The Original Meeting for The Prince and Snow White, from the original 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs comic strip, released weekly, beginning December 14, a week before the film’s premiere.
After reading a post from @critical-thinking-is-mandatory, which was essentially about Adrien having an antagonist who is a model, I decided why not? All Adrien has to do is breath and he gets all the girls, wealthy or not. So this is my take on an Adrien antagonist, who is a model, rich, a bully (somewhat), hates Chat Noir’s guts, knows how to dazzle an audience (like Liar Rossi), and has feelings for Marinette because we all know that if Marinette had a bully for a love interest like Adrien does and she protects him even though uwu, sunshine boy is clearly ~suffering~, the fandom would have her executed. Ugh. Just. Ugh.
Stephan Vladislav expected many things when he transferred to Francois Dupont from his previous high school in Russia. That didn’t mean he wasn’t ready for anything. He did his research and found that many of his classmates were high profile individuals.
Adrien Agreste: The son of Emile and Gabriel Agreste. A well known model just like him.
Alya Cesaire: Creator of the Ladyblog which has become the number one akuma battle news source in Paris.
Nino Lahiffe: Founder and creator of his own film website, Turtle Pictures.
Chloe Bourgeois: Daughter of Style Queen and the Mayor of Paris.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng: Daughter of the best bakers in Paris, the well known fashion designer MDC, publicly endorsed by the Style Queen herself, Jagged Stone, Nadia Chamack, Clara Nightingale, and many other high profile celebrities.
The list went on and on. Francois DuPont was certainly different from his previous schools. He attended the most prestigious schools for most of career. The students there, while rich and influential, were flimsy, lazy, snobbish to anyone they deemed less worthy than themselves. The fact that many of them were untalented spoke volumes of how they expected their status to get them through life (what morons).
But they weren’t even a challenge to Stephan, as what looked like a fight to the rest of his schools was, in reality, a one-sided massacre. Students who at the top of the food chain when he arrived were left broken, alone, and friendless by the time of his departure.
He wasn’t a bad person per say. Stephan just liked winning by his own talent and merits. He was the son of the famous Russian luxury fashion designer Nicolas Vladislav and his mother Laurice Vladislav, a dark skinned woman who was a famous photographer and known for discovering many of the famous models and actresses we see today.
His new school may be filled to the brim with competition, but the Vladislav family thrived off of opposition and he had a lot going for him. If it was grades, he would work tirelessly to make sure he was at the top of the class. Sports? He had a knack for baseball and archery. Music? The flute as well as drums come easy to him. Art? Say hello to his shelf displaying all the trophies and certificates he won from several art competitions. Extracurriculars? He can speak Russian, English, French (obviously), German, and Mandarin. In depth understanding in photography, fashion, and the business world. Not to mention he is a very well known model. They’ve got nothing on him!
*******
Standing in that classroom, Stephan realized he had been wrong about his class.
Instead of the hardworking, ambitious, and goal driven classmates Stephan had been looking forward to competing with (and winning against), he was met with a literal zoo of students screaming, crowding around one Italian looking student, and sending harsh glares over at a few students in the back who looked embarrassed at their classmates‘ behavior.
He hadn’t even been in there for five minutes and he could already list everything wrong with his new class.
First off, the teacher (Ms. Bustier he would later learn), had no control of her students whatsoever. Her eyes would frequently go to the back of the classroom to a blue haired student as if begging her to make the class listen even though she was the teacher. Pathetic.
Secondly, it seemed the class was catering to what could only be a chronic liar. Seriously, all it took was a simple google search to disapprove her lies. Not to mention all her stories contradict each other if anyone bothered to use their brain. The only ones not fooled were the four students sitting at the back of the room (Alya, Nino, Marinette, and Chloe).
And no. Just no. He won’t even get into the topics of the class’ lack of critical thinking skills, their herd/mob mentality, and blatant disrespect to anyone with a different opinion from them, specifically pertaining to one Lila Rossi.
And to think he prepared every trick and every tactic in the book crush the others on the his to the top.
It took seven minutes top for the red-haired “teacher” to get the rowdy class under control.
Madame Bustier gestured to his person when the class finally noticed his presence with a plastered smile on her face.
“Class, please welcome your newest classmate and transfer student. He’ll be studying with us from now on,” she clasped her hands in front of her and sent Stephan a smile, “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”
Snapped out of his pondering, the Russian stepped into the classroom completely from his spot at the doorframe. He strode confidently to the center of the class with his head held high.
”Hello, everyone. My name is Stephan Vladislav. I’m from Russia and I enjoy modeling, and art”. Judging from the shocked looks from most of Bustier’s class and dawning recognition on others, they very well knew who he was. He spotted an Italian girl sitting next to a very uncomfortable Adrien Agreste looking at him with a greedy look in her eyes. He knew that look well and it was always crushed when he destroyed the girls whom they belonged to.
Though one student seemed to be looking at him in confusion. Marinette’s eyes roamed the new boy with fixed concentration from her spot next to Alya, where her bestie had been sentenced for not believing Lila along with her boyfriend Nino, and enemy turned sort of ally Chloe.
The bluenette swore she had her the name Vladislav before. The new certainly looked like a model like he had so boldly mentioned.
She was certain Stephan really was Russian, as his French was heavily accented by it. He had dark skin, close to Alya’s complexion, probably biracial. Curly black hair that fell over his eyes slightly, sharp and calculating bright hazel eyes which contrasted against his happy-go-lucky expression. He wore a light green leather jacket with ‘Vlad‘ embroidered onto his top right breast pocket, a black dress shirt made of what looked like silk, light blue jeans, and boots that matched his leather jacket to complete the look. He seemed nice, but she knew better than to judge from appearances.
Everyone else thought he and Adrien would get along great because of their careers as models.
”You think he’ll get along with Adrien?” Alya leaned over to her bestie who had been studying Stephan before she answered.
”What do mean? Who even is he?” She whispered back to Alya.
Nino joined the conversation with a look of disbelief on his face, “You really don’t know who Stephan Vladislav is, Dudette?”
When Marinette shook her head, Alya whipped out her phone, typing something into the search engine.When the results came up, she showed Marinette, “He’s only one of the most well known models there is. He has influence that eclipses Adrien’s. His father is Nicolas Vladislav, a fashion designer even more wealthy and successful than Gabriel Agreste. How could you not know who he is?”
Nino chuckled, “We’re talking about the girl who had no clue who Adrien was despite his face being plastered everywhere.
Marinette was so busy trying to defend her self against her friends laughing at her expense, that she didn’t even notice Stephan making his way towards her. That was until a shrill, high pitched, unwanted voice interrupted them.
”I wouldn’t sit back there if I were you,” Lila said in her sweetest fake voice.
Chloe and the others glared at Stephan, expecting him to believe her, only to take them by surprise.
”Well you aren’t me. I don’t appreciate you telling rpms what I should or shouldn’t do,” Stephan flipped her off.
Lila immediately started the water works, “How could say that. I’m only trying to warn you about the others in the back. They’ve had it out for me ever since Marinette got expelled.”
”How could you say that about Lila!? She just wants to help!” Sabrina protested.
”We know you’re knew and all but that’s no reason to be awful about it,” Ivan agreed.
”Lila is right thought. Those four have been awful to her,” Mylene comforted a crying Lila. The Russian boy could tell that she enjoyed the sympathy and attention.
”Shut up. We’ve been avoiding Lila like the plague for over a year,” Alya snapped back.
”Don’t lie! Lila showed us the text messages you guys send her. You’re nothing but bullies who scorn her just because Marinette got expelled.
Expulsion? Stephan tucked that in the back of his mind to investigate later.
Seeing Marinette wilt under the scrutiny of the class, Nino backed his girlfriend up, “You mean her unjust expulsion with flimsy evidence and no investigation!”
