#chapter 5 marinette is. well. she’s here for blood. as she should be honestly | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chrwrites · 3 years

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Bad Ideas - Chapter 1: “I'm his girlfriend”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I wrote this for @astronavigatrix for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Secret Admirer Exchange! The prompt was Fake Dating and I decided to write '5 Times Luka and Marinette pretended to be dating and one time they didn't need to'. I had a lot of ideas for this and I ended up splitting it in chapters. I hope you like it! 💖

read on ao3

Marinette's mouth twisted at the scene in front of her, an unpleasant feeling making her stomach twist.

Luka was standing in front of his locker, nodding at a girl Marinette had never seen, a polite smile on his face as she got way too close. She was tilting her head, one finger twirling around a strand of platinum blonde hair as she raised her free hand to his arm. Her long fake nails danced slowly up and down his bicep.

His expression twisted in annoyance and he tried to shrug her off and put some distance between them, but yet again she leaned in and all Luka could do was roll his eyes at whatever she was saying.

Marinette grit her teeth. Didn't that girl notice how uncomfortable she was making him? Or how he wasn’t really enjoying her presence at all? Damn, Luka wasn’t even the type of person to show his annoyance like that. He was usually calm and collected. What had she done to make him act like that?

Marinette couldn’t just stand there and watch without doing anything. She had to do something before that girl, whoever she was, made Luka feel more and more uneasy. She watched him look down, his fingers twisting the spinner ring on his thumb, before deciding to take action.

“Lu!” she called, sliding her arm into his as soon as she was close and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as a greeting. She felt Luka stiffen before he relaxed into her, his eyes wide in surprise at her unexpected display of affection. “Marinette?”

The girl in front of them finally took a step back, a startled expression forming on her face while she studied them. She blinked before speaking. “And you are..?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Marinette.

Marinette frowned, but her mouth twisted in a sweet smile as soon as she looked back at Luka, “I'm his girlfriend,” she chirped.

Fortunately, her voice didn't betray her. She slid her hand to hold Luka's and squeezed tight, looking up at him.

His eyes were wide, and a strangled sound escaped his lips before he shut it close. Marinette giggled and gave him a confident smile in the hopes that it would reassure him. She leaned her head to his shoulder and Luka didn't flinch away, but all he managed to let out as his thumb brushed the back of her hand and tried to keep himself grounded was a choked out “Yeah…” that got him to clear his throat.

“You have a girlfriend? Since when?” the girl asked, feigning innocence in a way that sounded so familiar that made Marinette's blood boil.

Luka opened his mouth to speak, but Marinette cut him off, “That's none of your business,” she snarled. The girl huffed in annoyance, and Marinette glared at her. Luka next to her straightened up and took a deep breath, and Marinette gave a comforting squeeze to his hand.

She then turned her attention back at the girl, who had crossed her arms as her eyes went up and down to study her.

Marinette held her gaze and didn't flinch at the disgusted expression forming in front of her. If she was going to come up with a hurtful comment, Marinette was ready to snap back. It’s not like she hadn’t dealt with disrespectful brats over time, and she wasn’t letting some cheap dollar store Barbie imitation — okay no, actually, she was pretty, but that couldn’t make up for her personality — put her down or harass her best friend. She was Marinette, she was strong and—

“But aren't you a seconde ? Such a shame Luka here's into little girls… you could do so much better,” the girl said in a saccharine voice while fluttering her fake lashes at Luka.

Marinette felt Luka's hold on her hand tightening. She raised her free hand to his chest and gave him a reassuring look, trying to wordlessly tell him that she could handle it, but his jaw was still clenched when she spoke.

“Yeah, I know, a 16-year-old dating a 17-year-old. Shocking,” Marinette gritted through her teeth and pulled Luka towards her, making the girl scoff and check her nails. Good, now they could leave.

“Come on, I don't want us to be late for class,” Marinette said, holding Luka’s hand tighter and walking past the girl. She didn’t miss the chilling glare Luka sent her way.

When they were far enough from Luka’s locker, Marinette started walking faster, as Luka didn't have trouble following her nervous pace with his long legs. The closed doors of the classrooms and the colorful posters on the walls passed through her eyes in a blur even as she tried to focus on them instead of the anger that was building inside her. Marinette didn't want to let some stupid Barbie wannabe ruin her day, but all she could think about were the girl’s words. The deprecative tone in her voice when she called her a seconde and told Luka that he could do much better. She didn’t know what she was talking about.

That was stupid, Luka never failed to remind her how extraordinary she was. Even now as she led him through the school and he followed her quietly, he took the first chance he had to shake her from her thoughts.“Marinette, that's not where your class is…”

“I don't care,” she said, looking for an empty classroom she could calm down in. Luka squeezed her hand reassuringly, and his thumb slowly brushed the back of her hand. Marinette took a deep breath, but his action didn't help her forget about long nails moving on his arm and the words still ringing in her head. It actually made her think about it more.

Who the hell did she think she was?

She had no right to belittle her, to imply that she wasn't worth enough for Luka to spend time with. It didn't matter if it was only because she was trying to hit on him and Marinette was rightfully putting herself between them. She was being disrespectful towards him, invading his personal space, and Marinette couldn't just stand there and watch, right?

No, Luka was her friend and she had every right to rescue him from unwanted attention. It's not like anyone cared about who they were da—

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she realized what she had done, and how Luka had just silently rolled with it and was still holding her hand. Why would she even say something like that?

She picked a turn, opting for the art classroom that was always empty in the early hours of the morning and, when she finally found it, she slammed the door closed behind them.

“Marinette, what the fuck ?” Luka said. His bewildered expression made Marinette’s stomach twist unpleasantly.

She groaned, letting his hand go to hide her face and lean to an empty desk. “I’m so, so sorry. I know I shouldn’t have said it, but she was making you uncomfortable and I wanted to help you get rid of her.”

Luka let out a breathless laugh. “By saying that you’re my girlfriend?”

“I couldn’t come up with anything better, I’m sorry! And if you think she’ll spread the rumor, we can just say that we broke up or something. We’re not even together in the first place and I know I was stupid and I understand if you’re mad at me, but I did it because—”

“Marinette,” Luka interrupted her, his hands reaching for her wrists to gently pull her hands down and reveal her face. As he looked her in the eyes, he held a soft expression that made her feel incredibly better. “I don’t care about the rumors. Honestly, I should thank you for stepping in. I’ve been trying to let her down gently, but it didn’t work. I’m sorry you had to deal with her, too,” he said, his voice tense.

She reached for his hand and squeezed it gently before speaking. “It’s alright, Lu. I’ve learned to deal with that,” she said.

“I know, but you shouldn’t have bothered...” he sighed.

Marinette rolled her eyes. “I’m your friend Luka, and friends help each other out,” she said. Luka nodded, but something about him seemed off. She knew Luka was the type of person to handle things by himself, but he never rejected Marinette’s help when she offered it.

“Are you sure you’re not mad at me for saying that I’m your girlfriend?” she asked hesitantly.

Luka looked up at her and gave her a small smile. “I’m not mad at you, Mari,” he reassured. “You’re fine. Just… don’t catch me off guard with stuff like that.”

Marinette nodded and leaned to wrap her arms around him. She felt his chuckle rumble through his chest as he held her, and when she pulled away, she could finally see the easygoing smile she liked so much.

“Who was she, by the way?” Marinette asked.

“Just some girl from Terminale D. We met at a party last weekend and she got a bit clingy,” Luka said sheepishly, one hand going up to rub his neck.

“That's putting it nicely,” Marinette chuckled.

“Well,” Luka sighed, “I did tell her I wasn't interested in her, so having her still trying to catch my attention was kinda frustrating.”

“Just a little bit,” Marinette teased, pinching her thumb and index together.

Luka chuckled. “Yeah, okay. Thank you for coming at the right time.”

Marinette giggled, and the uneasiness she felt from making up a lie to rescue him from someone's hold disappeared. “I'll be your fake girlfriend whenever you need.”

You could be my real one.

Luka shook the thought out of his mind. Sometimes the feelings he hid deep down in his stomach made their way back up to his heart, and all he could do was push them down again. They'd already been through this, and Luka was happy with being close with Marinette without wanting more. It was only in times like this, when she was careless and maybe made some stupid choices to help him out (like, for example, saying that she was his girlfriend) that they would resurface.

But he learned how to deal with that. A few deep breaths, thinking about the smell of the Seine, and he would be fine. No more thoughts about being more than friends with Marinette.

They had known each other for years and, now that they went to school together and grew closer, he was happy that Marinette had found he was someone to count on. It was the same for him, even if sometimes it meant that he had to control the impulse to kiss her on the spot or scold himself for staring at her for too long.

The sound of the first bell rang, making Luka wince and Marinette giggle in response. He shook his head, taking a moment to recollect himself and clear his throat before speaking. “Can I walk you to class?”

“Don’t you always do that?” Marinette teased before walking to the door.

There was only easy chatter after that, and Luka took a breath of relief as he realized he was listening to Marinette without focusing on the way her lips moved or the feeling of her shoulder brushing against his. She was complaining about some group project she had to work on in the afternoon when they reached the door of her class.

“Well, let me know if you need to be rescued again from some overly-clingy girl,” Marinette said.

Luka shook his head, letting out a small laugh. “Of course, I will.”

Marinette smiled at him but, before she could reply, the second bell rang.

Luka's hand ruffled the hair on top of her head, making Marinette wince, and his mouth moved before he could even realize what he was saying.

“See you at lunch, girlfriend.”

#lukanette #LBSC Exchange 2021 #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #my writing

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paganinpurple · 3 years

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Roofie, Ch 6- The Truth

Buy Me A Coffee?

Story on AO3

<<Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 <Ch 5 Chapter 6 Ch 7> (Should I write an epilogue? (unwritten)

So, It has been almost 2 years since I updated this fic. I'm sorry. I've been having a hard time and inspiration, motivation and time to write are 3 things that never seem to hit me even 2 at a time, never mind 3.

Hope you enjoy! I'm unsure whether just to end this here or to add an epilogue to this. Suggestions welcome.

The Truth

She stared. The panic had set in and she had absolutely no idea how to answer him. Should she admit she remembered? Should she claim ignorance? What if she said she remembered but played it off as a drunk kiss that didn’t mean anything? That drunk her just latched onto people or-

“Um,” she squeaked, her face burning.

“S-So you do remember then?” he said, his blush-stained face an otherwise completely blank mask which gave nothing away for her to decipher.

She flung her face forward, burying it in her sleeved hands as the rush of blood took over her face. “Argh, I’m so embarrassed!” she mumbled.

Adrien gave a stilted chuckle. Of course, she was embarrassed, he was positively dying of mortification and he hadn’t even said anything cringe worthy. Yet.

“Oh, join the club,” he said with a surprising amount of calm. He was still blushing, but somehow seeing Marinette’s reaction was calming. There was literally no way to make enough of a fool of himself to out-embarrass her right now.

He moved over to the chaise and slumped down in the space next to her as she glanced up through her fingers in shock at his relaxed appearance. “Do you remember everything, or…?” he trailed off - not wanting to give her any ideas, lest she use them as excuses to deny anything.

With a huge exhale, her hands swept up her face and back into her loose hair, gently dragging through and ruffling the damp locks as she tried to get a handle on herself. She’d unintentionally disrupted her parting in the process and Adrien restrained himself from reaching over and delicately lifting at the strands to correct it. Instead, he focused on her hands as they returned to her sleeves, disappearing inside the protection of the oversized sweatshirt.

“I…remember Phillipe got me a drink.” She bit her lip and refused to look at him. “After that it all gets a bit, uh, confusing.”

