to stay in while they are in the current time. Whether you stay with them or just arrange to visit them while they are here is up to you. It is inadvisable for them to go to your current homes because of the circumstances of their presence here in their past present to them.

“If something should happen then most medical personnel would not believe that you have the rights to approve treatments. Additionally if any currently active villain somehow got ahold of them they would again be in distress as because they theoretically do not exist yet.

“Yes they are here. We can see them and talk to them, but legally, they are non-entities and we can’t change that.”

“What are you recommending sir,” Nino asked.

“The League wants to take responsibility for the children while they are here to protect them. There are a few secure locations that the children can stay at and visitation can be arranged or if you prefer it can be arranged for you to stay with them.”

“I think I’ll stay with them sir,” Nino said and looked at his oldest girl. She smiled at him which he returned.

“Me too, but could Marc stay as well,” Nathaniel asked.

Bruce nodded. “If he wishes to of course.”

“I’ll stay as well,” Alix sighed with an exasperated smile. “Someone is going to need to keep these two from killing each other,” she said as she broke up yet another silent fight between the boys.

Chloe and Kagami were quietly conversing with Sakura so attention turned to Marinette, Luka, Damian, Adrian and Jon.

Damian was quick to insert, “Couldn’t we arrange for this group to stay with us at the manor father? It’s as safe as any of the houses that the League has available and I think they’d be more comfortable in familiar quarters.”

Several ‘Please grandpa’s’ followed his suggestion from the kids before he added, “And I think Ms. Bourgeois, Ms Tsurugi and their daughter might be more comfortable there as well.” When little Sakura had started pleading to grandpa right along with the Bugs.

“We’ll speak with the League and if Marinette and the others agree, I won’t mind hosting them,” Bruce answered to the children’s cheers.

********************************************

@a-marlene-s @eve-valution @multifandomscribette @mochinek0 @zebrabaker @northernbluetongue @bluerosette23 @thepeacetea @vivilakitty @actualaster @galahadwilder @del-phin @sassydepression @mindfulmagics @bee-wrecker @bloody-no-kissu @yokizu @niza13149 @dragonflyswing @echpr @kris-pines04 @daminett4life @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen @iglowinggemma28 @corabeth11 @chocolate1721 @drarryismylife101 @blackrosee3 @serphichana (couldn’t find a blog to tag) @zalladane @missadorable96 @jardimazul @kristycocopop (couldn’t find a blog to tag) @silvergold-swirl @loysydark @lirulua @fandom-trapped-03 @that-feeling-wyn @loveswifi @whatsupwithjinx @magicalfirebird @lntimancy @dagnysdawn @abrx2002 @darknightchan @queen-annaira @indecisive-mess-named-me

And for everyone that has sent me an ask with a question or comment on something they liked for my other fic: YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!!! because you got me back into writing.

@g-arya @fertileleaf @mystery-5-5 @ravennightingaleandavatempus @maya-custodios-dionach

I’m pretty sure the tag list is closed, the last time I tried editing mobile shut down on me.

#miraculous future au #daminette #marinette x damian #Kids from the future AU #class salt #lila salt #salty read #dead dove don’t eat #lukanette #marinette x luka #adrian x jon #chlogami #chloe x kagami #polyamory #poly relationship

[thebookwormfairy]

Captain the Retired Police Dog Part 4

Back by popular demand here's Part 4. I just want to thank everybody for reading this. Also Shout out to all the Mummy fans and Maribat discord users thank y'all for hyping me up!

The next morning Damain met Marinette and Captain bright and early 

He was determined to make this day one of the best in Marinette’s life

He was so excited that he didn’t notice his brothers’ strange facsination with his plans

Jason:  So what’s your plan for today? How are you going to top last night’s  movie marthon?

Damain: Not that it’s any of your business, but Marinette, Captain, and I are going to the park where she met me as Damain, then the botanical gardens, and then we’re going to explore the city some more.

Dick:  Not bringing Titus with you this time, Baby Bird?

Damain:  He’s still exsahuted from the late night last night.

Bruce *drinking coffee*:  You should bring Ace with you then.  She needs a day out.