”As if I would concern myself with a girl that has such an ugly hair style. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous,” Chloe dismissed them as Stephen examined her nails.
This went on for about five more minutes before Bustier finally began the lesson. Stephan sat in the chair across the staircase next to Marinette on her right. The lesson moved peacefully at first. This gave him hope that Bustier wasn’t a failure on all fronts. That hope was promptly crushed when Rossi interrupted the lesson to prattle on about how she was a descendant of Socrates after Bustier covered famous philosophers in Ancient Greece. The wasn’t true as everything that had come out of her mouth since he‘d arrived had been nothing but a lie.
Subtly, he leaned over and whispered to Marinette, “Is it always like this with them?” He casted an annoyed glance at the class.
Turning towards him, said bluenette sighed, “Yes. They hang off her every word. Especially if it’s promises of connecting with people to jump start their dreams. I don’t even think that things will go back to normal even after they find out the truth. They called me a bully and ended their friendships with me with only word of mouth as their proof.”
The young Vladislav just sat there as the pieces clicked into place. It was clear the class didn’t really care about what Lila did, but rather the promises of what she could do for them. They didn’t ditch Marinette because they thought she was a bully. They did it to gain Lila’s favor and thus a golden meal ticket. Coattail hangers. The lot of them.
”Well it seems that they won’t take the truth very well. Especially since she lied about celebrities that could help them,” Stephan faked a concerned voice. He couldn’t care less about those gold diggers.
Marinette turned to face him completely and Stephan’s first thought was, she blue really be that blue? The bluenette had lovely Raven locks that looked muted against her pale skin. Cute frekles over so slightly decorated her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. And her azure eyes almost seemed to glow.
”Yeah, well, they don’t like hearing what they need to hear.”
Stephan forced himself to look away from her pretty face and looked at his plain notebook page. Ms. Bustier hadn’t said anything noteworthy, therefore the page remained blank. “Most morons don’t,” he muttered and Marinette laughed.
He had to force down the growing blush on his cheeks.
It was about two months into his attendance at his school when Stephan decided that very few people were worth his time.
Competing for best grades was dull since the class as a whole sans Chloe, Alya, Nino, and Marinette had the IQ of a pencil. He reached the top in no less than three weeks much to the robot geek’s humiliation.
Being the best in sports was essentially useless as Alix and Kim stopped entering contests, instead choosing to hang off of Lila’s promises of connecting them with big shot Olympic athletes.
Music was practically nonexistent as the band “kitty section” comprised of some of his… classmates hadn’t preformed a gig in almost a year, he learned. Not to mention that their lead guitarist Luka, he heard from Marinette decided to go solo to save himself the embarrassment of failed performances.
Adrien was as good as a wet napkin, so the Russian didn’t even try to one up him in extracurriculars.
Stephan knew how to pick his battles, and as such, he refused to fight any of his classmates if they refuse to even try. Otherwise it would just be some delusIonal one-sided fight and he was anything but delusional. He had far too much pride.
Found with a lot of free time, the Young Vladislav decided to fill it in by spending time around Marinette and her friends and found that it kept him sane in the asinine situation that is their class.
He even began looking forward to hanging out with them. The fact that they were goal driven, witty, and intelligent was just a bonus.
Alya was an aspiring journalist, respected by all of Paris? He would swoop in and get better footage of akuma attacks. The two would often one up each other with their recordings and shove it in each other’s faces. Neither knew when the other would strike so their little war kept them on their toes. But it was all in good fun, and neither wanted to back down.
Nino’s website Turtle Films was the go to place for short films? The two males would challenge each other’s ideas, editing plans, and scripted writing. They high-fived over Nino’s newest film which took the media by storm. They combined their ideas and collaborated on their master piece. Stephan was surprised to feel the thrill of success while working with someone else was refreshing compared to achieving it all on his own.
Chloe was thinking about enrolling in online business management classes? Both blonde and ravenette were relieved to find someone who spoke their language. Even if their business jargon ended up with multiple broken dishes, ripped paper, and screaming matches.
Marinette had the attention of many celebrities? Stephan took better photos of her produced clothing. He had a knack for photography, something he inherited from his mother. Both sets of photos always went on her website at the end of they day. And when they weren’t doing that, they were having a baking competition every other week.
But despite being so competitive with them, the one thing they allied together against was the lying shrew Lila Rossi.
Their fist encounter ended up being their last. Lila began telling lies about her achievements to impress him knowing who he was. It was very likely that she liked the idea of two models vying for her attention. She would not allow Marinette and friends sway him over to their side. If she could date the Stephan Vladislav, a well known model whose father had even more money and popularity that Gabriel Agreste, her name would be in lights and her fame would be garenteed . Except he did not react they way she expected him to.
He called her out on being fake. He mocked her for the fact that she had such an unfulfilling life that she had to pretend to be someone she’s not just so people would like her. Stephan pointed out that her lies were unbelievable at best and desperate at worse.
The young Vladislav then reiterated the tale of a girl from his past who shared many qualities with Lila.
Angela Voss.
She, like Lila, was a desperate liar and wanting fame, attention, and all the boys in the school. She was known for bullying anyone who called her out on her lies or tried to sabotage her goals. Angela tried flattery to get Stephan to date her, but he publicly rejected her. She became the joke of the school for weeks. In her humiliation, she spread rumors about him, meaning to sully his reputation but it only served to provoke his ire. After the very clear declaration of war, he used every trick in the book to be rid of her.
Including but not limited to manipulation, slander, libel, sabotage, destruction of property. He dragged her name through the mud so far that even her parents grew tired of her. The final nail in the coffin was a subtly placed enrollment paper regarding a boarding school in Switzerland and she transferred out fasting than he could have dreamed. On her last day, he made it his personal mission to make it absolute hell by throwing her shattered kingdom into her stupid face by spreading her “rumored“ departure around the school. The look of shock on Angela’s face was sweet, but her tears of devastation and her humiliating fall from stardom left a smile on his face for the rest of the month.
He told a pale and shaking Lila that she had better watch who she messed with and made it a point to tell her just how easy it would be to destroy her as well. To threaten her a bit more, he casually added that one word from him could have her blacklisted from ever working at even the smallest of fashion houses and crush her modeling career before it even started. Stephan emphasized the fact that Angela was a daughter of influential Russian politicians and he still managed to win. What would happen to Lila if he were to use the full force of what he did to Angela on Lila? Some girl who was the daughter of a woman who was barely the secretary of an ambassador.
Finally, he warned her to stay away from Marinette and any and all transgressions would be met with no mercy.
The threat was clear to Lila and Adrien, the latter having over heard the conversation.
Lila better back off or Stephan will make her back off.
She scurried away from him in fear and the look of horror was priceless. However there was no backtracking from this. The Italian was smart enough to know that whatever she, she would always remain on Stephan’s ‘harm eventually’ list. Dammit. She just had to go and piss him off.
Stephan snorted. He was willing to reckon Rossi never experienced being threatened before. Well he’ll show her the difference between a cat and a spider.
When a certain blonde appeared from the corner of the hall where he had been listening in, Stephan didn’t even bother to look up when he addressed him.
”What do you want, Agreste?”
Adrien on the other hand, was disappointed. He could tell Stephan wasn’t buried in Lila’s deceit like the rest of their classmates but he never said anything, which was good. Just when he thought he wouldn’t have to deal with another person trying to expose Lila, the Russian up and threatens her career over a few silly lies. Clearly, Adrien needed to have a discussion with him about taking the high road or he’ll cause tension in the class.
”Don’t you think you were a bit harsh with her?” the blonde strides over to Stephan and stops a few feet away from him.