Frowning –partly because hearing that name pissed him off to a ridiculous degree, but mostly out of sheer frustration at Marinette’s evasiveness – he reached out and took one of her hidden hands in his. Tenderly, he slid the soft fabric up her arm slightly to reveal her hand, his own gently clasping her dainty wrist. He felt genuinely torn. He wanted to know what she remembered so he knew the right questions to ask to clarify his own confusion, but he also didn’t like the idea of Marinette feeling awkward and uneasy. He sighed.

“I won’t insist on the truth,” he said, putting her feelings before his own, “I’d rather you told me whatever makes you comfortable instead.”

He watched as her eyes bored a hole into the spot their skin met for a moment before shyly drifting up to meet his own gaze. She took a deep breath before she spoke, but she held that contact between them, even when her voice trembled slightly.

“That puts me in a tight spot. There’s nothing I can really say because the truth…well, you know. And lying makes me very uncomfortable.”

“Then please, just tell me what you remember,” he asked her, “Honestly.”

She trembled, but seemed to force herself to hold his gaze. “I know I left the ballroom after that. I spoke to someone, but I can’t actually remember who, or what I said. But I know I…”

When she trailed off, he gently ran his thumb across the underside of her wrist as a silent encouragement and she closed her eyes and swallowed audibly before continuing.

“I know I kissed them. Him. Time’s a little fuzzy so I don’t remember getting from that to being in the car. But I know I was in the car with him. He wouldn’t let me kiss him, but I was pretty persistent.” She gave a humourless laugh of sorts. “I don’t remember getting out of the car or anything after that.”

Adrien was shocked at just how badly his chest hurt at her admissions, his father’s earlier revelations about Marinette’s feelings seeming to fade into the back of his mind as his own pain and anxieties took precedence. She remembered enough about the night to have a general idea of what had happened, but she didn’t remember that it had been him with her the whole time. In a way, he felt like it made the whole thing worse. If she hadn’t recalled any of last night, then that was easily written off as the drug wiping her mental timeline clear. But for her to remember so much, but have him edited out of those memories? It almost felt like…like he wasn’t important enough?

“So, you don’t know who…”

“Just because I don’t remember doesn’t mean it’s not obvious who it was,” she said, her eyes opening once again and piercing him with an intensely vulnerable stare, “My parents told me you brought me home, Adrien. And I’m pretty sure…no, I know there’s only one person I would have tried to kiss.”

He was suffocating. He may as well have been at the bottom of the Marina Trench or out in the vast vacuum of space for all the oxygen he seemed to be able to capture once the words left her mouth, and it was painful, yes, but also exhilarating.

She was admitting that she knew she had kissed him, but she was also confessing that what she had said to him last night, and what his father had told him today were true.

She loved him. She loved him. She loved him.

And suddenly the air was rushing back into his lungs in much the same way the adrenaline in his body raced to make him speak, to act, to do...something.

Have you really been in love with me for years?” he breathed, afraid of his own voice in case the sound broke the spell they both seemed to be under as their eyes stayed fixed to one another.

She squeaked, but she didn’t pull away or take her eyes from him and he counted that as a victory.

“Did I tell you that?” she asked in the same soft tone, her free hand coming up to her face to cover her mouth.

He nodded, breaking into a smile as the atmosphere shifted into something significantly more comfortable than before. “Yeah, but I wasn’t sure if you meant it or if it was just what had happened messing you up. My dad was the one who had to convince me, actually.”

This time, Marinette did take back her hand, bringing it up to join its twin in pressing against her face as her eyes bulged in horror. “Your dad!?” she shrieked, “Your dad knows?”

He tried, he really did, but he couldn’t hold back the laughter that bubbled from his chest at her reaction and he howled all the louder when she looked adorably offended by it.

“Look,” he said once he had calmed down a little, “as much as my dad used to act like he didn’t have a clue that he was upsetting people, it turns out he’s ridiculously good at reading people. He says he’s known you liked me since we were fourteen.”

“Oh my God!” Her pitch was getting louder the more she spoke and given the increased range that came with being the Black Cat Miraculous user for so long, he suspected she might start to hurt his delicate ears soon if he didn’t distract her somehow.

“He…he brought some other stuff to my attention as well.” He scratched at the back of his neck nervously, his blush returning stronger than ever. “And, well, it totally threw me at first because I didn’t really believe him, you know? But…it makes a lot of sense now. And I guess when I think about how I’ve reacted to things in the past-”

“Adrien,” Marinette interrupted his ramblings, “Can I have a map to this conversation, please?”

He mock glared at her. “As if you’re one to talk. You used to stammer nonsense at me all the time when we were younger.”

“And now you understand my reasoning. What’s your excuse?” She finished by crossing her arms and facing him and sitting up straighter than before, a smug look on her face. Her gaze faltered as he suddenly seemed extremely interested in her ceiling light. Or her floor. Or really anywhere but her. “Adrien?” she asked hesitantly.

Gulping in more of that sweet air that had evaded him not so long ago and which threatened to do so again, Adrien looked at her once again, reaching out a tentative hand to take her own. He intertwined their fingers as Marinette watched, transfixed and used his other hand to cup her face. The contact made her flinch in surprise for a moment, but she quickly regained her senses and slid her own free hand into his hair as he closed the gap between them.

He was sure her lips had only barely brushed against his before she started to pull back abruptly –nerves and overthinking, he assumed– and he took the risk to chase after them, promising himself that he would only chase so far so as not to encroach on her own comfort. He was incredibly relieved when she stopped retreating, her whole body relaxing and melting into his touch.

The kiss wasn’t like they were often described in fiction, he found. Her lips didn’t taste of anything he recognised, and it didn’t feel like she was something he was physically missing, and that he needed to complete him. But it was sweet and gentle, and he was sure he’d never been more content than he was right now.

He pulled back enough to press his forehead to hers, his lids blinking open to see her own doing the same, a simple smile resting on her lips now. He found himself smiling in a way that echoed her own.

“I don’t know if I love you,” he told her honestly, “But I do know that I like you. A lot. Like, a whole lot.” He watched as her smile widened to a grin and she glanced down at their joined hands shyly. “But,” he added, “I love the way I get all warm inside when I think about you telling me how you feel about me. Even if you were out of it.”

Marinette gave a light chuckle, gently squeezing his hand in her much smaller one as she looked up at him again. Her eyes were full of that warmth and adoration he’d been overlooking all this time and his chest swelled with affection for her.

“Then I guess, now that I’m sober, I better tell you again,” she said with a smirk. She leant up and pressed a quick peck to his lips before she continued.

“I love you Adrien.”

Buy Me A Coffee?

#PIP writes #Roofie #ML fic #adrienette #adrinette #miraculous ladybug

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adragonhoardingstories · 4 years

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Of Blood and Bonds- Chapter 5

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@abrx2002 @clumsy-owl-4178 @daminett4life @zalladane

@heaven428 @unmaskedagain

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@weird-pale-blonde-person

@ravennightingaleandavatempus

@persephonebutkore

@be-happy-every-day-please @blue-peach14 @annabellabrookes

@jaynintodd @st0rmy-w1th1n @bluerosette23 @ladysblackcat @18-fandoms-unite-08

@vixen-uchiha @novicevoice @jessigurl-design @tinyterror333

@rebecarojas07 @sparkle9510 @magicalfirebird @mewwitch @shamefullove

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@sassydepression @caffeinetheory

@reyna-avila-ramirez-alreanaldo

@krispydefendorpolice @mermaidofthelost @drarryismylife101 @ladybug-182 @northernbluetongue @i-like-fairytail-and-stuff @iloontjeboontje @mjisntme

Tag list for this is closed!

On that note, this book will contain swearing, mentions of rape and torture. I will try not be explicit but that's really relative. Read at your own risk. There will be warning before if I make a explicit scene so that you can skip it.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy and don't hunt me down for this.

Happy New Year

---------------------------------------------

Another day she had needed to spend with the idiots in her class. Once again, she felt like cursing her parents.

Marinette was by all means done with Lycée, she was following University courses but after Tom and Sabine had disowned her in all but name, it's not like they knew that. Most of her old relations had no idea what she was up to and it suited her not seeing them ever again.

But despite everything, the Dupain-Chengs she didn't consider herself one anymore did to her, they still didn't want her to dishonour their family even more so they made an arrangement with her and her Lycée.

She had to at least show up for the exams and any school functions and they would leave her alone to do as she pleased instead of sending her to a boarding school and well with all her responsibilities, she never really had a choice.

Which brought her here - on the Gotham Field Trip. She really didn't know why they had even sent her here, they were only wasting their money and Sabine must have known that the chances of her meeting Bruce were high, especially since their activities were centered around Wayne Enterprises.

Today they were going to be assigned to one person they had to shadow all day - it was supposed to help them get some actual job experience.

Marinette was chosen to shadow the CEO - how surprising - and it just so happened that today was one of the rare days Bruce Wayne was in the company so she would have the pleasure of helping both him and Tim depending on who needed her most - yay her.

She was willing bet her future fashion empire that Bruce had orchestrated this in an attempt to get a chance to talk to her.

However she had to admire that one good thing come out of this - Lila Rossi got served.

Like she had mentioned it before, she didn't have anything to do with her past classmates except the bare minimum but it seemed even now the liar still felt threatened by her every time they met. And honestly, she couldn't care less except that wench was the reason her parents had turned against her and of course how could we forget the worse thing of all? That Lila Rossi was willingly working with Hawkmoth - a known terrorist.

So the jobs had been announced and Lila has started her usual act and name dropping and oh there must have been a mistake, Timothy told me that I would be chosen to work with him since I'm already used to helping him. That had received a sharp look from the one delegating and a simple comment about Miss Rossi you are to report to our legal team, they have something prepared especially for you. Seeing Lie-La pale and shut up so yeah that had been the highlight of her day.

But now, now she was most certainly going to be forced to speak to her father and she kind of wished that Lila had succeeded for once.

Just as the lady she had grown to like was about to show her the way, her father magically appeared not really, she had seen him hiding in the shadows for the last five minutes and offered to guide her himself.

As she predicted, he said nothing else, until they were in his office but once the doors were closed…

"Mari-" He started to speak but then the doors banged open and a haggard looking Tim Drake stumbled in.

"Nette, I heard I got you today. Thank fuck I didn't get one of the brats." He stumbled in on the couch, paying Bruce no mind and grinned at her. "Plus, I get sister bonding time so win-win for me."

Marinette looked from him to Bruce. "You have impeccable timing." She informed him. "So I'm going to make you coffee."

"You are an angel." He declared. "An absolute angel. Now I understand why Damian likes you so much."

Marinette laughed it off. "Damian likes me because I don't call him Demon Spawn Timbers."

"In my defense." He groaned. "He was a brat back then and now, well it's basically a nickname. Call it brother's privilege if you want. And he knows it."

Marinette smiled gently at him as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him and Bruce, and sat down drinking her own cup. "Does he know that?"

Tim blinked at her, a thoughtful expression taking place on his face.

It lasted until he tasted the coffee, then it was replaced by awe.

"This is so good, how is this so good, it's literally the same thing I drink everyday? Can you work for me permanently?"

She was amused and this conversation seemed to shock her father so it was a plus. "But Timmy, if I change my career how are you going to get your special MDC suits?"

That strangely made him go serious.

"About that, I needed to talk to you."

Marinette raised an eyebrow, this should be good.

"What would you think if Wayne Enterprises becomes the main sponsor for MDC?"

She leant back in her seat crossing her feet and took a long sip of her drink.

"Now why would I agree to that?"

Tim looked surprised while she was careful to keep her own face carefully blank but he recovered quick enough and seemed to thrive on the challenge.

Marinette could pinpoint the exact moment when he changed to his game face. "Why wouldn't you? This in the long term will benefit you especially when you decide to release your line or officially start your company."