Ace who’s been sitting at Bruce’s feet shot her head up to look at him

Like she really wanted to be stuck with two love stuck teenagers and Titus’ friend

Damain:  Not a bad idea father.  Come on girl let’s head out

Ace just rolled her eyes but went with Damain either way 

 At worst she’ll get some exercise and out of the manor

At best she’ll make a new friend

Once Damain and Ace were out of the house and the other Wayne boys got to work

Dick: Alright men we can do this, all we have to do is decide when to ambush the happy couple.

Jason: I say we do it right when Demon Spawn picks up his Angel

Tim: No too dangerous.  He’ll spot us before she even gets out of her hotel

Dick: What about after the botanical gardens?  We can trail them from a distance until they get in the building then all we have to do is wait outside until they come out.

Jason: GENIUS! And there’s no way for him to avoid us.  

Alfred:  Don’t you have jobs to do

Dick:  We’re pulling a Bruce

Bruce glared at his 3 boys unamused 

Bruce: Just make sure to get plenty of pictures

Jason *saluting*:  Will do

With that the 3 adopted Waynes ran out to inact their plan

Alfred:  Are you sure this is wise sir?

Bruce: If they don’t push Damain we may never meet Marinette

In the hotel Marinette was getting ready for her date with Damain

Tikki: Don’t over think it too much Marinette, Damain really likes you I can tell.

Marinette:  I know Tikki, but I can’t help but be nervous.  What if I do something wrong and he never wants to see me again?

Tikki:  That’s just Lila getting into your head don’t let her.  You are one of the greatest ladybugs I have the priviledge of working with.  Anybody would be lucky to have you as a friend or a romantic partner

Marinette: Thanks Tikki. Your right like always.

Marinette head her phone ding with a notification

Marinette: It's Damian he's waiting for us in the lobby let's go Captain

Down in the lobby Damian was getting a taste of Lila

Lila was holding trying to get a hold of Damian's arm, but Ace was doing a good job at keeping the annoying girl at a distance

Lila: Oh what a beautiful dog. You know I do a lot of volunteer work in animal shelters with Damian Wayne. You know Dami's such an animal lover

Alya: Oh really Lila that's so giving of you.

Damian: You know Damian Wayne?

Lila: I know not many people know. But you probably think the worst of me thanks to Marinette. She's so cruel to me for no reason

Lila started to pretend cry making Alya and the rest of her sheep flock to comfort the "distressed" girl

Damian was in disbelief about how gullible Marinette's class seemed to be.

He was a little relieved to see that some of the class didn't see it buy it.

A blonde girl, pink hair girl, and Asian boy stood at a distance and just rolled their eyes

Chloe, Alix, and Kim have been disillusioned to Lila's lies

Chloe new from the very beginning just didn't see a reason to say anything

Alix and Kim found out over time, they felt like it was too late to do anything and feared ending up like Marinette

So they are biding their time waiting for the best time to exposed Lila

Damian was happy that they didn't fall for this girl's lies, but not so happy that they didn't speak up

Lila tried once again to grab onto Damian's arm, but Ace being the good girl she is growled a little at Lila who once again jumped back

Damian: Sorry about that Ace isn't good with sudden movements. As for Marinette she actually hasn't mentioned you. The only she she told me about anybody in her class was that she was here with them. She does speak a lot about her friends Luka and Kagami though

Lila was surprised she was sure she could use Marinette's whining against her

Lila: Oh how rude of Marinette-

Damian: Actually I don't see anything rude about not mentioning somebody who clearly wants to but her down.