“It’s not my fault Rossi thought her flattery and fake achievements would fool me. It‘s high time someone told her she is it as amazing as she thinks she is,” Stephan sniffed at the blonde model with distain and placed his hands on his hips.
”Lila is just looking for some friends,” Adrien ignored Stephan‘s haughty snort, “If the truth gets out, the class will ostracize her and she’ll end up friendless and alone,” he ended with the same disappointed glint in his eyes that made Marinette back down.
Hazel eyes just stared at the blonde like he was stupid. He had a few suspicions about Adrien‘s true character and this confrontation was just proving them.
“And when the truth gets out and the class realizes that she basically took advantage of them and played them for fools for who knows how long, how do you think they’ll feel?” Stephan stated becoming annoyed with the conversation at hand.
”I’m sure she’ll realize that she’s wrong and apologize. Then everything will go back to how it was before,” Adrien said brightly.
But the Russian knew better. After being a model for so long, he could practically smell a fake person, and Adrien was covered in that particular stench.
”Oh really?” The young Vladislav raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow, “Things will not ‘go back to normal’. After seeing how quickly their so called friends were willing to turn on them and how easily they’re swayed by promises that will solidify their careers, there’s no doubt in my mind that Marinette and the others will not just roll over it.”
Adrien crossed his arms over his chest and his lips thinned, not liking the way the other model stared at him condescendingly.
”Sure they will. After all friends don’t stay mad at each other. I know it’s been rough for them, but if they hadn’t kept antagonizing Lila they would still have friends. Especially Marinette,” he ended with a disappointed scowl when he mentioned the bluenette like he had every right to.
As far as the ravenette was concerned, that was the last straw of this ”conversation”.
Hearing him talk about the Asian girl that way made his blood boil like nothing he ever experienced. If he were emotionally inclined, Hawkmoth would have a field day.
It took several weeks of hanging out with Marinette from the beginning of his transfer to now to realize he developed a crush on her. It was strange at first, especially when he never looked at anyone romantic feelings in mind.
Trying to sort out his feelings, he spent the next few days planning out how he would ask Marinette out and came across an interesting discovery.
From one of Alya and Nino’s conversations, he was made aware of Marinette’s crush on Bratdrien. His mood was soured as he glared at Agreste every chance he got, attempting to figure out just what Marinette saw in the blonde.
In conclusion, he had miffed feelings about Agreste before his miserable attempt at lecturing him about the high road. Stephan gathered that Adrien was, for a lack of a better term, a self righteous prick who was willing to gaslight and scapegoat anyone he viewed as morally lesser than him. Before this, the Russian hadn’t planned on ruining Adrien despite really wanting to, but now? The idiot sealed his own fate the second he thought it would be a good idea to reveal his true colors to Stephan.
Stephan continued to internally seethe all while keeping his stoic and uninterested mask as Adrien continued his prattling, “Honestly, if she had done what I said, the class wouldn’t be so full of tension and-”
His line was cut off when Stephan introduced his back to the right wall of the hallway. The Russian’s death grip on either side of his shoulder kept him in place and the blonde had a sinking feeling that was validated when he saw the dark scowl resting on Stephan’s features. Adrien felt his knees shake as the Russian addressed him.
”Looks like the sunshine of Paris has come to the delusional conclusion that I’ll let that happen,” the young Vladislav hissed with venom lacing every word, “You think you’ve got everyone fooled with this angel facade wear everyday. Honestly I shouldn’t be surprised at the level of deceit displayed by Gabriel’s son. But it wasn’t enough to fool me. I can see you for what you truly are. I’m sure you think that you’re such a saint and therefore have the right to lecture and project your disappointment on to people you feel don’t live up to your moral standard. But you’re not. You’re just a coward with no backbone or force that you could be mistake as a puppet or doll. You won’t do anything about Lila because on some conscious level, you know what she’s capable of”.
Adrien’s eyes widened in fear as he tried to come up with a rebuttal, but any comeback he had quickly died on his lips when he saw the intense look in Stephan’s eyes as he continued his threat. He wasn’t about to let Agreste get a word in.
”So you decide to kill two birds with one stone. You used your “good boy” reputation as a means to appease bullies and trouble makers while seeming nice and benevolent but in reality you don’t care about giving second chances or about helping be better because it’s much easier to defend the bully rather than stand up to them isn’t that right?” The Russian smirked cruelly as he watched Adrien‘s expression morph into one suitable for a fish.
”That isn’t it at all!” Adrien splutterred at Stephan’s bold accusation, “I’m not trying to save my reputation. Making a bad guy suffer won’t change them into a good guy!”
Adrien tried to say more, but Stephan’s low and even voice rang with power and stabbed hI’m with authority that demanded nothing less than silence and attention, “Bull.Shit. Please, if I didn’t know any better, I’d almost think you like the attention bullies give you. Female bullies that is”.
”Woah! Since when was Lila a bully?”
”Don’t play dumb with me, aphid. You know well, how Lila has alienated Marinette, Alya, Nino, and Chloe from the rest of the class with fake tears and false tales. You just choose to ignore it because it’s better they become scapegoats in the name of keeping false peace. For God’s sake, I heard she got Marinette expelled even if it was redacted. How have you not realized Lila has it in for Marinette and anyone who sides with her by now?” Stephan narrowed his sharp eyes at the clearly uncomfortable blonde. Pretend what he may, it was obvious he knew on some level that Lila was a bully who didn’t what to change.
Adrien fumbled for an excuse that didn’t sound bad, “Well- I didn’t want to risk losing my friends over this,” he admitted meekly and winced as Stephan’s grip on his shoulders tightened.
”Ha! Friends? You have the audacity to claim they’re friends when you’re letting them get manipulated and used? And lets not forget the whole sad boy with daddy issues. True, your father is controlling and over bearing, but you use that as an excuse to avoid the others or make them feel bad for you. Gives the sunshine trope more merit. And when you aren’t being Sadrien Depreste, you find ways to guilt trip and emotionally manipulate the class into forgiving people who are harming them, like with Chloe” At this point, Stephan was practically snarling the words like a panther ready to strike.
”You’re really making me the bad guy? I hope you aren’t planning to expose Lila. Listen-“ Adrien tried to get a word in Stephan’s tirade, but the ravenette was more annoyed than he thought.
”No, you listen to me, Bratdrien,” the Russian model said menacingly, having enough of beating around the bush. “Here’s what will happen. You will stay out of my way and continue being a wet napkin. Something you excel at. Stay away from Marinette. If I catch you trying to guilt trip, gaslight or scapegoat her into catering Lila’s whims, I will expose the liar as well as the fact that you knew and didn’t bother to say anything.”
Chills ran down Adrien’s spine as he finally seemed to register the danger he was in, “Y-you can’t do that. You have no proof!” He wasn’t sure if that was true, but the blonde felt like he had no choice but to say that.
“I have my ways,” the ravenette responded nonchalantly. “Know this. I have the power to make you miserable. If you even cross any of the lines I’m setting up by a hair, I can have you gone like that. Turning your classmates against you with your past reactions to Chloe’s bullying will be a walk in the park. I have an even more influencal position in the modeling industry than you. I won’t even have to lift a finger to boot you out of the spotlight if I wanted to. And winning Marinette’s affection? I’m not a coward, I have a sort of sense of justice, I can speak multiple languages, I have extracurriculars that will actually help me get by in life, I have my own standing not just my parents son, and I know a lot about the world of fashion and business. It’s clear that I’m the one Marinette will choose”.
”What does Marinette’s affection have to do with anything?” Adrien’s fear was momentarily replaced by sincere confusion.
Stephan rolled his eyes at the blonde’s naivety, “It’s pretty obvious that Marinette has a crush on you. Or has. From what I’m seeing, it’s dwindling by the day. Chloe also had a crush on you and Lila is currently vying for your attention. I’m fairly certain that Chloe and Lila liked you because they knew you wouldn’t go against them, and in Marinette’s case, she was fooled by your appealing visage and was unaware of the rot lying underneath”.