"Who said anything about releasing a line? Right now I'm on a clientele only basis and the greatest thing about MDC right now is my anonymity. My business is flourishing and I'm on high demand, especially among celebrities so you can imagine the price I get for each of my works. Why would I want to change that?"

"While that is true, the novelty will eventually wash off. Your designs may be good enough for you to get some loyal customers but you won't be as you put it in high demand anymore. And I may have known you for only a while, but I doubt you haven't planned for the future."

Marinette could admit, she was a little impressed. "Also true, but I'm currently a millionaire and have more than enough money to launch a line by myself."

Tim opened his mouth to interrupt but she continues before he could.

"And yes, I do understand how accepting your offer will benefit me more but signing with you also means that will represent my brand and how can I - bearing my own interests in mind - accept knowing is publicly involved with Wayne Enterprises?"

He looked completely lost and Marinette was probably having more fun that she should with this. "I'm not sure I follow?"

"I mean that even if people don't outright state it, everyone knows that the Wayne finances and outfits the Gotham vigilantes."

"And your point is?" The poor boy was going to make her say it.

"Your costumes are a fashion disaster Timmy, an eyesore if not a horror?"

"They're not that bad!"

"Do not get me started on the first Robin's costume. Were you not in your right mind when you allowed it?" For the first time in the day, she spoke to Bruce.

"Wait, you know?" She shot Tim a questioning look. Why hadn't told him, she figured it out? The boy just shrugged and she sighed.

"It's not that difficult to figure out Bats. You and Mom literally met while you training in extreme martial arts and the way she described you doesn't match up with the idea the media has of you so I was already suspicious and then I met them and I saw them in costume, they have the same build and everything and their alibi was frankly terrible. Also the rate at which you take in kids matches with the appearance of each new Robin."

"When was the last time you got your IQ tested?" He demanded.

Marinette elected to ignore that comment in favour of finishing her conversation with Tim. "So?"

"So if I get everyone to agree to a costume redesign by you, you'll sign?"

"I get to re-design and remake all of your costumes as well as become the go to for the family for all your events."

"That's a lot of conditions."

She shrugged, a smile playing on her lips. "Those are my terms but if you'd like, you can consider the part about your costumes a favor to you sister so that she doesn't get a heart attack everytime she sees you suited up."

"I'll agree as long as you admit you're exaggerating."

Marinette gave him a deadpan look. "Have you ever seen the Red Hood helmet. I have nightmares about it."

He considered it. "Yeah okay that's fair. So should I start working on the papers?"

Marinette shook her head. "I'm going to rebrand once and for all once I'm 18 along with my face reveal."

"Rebrand, why?"

"Like you rightly pointed out two nights ago MDC stands for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Well I don't want to be a Dupain-Cheng for longer than I have to. I'll be changing my name hence the rebranding."

"Would you consider Wayne?" Bruce asked softly. Marinette paused. She had been considering taking Master Fu's name actually. "I don't know B."

"I'll leave you two to talk." Tim said slowly getting up and she would have protested but she could not run from this forever and the Kwami pressing against her leg seemed to agree.

"Yeah just…" She took out her phone and send him a contact. "That's my lawyer, you can send her the papers to review. I'll talk to her about it."

Tim checked his phone and went slack jawed. "Elle Woods. Elle Woods is your lawyer." He threw his hands up in defeat. "I don't know why I'm still surprised at this point but I'm gonna ask, how did you get her to work for you?"

"She's one of my regulars. "

"Of course she is." Tim muttered. Marinette watched silently as he went to refill his cup of coffee but ended up taking the whole coffee machine with him and walked out of the door.

Marinette turned to Bruce. She was not looking forward to this but she sighed and got up. "I'm supposed to be working so give me something to do."

"I thought you agreed we need to talk Marinette."

"I never agreed to anything." She reminded him. "But yes we'll talk." She pointed a finger at him. "While I work. So, give me something to do."

"You need this to be on your terms." He noted.

"I know you've researched what happened. After having been stripped from my senses and having my will taken away from me, yes I do enjoy being in control." She dared him to say something. "So. Give. Me. Something. To. Do."

"You can arrange the paper on the desk. According to the project names, put it in alphabetical order with A being on top."

Marinette set to work without another word. Bruce took that as his cue to start speaking.

"You know about Batman. The year I stopped talking to you was when when I was assumed dead-"

"Then why?" She cut in sharply. "Did Alfred not even deign inform me that my father was dead? Or what about after you came back?"

He stayed silent.

"The truth B is that even before that you were speaking to me less and less. Your phone calls, rare as they were, were always so short I was never able to tell you what i wanted." She gave out a humorless laugh. "You know I used to be scared that you didn't want me. I mean why else would you keep me a secret from your other children? So I didn't complain because I didn't want to stop having the little time you even gave to me. Guess, I was right in the end."

"No." He stood up and came to stand in front of her. "Marinette sweetie, please believe me. I fell in love with you from the moment I saw you. I've never not wanted you but my lifestyle was always very dangerous but I never realised how much it really was until Jason died and then shortly after I returned Damian died. Every child of mine has been traumatized in some way by my enemies. I didn't want the same to happen to you. There are villains out there who know who I am. I got scared Marinette, distancing myself from you was me trying to protect you. I know - I know it doesn't excuse me not being there for you but you need to know I am so so sorry. Please let me make it up to you. "

Marinette felt the kwamis on her person press against her, offering their silent support.

"I'm willing to try." She said at last, finishing arranging the last of the documents. She looked up at him and could basically read the hope in his expression. "But you need to give me space. I'm not coming to live in Gotham nor am I going to defer to you. I've built my own life, you're not going to interfere with in. You can be in it but you don't get to try and change things."

"Okay, okay I can work with that."

"Then you've got yourself a deal." Marinette offered him her hand to shake and he did shake it but right after, he pulled her in a hug.

Bruce realized his mistake when Marinette stiffened up but she relaxed in his arms and she slowly, almost hesitantly clutched his shirt, like a small child holding their dad's shirt, trying to hide in his arms.

And a father's heart broke all over again.

#MLB X DC #maribat #platonic daminette #mentions of rape #torture #lila salt #adrien salt

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rosethornewrites · 4 years

Text

Fic: The Rebellion of Adrien Agreste, ch. 7

Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Lila Rossi, Jagged Stone, Plagg, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Luka Couffaine, Penny Rolling, Anarka Couffaine, Rose Lavillant, Juleka Couffaine, Kagami Tsurugi, Alya Césaire, Chloé Bourgeois, Wayhem, Nadja Chamack, Nathalie Sancoeur, Sabine Cheng, Tom Dupain, Tikki, Fang, Principal Damocles, Caline Bustier, Ms. Mendeleiev, original minor character, Alec Cataldi, Lila Rossi’s Mother, Sabrina Raincomprix, Roger Raincomprix, Mylène Haprèle, Le Gorille | Adrien Agreste’s Bodyguard, Nino Lahiffe, Nooroo

Tags: Lila Rossi salt, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Teenage Rebellion, Swearing, Bad Parent Gabriel Agreste, Crack Treated Seriously, Lila Rossi’s Lies Are Exposed, Cuddling & Snuggling, Luka Couffaine Needs a Hug, Paparazzi, Parentification, Marinette Dupain-Cheng Needs a Hug, Gabriel Agreste Needs an Aneurism, Uncle Jagged Stone, we’re all queer here, the spirit of punk is sometimes just being allowed to be yourself, Kagami Finds Her Groove, punk rock fashion, Savage Kagami, Marinette protection squad, Good Parent Sabine Cheng, Good Parent Tom Dupain, Protective Kagami Tsurugi, Protective Luka Couffaine, Bisexual Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Pansexual Luka Couffaine, Sharing a Bed, Pet Names, LGBTQ Character, LGBTQ Themes, Instagram, Bullying, Social Media, Anxiety, Makeover, Hugs, will cure your acne, Face Punching, Bad Ass Juleka Couffaine, Rumors, Protective Juleka Couffaine, Protective Adrien Agreste, Lawyers, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Holding Hands, accountability, mental health, Jagged Stone’s well-paid pet shark, How to Make the Evening News, Sexy eyeliner for days, one fish two fish Lila is a screwed fish, How to have fun and piss Gabriel off, Fuckery, sweet litigious karma, Alya sugar, lawyer shark doo doo doo doo doo doo, Schadenfreude, Bad Ass Alya Césaire, Gaslighting, abuse denormalization, Jagged likes his lawyers like he likes his pets: toothy af, Blood in the Water, Everything you didn’t know you wanted and some things you did, Gabriel Agreste is shark bait, Denial, Consequences, Principal Damocles salt, caline bustier salt, the impotence of Gabriel Agreste, snarky Nooroo, lies and the lying liars who tell them, Lila’s brain is a narcissistic hellscape, Lila’s mind is built like an Escher piece, Alec Cataldi salt, Adrien Sugar, wholesome salt, Fu Salt, Kwami Shenanigans, Nooroo is a little shit

Summary: The Pet Name Game

Notes: Hawkdaddy’s pissed. @norakwami and @cheshiremadd helped by chatting concept.

AO3 link

Chapters 1-2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

-----------

The pet names discussion had wound up getting extremely silly. They’d all gone back to relaxing together and kind of cuddling on the big sofa. At first the only one Adrien could come up with was “Blue,” to which Luka had responded, “If you call me Blue, I’m calling you Green.” The girls had vetoed both.

Adrien had joked about Maestro, which Marinette had argued was almost as bad as Magic Fingers.

Interestingly, it was Marinette who had, with the help of her phone, come up with the winning one.

“You know, the name Luka means ‘light.’ Any ideas based on that?”

After some discussion, Adrien had come up with the poetic idea of “Firefly,” like Luka was his light in the dark. Kagami had deemed that adorable, and Luka had turned red.

Luka’s suggestions for Adrien’s nickname largely had to do with music, and while Adrien had been fond of Allegro for a cheerful beat, both girls disagreed, saying they were too niche.

“Alya’s nickname for him is Sunshine,” Marinette finally commented.

Luka smiled. “My Star, then?”

Kagami and Marinette exchanged a look as Adrien’s face heated, then said together, “Perfect.”

“I think we can still do the blue and green joke sometimes,” Adrien murmured, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“Can I call you MF as a joke?” Luka asked.

Adrien grinned. “Only if I can call you Maestro.”

Marinette groaned. “This is going to be ridiculous.”

“It’ll upset my father,” Adrien pointed out. “Which is the point.”

“Honestly, if they have more than one nickname for each other, it lends credence to the idea that they’ve been secretly dating for a bit. We should specify how long it’s been, of course,” Kagami added.

“I mentioned to Mari that I don’t want to eventually say it was fake, if that’s okay. If anything, we weren’t sure and decided to try dating.” He glanced at Luka.

“I can understand that. I identify as pansexual, though I rarely discuss it,” Luka said with a nod. “So I wouldn’t mind being thought to have been in a relationship with you. We can say we met when we did, on the boat, and you joined Kitty Section. And maybe we decided to go for it a couple weeks ago?”

“I have enabled the two of you to be together after fencing practice several times, then,” Kagami offered. “You have gone for juice?”

“You’ve gotten soul mate ice cream from André!” Marinette crowed. “We can make up a flavor combination.”

Luka grinned. “Green and blue, obviously.”

“Perhaps instead we should go find André once the dye is done,” Kagami commented. “It wouldn’t do to make up a fake flavor combination when we could find out for sure.”

“And you can eat it in the limo, so you’re not out in public too long,” Penny interjected. While Jagged had retired to the other room for a nap with Fang, she’d stayed with them to, as she had put it, ‘chaperone.’ “We’d rather not garner too much attention from M. Agreste this soon.”