At this point Marinette and Captain walked into the Lobby

Damian: Hey Angel

Damian pulled Marinette into a side hug and giving her a kiss to the side of her head being careful to keep the two dogs at a distance for now

Marinette *giggling*: Hey Damian. Who's this

Marinette looked down at the German Sheperd connected to Damian

Damian: This is Ace. Titus was still tired from last night and I didn't want Captain to get lonely and she could use a day out

Marinette: Well hello Ace

Marinette bent down slightly and let Ace sniff her hand

Ace gave her hand a little sniff, she decided to let the girl give her a pet

Not to mention Ace could sense that she was a lot better then that sausage hair girl

Marinette gave Ace a nice little head rub

Marinette: Well aren't you a pretty girl

Lila seethed in her place she tried to get that stupid dog to let her pet it 10 times, and Marinette just has to let it sniff her hand and it'll let her touch it

Damian: Come on Marinette I got a big day planned for us

Damian wrapped his arm around Marinette shoulder leading Marinette and their dogs out of the hotel, but he stopped right before the door

Damian: And Lila maybe you should make sure you know what a person looks like before you lie about them. I would suggest you look up what Damian Wayne looks like.

With that Damian, Marinette, and the 2 dogs left the hotel

Alix intrigued by Marinette's mysterious boys comment looked up Damian Wayne and burst out laughing

The others in the lobby looked at the pink hair girl in confusion

Alix: No wonder he warned you about looking people up.

Alix showed the picture on her phone to her classmates

Kim: Omg he was Damian Wayne!

Lila faced grew red and quickly tried to cover her tracks

Lila: Oh I must have gotten him confused with someone else. Haha you know I meet with soo many people

Lila's sheep laughed with her, but Lila could sense that she lost a little bit of her hold on them with that slip up

At the park

Marinette: You didn't have to do that Damian?

Damian: And why wouldn't I Angel. She tried to threaten you and she was stupid enough to try and use me to impress ME she deserved to be called out a bit.

Marinette and Damian kept talking while Captain and Ace got to know eachother

Captain had to admit he was a bit smittened by this German sheperd

She looked gorgeous and had a good head on her shoulders

But most importantly he could tell she loved her humans just as much as he loved his

Ace: So you really us to be a police dog?

Captain trying to impress Ace: Yep and I still remember all my training. My girl and I run through courses on the weekends to keep it up, but enough about me tell me about you.

Ace in a bit of a flirty tone: Well I don't mean to brag, but me and my humans go through a lot of training too. I actually have a couple of humans. Though inhave to admit my favorite one is the leader of the pack. He's called Alfred. I didn't have the best puppy hood. Alfred's pup, Bruce, found me and helped other people take me to a shelter. Alfresco came a couple of days later and picked me up. He helped me overcome my past and convinced Bruce to keep me. Now I have a pretty cushy life.

Captain: I can relate to that.

Marinette watched as her big tough retired police dog cuddle with Ace. She could already tell her boy was starting to fall for Ace.

Captain laid his head over Ace's and Marinette couldn't help but aww

Damian wrapping his arm around Marinette as they sit under a tree: What's on your mind Mari?

Marinette: It seems like Captain had fallen for Ace

Damian: I'd have to agree with that and it looks to me like the feelings mutual

The two couples stayed in the park for 2 hours alternating playing and cuddling

Damian: You're going to love this next stop Angel

Marinette: Where are we going?

Damian: You'll see when we get there. Don't you trust me?

Marinette with a small smile: Yes

Once they got to the botanical gardens Marinette loved it!

All the flowers and planets gave her plenty of inspiration and Damian let her stop and draw as much as she wanted without getting impatient or annoyed

He even commented and gave feed back and suggestions to some of Marinette's designs

Damian was just enjoying watching Marinette's face throughout the whole experience.

Her face was so open and showed every emotion that she felt and Damian just couldn't turn away

The dogs also had a great time getting to see new sights and smells.

But in Damian's opinion all that was ruined when they walked outside and saw his brothers

Jason: Hey Demon Spawn

Bonus

Dick: Omg they're both cuddling hurry get a pictur!!!

Jason watching Damianwalk out with his arm around Marinette: Damn I didn't know demon spaw could be so smooth. Hurry get a picture

Tim: Look at them playing with the dogs! Hurry get a picture

Both Dick and Jason gave him a weird look

Tim: Oh right I'm holding the camera.

Okay I can feel y'alls annoyance with the cliffhanger, sorry.

Tags

@felicityroth @northernbluetongue

#Captain the Retired police dog #damain wayne au #damian x marinette #daminette #maribat #pet headcanon

[hateswifi]

Rising from the Ashes: Of Second Meetings and Mysteries

So this is Part Six here is to my Master List and Part Five.