Stunned, Adrien could only gape at his model counterpart. Marinette had a crush on him? Suddenly all of the stuttering, falling over herself, and blushing made sense. But if she liked him, then why wasn’t she following his high road advice? Maybe he could use her crush to remove the cotton from her eyes and make her see reason…
Stephan’s eyes sharpened into slits as if hearing Adrien’s thoughts. “See, DuPont High School will be mine. I get to decide who succeeds or who fails. Who thrives and who will get crushed. Only those who follow the rules will be spared. So, Adrien, if you don’t follow those rules, we will have a problem. So what’ll be? Either you keep your head down and mind your own business or you stand in my way and get destroyed,” Adrien tried to placate him. That it didn’t have to be this way but Stephan just continued, “You don’t have to answer right away. I’ll give you till the end of tomorrow”.
Stephan finally released his grip on Adrien and stalked away.
And Adrien watched him go because what was he supposed to do? If he took what the Russian had said about Angela Voss into account, this wouldn’t be the first time he’s destroyed someone.
Gulping, Adrien finally walked away.
It took exactly a day for Lila to recover from Stephan’s threat.
She smirked before breaking down in fake tears reiterated a tale, accusing Marinette of stealing her designs and selling them as her own.
There was no way anything Stephan said could be true. Sure he might be more assertive than Adrien, but Mr. Vladislav must have him on a tight leash like Mr. Agreste does Adrien. So the threat didn’t scare her for long.
”How could you, Marinette?” was heard from Rose as she stared at said bluenette in disappointment.
”It’s one thing to bully Lila but another to steal her hard work and pass it off as your own,” Kim seethed.
”Totally low,” mumbled Juleka as she added her own thoughts.
There were more voices of disapproval.
Lila felt a thrill of vindictive pleasure at Marinette’s shocked face as she tried to defend herself. Chloe, Nino, and Alya hadn’t arrived yet so there was no one to vouch for her case.
Just then Adrien stood up and urged the class to quiet down. Lila felt rage rising as the blonde looked prepared to defend the Asian girl. Quickly hiding her expression, she put on the beginnings of a hurt facade.
”Come on guys. You know Marinette would never steal Lila’s designs,” Hope over took Marinette’s face until Adrien said, “She probably mixed them up and took Lila’s by mistake. We all know how clumsy she can be”. And just like that, Adrien sealed his fate.
Adrien knew Lila would make a scene if he defended Marinette, so he came up with a way to blame Marinette’s clumsiness. It was mean but she would get over it. Lila was just sensitive and wanted attention.
”That would be highly unlikely,” a familiar snooty voice added in.
Several students whirled out to see Stephan, standing at the top of the stairs near the back of the classroom with his phone in hand and a scowl on his face. Both Lila and Adrien shuddered at the long look he casted at the two of them.
”Yeah? What would you know,” Ali’s was the first to sneer, prompting similar responses from the others.
The Russian just stared them down impassively before speaking as if they hadn’t interrupted him.
”As you can see, Marinette uploads videos of her design process and tailoring procedure to the very detail. The idea of Marinette who is a designer noticed by Jagged Stone, Audrey Bourgeois, and Clara Nightingale, stealing Lila’s designs is impossible. Not to mention we’ve never witnessed the harpy design anything,” Stephan browsed through a selection of Marinette’s clothing, clearly displaying videos attached to each one, proving plagiarism to be unlikely.
The students of Madame Bustier’s class shifted uneasily as Marinette’s innocence of stealing was proven, while Marinette looked at Stephan as if he were an angel, and Adrien had to keep himself from scowling. Didn’t Stephan realize how close he came to exposing Lila?
The young Vladislav focused his gaze on Lila, and with his gaze she could see her career, her dreams of ruling the fashion world with Adrien being flushed down the drain.
After class, Stephan caught up to Adrien and walked in stride with him. With a smug smirk and a raised eyebrow he declared war, “Looks like you’ve made your choice Adrien. I’ll make you and the class of pathetic sheep miserable. I’ll expose Lila and make sure the class knows that you were aware the whole time. And I’ll make Lila seem like a saint compared to me. Watch your back,” the Russian whispered that last part threateningly.
Before the blonde could respond, Stephan smiled innocently and caught up to Nino and the others as if he hadn’t just declared war on him in broad daylight. Which was a lot more bold than anything Lila had ever done.
Adrien Agreste had a bad feeling that he had made the biggest mistake in his entire life.
That following Monday was the start of Stephan’s wrath.
Lila received a phone call from Mr. Agreste, terminating her modeling career and black listing her from Gabriel.
Still, she hoped Adrien hadn’t been notified so she could still use that to cow the boy.
That plan was buried next to her terminated job as she came face to face with the ravenette and she knew he was behind this.
Apparently he had brought up Gabriel’s newest muse with his mother. Laurice than raved about how the Agreste patriach had made a mistake in hiring Lila Rossi in front of a social gathering. Not to mention her sausage hair was horrendous.
The video went viral with people agreeing with her to the point where Gabriel had to fire her to save face.
Needless to say, the ordeal ended with an akuma. Though Ladybug couldn’t understand why Chat was so eager to blame Stephan. (Especially when she herself agreed that Lila was a disgrace to fashion). The leather wearing boy claimed that the Russian was nothing but trouble and was determined to hate him.
When Lila tried to pin the blame of a lost career on Marinette and Alya (the reporter was the one who recorded the whole ordeal with Laurice Vladislav), who tried to defend themselves, Adrein and Bustier pressured them to apologise to Lila, Stephan decked out a knew plan.
Outraged and seething, Nino, Chloe, and Stephan convinced Alya and Marinette to resign from their positions as deputy and president respectively.
Bustier held another re-election to which none of Marinette’s friends participated in. When no one stepped up on the claims of being too busy, Bustier shot an expectant look at Marinette and Chloe, both being former class presidents and asked them to reconsider. Chloe vehemently denied it with her usual “ridiculous utterly ridiculous,” while Marinette piped up that she was too busy.
Adrien asked Marinette what could be so busy with that she would ignore her duties when Stephan chimed into the conversation and suggested that Adrien should try his hand at being the class president with Lila as his deputy.
The blonde in question paled as he tried to state that he was too busy but Bustier and the class latched onto that idea. They knew his dad was controlling but maybe he would lessen his load if Adrien was class president.
Chloe caught onto what Stephan was doing and smirked viciously at the paling pair, “Yeah. With so many connections, I‘m sure Adrien will rock as class president.”
The female blonde had been disappointed in Adrien ever since she had discovered that he knew Lila was lying and just sat there and watched as they were ostracized from the class. What kind of friend does that?
The job Adrien had tried to force onto Marinette and Chloe was a lot harder than he thought. This was something that his extracurriculars just couldn’t help him accomplish.
The Halloween mingle was bust. He had forgotten to book a reservation for a revenue as well a caters since the old ones were unavailable (Marinette’s parents). Chloe invited Alya, Marinette, Nino, and Stephan to her own Halloween party with the rest of the school.
School trips were either boring or canceled completely. Turns out Adrien hadn’t know how difficult fundraisers were. His father refused the fund the trips and Lila was no help at all. After going to Marinette’s place to request that she do the bake sale, he was told to take a hike. Stephan took his friends out for fabulous trips around France.
He ended up doing the bake sale himself. Most of the students and even Bustier began avoiding him after his pastries gave several of them food poising and started a small fire.
This put him at odds with the others as he found himself snapping at them more often. About if he was such a bad president then they should get off their high horses and do it themselves.