“It’ll be another picture for social media.” Adrien hoped Luka wouldn’t get the kind of negative reaction from fans that Marinette had when fans had assumed she was his girlfriend. “I should probably check the comments on those, actually…”

“Not using your phone,” Kagami reminded him.

Marinette pulled out hers, and they all scooted closer to look.

alya.ladyblogger: @adrienagrestebrand wtf when did this happen, Sunshine? #NinoNeedsAnInstagram

alya.ladyblogger: @adrienagrestebrand why is your phone off omgggg

theofficialchloebourgeois: Adrikins, your social media has obv been hacked.

alya.ladyblogger: @theofficialchloebourgeois why do you think it’s been hacked? That’s Sunshine’s smile, for sure.

theofficialchloebourgeois: because there’s no way! He’d tell me!

Aside from those, there were fan reactions ranging from excited congratulations to rather ugly homophobic remarks that made him feel a bit ill to look at—especially now that he knew Mari was bi and Luka was pan.

The official Gabriel Instagram account hadn’t addressed it at all, so Adrien assumed his father was still having a temper tantrum.

A knock on the door sent them scrambling to the kitchenette, but it was the spa staff ready to rinse the dye.

When he was getting his hair blow-dried, Marinette handed him her phone again so he could see what she’d just replied.

marinettedesigned: You look so happy with him! I’m glad you two decided to go public!

He glanced at her with a frown. “Are you sure you want to imply you knew?”

“Yeah. Kagami’s going to, and I’m going to, too.” Then she got a wicked grin. “It’ll drive Lila batty.”

“Honestly, I don’t see her being able to hold back, regardless. But that will certainly make her angrier. I just hope it doesn’t make her go after you more than she has.” Adrien looked at her reproachfully. “I wish you’d told me she’d threatened you, Mari. I never would’ve given you that awful advice.”

Marinette turned red, and Kagami scowled.

“This girl threatened Marinette?” When both Adrien and Luka nodded, the girl clenched her fists. “That is unacceptable.”

“I’m okay,” Marinette whispered.

Luka settled a hand on her shoulder. “She’s hurt you, made you more anxious. I can’t help you, since I don’t go to school with you. But Adrien can.”

“Perhaps during the hour and a half that our schools allow for lunch, Luka and I can join you and Adrien,” Kagami added, placing her hand on Marinette’s other shoulder. “We can present a united front.”

“Usually I’m expected home for lunch, but as I’m engaging in teenager rebellion, staying at school to eat lunch with my boyfriend is a nice way to do that.”

“Then it’s settled,” Kagami said decisively. “We shall eat lunch together either at Collège Françoise Dupont or at a café or restaurant in the surrounding area from now on.”

The relieved smile that graced Marinette’s face was almost heartbreaking, and Adrien realized exactly how much stress she’d been under, how much he’d failed her. He took her hand, squeezing it lightly in apology.

The stylist finished with his hair a few minutes later, and after they spent a few minutes admiring the results, Marinette pulled his hood up so they could all sneak down to the limo. They found André Glacier’s location via social media, and Penny had the driver take them as close as possible.

There wasn’t a line, so they rushed out of the limo and hurried to the cart. Luka and Adrien approached first.

André greeted them like old friends. “Ah, a lovely pair the two of you make. Blueberry for the gentle heart’s tranquility, a soothing sweetness. And, ah, for you… You’ve come into your own, young man! Passion fruit for the one shining bright as the sun!”

“Would you get some with me as well, Marinette?” Kagami asked. “I would not be able to finish an entire one on my own.”

André smiled at them. “I’ve just the treat for you. Orange for the fire that burns in her heart, blackberry for her night-dark hair. A dual sweetness, with a twist, for the two of you.”

They hurried back to the waiting limo, managing to escape notice—fortunately it was an odd hour. Once inside, they took advantage of the photo opportunity with Adrien and Luka, then passed around the treats, all four of them sharing in the flavors.

“I’m glad I got passion fruit,” Adrien commented. “It’s my favorite. And all the others go so well with it!”

Kagami’s phone buzzed. “Regrettably, I am expected to return home, or I would enjoy continuing to help.”

“We’ll drop you off before we return to the hotel,” Penny told her. “It’s always nice meeting Marinette’s friends, and I’m sure Jagged will be disappointed he didn’t get to say goodbye.”

They had dropped Kagami off and just returned to the hotel when Marinette’s phone went off.

But this time it was an Akuma alert.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous fanfiction #my fanfiction #The Rebellion of Adrien Agreste #lukadrien #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #kagami tsurugi #penny rolling #andre glacier #lila salt #miraculous salt #lila 'the liar' rossi #lila rossi #alya cesaire #chloe bourgeois

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perditaalottachocolate-blog · 6 years

Text

“I Am Alive” - 3. A new threat

Adrien Appreciation Week @wearemiraculous , Day 5: Patrol

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

AO3 / fanfiction

There was a new threat, Ladybug said. Something far more dangerous than his Hawk Daddy, or any other villain in possession of miraculous. Adrien wondered if magical poacher wasn’t the best term here. What other words could be used to describe an alien entity that was drawn by the energy of the miraculous jewels? That hunted the holders and the kwami? As Chat Noir he placed himself near the top of food chain, but it turned out that soon every holder could be at risk of becoming prey.

When there are many miraculous jewels stored in one location, without special precautions, they distort the space-time continuum, they curve the quantum magic field, making them shine like a beacon for anyone who’s searching. Master Fu had created such a beacon by bringing the jewels to Paris. Hawkmoth had helped him, by forcing the old Guardian to activate two most powerful of the jewels. Hand in hand they brought this threat upon their heads, as well as Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s.

This new danger meant a few things for them.

‘No more patrols,’ Ladybug ordered.

‘Sure, no more solo patrols,’ he agreed, already looking for a loophole. ‘But if you or Rena join me-’

She dropped her gaze to her lap. ‘Rena won’t be joining us for a while, Chat,’ she murmured sadly. ‘Master Fu is taking all the remaining miraculous away.’

‘B-but… what about Hawkmoth? Aren’t we going to finally stop him?’ he asked.

The thought that this could still drag for some time hadn’t occurred to him. When he discovered his father’s secret he kind of had been bracing himself for a final solution as soon as possible. They had been fighting for so long after all. Paris deserved to be a supervillain-free city.

Ladybug shook her head. ‘The guardian already left for Tibet this evening. He left us both messages but-’

‘-but I was unavailable,’ Chat finished. ‘Yeah, perfect timing,’ he added bitterly.

‘From what he said this is serious,’ she explained. ‘He wants to take the rest of the jewels to the old temple of guardians. As I understood it, he’s doing this to draw attention away from Paris and buy us some time. And the temple had some screening devices or spells or something, that will hide the miraculous from this entity. Fu is either going to bring the device thingy back here, or secure the jewels there.’

‘But he’s leaving us here on our own,’ he chewed at the inside of his cheek. ‘With Hawkmoth and this new enemy.’

Ladybug put a hand on his shoulder. ‘We can keep Hawkmoth at bay. We’ve been doing this for so long. And with what you’ve discovered maybe we can at least prevent him from akumatizing people for some time?’ she suggested. ‘First thing that comes to my mind is that you can keep him busy so that he can’t release akumas? But I’m sure we can think of something more sophisticated, before we come up with a plan to stop him entirely.’

‘I honestly thought Fu would help us with this,’ Chat sighed.

‘You have to remember, that now us and our kwamis are at risk,’ Ladybug said. ‘Master Fu said there’s nothing more important that keeping the miraculous safe. Those without holders can’t protect themselves, like we can protect Tikki and Plagg.’

‘And Hawkmoth,’ he realized.

‘What?’

‘You said miraculous holders and their kwami. Father has the moth miraculous and a kwami,’ he pointed out. ‘He’s at risk too.’

Ladybug inhaled sharply. ‘Crap,’ she cursed, and instantly covered her mouth. ‘Sorry!’ She mumbled.

‘We have to take that miraculous away from him,’ Chat stated. ‘Otherwise we can’t guarantee the safety of his kwami nor his.’

His partner sighed and rubbed her eyes. ‘Why does everything always happen at once?’ she complained. ‘I’m too tired to think straight right now. Too much information to process, I guess.’

Now it was his turn to squeeze her shoulder. ‘I agree. This is too much for one evening. I suggest we regroup, have a rest and come back to this tomorrow.’

‘Right,’ Ladybug nodded. ‘We need to think what assets do we have at hand.’

That reminded him of a shortage of a very important cheese. ‘Speaking of assets, has Master Fu left anything for us? I’m out of my special camembert again,’ he admitted, wincing.

Ladybug giggled at his sour frown. For the last two years he’d been complaining a lot about the form in which his special powers were stored. She got cute little macarons, that after a few months were still edible, if a little stale. He was stuck with stinky rainbow cheese. It was easier to store than the usual kind, the ingredients possibly making it last longer, but the inevitable result was still a colorful mold of rotten milk that smelled as if something had been living and then died in there.

‘Fret not,’ his partner smiled. ‘I was told a fresh batch of Plagg’s treat is waiting for you.’

‘Yaaay,’ he whisper-cried in mock enthusiasm.

‘Let’s meet at Fu’s tomorrow at eight. He gave me a spare key,’ Ladybug said stretching her arms and yawning. ‘I’m sure we’ll have better ideas after a good night’s sleep.’

Chat slumped at that. He didn’t want to go home. He felt Ladybug pressing herself into his back. Her hands snaked their way around his waist and she put her chin on his shoulder.

‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered into his ear. ‘We’ll handle this together.’

‘I know, Buginette,’ he turned to her bringing their foreheads together. ‘Will we talk about this too?’ he added stealing a quick kiss. His heart skipped a beat when she didn’t pull away, but snuggled closer. It was a nice distraction. Something he really could use right now, to postpone the thoughts of coming back to his house.

‘Something tells me, you would want to do other things than talk, Chat,’ she murmured, tapping at his bell.

‘I might,’ he admitted with a grin. He could feel the heat from her face and briefly wondered if his was similarly warm.

‘Then we really need to talk first,’ Ladybug bopped him on the nose and finally withdrew.

He chased her with puckered lips. ‘Hey! Don’t I get a goodnight kiss?’ he pouted.

‘Tomorrow,’ she offered.

Chat fluttered his eyelashes and scrunched his nose.

‘Not the kitten eyes!’ Ladybug gasped dramatically, but he didn’t need his night vision to see the flush right under the edge of her mask.

‘Purrety pawlease?’ he threw in a pair of begging paws for better measure.

‘Hmmm,’ she narrowed her eyes as if considering his plea. ‘Since you’re asking nicely…’ she grabbed him by the bell and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. She was already a step away before he could even think about reciprocating.

‘Night, Adrien,’ she breathed. ‘See you in a few hours.’ And with that she took off.

The memory of her breath on his face, and the touch of her lips on his, stayed with him on his way home, making the journey and the arrival almost bearable. But they didn’t manage to chase away the dark thoughts that the night brought. He barely slept a wink listening to any suspicious sounds or footsteps. Logically he knew he was as safe as every other night for the past three years, but his stomach was still clenched and twisted. He was actually glad for the sunrise to come, so that he would finally get out and do something.

That’s how Adrien found himself on his way to Master Fu’s massage parlor half an hour earlier than he should. Ladybug promised to meet him inside the shop, transformed. Fu had equipped her not only with a spare key, but also with instructions as to their special treats’ whereabouts. They were supposed to come up with a plan of getting to Hawkmoth without putting either of them at risk, so Adrien was trying to think of every useful fact about his father he knew. Anything that could give them an edge. Despite Ladybug’s warnings from their last encounter he had not been paying enough attention to here and now.