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

Marinette got up, went to work. Everything was normal a couple more customers than yesterday. Diana closed early because she was going to see family today she closed at three o’clock. After work, she headed home and ate a small snack before the driver arrived. She got into the car quietly and quickly

“Hello, Miss Marinette. I am Wayne’s butler and friend, Alfred Pennyworth,” Alfred said from the front.

“Hi, Monsieur Pennyworth. Thank you for the ride,” Marinette responded with a smile.

“It is no problem and please call me Alfred. That’s what the rest of the boys call me. Speaking of the boys, they're excited to see you again,” he said. Now ten minutes later they pull into a house, well not exactly a house but more like a mansion. The mansion was big, dark, and ominous. “Welcome to Wayne Manor, Miss Marinette. Please make yourself at home for the time you’re staying.”

“Thank you, Monsieur Alfred,” Marinette says, following him into the house. “Would you be able to show me where the last boy is? I’m sorry I was never told his name.”

“The young Master is this way, please follow,” Alfred said, walking down a long hallway. “Last time I saw all the boys were in the parlor. They were playing Ultimate Mega Strike Four. Have you heard of it?”

“I love that game! I grew up playing Ultimate Mega Strike Three. I also won the competition that my school participated in,” Marinette said, happily.

“Well they’re right in here,” Alred said, opening the door. “Boys, Miss Marinette is here. Damian, are you ready for your fitting?”

“Damian?” Marinette asks, looking closer at the boys. She realized it was her mystery first friend. She blushes remembering her conversation with Dick, Jason, and Todd. “You guys were with more for more than an hour yesterday and did it not cross your mind to tell me that he is your brother?”

“Nope. Did you say, Damian? Ohhhh… you mean Demon Spawn,” Jason smirked, wrapping an arm around Damian's shoulders.

“Marinette? You’re doing my measurements?” Damian asked shrugging off Jason’s arm.

“Diana asked me to come over after work, she’s visiting her family,” Marinette smiles. “You ready for me to take your measurements?”

“I’m sure he wants to give you more than just his measurements,” Dick laughs, Marinette blushes as Damian slaps him. “I meant your number, get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Come on we’ll go to my room,” Damian said, grabbing her arm. He leads her to his room, which is quite spacious. He stands in front of his floor length mirror. 

“You know Dick was right about one thing,” Marinette said, measure his shoulder blades lightly touching his back.

“What… what is that, Angel?” Damian asked, turning his head towards the small girl.

“Angel?” Marinette squeaks, surprised by his nickname for her. 

“Sadly, an angel without wings, but even after you got tackled by Titus you tried to pay for my meal,” he turned to look at her then leaned in a whispered. “Plus my brothers told me what you said about me.”

Marinette backs up flustered. “Well, you are incredibly nice, caring, and extremely handsome.” She says, wrapping the measuring tape around his chest to measure it, but was closer than she needed to be.

“Well what I wanted to give you the day we had breakfast was my number, but you ran off before I could give it to you,” she said, measuring his arm. 

“I wanted to give you my number as well but Dick called me to remind me about a meeting,” he said, smiling. “Angel, I was disappointed when I left you. Dick suggested to do a modern Cinderella, but I was embarrassed, especially after what Jason posted.”

“What did Jason post?” Marinette asked, backing up so she could see his whole face. 

“You didn’t see the picture? Oh right, you probably haven’t gotten into Gotham news yet,” Damian said. “He posted a picture of me holding a door open for you.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Marinette asked, crossing her arms. 

“Well I’m famous because of my father and I’m seen as the ‘Ice Prince’ of Gotham because I’m cold to most people,” Damian explained. 

“That’s what the guy at the grocery store meant,” Marinette realized. “I finished measuring you. I guess I should be going.” 

“I overheard what you told Alfred in the hall, do you want to play Ultimate Mecha Strike and maybe stay for dinner? Umm… my brothers like having you around as do I,” Damian offered, grabbing one of her petite hands.