Despite it being completely true, the akuma class was known for taking criticism as a personal attack. He found himself being invited to outings less and less and they didn’t attend his photo shoots anymore. All Adrien could do was grit his teeth and bare it.
Add in his constant modeling shoots, his rabbit diet, and forced extracurriculars, he found it harder to sneak away to become Chat Noir to battle akumas. Eventually, the stress had become to much and it was beginning to show during his photo shoots. After finding the source if his son’s faulty modeling, Gabriel demanded that Adrien quit being class president.
The blonde happily did so, much to the relief of the class. They all unanimously agreed that he was a horrible president. Lila was forced into the position despite being utterly useless with Rose as her deputy.
It ended in a disaster.
Stephan enjoyed it every second of the blonde’s misery. And the best part? He didn’t even have to lift a finger. The ravenette completely underestimated just how reliant the class was on Alya and Marinette, that things ended in catastrophe if the weren’t in charge. It was pathetic really. Nino agreed.
Due to Marinette’s rising popularity as the very much demanded designer MDC and the fact that numerous A list celebrities were battling for spots on her commissions list like children, Gabriel instructed Adrien to get close to Marinette and thus weasel her into the company, much to Audrey Bourgeois‘s dismay.
Stephan caught Adrien cornering an uncomfortable Marinette trying to convince her to apply for an internship at his father’s company. Sensing the opportunity to once again thwart the blonde’s plan, he gave subtle recommendations to Nikolas Vladislav to check out Marinette’s website.
Impressed by what he saw, he emailed the bluenette and offered her an internship that would look very good on her college application. As expected, Marinette accepted it in a heart beat, not wanting to deal with seeing Adrien too often. Her crush had completely soured by this point and she wanted nothing to do with him.
The Russian boy was thrilled as this meant he could spend more time with her and shove it in Gabriel and Adrien’s faces. After a week of interning with Mr. Vladislav (who had a similar appearance to Stephan except he had fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes), Marinette ran into Laurice. Immediately after taking in the Asian girl’s appearance, the dark skinned woman practically flew over to her and suggested she should try modeling. Apparently, Laurice Vladislav had a taste for rare mix racial models of all shapes and sizes. Italian-Japanese, Spanish-British, Brazilian-Haitian, German-Swedish, and African American-Russian (Stephan’s nationality) to name a few. Laurice mentioned that she had never met someone who was a mix of French and Chinese.
Stephan was all for letting Marinette model. He understood why she was never. This was Laurice Vladislav they were talking about. She was a world renowned photographer, responsible for launching the careers of many S ranked models of their era. She had the power to make or break a person. After seeing Lila’s humiliation and ruined modeling career, it’s understandable that she would be hesitant.
Only one model shoot was what Marinette bargained. After it aired, all of Paris went crazy. Who was this gorgeous bluenette posing with the equally gorgeous Stephan Vladislav himself? Many people were demanding that she be sponsored in another shoot and that’s how Marinette’s side job as a model began.
Chloe told the young Vladislav that Gabriel Agreste had been furious to lose Marinette to the even more successful Nicolas Vladislav. He gave Adrien the cold shoulder for days.
That was when Adrien‘s suffering at Stephan’s hand truly hit home.
Danny and Jason are dating. They know each other’s secrets. When Danny transforms, he usually takes his body to his castle in the infinite realms for his safety.
However, he now has a boyfriend. With the situation in the infinite realms not being safe, he believed with all his heart that he could entrust his body to his boyfriend.
So Jason has Danny's body in his safehouse. As Danny returns to the infinite realms to finish settling things.
But now Batfamily is worried about Jason. Because there is a dead body of his boyfriend in his house! He acts like nothing happened. He even hugged his dead boyfriend's body while watching TV on the couch!
Jason: perfect timing I actually found a weird items at the scene, mind taking a look for me.
Bruce: of course not.
Jason walks out and Bruce finally notices Danny’s upright body on the couch facing the tv.
Bruce: oh Hello Danny how are you?
Danny:………
Bruce, noticing how pale how pale Danny’s empty body is: Danny?
Bruce taps Danny’s shoulder and his head dramatically falls to the side limp.
Jason walk in just in time to see Bruce immediately go into hero mode and trying to stuff Danny into the car to get him to a hospital: uh.. what are you doing (get your own man)
Bruce: Jason I-I’m so sorry your boyfriend he’s-
Jason: -dead, at the moment, yeah I know. Just leave him.
Jason takes Danny’s cold body and lays him back on the couch. Bruce is HORRIFIED.
After the pit, Jason’s eyes glow in the dark, like a cat’s eyes.
He decides to visit the manor in the middle of the night and get sth he forgot last time, not thinking anyone would be awake so he doesn’t switch the light on.
Tim goes to get some water. He only sees the glowing green eyes staring at him from behind the kitchen counter and screams.
I was reading some of @miraculous-of-salt fics and really got inspired to create something of my own. Inspired by a pairing I adore when ever they write about them. I don’t think I ever really focused just on this pairing before so I decided to give it a sjot. There is a lot of salt ahead for the usally people, and Adrien.
Marinette hadn’t been least bit surprised when showed up at her locker. She eventually, sooner or later, he’d show. He was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The devil always has his day, as her grandmother used to say. It’s why he’s so patient.
He never rushed Marinette, never pressured her. He never whispered lies in her ears or played little tricks to make things go his way fast. He did with nearly everyone else in the world but not with Marinette. Never Marinette.
In his eyes, Marinette was his equal. She was intelligent, extremely talented, sharp-tongued, poised, beautiful. She had obtained success with her MDC designs that most kids and people twice her age could only dream about and was still going places. She was nowhere near her pique. She had a fire inside her that could consume the world, and it was more than a match for ice inside of him. Marinette was the only person that ever came to his mind when he thought of who would stand at his side when he ruled the business world with an iron fist.
Thanks to an overprotective Fright Knight shadowing him all the time Danny has a reputation similar to Alastor (The Radio Demon). Now Danny isn't aware of any of it since the only reason he's even visiting Gotham is to check in on Jazz and maybe drop off some of their dad's fudge but it's still Gotham and Fright Knight is working overtime after realizing there were way too many threats to the young prince/king gathered in a single city but back to the Radio Demon part of the prompt.
Danny gets clocked as something odd from the very beginning but nobody really cares. He's just another meta, a nobody that was easily dismissed until some of the local criminals operating around Jazz's apartment vanished. That one mugger who thought about going after Danny is just gone. The pickpocket who thought he was an easy target is nowhere to be found and it just kind of snowballs from there with little things adding up over time until finally rumors start flying around about a supervillain going missing. I'm using Scarecrow as an example but it could be anybody really with one or two rumors joking about the new meta being behind all of the disappearances since a street kid swears they saw Danny getting gassed during one of Scarecrow's attacks. Then Bane goes missing too and there're even more rumors about Danny being involved somehow and it only gets worse when he's seen talking with Mr. Freeze just hours before the man and his wife disappear. The street kids start thinking he's something supernatural. The thugs and goons swear Danny's some sort of demon. The working girls share stories about how a simple deal with him could change your life. The supervillains are slowly growing terrified because if you're unlucky enough to hear it then sometimes late at night when he's out for a walk an old TV or a nearby car radio will suddenly broadcast the sounds of someone screaming.
Danny isn't aware of any of it though because he's listening to music during his walks and other than helping a few people here and there he hasn't really had to go ghost for anything whenever he's visiting Jazz. Fright Knight is the one going around tagging any sort of potential threat with Soul Shredder and even he's baffled about some random radio being able to tap into his pocket dimension for a few seconds every other night.