The mental pressure hit him as soon as he turned the corner to Master Fu’s street. As if he walked into a rubber wall, he bounced off of thin air and looked around confused. His head started hurting and his vision blurred. Adrien did his best to focus on what was happening and power through the strange sensations.

There was a figure standing in front of the parlor, as tall as a grown man and vaguely human in shape. But it didn’t look like anything Adrien had seen, in real life or in digital world of games and anime. The best he could come up with was a curved space, that somehow seemed more dense and darker in the place the figure occupied. He stared dumbly at the apparition, until he registered the mad jolting in his pocket.

Plagg was bumping into him and tugging at his shirt. ‘That’s the bad guy, kid,’ he hissed. ‘Snap out of it and run!’

But Adrien couldn’t run. Not when he noticed who the entity dragged out of the shop. Not when he saw her fighting fiercely to break free. Not when his blood froze with the horror of seeing the creature tightening its hold on her. The boy pushed into the rubber wall and the pressure lessened, allowing him inside. But he couldn’t move faster than a snail, as if he was wading in jelly.

She caught his eye and shook her head, signaling him to not come closer. Her hands went to her ears and he saw a flicker of light as two small black items slipped to the pavement and rolled to the side. Her gaze went to the place where they landed, and then to him to check if he understood.

‘Run!’ she screamed at the top of her lungs and stopped resisting.

Adrien doubled his efforts to move to her, but the entity was much faster. It disappeared before he even got to the earrings lying on the ground. Ladybug saved her miraculous, but this time she couldn’t save Marinette as well.

#Adrien Appreciation Week #We Are Miraculous #Day 5: Patrol #perdita writes #I Am Alive #ladynoir #adrinette #Adrien Agreste #Chat Noir #Ladybug #Marinette Dupain Cheng #ml fic

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ashtheshortstack · 5 years

Text

Garlic in the Cauldron - Ch 5

Garlic in the Cauldron

Adrien Agreste learned from a young age that witches were the enemies to vampires. He was taught to kill on sight, drink them dry, and never look back… however, meeting a witch named Marinette threw his entire world off balance.

Ch 5 - Beating Hearts

Read on ao3

<-Previous Chapter/Next Chapter –>

Evenings were quiet almost every time. But there were times in particular when Adrien’s father went on a tirade. And there was no stopping that. Gabriel didn’t calm down easily. Ever.

The door to Adrien’s room burst open, sending the young vampire nearly out of his skin. “Father?”

Gabriel snatched him by the collar. “Why does this keep happening?” his father growled.

“W-What?”

They were nose to nose, the elder vampire snarling starkly at his son. “Why do I keep smelling witch residue on you?! I know you aren’t drink their blood, but every evening when I walk by your door, the scent is there!”

Adrien tried to squirm free, but his father’s nails elongated, poking into his neck. The pressure almost felt choking, but not quite. “I-I don’t know!”

“You’re lying, Adrien! I can feel it!”

“I’m not!”

“It’s me!”

Both vampires whipped their heads towards the new voice joining the fray. Adrien’s heart plummeted to his stomach when he saw Plagg sitting there on the floor. He spoke. His father didn’t know that Plagg could talk. Adrien trembled, pushing his father away while the elder vampire was distracted.

Gabriel was on Plagg in seconds, grabbing the cat by the throat. “So, you speak, hm?”

“Father! Stop! Please! Don’t hurt him!” Adrien cried reaching out and grabbing his father’s arm.

The elder vampire threw his son to the floor. Adrien collapsed onto the carpet. He stared up in horror as Plagg flailed and squirmed in his father’s grip.

Gabriel bared his fangs, bringing the familiar closer. “You’re what I’ve been smelling, is that right? Have you been going back to your coven and giving them our location?”

“No! He’s been here with me at all times, I swear, Father! Please, let him go!” Adrien begged, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

The vampire tossed the familiar to the side. Plagg, thankfully, landed on his feet. The cat coughed, lurching for breath. Adrien scrambled over to the familiar, cradling him in his arms. “Oh my god, Plagg. I’m so sorry,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to Plagg’s. He wheezed a few more times as Adrien rocked him. He pet him on the head, hoping to offer some form of comfort.

Gabriel hovered over them. “You dare to care about such a thing?”

“He talks to me more than you do!” Adrien hissed, eyes flashing red with anger. “He’s the only friend I have, Father. Leave him alone. What else do I have to do when you keep me locked up in here?”

“How dare you speak to me that way!?” Gabriel growled, clearly affronted.

Adrien guarded Plagg in his arms, turning his body when his father reached for them. “Shut up!”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, Father, to shut up!” Adrien spat harshly. The hatred in his tone was evident. “Don’t you have a clan to go lead on a hunt? Can you not take the only being in this house that actually cares about away? Plagg has been for me so much more than anyone here has!”

Gabriel’s hands clasped behind his back. “I do what I do for your safety.”

“Right. Because not being able to live my life is safe. Thanks, Father. I appreciate it. Now, go away.”

“You cannot tell me what to—”

“Go. Away,” Adrien rumbled, fangs showing and eyes glowing more intensely than before.

Gabriel swallowed stiffly, clearly trying to keep himself in check as his lips twitched. Adrien was fully aware that his father was absolutely furious with him. And probably wanted to kill him, quite honestly. But Adrien just wanted him gone. He wanted to get away.

The elder vampire left the room with a loud slam of the door. Adrien flinched at the sound, clinging to Plagg for dear life. When his father’s footsteps retreated, the vampire melted into an emotional heap on the floor.

“Hey, Kid… you’re okay,” Plagg reassured, bumping his forehead to Adrien’s.

“Me? Are you okay?”

Plagg nodded. “I’m a lot sturdier than that. It’s how that asshole didn’t kill me the first time.”

Adrien sat up, wiping a few tears from his eyes. “You shouldn’t have covered for me like that.”

“It’s my job to protect you. I’m your familiar.”

His jaw fell ajar at Plagg’s words. Adrien stared at him. “M-My familiar? But I’m a vampire.”

The cat smirked. “I guess you’re the first vampire to have a familiar, hm?”

Adrien couldn’t help but smile as he hugged his knees to his chest. “I guess so. I knew you liked me,” he said with a grin.

“Don’t push it. We can’t get too mushy here.”

“I know. My apologizes.”

Plagg snickered. “You want to go see Marinette? Go cry it out?”

“You know me so well.”

_______________________________________________________________

Adrien hid in the tree while he waited for Marinette to arrive. In retrospect, he probably should have waited until Nathalie said goodbye and went off on the hunt before he took off. But he didn’t care. He had to get away.

His sniffles seemed to echo through the silence in the woods. Plagg was curled up on his side, the purring a little calming. Adrien was simply a bundle of nerves. His body still trembled, hands shaking as he hugged himself. He leaned his head back on the trunk, looking up at the branches above him.

“Adrien?”

Quickly, he wiped his eyes. “H-Hey!” he called down. His voice was weak and watery.

Marinette looked up at him concerned, brows furrowing as she tilted her head. “Have you been crying?”

“It’s… a long story.”

“Well, we’ve got all night.”

Adrien eyed her cautiously. Was she really willing to listen to him ramble about his woes all evening? Marinette simply smiled up at him before turning to lay out the blanket. He watched her as she carefully placed the comforter onto the ground and smoothed it out. She motioned with her arm for him to come down to join her.

Who was he to deny her?

Adrien climbed down the tree, digging his sharper nails into the bark as he skidded down. He flopped down beside her. She was staring at him. He cocked a brow at her.

“What?”

Marinette cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb across a stray tear that caught in his lashes. When she pulled her hand away, she seemed to analyze the dampness on her thumb. Her brows were furrowed as she gave him a sideways glance.

“Marinette?”

She seemed broken out of her thoughts when she quickly shook her head. “I just…” she trailed off, looking away from him before a sad smile etched along her lips. “I never thought I’d see a vampire cry.”

It didn’t surprise him to hear those words. Vampires were known for being stoic and monstrous. Never for their nurturing sensitive sides. Adrien was almost positive that Marinette didn’t even know he was physically capable of crying.

He returned her hesitant smile, curling his knees to his chest. “That’s a fair assessment.”

“You can talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong?”

Rubbing his arms cautiously, Adrien licked his lips as he considered what to say. He took a deep breath. “My father could smell the scent of a witch in my room and nearly knocked the door down to confront me. He…” he trailed off, voice growing weak.

Marinette rubbed his shoulder. “It’s okay…”

“He grabbed me by my shirt, got in my face, and screamed at me. When I wouldn’t tell him why he smelled a witch, Plagg took the fall for it and said it was him,” he looked at Marinette and saw her eyes widen in reaction to his statement. “F-Father threw me to the ground and grabbed Plagg by the throat, started to choke him… I can’t believe he was so—so angry with me. My father has been mad, but never physically grabbed me before. Let alone Plagg. He wasn’t aware that Plagg could speak before this evening. And now I’m worried my father will try to take him—or worse.”

There were tears welling in her eyes. “I-I’m so sorry. I can’t image what that was like.”

Adrien could feel the drops prickling in his own eyes. He quickly wiped the liquid away. “I-It’s okay. That’s the first interaction I’ve had with him in two weeks,” he said with a bitter laugh.

“Adrien…”

Marinette sat up on her knees before grabbing him. She pressed his head to her chest as she wound her arms around his shoulders. Her head leaned on his, her cheek pressing to his crown. “You deserve better.”

Sniffling, Adrien leaned into her touch. “All… All I’ve ever wanted was for my father to be proud of me. To care about me. Hell, I almost killed you because I was desperate for his attention. And for what?” his voice wobbled. “He doesn’t care.”

Marinette stayed silent, simply giving comforting rubs to his shoulder and back as she held him. The sound of her heartbeat was comforting. Her slow breathing worked to calm him. Adrien didn’t know what he did to deserve such special treatment from her, but he wasn’t going to complain. This was the most physical comfort he’d had in eight years. His desperate desire to be loved became apparent in this moment. Marinette’s care for him was something he relished in. She meant everything to him.

“I grew up hating witches because of him,” Adrien leaned back, looking up at her watery gaze. “He told me vengeance was the only means of justice. I’m starting to realize how convoluted his ideals are.”

Chewing her lip, Marinette glanced away shyly. “What do you think about witches now?”

So much warmth built in his chest. His hands shook with nervousness. Gulping, Adrien swallowed all of his cautiousness. He reached up, sliding his hands down her arms to her hands. Brings both of her hands to his lips, he placed a kiss on her knuckles.

“I think… I’m in love with one.”

Those bluebell eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed, the cute color glowing in the evening moon. Adrien prepared himself for rejection. His shoulders stiffened as he waited for the blow. The part of him mind that had hope slowly danced away into the distance realms of his brain. This was stupid. He shouldn’t have told her!

Her hands squeezed his, surprising him. The smile that cross her lips was enchanting as she looked at him so softly. “I never—” she cleared her throat and shot her gaze down at their intertwined fingers. She took in a sharp breath. “I never thought I’d fall in love with a vampire, but I can’t deny that I am.”

Adrien felt his heart flutter in his chest. So many thoughts rummaged through his muddled brain. But the fact that Marinette love him back struck a chord the hardest. He couldn’t help but smile. “You—You are? R-Really?”

“Yes,” she said more surely with a nod.

The laughed that bubbled out was pure joy. He couldn’t remember the last time someone told him they loved him. How could he get so lucky? To fall in love? Have that person love him back? He’d become so unconvinced he was unlovable. That nothing he did was ever good enough. But now.

That was all different.

“You have no idea what it means to hear you say that,” he admitted. Adrien knew his own face had to be flushed. There was a roaring rush adrenaline soaring through him, the sound pounding in his ears.