“That would be wonderful by the way can I see your phone before I forget?” Marinette asks. He gives her his phone, she types her number in once she hands it back he names her contact Angel. She gives him her phone so she can put his number in. 

They walk out and join the rest of the boys, when they got there Dick was facing off against Tim. After a few minutes, Tim’s character died and Dick celebrates. 

“Ok Dick, I’m going to beat you, but don’t be salty when you lose,” Marinette said, taking Tim’s controller then sits down next to Damian. 

“Sunshine not gonna lie, I feel like I’m being threatened by a cupcake because those are some bold words coming from such a small person,” Dick says, nonchalantly. 

She doesn’t respond, but once the game starts she knows that Dick realizes he’s about to eat his words. She’s better at the game than the boys thought she would be. After losing three times to Marinette, he grumbles at the loss and crosses his arms while sitting down on the couch, he was being overdramatic. The rest of the boys laugh at Dick’s antics.  

“Damian, where’d you find your girlfriend?” Tim asks, shocked that someone had beaten Dick the master of games. 

“First off, she’s not my girlfriend. Secondly, she’s from Paris,” Damian smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. 

“Sure, you’re not dating at all,” Jason sarcastically replied with a snigger and an eye-roll. 

Marinette’s phone ringing interrupted Damian before he could respond. She smiles widely; Adrien was video calling her. “Do you guys mind?” Marinette asks. 

“Nope, not a problem. You can answer it right here if you want,” Jason said. 

“Cool thanks guy,” Marinette smiles, brightly. 

“Buginette! You promised to call!” Adrien exclaimed,  putting his face super close to the camera. 

“I had work today and yesterday. Plus you had school and countless other activities Gabriel has you doing,” Marinette justifies her actions. 

“Mar calm down I’m messing,” Adrien laughs but stops hearing the game. “Are you playing Ultimate Mecha Strike without me!? Mewouch Buginette you wound me.”

“Calm down I was just kicking Dick’s butt,” Marinette laughs. 

“This literally ray of sunshine killed me three times,” Dick cries, pushing his way into the frame. 

“So this is one of my best friends and part of my family, his name is Adrien Agreste. This is Dick Grayson,” Marinette introduces. 

“Take care of my Buginette,” Adrien says with a wave. 

“I’ll take care of the literal sunshine that stumbled into all of our lives,” Dick smiles back as Tim and Jason come up behind the couch. Marinette moves her hand back so everyone, including Damian, is in the frame. 

“Oh my gosh! Bug is that the boy you told Chloe about!” Adrien screamed, trying to point towards Damian, who still has his arm wrapped around her. Tim and Jason sat back down and Dick moved back to play more games. 

“Chaton! Aren’t you and Kagami supposed to be at a match it is Thursday night,” Marinette asks, looking at the time: five. 

“Bug, it’s already eleven here,” Adrien yawns falling onto his bed. 

“That’s why I’m so tired,” Marinette yawns also. 

“You should come home soon,” Adrien complains. 

“I haven’t even been gone a week and while I’m there I don’t want to be someone I’m not,” Marinette sighs. “I’ll probably be back for Chinese New Year though to honor my parents. I’ll let you know when I have a plan.”

“Night Mar, just know Paris isn’t as bright with you not here,” Adrien says, sadly. “Luka misses you too. Chloe was angry, but it’s because she’s just dealing with it differently.”

“I understand bye Adrien love you. Hug everyone for me,” Marinette waves. 

“Byeee!” He finishes as he hangs up. 

Marinette puts her head on Damian’s shoulder. 

“It’s good that you have supportive friends,” Damian states. 

“Ya, I miss them a lot. Chloe got angry last night and hung up on me because she doesn’t deal with her sadness by getting angry almost like a self-defense mechanism. Luka is a mellow person, but I haven’t talked to him since Monday. Kagami is lovably awkward. I think she shuts down a bit with grief,” Marinette explains. She then stands up while saying. “I think I’m going to head to my apart because in Paris, as Adrien said, it’s quite late. Luckily for me, Diana is going into work later than normal because she returning from her family.”

“Can I show you the way out?” Damian asks, standing as well.