I am not immune to magical animal transformation fics. Also, my cat!Danny agenda. So, like, Damian finding a magically transformed Danny, mistaking him for a regular cat, then sneaking him into the manor obviously tickles my fancy. But also, Cat!Danny winning Alfred over by being a complete narc every time one of the bats try to do something stupid while injured is just... *chef's kiss*
Bruce- *trying to sneak down to the batcave while injured*
Danny- *looking for mischief, sees injured Bruce swaying in hallway* Mrow?
Bruce- Shh.
Danny- *slightly louder* Mrep?!
Bruce- I will give you all the tuna in the world if you-
Danny- *air raid level yowling*
Now all I can see is Tim stumbling down the hall in a sleep deprived state and comes face to face to Danny.
Danny immediately meows he’s head off while Tim stands there smugly “Alfred isn’t here hello kitty” he snorts, he tries to walk past but Danny blocks him.
After a bit of a struggle Tim gets to the kitchen and worst of all the coffee machine. “Face it Alfred jr, there’s nothing you can do” Tim giggles raise the mug to he’s lips.
A flash bomb of green light blinds Tim. “Is that so?”
Which was an odd thing to realize, it wasn't even a slow one he just... snapped into it one day. One moment he was staring at a wall out of boredom the next, well, he was staring for an entirely different reason.
It was a task for his now young -he thinks around three years old?- mind to work its way through the memories, but it wasn't like he had much else to do honestly. So, what does he know?
His name is Danny, like, his actual name and not just a moniker. He was once a halfa and he already knows he's going to be missing invisibility and intangibility. He, well, died. For like, a second time which actually makes sense because reincarnation-
Anyways.
He was a clone of two people from this thing called the Justice League which, weird name but probably some government or activist group. Wonder Woman and Superman. Which were pretty weird names to name your kids but eh.
He doesn't really remember much besides that from this life, or the one from before but he's an adult! He'll figure things out once he gets out of this containment tube thing.
Did he mention he was in a test tube? He's a tube baby now. He thinks? Or maybe it's more like he's being contained.
Whatever.
So he breaks out. Thank you apparent superstrength that he has no idea why he has but he's not going to complain! He then wandered around all of the other test tubes, able to remember just enough of English to see that yea, they're dead.
He probably was too, before he had memories zapped into him. Or a vegetable.
He then finds this really big container, checks it out, then opens it because the clone inside isn't dead!
'Project Match' it said. He'll just call him Match.
Was he thanked for helping him? Nope. You would think that he would be thanked or at least somewhat respected for saving this guy but nope!
He was, quite literally, held up by his leg and dangled in the air. Who dangles a three-year-old?! Well, he was technically and adult but still! The next few things were a blur but after pulling off the old Fenton charm he found him and Match outside as he tried to stop him from attacking random people.
Luckily the charms and privilege of the youngest (he's assuming he's the youngest, because he's physically three) was more than enough to get through to him. Sure, the guy couldn't form words, really aggressive for literally no reason, really weird but also absolutely cool looking eyes. But he worked around the first issue by developing their own personal language from like grunts and stuff, the second he once again used his youngest privilege to boss him around and the third a pair of sunglasses easily fixed.
He just had to steer Match clear of those random S crest mark thingies. Which was a weird thing to hate but hey, he's not there to judge.
I need for the two of them to have their own adventures before being discovered. Like I need them to become Metropolis' own cryptids for a little bit, like a few weeks at least.
I need Match hunching down slightly as his tiny-brother leads him through the alleys and streets at night. And Match? He can't exactly... make human sounds, not without his throat feeling like it's burning or closing up.
So he chuffs, rumbles, makes quiet noises that Danny echoes, intermittent with something other, almost chirpy. Quiet croons that echoes from alleys unlike any sort of animal the people who walk by know of.
Danny knows they probably shouldn't be stealing, but they need clothes that aren't just the white full-body things. They need food too, even if they can photosynthesize for part of it, because they can't- he doesn't want them to be seen, neither does Match.
Being seen means they could be brought back.
And they're both lacking information- they might have information downloaded to their brains, but they don't have the context for any of it.
So they might've stolen some clothing that had been out drying, and they might've also stolen a bag too, but they need it! They're just kids, they're still growing and don't know much about what is going on around them.
They might be slightly feral.
Maybe they break into a library at nightime? Or, Danny gets Match sunglasses and a hat. Shows him how to slouch like a teen. And casually Saunters in. Look, they need information. Libraries have books! Books he can read to get information! They also have magazines and newspapers. Danny needs!! And, he can play baby. Big bro is moody! So he doesn't talk. He's just here so I can read books while Mom and Dad are at work. Honest! And well, grouchy meta teens aren't unknown. Sure the older one should probably be in school. But, it is a library. So clearly he has a chance to learn. They don't know the kids circumstances. Sure hon. There's the kids section. Oh, your big bro wants the news too? Ok honey.
Meanwhile the rest of the time they skulk around getting enough food to live. Scaring the crap out of pretty thieves. Napping in random abandoned buildings. On roofs. In car parks. You know, just homeless kid things. Danny is doing great thanks! He's bailing this whole clone on the run thing! Ellie would be so proud of him! He's getting a good grade in this. Which is both normal and reasonable to want. Yup.
Oh my gosh I forgot about libraries, how could I have forgotten about those (it's the sleep deprivation lol)
I bet they do both. Metropolis? Probably has more than one library, and I bet the first few times they end up kind of breaking in, but they're also trying to not bring attention to themselves, so once they have those supplies like actual clothes? Oh yeah.
And Oh my god Match with the sunglasses and leather jacket of the comic superboy is such a fun idea-
Danny is very pleased! He's being perfectly normal- despite the fact that his normal is quite different from everyone else thanks to both lives. And that's not forgetting that he's half kryptonian and half amazon.
Like Match is definitely kind of uncanny valley, but Danny? The tiny child looks like a porcelain doll, too smooth like he was carved from clay and shaped into something just to the left of human. Too symmetrical, eyes too bright like stars.
Very terrifying to see in the dark with a flashlight, y'know?
Is what I'm about to add about to move the plot forward? Maybe, may not but I wanna add these thoughts anyway.
Moving right back around to my comment about Match holding Danny upside down by his leg, I like to think that him doing that is either a normal or semi-normal thing. Like, he just does it for literally no reason most of the time and Danny? He's annoyed by it because, yea, he dangling and he's pretty sure Match is laughing (in his own way) at it too.
When he's actually annoyed with Danny (rare thing) he holds him up by the back of his shirt like an unruly kitten and Danny just, dangles there but in a different sort of way because the other grab was moreso kind of playful? This one is sort of 'Okay you've done something stupid' kind of hold and he knows that Match wouldn't hurt him but the silent disappoint works wonders.
Also that perching on the shoulder bit, Danny has gotten very good at climbing up Match to either stand or sit on his shoulder. And I'm also imagining that Match kinda picks him and places him up there too for one reason or another. Danny can stand or crouch on side of Match's shoulders while he's walking without effort.
Which is very off putting to see for anyone who manages to catch sight them from within the dark.
I see you calling them slightly feral, and I raise you this. Match is the more feral of the duo, Danny isn't as much because he has another life to draw from but Match? Match totally looks at a hissing cat and hisses back because he doesn't like the vibe he's being given and then scares said cat away because what comes out sounds goddamn unholy.
Another point for the cryptid vibe they could have going on.
Cause like, are you going to go check out the random, unholy demonic screeching coming from the darkness of an alley? Even Gothamites know not to do something like that!....They hope..
Also the thing you said about Danny and in the tags about Match being constantly alert for danger and I raise you this.
You're walking through Metropolis at night, phone in hand, flashlight in the other with your camera app primed and ready. You aren't looking to cause crime, but you're careful, nonetheless. You could always call Superman to get you out of danger, anyway.
Tonight, you're cryptid hunting.