Marinette cupped his cheek. She pressed her forehead to his, their noses bumping together. She nuzzled her nose to his for a moment. “I do. I’m so in love with you.”

Then, she was leaning in. Adrien felt himself inwardly panic. Her lips brushed his, and he jolted away quickly. He covered his mouth with wide eyes as he frantically scattered to the other side of the blanket.

She waved her hands, face flushed, brows furrowed with worry. “Oh, jeez. Was that too fast? I should have asked first!”

“No, no!” Adrien waved a hand. “No—It’s just… My fangs—I don’t want to hurt you is all.”

She tilted her head. “You’re worried about your fangs hurting me?”

“Y-Yeah. I’ve never kissed anyone. I don’t know if they hurt or…”

Marinette gave him a reassuring smile. Shaking her head, she giggled. “Adrien, I’m a big girl. I’m sure I can handle your sharp teeth.”

“Are you sure?”

Crawling towards him, she nodded. “Yes, you goof.”

“Calling me a goof won’t make me want to kiss you.”

“Positive? I think I can be pretty convincing.”

“Maybe.”

Adrien gulped when she reached him. She scooted next to him, her hip bumping his. Their thighs were pressed together. Adrien couldn’t remember the last time someone was this physically close to him in an affectionate way. There she was… leaning in again. Squeezing his eyes closed tightly, he couldn’t look. His lips were pouched out when hers met his in a gentle peck. It was quit. Almost nothing. But it sent his soul ablaze.

He was fully aware of the warm blush on his cheeks when his eyes blinked open. Swallowing, he glanced away from her. “I-I think I did it wrong.”

“Want to try again?” she asked with a shrug. Her gaze was far too innocent for someone who he’d just given his first kiss to.

However, he nodded. He kept his lips a little softer that time. Marinette’s head tilted, keeping her nose from his. Her mouth was so soft when it pressed against his. Her lips moved this time. It was chaste, but still sent his heart soaring into heaven. He tried to move his mouth with hers, copying her movements. It was a bit clumsy, he admitted, but it was his first kiss. He was allowed to be inexperienced, right?

Marinette’s soft palm surprised him when she cupped his cheek. She deepened the kiss, moving her lips more soundly with his. The kiss was still timid and languid, but with more and more pent up feelings releasing with every movement.

Unfortunately, Adrien was aware that vampires were instinctually more hormonally aggressive than most creatures, so he wanted to make sure he kept himself in check. Was it like the rumors he’d heard that they attacked others and had their way with them? No. But, he definitely felt something bubbling within him that frightened him a bit.

And so, he pulled away. The soft sound of their lips parting made him weak. He could feel the dopey smile on his lips as he gazed at her. He was so lucky to have met this wonderful girl. He’d given up on any chance of falling in love. But clearly, he was wrong. Adrien was entirely head over hills for Marinette.

And he gave zero fucks that she was supposed to be his enemy.

Marinette had a love-ridden expression as she smiled at him. The fondness in her eyes made his heart swell. He was so happy. He was practically bursting at the seams with joy. Adrien excitedly took her hands into his.

“I love you,” he said. It was quiet. He was almost too afraid to say it out loud. That was such a big deal, wasn’t it? Saying those words. In that order. In that way… it was terrifying. But he was so overwhelmed with glee that he couldn’t stop the words from leaving his lips.

But relief washed over him when her fingers tightened around his. “I love you, too.”

Kissing. Kissing was really nice… Kissing Marinette may have become his favorite pastime. He pecked his lips to hers. Over and over… and over. The love he’d built up just for her was exploding out him like a shaken soda bottle. He reached up to her arms, squeezing her shoulders beneath his palms. Just touching her affectionately made his brain fall into a tizzy.

How did he get this lucky?

She pulled away gently, smiling at him with a chuckle as her nose brushed his. She gazed up at him behind those long lashes.

“You want to go flying?” she asked suddenly.

Cocking a brow, Adrien smirked. “With you driving the broom?”

She smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“If you promise not to kill me, I’ll consider it.”

Marinette held up her pinky. “Promise.”

Cute, he mused. Eyeing her carefully, he glanced down at her digit and back to her face. “Fine,” he wrapped his pinky around hers. “But if I die after getting my first kiss, I’m going to be really disappointed.”

She rolled her eyes fondly before hopping to her feet. Reaching her hands out him, she yanked him to his feet. “Don’t be a scaredy cat. I got this.”

“Calling me a cat now, huh?”

“Fits your aesthetic,” she teased with a wink.

Marinette skipped to her broom, lifting it from the ground. She mounted it like a horse, kicking her leg over the handle. “Ready?” she asked looking at him expectantly.

Adrien gulped, walking over to her. He looked the broom up and down, unsure of how to join her. He copied her actions, hitching his leg up to sit on it behind her. But… then he wasn’t sure what to do with his arms. “W-Where do I grab—?”

She took her hands, wrapping them around her waist. “Hold on tight, okay?”

His cheeks were so warm. Why was he so embarrassed? Just holding a girl he just kissed really, really close as she drove them around on a broom. This would be fine. …Right?

The broom ascended suddenly, making him clutch her quickly. She giggled at him before turning her attention forward. God, he hoped she didn’t crash them. That would suck. He’d have to explain those bumps and bruises to his father and he certainly wouldn’t be looking forward to that. They shoot up fast, making Adrien yelp.

“You’re okay,” she assured.

“Easy for you to say. You’re used to falling off of this,” he muttered.

“I’ll kick you off, vampy.”

“That’s offensive.”

“I know.”

He gaped at her, feigning an insulted look. “How dare you?”

“Better close your mouth unless you want to catch bugs.”

He snorted.

Adrien had to admit though… it was nice. The wind kissed his cheeks as they soared above her coven. It was much less exhausting this way. Usually when he flew, it was with his own wings that he used. But now, he could just rest. Watch the night sky peacefully. He’d never noticed how bright the stars were this high.

Having Marinette this close was just so… comfortable. Adrien felt himself sigh, squeezing her waist tighter and resting his chin on her shoulder. Marinette hummed, leaning her head onto his.

“Thanks for this… For tonight,” Adrien said.

He could see her shy smile. “It’s no problem. You needed it, right?”

“Still. I didn’t mean to dump a love confession on you this evening,” he laughed hesitantly.

Marinette gave a lopsided shrug. “I’m not complaining.”

He grinned. “I’m glad.”

“I’m sorry your father treats you that way…”

“It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

She gave him a sideways glance. “It doesn’t make it right.”

“It’s okay. I have you.”

The smile she gave him made his heart flutter.

_______________________________________________________________

Adrien didn’t even remember flying home. He flopped on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He could feel the stupid grin etched along his lips. Finally, he giggled to himself, grabbing a pillow and cuddling it to his chest.

“Wow, wow, wow… That’s a smitten kitten look if I’ve ever seen one,” Plagg teased from the nightstand.

Adrien tried in vein to bite his lip to keep from smiling. “Shut up,” he mumbled.

Plagg smiled, licking a paw casually. “I’m happy for you, kid. Really.”

Rolling to his side, Adrien cuddled into his pillow. “Thanks.”

“Just… remember the consequences. You must keep Marinette safe. Especially from your old man,” the familiar said, an edge in his voice.

The vampire sat up, a cold feeling of dread washing over him. “Y-You don’t think he’d find her, do you?”

“As long as she doesn’t come here, she’s safe. Her coven is well hidden. I lead you there for a reason.”

“You did?”

He nodded, hopping onto the bed next to him. Adrien rubbed his palm along Plagg’s fur, the soft feeling a comfort in that moment. Plagg seemed to appreciate it as a small purr rumbled from his throat. The familiar allowed him to continue scratching as Plagg spoke. “I did. I didn’t intend on you falling in love, obviously. But I did take you there for a reason.”

“So, for what reason?”

“I wanted you to learn about witches and have some empathy for them. You’ve learned that they aren’t heartless like your father taught you. The witch from the prophecy lives in that coven. It’s so hard to find because they have a spell protecting them, that’s why it’s so hard to find.”

Adrien sat up instantly. His eyes were widened with surprise. “W-Wait, what?”

Plagg gave a small nod. “Your father knows that a young witch is supposed to end the war, so he’s been trying to hunt down Marinette’s coven.”

Hugging himself, he looked away and stared at his feet. “I…I didn’t know.”

The familiar sat a paw on his leg. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”

“Will you tell me?”

Plagg nodded slowly. “Yes. Eventually.”

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rosethornewrites · 4 years

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Fic: The Rebellion of Adrien Agreste, ch. 10

Summary: How to Piss Off Gabriel Agreste

AO3 link

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Gabriel Agreste was displeased.

Honestly, that was an understatement.

Gabriel Agreste was infuriated.

He had allowed Adrien his little temper tantrum, the slamming of the door and stomping to his bedroom, expecting to let the boy stew for a bit until he had calmed enough to be reasonable. In the meantime, he had assured Mlle. Rossi things would progress as planned.

That had been a miscalculation. Adrien’s behavior had only escalated, as he somehow managed to escape the mansion—something Gabriel had only discovered later, when Nathalie had brought the tablet to him, with that picture on the Instagram social media account that was meant largely for Adrien to promote the brand. He had been permitted to use it for additional reasons, but clearly that had been a mistake.

Gabriel had been struck by the smile on Adrien’s face, though, carefree and happy… and alongside that of a boy he’d never seen as they cuddled in an intimate way that was wholly inappropriate for the brand. He never would have allowed such a picture with Mlle. Rossi.

But his hands were also tied by Adrien’s move—if he were seen to disapprove, many of his employees would be livid, not to mention critics. The LGBTQ+ community was well represented in the fashion industry. At this point, Gabriel would be seen as homophobic.

Furthermore, a third party had taken those pictures, meaning Adrien had found allies.

Nathalie had attempted to regain control of the account, to no avail. Hopefully the furor would die down quickly; Gabriel had the Gorilla out searching for his wayward son so they could nip this in the bud. But he’d come up empty thus far.

Mlle. Rossi had called, raging, and had required a lecture about tone and entitlement. She had been seething by the time he hung up on her, but Gabriel didn’t particularly care. She was outliving her use with her childish assumption he’d give in to her demands.

He had used the roiling emotions of a jealous fan to create an Akuma, but it had been defeated far too quickly for his liking,

Nathalie had returned with the tablet shortly thereafter, with a new photo and that hair. His hair had been pristine, never adulterated with anything so aggressive as dye. And now—! He matched his ‘boyfriend’—Gabriel was certain this was a fake relationship, but if he said such a thing publicly it would receive backlash—and they were feeding each other ice cream and laughing. Another picture taken by a third party.

Gabriel hadn’t even noticed the caption, or the following post essentially accusing the company of forcing him to work, until Nathalie pointed them out. Worse, there were comments from fans angry that Adrien was not permitted to play with that ridiculous band.

theofficialchloebourgeois: I didn’t know it was that bad, Adrikins. I’ll talk to Daddy.

alya.ladyblogger: @theofficialchloebourgeois Pretty sure this violates child labor laws, too. #LetAdrienGoToSchool

theofficialchloebourgeois: @alya.ladyblogger Will bring that up.

The Instagram tag the Ladyblogger had created had started going viral, even spreading to Twitter.

The TVi news was even using it. Curious, Gabriel clicked on the article they’d linked to.

Model Adrien Agreste Comes Out, Alleges Being Forced to Date New Gabriel Muse, Lila Rossi

Leaked Rossi text messages include threats

When he saw the image of the text messages, he hurled the tablet against the wall.

Nathalie gave him a reproachful look and he glowered at her. “You were due for an upgrade anyway,” he hissed, still trying to contain his rage.

Clearly Mlle. Rossi had become more than an inconvenience.