“That would be lovely,” Marinette said then turned to look at the rest of the boys as she left. “Bye guys it was nice seeing you again.”

“Wait, are you having someone drive you home?” Damian asks, catching her hand before she could walk out the now open door. 

“I feel like walking. It’s been two weeks since I’ve been on a nice long walk. I’ll text you when I get home,” Marinette says, hugging Damian. She then waved as she walked out. 

Once she was a good distance away from the manor she transformed. She loved the feeling of wind in her hair. She swung up to the tallest building, Wayne Enterprises, and sat on top looking over the foreign city. Not long after she looked over the city she heard footsteps land and crunch in the snow behind. 

She jumps up and is in a fighting position as she demands. “Announce yourself.” 

“I could say the same to you,” a deep voice says from the other side of the building that was somehow shadowy. 

“Stop it, be nice,” another voice answers, then steps into view. “I’m Red Hood.”

“I’m Ladybug,” Marinette responds, dropping her stance. The other person steps into view. “You look like a traffic light. Seriously? Who wears yellow, green, red, and black?”

“Hey! That’s was my suit design!” Nightwing tries to defend himself. 

“How old were you when you designed it,” Marinette deadpanned, crossing her arms. 

“Twelve,” the traffic light boy said. “Wearing this costume is a right of passage and the name is Robin. Your concept isn’t much better. Seriously a ladybug?”

“Master chose to give me this miraculous; I didn’t have a choice. But I’m quite fond of the spots thought and I’m pretty sure I needed Tikki’s luck back when I first got the miraculous,” Marinette said, backing up. “Well, it was nice meeting you guys.” She then jumped off the building. Robin and Nightwing ran to the edge and saw her catch herself with her yo-yo. 

“A yo-yo? Is she an actual child?” Robin sighed. “Do we even know if she is a hero?”

“Red Robin, Ladybug is her name. Find out everything you can about her,” Nightwing states into his comm. 

They finished their patrol quickly and headed back to the manor. He received a text from his Angel that told him that she made it home fine. 

Tim has information on the hero when they made to the Batcave. “She is from Paris.”

“Was she one of the heroes that banned all supers from entering Paris?” Jason asks, pulling up a chair, he sat back facing the computer with his leg on either side. He had come to the Batcave when he had heard of the new to Gotham hero.

“Yes that was her and for good reason,” Tim says while pulling up the video. “This announcement made a little over two and a half years ago.”

A young Ladybug stood in front of Le Grand Paris Hotel while speaking into the crowd and cameras. “To all supers, we had previously reached out to, we no longer want any help from any superheroes besides the ones of either Chat Noir or my own choosing.’

“If akumatized, we don’t know how we would deal with superpowers on top of Hawkmoth’s powers. For the good of Paris do not enter here till further notice,” Chat Noir says. “Not only would the power be unbearable, but Hawkmoth would also know everything you know, including any secret identities. Thank you for all of your patients, have a good rest of your day,” he finishes before him and the young Ladybug jump off the scene.

“They look so young,” Dick says, leaning on the back of Tim’s chair.

“That’s because they were that young. Ladybug, now, couldn’t be any older than me. That means that, if Chat Noir is the same age, they started with this Hawkmoth bull when they were thirteen or fourteen. That god damn city put their faith in teenagers barely in high school,” Damian says, looking closer at the video.

“That’s not right,” Dick says, shaking his head.

“At least we had the choice, but who chooses to be a city’s only hope against the unknown?” Jason says, putting his head on his hands that were resting on the chair’s back.

“They recently defeated the terrorist, who was a miraculous holder named Hawkmoth. He had been terrorizing Paris for three years. Her partners’ names are Chat Noir, Ryuko, Viperon, and Queen Bee, they still do patrols and help with petty crimes. She had more partners, now retired never told why, but their names were Carapace and Rena Rouge, they haven’t been seen in two years. Chat Noir gave a statement earlier this week saying that Ladybug has left, but would be back sometimes or if Paris was in danger. She was last seen at a house fire of the Dupain-Cheng’s house and Bakery all people died. Only two bodies were found,” Tim summed up, looking at his brothers. 