Just for proof, you think. Walking through the dark alleys of Metropolis that you, previously, barely paid much attention to, the reason for this is because you overheard your friends talking about them, and even making jokes about Metropolis now having their own shadowy entities just like Gotham.
You weren't dared to do this, nor were you told to.
You were just curious.
Unfortunately, no matter how much you looked, you couldn't find them. Beginning to grow tired of searching, you look at the time on your phone to see it's currently past midnight at 2:59 AM.
You weren't paying much attention to what was in front of you and, as a single digit went up, you heard it. A slight huff, followed by clicks and small chirps.
It was 3:00, on the dot.
The witching hour.
It could be a coincidence, you think to yourself, but nonetheless you stride forwards. You try to walk quietly, keeping the light to just in front of you so you could work your way through your surroundings.
A sharp, short click rang out in the alleyway.
You raise your flashlight and the sight staring back at you nearly made you drop it.
There stood, more like slouched actually, a tall man? No, a boy, that just struck you the wrong way. Like there was something other about him and you would ping it as the boy's eyes looking inhuman, pure black sclera with light blue eyes that stared at you with all the focus of the goddamn sun. Yet it wasn't that, you couldn't place your finger on it exactly, but you could feel by the way your hairs raised that he wasn't human.
You stared at him, he stared at you. Time seemed to stand still until you blinked, eyes dry from being open for so long and then you realized.
He wasn't blinking.
You look down to avoid his gaze as a shiver ran down your spine, about to take a step back until you paused. There was... a child? Standing there, looking at your curiously from where he was stationed behind the bigger one. He looked and felt more human than the other one but as you looked closer you started to notice some things.
His skin looked smooth and not in the way a usual child's would be. More like how a statue or pottery looked smooth, sculpted with calm and perfect hands. His eyes were bright, so much so that you thought they were glowing for a moment, but that might just be the light from the flashlight.
The thought suddenly hit you like a brick to a window. Even though they were right in front of you, your flashlight pointed directly at them and shining in their faces.
They were not squinting or shying away from it.
You were staring for too long. You thought later, thinking back on the moment that low, terrible hiss stated up. It still sent a shiver down your spine thinking about it.
At first, it sounded vaguely like a cat, but as it went on and got louder it started to sound like what you could only describe as if you walked on shattered glass mixed with a deep rumble and something else you couldn't quite place. Whatever it was, it didn't sound human, and you scrambled to just, get away from it and, before you could even begin to think that you were safe.
Footsteps.
It was chasing you.
Now, look, you were a grown adult. You had a job, pay taxes, all of the shit that came with regular adulthood. But faced with what you think was a demon from literal hell chasing you, you may have panicked a bit and blindly threw the nearest thing you could and sped up.
It was when you were a good few blocks away from that alleyway, trying to catch your breathing that you realized. Oh shit, you threw your flashlight.
You only had one of those.
And then, another moment later as you mourned its passing, you looked down at your phone and see that the main thing you came here for. A video.
I mean, it's not like they have a watch or anything lol. (No joke absolutely love the writing you did it's amazin) I bet they stay quiet, or at least only make quiet noises, until they feel it's dark enough that most people aren't out that might overhear them.
But people going out looking for local cryptids? Even if it's just by blurry pics and word of mouth? That's going to spook the two of them either further into the city, or farther out of it.
Neither want to be spotted, to be brought back to the cold labs full of corpses and tests. But they also have to think about supplies, about access to information.
You know that thing where Superman straight up ate bullets? Like he can do that? I bet the kids can do that too. I bet they gnaw on some metal for iron (and maybe Danny gnaws on Match's arm to his embarrassment when he starts getting his fangs).
Danny feels very proud that he's doing good at this homeless clone stuff. Look, they aren't even malnourished (are you sure about that) or sick (yet) and haven't been so much as spotted by any of the lab people.
And it's nice to have a big-little brother for this, to not be alone. He likes being held, despite insisting that he's an adult, and the purring is soothing. So is the rumbling that he knows is a warning for others to not come near.
He's doing so good at this big-little brother-ing! He even has a notebook that he might've perhaps stolen to put lists on what they need!
And now he has a flashlight! It's great, like a toy almost. Er. Well he knows it's not a toy but give him a break, his reincarnation is three, if that, and it's nice to have something to fiddle with.
(which he'll admit it's hilarious whenever Match chases after someone, even if he has to tug on his ear or the back of his jacket to get him to stop eventually)
And Match can fly too now! Erm, not for long, and only after a long time of sunbathing, which they can't exactly do, not often, but he can! Which'll be great if there's an emergency!
Danny was a bit annoyed by the dangling, at first, but he honestly finds it funny now. He gets to wave his arms around and swing around and honestly, it's fun to do that now when they aren't worrying about not being seen or constantly moving.
He also takes to fidgeting with his newly gotten flashlight, not turning it on to save battery but he does pass it between his hands turns it up and down and throws it up into the air and back down into his hand.
Danny has been worrying about a lot of things, mostly about where they would get food, a place to sleep and hide away without being seen by other people. They get energy from the sun, yes, but Danny gets less from it than Match does, and they rarely get to sunbath properly anyways. Match was obviously worried about him and when he dropped Danny into the back of his hood when he refused to sleep, well.
It worked like an unexpected charm.
Danny was miffed about it the first few times, but he got used to it. Even demanding when he got tired of walking and Match, of course, indulged him. He has lists written about with things they need, which place they could feasibly target without being too suspicious and all the libraries in Metropolis he's aware of.
He was so lucky that it came with a pen.
Things were good, not great but also not bad. Even if the encounter where he got his flashlight scared them a bit about people looking for them, they managed to avoid anything else!
He could even say that things were looking up for them!
Which was when the universe decided to screw with him, apparently.
Because there was a dude, a guy, a rando, laid under a crumbled wall after having been punched by his big-little brother straight through the abandoned building they decided they were going to hold up in. Normally, they would have ran, and they are! Really!
But the guy had one of those S marks on his shirt. Which he recognized was commonly worn around by Superman from a few old newspapers he's found, and Match gave out the most animalistic, demonic growl he's ever heard.
With a strength and speed Danny didn't even know he possessed, Match sprang forward and just, punched the guy through the wall, scooped Danny up and ran.
Holy shit. They might have just killed a man.
That could have been a fan of Superman and a completely normal guy. Holy shit they might have just become murderers and more people would be looking for them and they might get thrown in jail or even worse back down there-
Safe to say, it took a lot of worried coos, hugs and purrs to get Danny to not spiral any further.
---
Superboy was just punched through the wall. It didn't even hurt.
The punch did.
Which was surprising as it was confusing. He was Superman's clone! Invulnerability was his thing! How did a simple punch hurt?
He was just curious of these cryptids that people were talking about, and then he found a three-year-old that he was really sure shouldn't have been there and was going to get him to a safer place. Then he heard one of the weirdest sounds he's ever heard before he was swung off his feet and blow into the nearest wall.
He's actually kinda glad he let go of the kid before that, otherwise he might have been a pancake.
After shrugging off the rubble he felt a bruise, a bruise, forming on his cheek.
You know he's definitely going to mention it to the others. Or they're going to ask (read, freak out) the moment they see he has an honest to sun bruise.
Match? Is trying to sooth the smaller brother with chuffs and purrs and cuddles. And is slightly upset when it doesn't fully work at first. Because yeah, Danny is pretty sure someone just died, or at the very least their organs were probably ruptured or something!
He struggles to explain the issue because he's panicking, just a hint, about being found by the lab people. The scientists who would either terminate them or test them-
And he's an adult-sort-of, but his little-big brother isn't, and he has nightmares of the last life, of small bodies melting-
Oh hello panic attack, he hasn't had one of those in this life yet.