“Inform Mlle. Rossi that her association with Gabriel has ended, as she has provided an unsavory image for the brand. Announce that on the official social media. Make sure the announcement planned for tomorrow is stopped.”

A stress headache, perhaps even a migraine, was coming on.

Marinette returned home with freshly painted pink fingernails, and Jagged loudly praising her nonexistent design ideas.

“Marinette Dupain-Chang, would you care to comment on your relationship with former Gabriel model Lila Rossi?”

Oh, that had been tempting. ‘Former’? They hadn’t seen that bit of information before she’d left—she’d have to text that to Kagami and Luka, who would share it with Adrien. They’d agreed that he’d need to keep his cell phone off to avoid the GPS locater, until they’d gotten enough done.

Jagged posed for the camera, hugging her one-armed. “That horrid girl has been bullying my niece here. Kept her too afraid to say anything. But Uncle Jagged’s here to take care of his Marinette.”

Then he pushed past Nadja Chamack to enter the bakery—let in by her parents despite it being after hours. They presented him with a large box of macrons to thank him, and asked if he would be free to join the family for dinner the next night—specifying that ‘the team’ was welcome, too.

Adrien, Luka, and Kagami had been insistent that she should bring them in on the plan, that they have some adults they could lean on aside from Jagged, whose stay in Paris would only be so long.

Marinette hadn’t been certain about letting them in on the fake relationship details, but they had been appropriately horrified at Adrien’s treatment and had immediately been on board. Everything had fallen into place, and maman had insisted after tomorrow she would take her break from the bakery to coincide with Marinette’s walk to school, so she could escort her for her protection.

They had a plan, a script, for Luka and Adrien’s relationship. She just had to be ready early tomorrow to be escorted to school, and be ready for any media attention.

And they had decided that Luka should be seen with Adrien, saying goodbye before the school day with appropriate closeness. They hadn’t specified what it should be, but that part could be ad-libbed. Regardless, the media would eat it up.

She updated her parents over dessert fruit tarts, then pleaded exhaustion and headed up to her room to get ready for bed. On her way up, she texted Luka and Kagami the news about Lila.

Tikki looked a bit exasperated when she was finally able to leave Marinette’s purse, and for a moment she was worried the kwami disagreed with what they were doing, that she’d be disappointed.

“I didn’t realize Adrien had it so bad,” Tikki said instead. “That poor boy. I’m glad you came to his side; I know it might be hard to watch him in a pretend relationship with Luka.”

Marinette relaxed. Tikki was on her side.

“I knew his father was awful, but I didn’t know it was this bad, either. If we do this right, M. Agreste will be under enough scrutiny to give Adrien some freedom.”

“He deserves better,” the kwami commented, taking the cookie Marinette offered her.

Marinette nodded. “Do you think I’m doing enough?”

“You’re doing everything you can.” Tikki set down the cookie and put one tiny hand on Marinette’s. “And… I think Luka was right. You expect too much of yourself. I know you’re Ladybug, but you’re also Marinette. You don’t need to bottle things up. You don’t need to be perfect.”

Marinette was silent for a bit, thinking about that. She’d always tried to stay strong on her own—even during the worst of Chloé’s bullying, she hadn’t reached out. Part of it was learning that Chloé could get away with a lot because of her status; teachers were rarely willing to punish the daughter of the mayor, so instead Marinette had been told she was being too sensitive, or that she needed to be the bigger person and be an example. All she’d wound up being is an example of a doormat.

In the past year, she’d learned that what her teachers had done was considered gaslighting. She’d managed to let them convince her that her feelings weren’t important. Marinette had been afraid to tell her parents everything, because if they told her the same thing…

Ever since Alya had come, she’d been able to start growing out of that—all it had taken was someone standing up for her.

“Thanks, Tikki.”

The kwami sighed. “Honestly, I should have helped you take care of this Lila situation earlier. It’s gone on too long. I let you flounder, even after you were almost Akumatized. I didn’t even think about how this was effecting you. I’m sorry, Marinette.”

Marinette brought Tikki up to her face and kissed her cheek. “I was doing what Luka said—putting on a front. I need to trust you and my parents and my friends more.”

“We’ll learn together,” Tikki told her with a smile. “I’m so proud of you, Marinette!”

They snuggled cheek to cheek for a moment, and then Marinette went to the bathroom to prepare for bed, leaving Tikki to her cookie.

63 notes · View notes

paganinpurple · 5 years

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A Feline’s Family - MariChat May 2019

Buy Me A Coffee?

AO3

Chapters (If there’s no link, it’s not written yet)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Day 7 – Roommates

“Wake up, sweetheart.”

Chat groaned as a blurry Sabine gently shook his shoulder. He blinked repeatedly until she came into focus and for one blissful second, he was confused –wondering why she was here in his room– but then it all came rushing back to him, and the emotional rapids with it.

“We’ve only got you set up temporarily for tonight,” the woman told him from where she was perched on the edge of the couch next to him, “ The chaise isn’t very good for more than a couple of nights, but it’s better than this old thing. We’re working on getting you a real bed tomorrow.”

“Bed?” Chat said, sitting up in a hurry of tangled blankets and cushions, “Please tell me you aren’t buying one for me? The couch would’ve been fine, honest.”

“Nonsense,” she said with a sweet smile, “Besides, we all have to use the living-room and three other people in your space all the time will have you on edge.”

“But, you don’t have another bedroom,” Chat remembered suddenly. He’d been given the tour around his second or third visit and discovered the place was actually only a one-bedroom place, since Marinette’s room had been the attic originally and just converted into a room for her. “If I’m not sleeping here, then where…?”

“Upstairs.”

“Well, yeah. I figured that for tonight,” he said –after all she’d mentioned the chaise and he knew that was Marinette’s– “but if you’re getting me a bed, where are you going to put that?”

She smiled affectionately and shook her head a little before speaking slower and clearer to be sure he understood. “Up. Stairs.” She gestured for him to follow her and made her way up to the attic as he just sat there with wide, unblinking eyes.

***

“Then we get another screen –a much bigger one, mind you– and it can go here to split the room if either of you ever need your own space.” Tom gestured to the rough centre of Marinette’s room, using his hands to illustrate roughly how tall the screen he had mentioned would be. “I’ve seen plenty of them in that little homewares place the next arrondissement over. It’s just that they’re a little plain-”

“But I can always decorate them with a design or two,” Marinette interjected, “I know what kind of things I like for my side, so I just need ideas from you on how you want the other side done.” That seemed to make her consider something and she narrowed her eyes as she glanced about the room. “Actually, maybe we could redecorate the walls, so you’re not overwhelmed by pink all the time.”

Still reeling from the shock of learning he and Marinette were going to be sharing a room, Chat just stared from where he had slumped down on the chaise, green duvet pulled tightly around his shoulders. They had now talked him through their a few of their ideas for completely rearranging Marinette’s room –to create a space specifically for Chat– and he hadn’t even managed to respond to them once. It was a bit much to come to terms with.

He could barely believe he’d only been asleep for a few hours considering all the thought they’d put into his move already. Even just being offered a place to stay was more than he’d hoped to get when he’d disrupted everything. And here they were thinking about his long-term happiness already.

He considered the different ways they wanted to make space for him up here. One possibility was placing one of the large desks that made up the space beneath her bed to under the window by the chaise instead, the other moving further along from where it already sat to make room for another bed beneath the loft. Another –the one involving the screens– left Marinette with one side of the room and him the other. One of the desks would still be relocated to his side –along with his bed when they got one– and the chaise moved beside the wash-basin, the screens effectively separating the large room into two.

It wouldn’t be very big –there was barely enough room for all of Marinette’s projects at times already– but it would be his. A shared space, yes - but one where these people had made room in their lives just for him. It was far more than his father had ever done for him.

Shaking off that thought quickly before he started dwelling too much and upset himself again, Chat decided to just go ahead and address the elephant in the room. He turned to look at Marinette. “Am I the only one thinking it’s odd you’re all okay with a boy sharing your room?”

He watched as a deep scarlet started to spread across her face at his words, seeping from the opening of her shirt and even going so high as to dust the tips of her ears. Oh. Despite his question, he hadn’t expected that. It was a strange disconnect from reality to see her so cool and confident while talking about the logistics of him living in her room one minute, and then for her to be so utterly mortified the next.

“Yes, well-”

“Don’t you dare, Papa.”

Chat glanced from one glaring Dupain to the other in confusion, pleading with his eyes for someone to explain the silent warfare going on before him.

“Fine!” Marinette huffed, throwing her hands out in front of her and surprising him with how loudly she spoke, “But I refuse to be here while it happens.” She stomped out of the room, muttering something under her breath as she went. It sounded suspiciously like she’d used the words, “embarrassing” and “ridiculous.”

“Right, son,” Tom said, face suddenly stern and vaguely terrifying, “It’s time we had a talk about appropriate behaviour between a teenage boy and girl living under one roof.”

Chat gulped.

***

It’d been a long, emotional day for Chat Noir - for them all. He should have been exhausted and yet, he wasn’t. He just couldn’t stop thinking about his father. About Ladybug. And about how he wasn’t ready to face either of them yet.

What would he even say? If he had stayed and confronted his father, the man would have most likely tried to keep him locked up and isolated again. He wouldn’t even have been given his phone or an internet connection this time around - in order to try and keep him from telling anyone what he knew. And if he’d kept what he’d discovered to himself, and Hawkmoth’s powers really worked the way Master Fu had told him they did, his father would have soon known something was up. He would have detected the constant panic and distrust eventually and realised that Adrien knew more than he was supposed to. And that would have been the end of his short life, because –if he was being perfectly honest– he would die inside if he was forced to return to the way he used to live now that he’d had a taste of freedom.

As for Ladybug, he wasn’t sure how she’d react. Would she want to know Hawkmoth’s identity immediately? Or speak to Master Fu first to decide if learning who Chat was under the mask was too big a risk? Would she be angry with him for not saying something immediately? Would she be angry at him just for his blood connection with a magical terrorist? Would she and Master Fu try to take his Miraculous to avoid it falling into his father’s hands? He needed to know what he was or wasn’t going to tell her before the next akuma showed up.

At least he had bought time with his father. It had been worrying Chat how quickly he’d managed to put together a logical fallacy so he could continue to go to school and things when he wasn’t hidden in plain sight as a super-hero. Worrying mostly because that’s exactly how his father tended to think when coming up with solutions. Cold and calm planning calculated through creating an emotional distance from the situation until later.

He knew he could have simply disappeared as Adrien altogether, but his father would have had people out searching every home in Paris for him - he would have been slapped across every news outlet as a missing person. It wouldn’t have taken long for someone to spot him, or for Marinette and her family to connect the dots. And then how would they react?

So instead –before he’d run off to the bakery and allowed himself to break down– he had written a long letter. He had detailed everything he had seen and worked out in hindsight about his father’s activities as a terrorist, including the entrance to his lair and that Ladybug and Chat Noir had suspected Gabriel at one point. He’d also talked about years of neglect and emotional manipulation by the man to show that it wasn’t exactly a recent lapse in his moral compass that had led to him attacking Parisians on a daily basis. The letter had been attached to an email he had sent to his father, in which he explained that should Gabriel or anyone else try to take him home, or if his friends (or anyone seen with him) were approached or threatened or bribed in any way, then an email containing his letter was set to send to the press. He explained that it was held in more than one private cloud system he had signed up for, and should he fail to sign in and reset his scheduled mail each day, it would send automatically. It was a genuine, legitimate threat as well and if Gabriel decided to check his online history, he’d see hundreds of different cloud services Adrien had researched, choosing ones with free access, to ensure his father couldn’t cut them off by refusing payment.