“What’s Marinette’s last name?” Jason asked, looking at Damian. 

“Dupain-Cheng? But she said she was an only child,” Damian thought sitting down in a chair beside Tim. 

“She is by these pictures, but it says three dead,” Tim said pulling up the picture of her family standing out front of the bakery, this was back when she wore her hair in pigtails. 

“She said she didn’t want to talk about her past during the measurements,” Jason said. “Does everyone think she’s dead?”

“That’s true, right here, an article says all the Dupain-Chengs died in the fire two weeks ago on Saturday and were buried last week Sunday,” Tim said, scrolling through the article. 

“But she’s clearly alive, why would she move?” Jason asked, standing

“But more importantly there’s a connection between her and Ladybug. Wait… blue hair and eyes, petite figure. They were both last seen, well accounted for at the fire” Damian said. 

“They’re the same person, both from Paris and they were last seen around the same time. Both, Ladybug and Marinette, had a reason to run even if we don’t know what that reason is just yet,” Tim said. 

“Seriously, even Damian’s girlfriend is special? Why can’t we meet normal people?” Jason said, throwing up his hands and left the Batcave. 

“I’ll ask her about it next time I see her,” Damian said, leaving the Batcave as well.

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

Don’t forget to like, reblog, follow, and tell me your thoughts. I love reading your thoughts and comments.

Tag list (Open):

@northernbluetongue @melhuney @ladysblackcat @sturchling @otaku4312 @g-arya @smolplantmum @bluefyoto94 @echpr @moonlightstar64 @thesunanditsangel @cutechip @heaven428 @elmokingkong @kass-is-weird @niza13149 @urbanpineapplefarmer @ginamarie1512 @chocolatecatstheron @iggy-of-fans @crazylittlemunchkin @komatsuna-yuki @weird-pale-blonde-person @ellerahs @sinnamonroill @daminett4life

#ml new life au #ml salt fic #lila salf #batfam #maribat #daminette #damian x marinette #marinette x batfam #ml x dc #wifiwrites

[kiseki-no-scenarios]

Part two of the protective older brothers request! This will feature Murasakibara, Kuroko, Kagami, Kasamatsu, and Himuro!

Protective older brothers with younger sister!Reader Headcanons - Part 2

Murasakibara

Has a surprisingly close relationship with his younger sister

When she was born, he recalls thinking that she looked too small and wow, what would happen if he accidentally crushed her

Or if someone else accidentally crushed her

So I can see him as being a little bit protective and trying hard to not seem scary around her, and afraid to hurt her

If you guys have watched the Last Game movie, there was a part where Himuro makes a comment about Murasakibara’s play style that I found to be very interesting-about how he might have been holding back cause he was afraid of hurting others

Secretly really happy when you decide to go with him to Yosen since he can keep an eye on you and make sure nobody hurts you

Also you spoil him lots with your baked goods and treats so Murasakibara will pout if you stop baking for him

You mentioned to him one day that a guy in one of your classes was being scary to her

And ofc Murasakibara wasn’t going to let that slide so he puts the fear of god in the guy that scared her

I don’t see Murasakibara as being overprotective to the point where he doesn’t allow anyone to approach his younger sister, but if you mention that someone is being mean or scaring you then he’s not gonna let that slide

I also imagine that maybe he feels jealous sometimes of Himuro, especially when he hears you comment about how cute or charming he is

So after that for a day Murasakibara just trails after you and blocks Himuro from getting close to you

Sending him glares since he’s annoyed to hear you call someone cute that’s not him

Kuroko

You were totally protective of your older brother

And were angry when people didn’t notice him or called him scary

Often times you’d want to march up to people and smack them if they said something bad but Kuroko would poke you in the side to get you to stop

“_____, fighting is improper.”

“But Tetsu-nii, they called you scary!!”

Kuroko has great observation skills so he often supports his younger sister from the sidelines

And you’ll occasionally see random little things appear on your desk-an eraser, something from the cafeteria, etc.