So! A great source of food for homeless people who can get to it? Is Shop bins. Lots of places throw out perfectly edible food if they can't sell it. A lot put locks on the bins. Guess which two clones on the run have the ability to break said locks! That's right, our boys. It does mean the shops will have grainy footage of two blurs ripping open then bins, taking food, and then vanishing. But like, Danny and Match have food now!
Danny is going to slowly come out of his panic attack being cuddled and crooned to. And he feels nice and warm and safe. He's going to hug Match and probably sob for a bit. Match is freaking out! Why is his brother sad! What does he do? Match would like to know please. At least he's breathing properly again. Even if he is crying all over him.
Kon explaining that he thinks he found their cryptids. One is a maybe 4 year old kid. The other looks about his age? And yeah, he went to hear the baby. Big bro clearly freaked. Since Kon them got punched hard. He didn't know he COULD bruise. Robin? Do we need to tell the adult heroes? Or do you think we got this covered? Cause I don't know what to do ya know?
Match? Constantly purring and keeping Danny close. He doesn't entirely understand what a panic attack is, but he knows whatever just happened to his little bro is bad.
Connor is utterly befuddled because, wow. Ow. This is what a bruise feels like? Huh, he doesn't like how it makes his face kind of sore while he eats. At least he doesn't have a black eye or broken nose, right?
He doesn't want to know if he could've gotten one.
Robin? Tim? Vibrating in place. On one hand, potential threat. On the other? A mystery! That he'll find the answer to! Are they magic? Meta? Alien? Literal cryptids? Who knows, there's not a single good picture yet.
Tim, Tim no! You are going to make them paranoid! Tim, you are going to spook the babies! Match is on fact baby. Danny? Might be a reincarnated soul. But his body? Baby. You can't bully babies!
I'm sure Tim is delighted by the chance to solve a new mystery. Especially as this is Robin!Tim. Before he had the hope and optimism beat out of him. Superman is going to notice the Young Justice team are in his city eventually. Which is going to lead to shenanigans. with Match and Danny being spooked? It's going to be chaotic, and possibly violent. Danny hasn't figured out how to entirely stop Match reacting violently in defence yet.
Now! Don't get him wrong. He's very proud of how far his big-little brother has progressed. But he's still VERY feral. Understandably so! It's not criticism. Just fact. But, Danny wants to work on it. So they can eventually blend in with the other people better. If they can blend in? They can do better than living in the streets! Danny has a plan! It's pretty detailed now. His notebook is getting pretty full.
What with the map of libraries they can use. Map of shops that throw out edible food. Safe -ish places to sleep. Good places to *ahrm* find clothes and bags etc. Places they need to avoid because of that Superman guy. Who really freaks Match out. Danny isn't sure why Match is so scared of the hero. But he is. Which means Danny will protect him! He might go out of his way to avoid places with Merch or signs of the hero. All marked on his map. What with Match freaking out every time.
Imagine that when they eventually do meet Superman and/or Connor face to face, Danny is sitting on Match's shoulder or in his hood and just very quickly covers Match's eyes to keep him from getting too agressive (he'd still be defensive though)
"You have to go, the bad lab people made my brother get mad when he sees the weird S thing."
For this? It's got to be Young Justice. Core four group stood there flabbergasted at what that statement implies. Connor having a crisis over having younger(?) Brothers. One of which wasn't even given proper language skills! What the fuck Luthor!! Tim is gleeful that he found them! Oh, oh god, more traumatised clones. Bart has so many questions. Also, he would like to cuddle the baby. So cute!! Cassie? Would like to know why the small one looks more like Diana than Clark.
Okay if Superman starts to pull his passive those-aren’t-my-kids shit I fully believe they’d hit a 180 out the door, immediately.
Tf do they look like begging for love where they’re not wanted (Conner was a real one) They love each other already. On the other hand Diana is Jumping for joy, like pop your shit Clark I got this.
Jason was frustrated with life, of course he was a revenant without a way to get revenge with Bruce’s no kill rule. Doesn’t say he can’t get others to kill for him, so when he gets captured by cultists he decides to take a leap of faith and make his wish to the Ghost King before the cultists can make their stupid wish about world domination or something.
The Ghost King accepts but wants a favor from him, what Jason wasn’t expecting was a kid with black hair blue eyes about 14, showing up on his doorstep saying he needed a place to crash and this was the ghost kings favor. Jason gets a message from his family just then, the Joker is confirmed dead. He doesn’t know why the Ghost King wants him to take care of a random teen but a deal is a deal.
Danny: I'm half ghost. And uh, the government made it legal to hunt/kill me. So. Red Hood, protector of the downtrodden, avenger of the dead? Pretty safe bet to keep me half-alive that bit longer.
Jason: I have titles??
Danny: Oh yeah! SO many Gotham ghosts LOVE you! You have NO idea how many of them light up when talking about you my guy!!
This addition killed me. You know Jason would be like literally glowing when Danny tells him this. Especially when Danny inevitably becomes his sidekick and during a Patrol Meetup with the Bats, Lady Gotham appears and absolutely gushes over her favored knight and her young king.
Also, I need someone to write about what happens when Danny learns about the All Blades.
Danny would also like to have magic swords please? Pretty please?
Lady Gotham doesn't out Danny as King. Just calls him Amitys protector. One of his earliest titles.
The Bats are very confused. When did Jason get a sidekick? Why is Lady Gotham able to just pop up now? Usually only magic types..... Oh. Hood and his sidekick.... Make the same death jokes. Fuck sake Jason!
I don't know why but with your addition, I just envision Danny running around with a red bucket on his head with holes poorly cut out for his eyes and it'd be hilarious, but then people fuck around and find out that HE'S the terrifying one, not Hood.
Jason would not let him. Unless he wore proper head protection underneath it. Head trauma is bad! He would know!!
The first time someone knocks the bucket off and sees the hood under it? They just sigh. Of course. This is Red Hood jr. Of course he wore a second thing under the bucket. Turns out knocking off the bucket also unleashed his best down mode. Because why not.
Every time he is asked he gives a different answer. When they track down Danny? So does he. They didn't even plan this. Jason never told him he was doing this. Danny just went... Fuck it. And then was asked a second time. And figured they either don't share information. Or his and Jason's stories don't match. At which point? Time to Fuck with them!
Jason: He followed me home one day. He looked like a sad raccoon. How could I abandon him!
Danny: Oh! He saved me from human traffickers and I got attached.
Jason: He found me stabbed in an alleyway. Decided I clearly needed help getting home.
Danny: I'm from a different dimension, I'm pretty sure Jason is my alternate counterpoint!
Jason: I took him in as payment for a debt.
Danny: Oh! My parents tried to kill me. You know how Jason feels about that sort of thing!!
The batfam staring at the conspiracy board spanning half of Tim's room. Which of these seemed to be the most likely lies?
They settle for the real reason to be the Alternate from Another Universe because Lady Gotham herself called Jr "Amity's protector" and they are unable to find the city (because Techus is just that good, of course they can't find it when Ghostwriter stole every papertrail and Techus erased all the digital traces of it)
Oh but what if Danny clocks Batman as similar to Vlad and calls him fruitloop? To his face? Before being grabbed and hauled back by Jason?
Also I feel like Jason and Steph would make absolutely hilarious and brilliant chaos siblings and Jason often drops Danny off with Steph when he needs to go off to do slightly more dangerous stuff.
So NOW you have Batman suddenly coming across Hood Jr. following Spoiler. Batman's attempt at parenting him and Steph at that point leads to Danny tossing a glitter glue grenade and disappearing with Spoiler following after, "Too bad Bossman! Not our parent!"
Jason returns a day after, and the tricks Danny picked up from Spoiler are absolutely the bane of his gang's existence. The minute Hood leaves Danny in a room with whichever goon is present as responsible for making sure the kid stays safe is when chaos ensues.
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