He just hoped it was enough to dissuade the man from appearing at school, because Adrien was going to be a nervous wreck tomorrow as it was.

He looked up in the dimly lit room, seeing everything as clear as if it were day with his super-powered night-vision. There seemed to be a lot of movement coming from the loft and he wondered if Marinette was having just as much trouble falling asleep as he was.

“Are you asleep?” he whispered.

“No,” came the hushed response almost instantly, “I should be though. We both should.”

“Yeah. Just can’t stop thinking.”

“I know, Kitty. I know.”

He honestly didn’t know what he’d do without this girl and her parents right now. They had taken him in even before this whole mess and showered him with so much love and care when he visited that he wasn’t sure how to handle it. And now here they were, making a space for him in their home, in their lives. And he hadn’t even told them why.

“Thank you,” he said for what must have been the hundredth time, “You and your parents didn’t need to do this.”

“Of course, we did. Mama and Papa have practically adopted you already.” She yawned loudly as she finished speaking.

That was another thing…

He looked up to her bed. Looked away again. Bit his lip. Glanced back to her. He wasn’t going to say it. There was no way he was going to ask such an awkward question so he might as well just go to sl-

“Hey,” Damn it! “if your parents have adopted me…does that make me your brother?”

There was silence for a moment, and he thought maybe she had fallen asleep, but the sudden rustling of the duvet and a quick glance at her sitting upright and staring through the dark in his general direction quickly corrected him.

“No,” she said firmly, “No, you are not my brother. You are…” she looked pained and uncomfortable for a second until she settled on a word that her face told him she didn’t quite agree with, but was the best she could offer right now, “you’re my friend.”

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paganinpurple · 6 years

Text

A Crushing Revelation - Ch 6

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“She just acts super-different around me. Nothing like how she acts with everyone else. It’s…odd.”“Oh Kitty,” she said turning to look at him with a sort of pitying humour in her eyes, “you really don’t get it, do you?”“Uh, no,” he said rolling his eyes at her, “That’s why I’m confused.”Ladybug held her smirk and sighed, putting her face in her hand for a moment before lifting it again and giving him a piercing look that said to take note of what she said next, that it would be important.“She has a crush on you.”

Adrien has often been confused by Marinette’s odd behaviour around him and Ladybug can tell when something is on Chat’s mind so he decides to confide in her as vaguely as possible. Marinette might not recognise herself but she definitely recognises the signs of a girl in love. How does Adrien react to the new realisation that one of his closest friends likes him as more than a friend? And what will he do with this information when Ladybug points out that it seems like he likes her too?

Read on AO3 or FF.net <<Ch 1 <Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 7> (Not written yet)

Chapter Six - Adrien Can’t Stop Staring

“Dude! Quit staring!” Nino whisper shouted.

Adrien's eyes snapped back to the boy across from him before they dropped to the lab project on the desk between them, face burning.

This was the third time today his best friend had been forced to remind him not to be so creepy and while the first time had been said with a teasing lilt to his voice, he was sure the good humour Nino had felt was quickly dying.

And yet, he couldn't help himself. His mind was a mess of thoughts from the last two days and Marinette was right there! His position -on the opposite side of the lab counter from Nino and his usual place- gave him the perfect view of the girl’s station from here and luckily (or unluckily) she was facing him. It gave him a great opportunity to study her face as she concentrated, tongue stuck out the corner of her mouth and eyebrows tilted.

“You're doing it again,” Nino interjected again without looking up, “Dude, I really need this experiment to go well to help raise my grade in this hell class, so can you just pay attention?”

“Sorry,” Adrien told him, “But you know why I'm distracted.”

“Yeah,” said Nino, grinning ridiculously.

This morning, Adrien had told Nino the abridged version of his inner turmoil over discovering that he might actually like Marinette after all as well as getting confirmation that his “work crush” honestly wasn't interested.

His best friend had comforted him about the latter before exploding into his sacred duty to tease him about the former. The moment Marinette had walked past he'd given him all sorts of meaningful looks and of course, once she'd been out of earshot, he'd been completely merciless and again reminded Adrien about all the winking and suspect comments he'd made since knowing her.

Staring determinedly at the beaker he was pouring liquid into, Adrien desperately tried to ignore his burning face as best he could. He was never going to live this down now, no matter what happened, and he briefly wondered if he should have even told Nino anything.

“Quit it,” he told him, breathing a slight sigh of relief when the solution in the beaker changed to the expected colour to indicate he'd added the correct amount of liquid.

“Then quit staaaariiiing,” Nino sing-songed at him as he scribbled down the results in his workbook, grinning the whole time.

Yeah, he never should have told Nino.

The thought returned to Adrien at the end of class in full force.

“Hey, Alya! Marinette!” Nino shouted, much louder than necessary to get their attention as they passed by to leave the lab, “My man here only has one more day to eat with friends before he has to go back to lunch at his big, lonely house for the rest of the week. Mind if we join you two again?”

“Niinooo,” Adrien hissed under his breath but found himself silenced by the dismissive wave Nino sent his way.

“Well, we were going to head to Marinette's today,” Alya said in response, “but I'm sure her parents wouldn't mind. Right M?”

He watched awkwardly as Marinette turned to look at him, blushing lightly as she gave a shy smile, absent-mindedly brushing a lock of stray hair behind her ear as she did. He was pretty certain she wasn't the only one blushing.

“There’s plenty to go around,” she said looking up at him through her eyelashes shyly, “If that’s, um, okay with you, Adrien?”

“Uh…” He floundered momentarily before he felt Nino harshly bump him from the side, jaw slamming shut in shock and pain. “Yeah,” he breathed, “that sounds good.” Marinette practically beamed back at him in response and he started to wonder if not all the heat came from the blood rushing to his face, but if maybe instead some radiated from the girl in front of him as she shone as bright as the sun just from his acceptance alone.

The walk to the bakery was a quick one, which as it turned out was something of a mercy. Alya had linked into Nino almost instantly and the two had run off ahead leaving a very clear and obvious gap between themselves and the two hopeless kids behind them, occasional looks thrown over their shoulders at their best friends. Adrien hadn’t had the faintest idea where to start trying to initiate a conversation with his friend-turned-admirer and instead had simply stolen glances at the girl beside him as minutes passed in painful silence.

The glances had been somewhat insightful though as every glimpse at her made his stomach flutter and his chest constrict uncomfortably as he noticed her penchant for nervously chewing her lip. Because while he might have felt awkward and uncomfortable, he also felt a great deal of warmth blooming in his chest whenever he spotted her teeth pressing against the tender skin there. There was absolutely no denying that he found it adorable.

As they arrived, Adrien found himself in a new, unexpected kind of hell as Marinette’s parents greeted them all, spending an especially long time asking him how he was doing and saying how pleased they were to see him again. Normally he loved this kind of attention, even if it did embarrass him, but now -now that he knew- it was obviously laced with little smirks and hidden statements meant more to unsettle Marinette and make their approval obvious. He despaired at himself over how he had ever missed any of these clues before. Surely this was worse than their usual fawning over him, wasn’t it? Or had it always been this transparent and he was simply the biggest idiot in all of Paris?

“Maman!” Marinette had shrieked as she finally pried him away from her parents by the elbow and practically pushed him up the stairs before realising what she was doing and slinking away to stand behind Alya. She didn’t reappear until the group had made it inside her living-room and even then, her face remained a tell-tale pink.

“H-Have a seat!” she squeaked at Adrien and Nino as Alya followed her to the kitchen to start looking out lunch foods.

“Hey, Marinette? Do we have a selection?” Nino shouted suddenly, startling the girl into knocking over the fruit bowl on the counter, “’Cause I think my boy here needs you to tell him each one before he can decide.”

Glancing over quickly to see that Marinette was distracted picking up the fallen fruit before it bruised, Adrien turned to his best friend with a scowl. “Quit overdoing it!” he hissed, not noticing Marinette freeze as he began to speak, Alya taking over clean-up for her, “I can talk to her myself if you give me some space.” He also missed how her eyes widened and she dropped what little fruit she had managed to gather up already.

Sensing Marinette’s over-reaction coming from a mile away, Alya bumped her arm against her best friend’s which quickly snapped her back into startled action. “Soup!” she shouted, frightening Adrien who jumped as he turned back to face her, “Papa made soup! Or we have casserole or quiche. And I could always make sandwiches.” Her face dropped to watch her toe scuff against the tiles that made up the kitchen flooring as she suddenly lost her nerve to look Adrien in the eye.

He gulped and ran his hand through his hair, grabbing at the fine hairs at the base of his neck when he reached it, the slight pain a distraction from the awkward atmosphere in the room. “I love quiche,” he managed to mumble back at her, “What kind?”

The afternoon got progressively more awkward from there. Marinette managed to muddle up almost everything she said to Adrien and the smiles he gave her in response more closely resembled grimaces as he tried desperately to remember how he was supposed to act around friends. Alya and Nino had eventually taken pity on them and started to engage them in separate discussions on recent extra circulars. Adrien took the distraction gratefully, prattling on about his upcoming fencing tournament and how he would have liked to try other kinds of sword fighting, had he the time.

It worked well most of the time, Adrien forgetting the strange tension in the room between him and the girl on the other side of the table but there were occasions when his words failed him, and he had to be reminded of what he was saying. Because once the girl’s conversation had fizzled out, they had decided to listen, and Marinette never stopped looking at him as he spoke. As she watched him, she always appeared to be admiring not just his face, but to be truly enjoying the sound of his voice and everything he said to her. She stared, not like she was just some starstruck fan (although there was definitely a slight element of that as well) but as if he had somehow given her the answers to something important. Like he was telling her, and her alone, a secret which affected the whole universe and their place in it.

It was overwhelming.

The real moment of clarity came when the argument began. Nino had taken a turn talking about what changes he was working on for his latest music mix, playing them a sample, when Alya had made an off-hand comment about not really noticing the difference between his last draft and the one he had just played.

All hell had broken loose as Nino had taken great offence, claiming Alya meant it as a distasteful comment on his abilities as a DJ. Alya, in turn, was annoyed that Nino would actually expect her to make a comment with the intent to upset him. Marinette had intervened, explaining quickly to an angry Nino had Alya and herself weren’t as tuned into the differences in music as he was and that he couldn’t honestly expect everyone to understand and recognise the minute differences he had made every time he changed something. Adrien had been sure that was the end of it, a smug Alya and a chided Nino going silent - except Marinette then did something amazing.

She turned back to Alya, face full of disappointment, and began to lecture her about being more considerate when talking to people, especially to people she cared about. Alya’s grin slipped away the longer Marinette spoke, as she realised she wasn’t getting off the hook lightly. Her face took on a remorseful look as her best friend began to finish up before she turned to Nino and apologised for her bluntness.

Adrien simply stared, slack-jawed. He was accustomed to the idea that people should support their friends. If nothing else, it was the moral of pretty much every cartoon and TV show he had ever binged in his life. But Marinette had done something extraordinary when she had defended Alya to Nino. Because she had also ensured Alya knew she had done something wrong. She hadn’t defended Alya blindly but instead, she had encouraged Alya to become a better person the next time she found herself in a similar situation, by forcing her to face her own short-comings. With his limited experience with friends, it was something that had never occurred to Adrien before. Chloé certainly wouldn’t have appreciated if he had done the same. Yet here was Alya smiling at Marinette in thanks for her intervention.

He continued his awed admiration for a moment before Alya caught sight of him and, making meaningful eye-contact with her best friend, flicked her gaze back to him and away again quickly; an obvious hint to look. Marinette’s eyes widened as her head turned stiffly until she met his own and his heart thumped loudly as a dull ache settled in his chest at the contact.

Shit, he thought suddenly, realisation hitting him like a ton of bricks, I do like her.

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