I also think that Kuroko has a big soft spot for his little sister

You like to glomp your older brother whenever you see him, and instead of trying to get away he’ll let you hug him while he pets your hair

Kuroko helps you with your Japanese courses, and in turn you help him out with the other subjects in school

If he hears other people or students talk about you or saying really inappropriate things about you, he’s not scared to randomly show up behind them and scare the shit out of them

You’re good friends with the Seirin basketball team since you hang out with Kuroko and them a lot

Kuroko definitely appreciates whenever you travel with the team to see their games and cheer them on

Kuroko may be scary when he’s mad, but the team quickly learns that it’s the younger sister to really be terrified of

After the game with Hanamiya, you disappear for a bit after the game and show back up

Telling them not to worry, you taught them a lesson as well~

It was one of the great mysteries of the world what you had done to make Hanamiya literally shiver in terror whenever he saw you or the team at that point

Kagami

Not sure why, but I see his little sister as like an exact carbon copy of Kagami

Both are super excitable, love basketball

As a result the two of you have a very close relationship

I have a headcanon that his little sister isn’t as good at Japanese as he is so you end up speaking a lot in English

So he has to constantly remind you that they’re in Japan and the basketball team members don’t know English

The two of you don’t really fight that often but when you do, it’s usually because Kagami was clueless about something

In terms of being protective, Kagami knows that you’re strong and can stand up for yourself so he doesn’t usually get too hung up on that

But that doesn’t mean that he will take things lying down if he overhears people at basketball games saying nasty things about his younger sister

Will often result in him getting ready to punch someone’s lights out but being held back by you and Kuroko

Definitely the type to worry over his younger sister and if she’s eating well

So in the morning he makes bentos and lunches for the two of you

The two of you are staying in Japan alone so he feels naturally protective over you, especially when he’s gone a lot for basketball related things

I can see you maybe filling in as a manager with the Seirin team and helping them out, especially at the beginning when you were getting Kagami to be a better team player with the others

Kasamatsu

The most protective older brother for reals

Always wants to make sure that he knows where you are and who you’re with

So it causes the two of you to have a lot of fights and arguments

But no matter what the two of you are super close and you know that it’s just in Kasamatsu’s personality to be worried about his younger sister

I have this funny headcanon that for whatever reason Kasamatsu tells you to stop coming to basketball practice or games

So of course you go and watch the team and even bring along snacks

Of course the Kaijo team loves you and even more cause you brought food

But they could all feel the aura of their captain radiating out

Basically tells the team that if they even think about making moves on his little sister he’s going to kill them

Later on you discover that it was because he didn’t want you to have a crush on Kise that he told you not to go to practice, since he thinks that Kise is a player and doesn’t want you involved in that

I also have a funny headcanon that one day you had a magazine and were commenting on how handsome Kise looked in his photoshoot to Kasamatsu

So the next day he’s extra violent towards Kise, even for little things

And Kise suffers but it’s because Kasamatsu feels jealous that his younger sister is paying attention to stupid Kise’s pictures

Himuro

His protectiveness towards his younger sister is not super easy to see

Just because it’s not in his nature to be so overbearing towards others or you

He trusts that you have a good head on your shoulders and that you’re old enough to make decisions on your own

But he does notice if it seems like you’re having some tough times or when you talk to him about people being mean

Definitely the easiest big brother I can see to talk to, since he’s calm and will listen to all your concerns and let you vent to him without judging you

But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t worry about you and will try to help you with whatever you’ve got going on, and doesn’t hesitate to ask if you need him to “talk” to certain people

The only time that I can see Himuro getting fairly upset is if some of the girls in his school that try to get their attention decide to take out their frustrations on you

Like hounding you, harassing you to get your older brother to talk to him, to tell him what he likes

Or even if they get angry that he’s not paying attention to them that it’s because it’s your fault

Himuro definitely doesn’t take this lying down and is very clear when he comes to your side, telling them off

And that of the things he hates most in the world, it’s anyone that thinks it’s okay to hurt his younger sister

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#knb #kuroko no basuke #knb headcanons #murasakibara atsushi #himuro tatsuya #kuroko tetsuya #kagami taiga #kasamatsu yukio